(On Hold) Stepping Stones | Avengers FF

3 - The Cages

Sorry for the short chapter :]

RECAP

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"Well I heard them talking... and Ri took both her and Marlee's punishment, but they were really five minutes late so now Ri has ten strikes... and... and the cages."

"THE CAGES!? Riley no!" This time it was Iris. I looked down at her and gave her a sad smile.

"I wouldn't and can't change what happened. Now then Charlie, Ava you two take Marlee and everyone else get to work." With that I marched back up the stairs to complete my tasks.

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Marlee had come out of the office and was upstairs with the rest of the girls getting wet rags and disinfectant on her welts. And me? I was at Mother's office door, my fist raised to knock and shaking in the air. I landed my fist twice and stepped back as I heard Mother's footsteps coming to the door.

"Welcome back Riley. Go stand at the wall and we will begin." I nodded and headed over to wall. I felt Mother come up behind me and heard the crack of the belt strap.

"Now then lets go"

CRACK

I felt the flashing pain of the belt against my back and let out a cry of pain.

"Quiet"

CRACK

That's two.

CRACK

Three.

CRACK

Four. In all honesty this isn't as painful as the chemicals and needles They injected into me.

CRACK

Five. The endless hours of burning going through my veins.

CRACK

Six. Shit. That layered on top of another one.

CRACK

Seven. I collapsed to my knees against the wall and whimpered.

CRACK

Eight. Even if I've had worse this still hurt like a bitch.

CRACK

Nine. One more. I felt the sweat dripping down my forehead and into my eyes.

CRACK

Ten. I sunk onto my stomach, my vision was blurry and I was panting. I barely heard Mother call out for the girls. I saw their feet as they came in and felt their hands wrap around my legs and arms. Then they lifted, and I passed out.

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I woke up to darkness on a hard floor and tried to sit up. I gasped at the pain shooting up my back and fell back down. Right, I'm in the cages and I've just had my strikes. I must've passed out. I got up again, slowly this time until I was standing. I reached out my hand to the wall to steady myself and reached behind my back to feel it. Cloth. The girls must've wrapped them for me. Oh jeez, Marlee. How's Marlee? I didn't even get to see her!

I could feel rocks coming out of my arms, it like a knife slicing my skin open and blood trickled down my arms. I can't transform, not in here. Not in this state. My breath started heaving and I could feel a flashback trying to crawl into my mind and take over. My father's face flashed across my eyes causing a tear to instantly fall down my face. Please don't make me remember. I have to lie down, gotta get a grip. Quickly. Leave me alone.

I know there's a bed somewhere in here. Or what passes as a bed. I traced my hand against the wall as I walked and then they hit something metal. The bars. Bars. Cages. No, no, no! Not again please not again. I walked blindly through the room until I hit the wood plank bed and collapsed onto it, now breathing heavily. My head hit the wood and the flashbacks started.

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"Daddy?" A little girl was staring up at her father who had his hands on each side of her cheek.

"Don't worry baby girl, my friend Doctor Matthew will take good care of you until I can come back okay?"

"I'll take it from here Richard." A tall, chubby man with sleek black hair placed his hand on the young girls shoulder. Another unfamiliar face came up behind her father and took his arms behind his back.

"Baby girl, I'll come back I promise," the snap of handcuffs sounded and the man's eyes began to water, "promise me not to do anything rash until I get back you hear?"

Tears began rolling down the girls face as she cried out, "Daddy I don't want you to go, please daddy don't leave me. I don't wanna go with your friend I wanna go with you!"

The policeman turned her father away and pushed him down into the car. At the same time Doctor Matthews harshly grabbed the girls wrist and began leading her away to his own car.

Her fathers voice could be heard from the car, "Baby don't forget about me, I love y-" his last words were cut off by the door slamming the the girl began screaming as she was being lead away.

"Daddy! Daddy no!"

"Hurry up and shut it girl"

"But I want my daddy back!" The Doctor threw her into the back of his car and she lay there whimpering and screaming out for her daddy until she fell asleep with a tear stricken face and a broken heart.

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As I said before, sorry for the short chapter.

Also Stucky is so pure and perfect.

Stay safe.

- C.O.W