(On Hold) Stepping Stones | Avengers FF

9 - Taking My Leave

I walked up the steps into the orphanage, it was silent like no one was there. Then I heard a piercing scream from Mother's office. I could see her light on and began walking towards it. The sound of leather striking skin echoed down the hall followed a another scream. Marlee. It sounds like Marlee.

"Mars! Mother what are you doing!?" I began sprinting to the office, but I didn't get closer. No matter how much I ran I didn't move. All I could hear was the screams and whimpers of Marlee.

"Riley." She knows I'm here but I can't help her. Tears began pouring down my face.

"Marlee I can't get to you!"

"Riley!" her voice had changed slightly.

— — —

"Riley." I could feel someone shaking my shoulder.

"Riley, you fell asleep at your desk you have to get up."

I shot up, sending me and the chair onto the floor. Above me stood Natasha and Clint. Clint bent down and offered me his hand.

"You okay kiddo?" He asked. I realized that I had tears running down my cheeks and wiped them away.

"Fine. I'm fine." I ignored Clint's hand and stood up on my own.

"What happened?" It was Nat this time.

"Just a dream it was nothing."

"Didn't sound like nothing."

"Just leave it alone okay?" I said, raising my voice slightly.

"Okay, you have training in an hour so you should have breakfast now. Clint and I will meet you out there." I nodded to them and they walked out, Natasha sending me a glance before saying,

"We'll talk about this later." Then closing the door behind her.

I got changed and brushed my hair into a bun before walking towards the kitchen. Before I walked in though I heard a new voice.

"Thor it's fine. She's not that dangerous."

"You let a murderer into this tower Captain, I can dispose of her safely, we should lock her up for the rest of her life."

"It was an accident Thor!"

"She killed two people Captain!" I heard the slam of a fist on a bench and jumped in fright.

I began shaking, they don't want me here. If I stay they are going to throw me behind bars. Another cage. Not another cage. With tears streaming down my face for the second time this morning I peered around the corner to see Steve talking to a tall, muscular blond who must be Thor. The Captain caught my eye and stumbled on his words,

"Riley, he wasn't... he meant..." As he addressed me the Thor guy turned around and narrowed his eyes at me.

"You are the killer?" My eyes widened and I began backing up, shaking my head. "Don't lie to me girl."

I turned around and sprinted back to my room, slamming my door shut and locking it. I slid down it until I had my knees against my chest and jumped when someone began banging on the door.

"Riley? Riley come on Thor doesn't know the details. You gotta come out okay?" I heard Steve's voice through the door.

No. No I have to leave. I haven't perfected any escape routes yet, but there is one risky one to try. I haven't even tested it yet. I ran over to a pot plant and grabbed all the stones from it, I walked over to the walk in closet and grabbed a pair of sneakers I saw there yesterday. Pouring the stones into them I began molding them to fit it. When I finished, I put on the shoes and took a deep breath.