Avengers: Altruism [N. Romanoff]

3. Philadelphia

CHAPTER 3
Philadelphia

January, 2004

Claire always looked up to William as if he were the person she never asked for, yet somehow he had appeared in her life and left trails of inspiration behind. The O'Connor parents always held little suspicion for her close friendship with the older man, and tried to avoid contact with him as often as possible. With the thought in mind that he was helping Claire grow a passion, and keeping her happy, they respected the man nonetheless.

When the youngest daughter wasn't exploring the magical world of books to research new concepts to her, she was out on the streets in search of Mesmero instead. Her life became that endless cycle for many years on end, starting from a six year old, until the last day she expected to ever see the Hypnotist she called a mentor.

William was always right about one concept in her life, which was that her story was only just beginning, and although they wished the world could hear it, they came to a decision together that it was better left in the shadows.

Claire ran along the familiar tar road in search of any sign of a man tinged with green, from his hands to his shoulders. Over the years that she had known Mesmero, it had only gotten worse, this pale green spreading along the pigments of his skin. She never thought twice about it, and the certain aspect in her life became a norm and she never expected it to be any other way.

The O'Connor girl turned, coming face to face with a red bricked wall and door with a bright neon sign above it, still glowing during the day. A smile formed on her lips, and she grabbed at the knob on the door, twisting it and allowing herself in.

At first the noise was a little comforting. Chattering voices filling the hallway, all coming from the big stage at the centre of the building. With her hand sliding across the maroon wall as she walked, the seventeen year old kept an open ear for any wondering words.

"Gone. He knew we were on our way," a male voice rang out.

Claire stopped in her tracks, the grin falling from her lips at the unfamiliar person. Her head darted to look behind her where the sound of marching boots came from, just managing to catch a glimpse of men in bulletproof vests and helmets crossing the hallway she was walking down.

She made a quick gasp, and threw herself to the side before any of them could notice her, palms stretched out on the wallpaper whilst she tried to stop the clinging sound of the chained bracelets on her wrists. The charms swung back on forth, and when they hit the wall, they just hung calmly. Next was trying to gain control of her heart rate, focusing on the sound around her and breathing.

Trying to peer around the corner, Claire slowly peeled off the wall and made a silent walk to the nearest door. Once she reached the wood, her hands immediately found the door handle and she pushed it down to unlock. Her eyes wondered down each side of the corridor, then abruptly she pushed the door open and slammed it shut behind her, twisting the key that always rested inside.