Sweet Like Arsenic (B. Barnes) ✔

1 | shield

"Is the printer out of ink? Again? Tim, can you pl-"

The sound of glass breaking echoed around the office, making me stop mid-sentence. I looked to my right to see a masked figure holding a massive gun, randomly shooting at my co-workers. I shrieked when Rita, my secretary, fell in a pool of blood next to me.

Survival instincts clicked in. A fierce-looking woman with brunette boxer braids accompanied the gunman, walking in my direction. I squealed in shock and ducked under my desk, hiding behind my chair and praying that nobody would spot me.

There was blood everywhere I looked from my hiding spot. Screams and the metallic smell of blood filled the air, making me want to throw up.

The brunette walked closer. I trembled under my desk and crouched lower, hugging my shaky legs. My hands started to tingle, as they always do when I'm nervous.

Blood stained her ivory white suit, crimson red streaking the shiny fabric. She laughed dryly when her boots reached my desk. I wanted to scream, to cry even.

"Hey." She crouched down to meet my eyes. I felt a tear slide down my face, and I curled into a ball, praying that she won't kill me.

She didn't.

"You need to come out." Her voice, thickly and thoroughly British, was muffled with her mask, but it didn't sound as cruel as I thought it would.

I whimpered pathetically.

The lady rolled her eyes. "I'll give you a minute to calm down and get out. If you're not out, I'll send the scary one."

"Th- the scary guy who shot everyone?" I stuttered, my voice squeaky and shaking.

"Yes."

"I- I'll come out."

I shuffled forward and stood up, almost falling over in the process.

I looked around the office I took pride in. The blinds were drawn, and the door was open. Everybody I'd worked with was dead. They lay on the blood-stained floor, some facing the ceiling and some lying face down. I couldn't look anymore without retching.

The masked gunman stood by my desk, watching me like a hawk. He had unkempt brown hair that almost reached his shoulders and a pair of sky blue eyes that stood out on his face. The strangest thing was that he had a... metal arm?

"Come on, soldier." The woman sighed and walked over to his side, punching him lightly on the fleshed arm. "We're going back."

"I just don't get why she looks so innocent." His voice was gruff but questioning, looking me up and down.

   What?

"Am I under arrest?" I asked nervously, following them as the man held onto my left arm and brought me to the lift lobby outside.

"Yes." The woman replied curtly, holding the elevator door open so the soldier and I could go in.

"Thanks, Kelsey." The man nodded at the woman as she got into the elevator with us.

She pressed on the "G" button, and we started to descend from the top floor. The soldier still had his metal hand around my arm, but his hold had weakened, seeing that I won't be escaping anytime soon.

The elevator ride was awkward until Kelsey broke the silence, leaning against the wall to face me. "Elvira Meyer?"

"I go by my middle name. It's Donatella." I was shocked to hear my voice turn back to normal. I didn't seem so afraid anymore, it turns out.

"Alright, Donatella."

"Do I have the right to remain silent?" I asked. I guess my sarcasm was back too.

"I don't know, do you?" The man finally spoke up, and Kelsey smirked.

"Why so salty, old man?" The lift door opened and she walked out, using her gun to hold the lift door open.

Armed soldiers in black stood outside waiting, with "SHIELD" printed on their chests in bold.

"Shield? Holy fucks." I muttered under my breath.

Those were the last words I said before I felt a searing pain in my right thigh, and everything turned black.