Whatever It Takes

~ 7 ~

Thea's POV
I spun around and saw two people headed our way. I held my ground with my head up. I placed my right hand on the arcreactor and my left holding the bag of what was now $2,978. As they got closer, I was getting more nervous.

What if they don't show us to him? What if they run off with the money and leave us stranded? What if...they kill me and...I'm not able to go home to Mom?

"Are you Phillip?" A woman spoke in an accent I've never heard towards Strange.

"No but we are representatives for the Russo Brothers Funeral," he replied. "We even brought an intern," Strange pat Peter's shoulder.

"I thought they didn't have any employees," the guy eyed us.

"He applied a while ago but Phillip didn't see it until a week ago," I reassured them.

"And who are you?"

"Morgan," I nodded. "Also a representative, and money holder."

They nodded in unison, "Speaking of which, give it to us."

"Not that fast," Peter shook his head.

"Where's the man?" I asked.

"After the money," the guy stepped forward. I noticed the patch on his jacket. It had the letters AOPI.

I guided my eyes back to the man's face, "Not until you show me that he's there or where he is."

"What if we don't?"

"Don't test us," Strange answered.

"You guys work for Phillip? I thought he was a pushover on the phone," the guy laughed.

"Oh he can be," I smiled.

They both exchanged glances and nodded, "Money. Now."

"Tony Stark. Now."

"Not until we get the money."

"Well this will take a while, won't it," I raised an eyebrow.

"Fine, you want a picture?" The girl came closer. She pulled out something and we all took a step back. She sighed and rolled her eyes, "Chill. It's my cellphone." She pulled up a picture. It was...Dad?! He was on a metal medical table, not strapped or anything, but you could tell that something was off.

"Now that you've seen him, give us the money," he spoke.

"What did you do to him?" I asked calmly.

"None of your concern-"

"What did you do to him?" I got louder. "I will only give you this money if you haven't touched him."

All of a sudden their phone rings. The guy answers. He begins to speak what I guessing is Bulgarian. He gestured the girl over to him. I slowly pull out the arcreactor and stick it on my chest. Hopefully they don't notice.

They both got off the phone and turned to us, serious as a heart attack. They both look Strange and I dead in the face, "What did you do to Phillip?" they both said in unison.

I nearly choked on my spit, "I don't know what you're talking about," I managed to spit out.

"You know damn well what."

I turned to Strange. He kept staring at the Twins. I turned back, "No I don't. What did they tell you?"

"Phillips called in saying you stole three thousand dollars and attacked him," the girl got closer.

"Actually he gave us this money to give to you two, then attacked us. I think he's lying," I nodded.

"Phillips is one of our most valuable, trustworthy, and gullible customers," the guy took a step forwards. "He wouldn't say a lie."

Shit. Wait, he said valuable CUSTOMER?? This is a thing they do??

In an instant, the guy took Strange and twisted him into a headlock. He put up a gun. His sister put out her hand, "Give me the money, and your wizard friend won't get hurt."

I sighed, Wait, where'd Peter go? I tossed the bag into her hands. I had lost that war.

She was about to open the bag, when she saw my chest, "What's that?"

"None of your business."

"Is that the arcreactor?" She asked. Through this entire thing the guy still had a hold on Dr. Strange.

"Depends-"

"Where did you get that?!" She stepped closer.

I backed up, "I'll say it again none of your business!"

"That costs more than your little life. We need that."

"That sucks."

"Give it here, little girl!"

"Or what?"

"Or I'll rip it off you."

"Then you'll have to rip it off my dead corpse," I spit at her.

Before she could lunge at me, the guy screamed behind her. I turned and saw a spiderweb looking thing was covering his hand and gun. He was so freaked out by the sight of it that he payed no attention to Dr. Strange as he moves out of the way. The girl turned to me, "What did you do?"

"She didn't do anything," Strange smiled

Peter came swinging in out of nowhere. He was fully suited up in his spidey outfit. It was a-dork-able. He spit his webs on her. It became like a cocoon and engulfed her. The only thing sticking out was her head and feet. I watched as Strange made a portal next to me, but I wasn't going in.

"Go!" Dr. Strange instructed.

"No!" I shook my head.

"Yes!"

"No, they have him! They know where he is! They're our key! I'm not going to let them stay here and get away with the money without us getting what we want!" I was nearly in tears.

"We have what we want! Now go!" He yelled.

"No, we don't! I don't! I want Tony Stark!" I WANT MY DAD!

"Morgan! Go! Before they try to attack us!"

I shook my head, which was fuming with the angry and sadness from all of this. Before I could blink, I felt someone pick me up. I pushed. I kicked. I punched. I did everything in my power to stay where I was standing. I get as we rolled on the ground.

I heard the portal shut. I can't believe it. I can't believe he actually did that! I stood up and looked around. Strange was sitting on the ground, criss-cross-applesauce. Peter was trying to get up.

I eyeballed Strange, he really closed the portal...