Hydra's Lair

Chapter 8

It had been a day since the attack and all James could think about was how it had been his fault about Kasey getting hurt. His uncle’s screams seemed to mock him and he almost wished his memory could be erased. And his mentor, Ward, well he hadn’t been around long since he heard the news and James was starting to think he was about to be forced to train on his own without guidance or worse killed for messing up… again.

            A knock sounded through his room and James slowly got up and opened the door to reveal Ward. Think of the killer agent and he will appear. He mentally rolled his eyes at the thought.

            “Follow me.” Ward ordered. “Quickly.”

            That got James’ attention. “Why, where are we going?”

            “You’ll see.”

            James followed him into the elevator and saw his mentor press the button for the lowest level, the detention level. “The prisons… Why are we going there?”

            Ward smiled grimly. “Nothing important.”

            That didn’t sound good, James kept a straight face as he had been trained but inside his mind was reeling. Something bad was going to happen he could feel it, the tone of Ward’s voice hinted that he was furious and someone would pay. Judging by where they were going that someone looked as if it would be him. The doors slid open silently and Ward roughly pushed James to the ground.

            “What’s this idiot doing here?” Lance growled when he saw James. “He killed Kasey!”

            “Will you shut up?” May exclaimed in annoyance. “She’s not dead.”

            “She may as well be!”

            “Why does it matter to you Hunter?” Ward asked. “She is after all just a girl you saved from the very organization she’s a part of.”

            “I told you before you sick traitor, she was innocent! HYDRA’s just brainwashing her!”

            James was getting up but was kicked down again by Ward. “You should be grateful I brought the person responsible for Ms. Crain’s condition to you. Now because I’m the good guy I am, I’m going to let you out to do whatever you’d like to my apprentice for five minutes. When that time is up you will go back to your cell and I will lock you back in.”

            “What if I don’t want to be locked up again?” Lance challenged.

            “Then I’ll shoot you.”

            “You can’t do this!” James spat as he kicked his mentor away and scrambled to his feet. “HYDRA won’t allow it!”

            Ward gave him a cool, collected look; the only hint of anger was the darkness that seemed to appear behind his eyes. “What HYDRA doesn’t know won’t hurt them.”

            With that Ward pressed in the codes to Skye, Lance, and gave May a smirk before leaving her in her cell and leaving the detention room, locking the back up door in James’ face. James gritted his teeth and turned to face the two prisoners stalking towards him, shadows were everywhere he could escape if he wanted, and not to mention that even though there were two of them they were weak and weaponless.

            “Get back in your cells now!” James ordered.

            Lance laughed. “Or what? You’ll yell some more? Kill another one of our friends?”

            “I’d go with choice two.” He hissed and disappeared into the shadows.

            Skye looked around quickly. “Where’d he go?”

            “Guys behind you!” May warned.

            James glared at her but still managed to kick Lance into a wall and punch Skye in the shoulder as she tried to dodge away and retaliate with an attack of her own. Before they could recover he went back into the shadows and appeared beside Lance again in time to punch him in the face.

            “Stay away from the shadows!” May informed them. “That’s where he has the advantage.”

            “Kind of figured it out.” Skye replied as she stepped under a dim light.

            Lance joined her and stood back to back. “Let’s show this guy who he’s killing shall we?”

            “The light won’t help you.” James laughed as he hid how breathless he was actually getting from using the shadows too much.

            When he lunged for them again they were ready, Skye feinted a punch at his stomach and elbowed him in the neck, Lance took the opening and brought James to the ground where he repeativly punched him until bruises and blood cover his body.

            “Not so tough now. Maybe next time you won’t let someone die when it’s you who deserve to.”

            James coughed, as he tasted blood in his mouth. “Kasey isn’t dead… May said so.”

            “She could die any moment because she felt it was her responsibility to save you. Though why I will never understand.” Lance punched him again and James groaned.

            “Don’t you think I feel terrible?” He wheezed. “I wish that were me hovering between life and death right now… I didn’t ask her to save me.”

            Lance drew back his arm to punch him again but Skye stopped him. “Don’t kill him! He… doesn’t seem that bad…”

            “You really had to choke out that last part didn’t you.” Lance snapped. “Doesn’t sound like you believe yourself to me.”

            “Just give him a chance to explain. Ward said he didn’t go on the mission and he could’ve made it seem worse just to mess with us.”

            Lance glanced at May who nodded before looking down at the bloody, panting figure on the ground. “Fine. You have a minute left to tell us what happened there before Ward comes back for you.”

            James quickly agreed, but kept an eye on his fist that was still clenched at his side, he didn’t feel like being hit again. “I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”