SHIELD Agent Eleanor Flint

Chapter 17

I would have liked to be on a boat, but not when I'm holding back a panic attack. And especially not when I'm hiding from the people who took the ship. None of this was going to plan. 

"Flint, give us your location," Rumlow said over the earpiece.

I could barely hear him over the pounding heart beat in my chest. I held my breath as one of the hostiles came closer and closer to my hiding spot. The stench of the blood on my shirt filled my nose and tears stung my eyes. 

"Flint, your location, over." 

I couldn't reply. Not now. Maybe if the crew member walks away, but not now. But, I also couldn't tell Rumlow to shut up. The footsteps neared me and I pressed my back against the wall and ducked my head behind the cargo crate. I had already been seen, he knows I'm here, just not exactly where. My eyes flicked over to the lifeless body on the floor across the hold. 

"Flint, your loc-" 

I reached up and turned off my earpiece on an impulse decision. Which is one of the number one things you should never do on a high-risk mission. But there were a lot of things that I did that I shouldn't have done on this high-risk mission. The footsteps stopped right next to the crate and I stared at the legs that were inches away from me. I slumped lower to the floor, grimacing in the uncomfortable position. 

My foot slipped against the floor and kicked the shelving in front of me. Crates fell from above and I covered my head. The crew member jumped back and began shouting. None of the boxes hit me head on but it still hurt, especially when the crew member grabbed my arm and yanked me from the floor. A hand gun pressed to my head and I looked at the crew member. I was more disappointed in myself than scared. 

"Shit," I huffed. 

-Three Hours Before- 

"Remember to keep your guards up, this is no cruise ship," Rumlow said. 

"God, I wish," Henry muttered. 

I chuckled and Rumlow shot us glances. We looked back at the screen for the rest of the debriefing. 

"Rollins and I will cover the bridge. Reed, you kill the engines with Kite." The new agent nodded. "Flint, you are our ticket inside the cargo hold where the weapons are." I looked at Rumlow as he said this. "You're the only one small enough to fit into the cargo hold's windows." 

"Of course I am," I sighed. 

"You'll drop down from the jet and climb up the anchor chain to the first window." Rumlow pointed to the window nearest to the anchor chain on the freighter diagram. "From there, you can unlock the hatch and let us in." 

"You must have high expectations thinking I can climb up the anchor," I commented. 

Rumlow looked at me again. "Can you?" 

"Yeah, only for so long," I answered. "I can try to use my ice to get up the rest of the way." 

"Good." Rumlow nodded. "The rest of you sweep the deck for the hostiles, take out as many as you can." 

---

Henry sat next to me as we waited for the drop zone to come up. It would be another fifteen minutes. Henry turned in his seat and leaned forward so that his forehead was touching my temple. 

"If my calculations are correct," he began. "If this all goes well, we should be home by 4 a.m." 

"That's good, better than last time at 7 am," I said, turning to him as well.