Hellcat

Chapter 57

"You okay?" Luke asked, looking towards Jessica. She looked like she might be about to hurl. "Yeah, I mean... my head's still attached," she grumbled, keeping her back to the decapitated body. "You didn't have to kill him," Matt grumbled, hands on his hips. "Eh, it was him or the kid," Stick argued with a shrug. "They could've stopped him," Danny argued in defense of Matt's no-killing rule.

"Couldn't take the chance, especially now," Stick continued to argue. "What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, one eyebrow raised. "We got our answer. He's what they've been after all along," was Stick's explanation as he gestured to Danny with the bloody sword. "Yeah, well, we knew that," Luke snapped, still confused.

"We didn't know the Iron Fist was the key to what the Hand seeks. The word isn't accidental." I watched the group look around in confusion. "You think he's a key? To what, their survival?" Matt questioned from where he stood, still beside me. "A key implies a lock," Stick huffed. "I assumed it was a metaphor," Jessica grumbled, sarcasm dripping in her voice. "It's not," Stick said, ignoring her tone.

"So you literally think Danny opens something?" Luke questioned. Stick nodded enthusiastically. "And that something is worth dying for," the old man contemplated as he paced around the body, gesturing to the severed head of Sowande. "I'm a weapon. I'm not a key," Danny argued. "That you know of," Stick countered. "What could I possibly open?" Danny continued to ask. Stick shrugged. "You tell me. Must be why they haven't killed you," Stick scoffed. It was weird to watch the two argue. It kind of reminded me of when Matt would argue with Stick. The major difference that I'd seen was that at least Stick and Danny were less violent towards each other.

"They haven't killed me because they want me on their side," Danny countered as if that was the more obvious answer. Which it was. "The Iron Fist's chi is a weapon. That's true. But I've heard stories about it being used for more. To seal things shut. Or opening them again." I had to force myself not to roll my eyes at the old man – not that he would notice. Could he ever give a straight answer? "So the Hand is in New York because he gives them access or opens something up?" Luke asked in disbelief.

"Come on, guys," Danny started with a nervous chuckle. "That's insane," he added. "Well, it doesn't matter if you think it's true or not. It's something they believe is true," Matt spoke up. "He was a member of the Hand. An organization formed by lying psychopaths. You can't trust a word he said," Danny argued to us, gaze focused on Matt. "I understand that, Danny, but the way I see it, we only have one move," Matt said solemnly. I glanced over at him in confusion, one eyebrow raised. Was he suggesting what I thought he was? Had he gone full Stick in three seconds flat? I glanced around to see Danny doing the same, earning a slight nod from Luke.

"Whoa. What do you mean?" Danny asked as I shifted closer to Matt. "Please tell me you haven't gone totally insane," I mumbled to him. He turned his head in my direction, eyebrows knitted in confusion. His blind eyes were locked with mine and I felt myself being dragged in by those brown orbs. Eyes that could be so soft and gentle, yet cold and distant. His lips parted to say something, but he didn't get the chance.

"To keep the Iron Fist as far from them as possible," Stick said, shifting to stand behind Danny. "It sounds crazy, but I don't think we have any other way," Luke agreed. "I dedicated my life to this fight. You need me. We all need each other," Danny tried as Jessica took a small step forward. "This is exactly how they work. They divide us. They get into our heads. They weaken us. They make you question the people you trust," he continued to try and tell everyone.

"Danny, just take a deep breath and calm down," Luke tried to say, stepping forward with one hand outstretched. "Stop telling me to calm down, Luke! This is what they want! They want you to be distracted. Th-they want you to turn on me," he stammered quickly. "Sowande wasn't lying," Matt spoke up, distracting Danny from his rant. "And how do you know?" Danny questioned. "He knows, trust me," I huffed, pinching the bridge of my nose. At this point, I was only here cause I had to be. I was too deep in this shit to get out now.