Out of Oblivion

Chapter 29

Smoke billowed from the headquarters. The shadow of an aircraft hovered over it, shooting the building until it began to cave. James stopped the motorcycle and we both dismounted, approaching in awe and shock at what we were seeing.

            Fear awakened inside of me, strangling every nerve. SHIELD was falling and people were inside…burning. “Grace,” I muttered in terror.

            I broke out into a run, heading straight for what was left of SHIELD. I heard James yelling my name, but I ignored him.

            He caught up with me and stepped in front of me, making me bump into him. “Don’t do this, Eleanor. It’s too dangerous.” His eyes pleaded desperately.

            “I have to,” I snapped, pushing past him.

            He grabbed my arm and pulled me close to him. “They are after you, Eleanor. Going in there is suicide. I can’t let you do this.” He whispered in a firm voice, as if it was a secret.

            “Come with me,” I breathed. It was the closest I could get to telling him how I truly felt.

            His eyes were sharp with concern. Before he could answer, I yanked myself out of his grasp and streaked across the pavement to the front doors of SHIELD. James kept his pace with me.

            Inside people were hustling around, fear stricken on their faces. I looked to the stairs where people were pouring down, rushing for the exit. At the bottom of the stairs stood a man hustling the people out.

            “Head straight for the exit and keep going! Don’t stop! Let’s go!” he was calling.

            It was Coulson. He looked healthy, but frail. His clothes hung loosely on his gangly figure. But this didn’t seem to be stopping him.

            I searched frantically through the mass of people for Grace, but there was no sight of her. I pushed through the mass until I reached Coulson.

            When he turned and saw me, he looked like he had seen a ghost. “Agent Stanton…” he stammered.

            “I’m looking for Grace. Grace Stanton,” I pressed.

            He shook his head. “We haven’t reached that floor yet. It may be caved in by now.”

            The fear that was building inside of me molded into a surge of courage and determination. I looked behind me to find James still pushing through the mass of people. When he finally reached me, I grabbed his real hand and ran up the stairs, hugging the side so that we wouldn’t get plummeted by people.

            Flight after flight we ran, the people getting fewer and fewer. There was no sign of Grace or even Rogers. No one looked remotely familiar. When we finally reached the twenty-fourth floor, Grace’s, my heart was beating against my rib cage and my lungs screamed for relief. The muscles in my legs gave out and I stumbled forward.

            Everything was a blur around me, slowing down, as if in a tunnel. An explosion shook the ground beneath me and glass burst from the windows, cutting into my skin. I fell from the impact, feeling James shield me with his body.

            Once the tremors died out, I gathered myself and pushed forward. James was calling my name, but I ignored him. Grace’s office was just around the corner.

            Another explosion came that knocked me off my feet and sent me crashing against the wall. This explosion was more powerful. The impact surged through my body and my vision spun. Shattered glass lay around me.

            I tried to hold onto my consciousness, but my body couldn’t take it. I pummeled into a deep sleep.