Worth It

Thirty One

I don't know how long I've been here. Could be days, could be weeks, could be longer. The daily schedule is the same. Big hunky men come in and beat the shit out of me, I don't know what they're trying to accomplish but it's not very fun for me.

"Ayyyy! My friends are here." I say weakly as they enter my cell.

"Shut up."

"I would say make me but I know you'll take it literally."

They don't respond, instead they start with their usual pummeling.

"How is she doing today?" The man in charge-I've learned his name is Chase- asks.

"The same." One of the men replies. "This isn't working."

"Then we'll just have to take a different approach." Chase says with an unsettling smile.

Turns out different approach means torture. I can handle being beat senseless, I'm used to it. But the needles under finger nails, spy movie bullshit? I don't think I can take that.

They strap me down to a cold metal chair and close the door, leaving me in the silent, dark room alone.

Apparently they're doing sleep deprivation. Fun.

Every time I started to drift off, there would be a blaring alarm that brought me back. This went on for days until they once again changed their approach.

Still strapped to the same cold chair, chase stood in front of me with a razor sharp knife in his hands.

"This is going to be fun." He smiles at me.

"I'm sure it is."

"Let's get started, shall we?"

He dragged the knife along my grimy skin. With each deep slice, he named one person I'll never see again.

"Steve Rogers." Cut.

"Peter Parker." Cut.

"Natasha Romanoff." Cut.

"Wanda Maximoff." Cut.

"Tony Stark." Cut.

I couldn't keep in the tears or screams of agony. The realization that I might never see my family again just hit me. The people that saved me. The people who welcomed me with open arms. The people who kidnapped me for my own good. The people who I can't live without.

"There it is." Chase says. "There is the first crack."

"What the hell do you mean?" I choke out.

"I mean," he wipes blood off the knife. "You can't build something up unless it's broken first, and you are finally starting to crumble." And with that, he walks out. But not before snapping a photo of me.

One of the HYDRA agents undoes the straps around me and throws my aching body to the cold hard ground. Finally, I sleep.

Tony's POV

"She's been gone for three months!" I yell "and we've got nothing! No clues, no ideas, no nothing." I sigh and sit back down.

"sir," FRIDAY speaks "there's a package for you." I sigh and retrieve the package, bringing it back to the meeting room.

"Who is it from?" Clint asks.

"I don't know, there's no return address." I tear off the tape and open the box. There's a single envelope inside.

Odd.

I open the envelope and pull out the contents.

Mr. Stark,

I'm sure you are working tirelessly to find your daughter and her little friend. Don't bother. You'll never see her again. Maybe that's for the best? I mean what kind of father lets his daughter get kidnapped? I hope you don't waste your efforts any more than you already have. If you're wondering what exactly sweet (Y/N) and Ophelia are going through, feel free to look at the photographs I have provided.

Kindly,

Instead of a signature, there's a symbol that is all too familiar.

I pull out two Polaroids that are in the envelope and feel my stomach churn. The first is of Ophelia, battered and bruised on the floor. Her clothes are torn and her hair is ratty. It's horrific. Nothing could prepare me for the next photo. (Y/N) strapped to a metal chair, deep cuts all over her. Dark circles around her tear-stained eyes as if she hadn't slept in days. There are bruises on her too but they look more healed, less purple and more yellow. If they're hurting her then that means they took her powers. It means she has no way of defending herself.

"Tony, what is it?" Steve demanded. I threw the letter on the table and fell back into my chair.

They all take turns reading the letter and looking at the photos. Everyone is equally horrified. Bruce had to leave the room and Wanda's eyes were brimming with tears.

"So it was HYDRA," Nat speaks. "What do they want with her?"

"I don't know." I feel tears prick my eyes. "She doesn't deserve this. I let this happen."

"This wasn't your fault."

"Yeah it was. If I hadn't suggested the move, they wouldn't have been out alone at night and this wouldn't have happened."

"Don't think like that. It won't accomplish anything." Nat said.

I left the room and went to the lab. Work was a good distraction. That's all I can do, distract myself so I don't do something drastic.

The doors to the lab slid open and I turn around expecting to see Bruce. Instead I see a disheveled looking Peter Parker.

"Kid." I stand up. "What are you doing here?"

"I was just wondering if there were any updates? The media said there wasn't but I know that they're wrong a lot so I wanted to come straight here."

I don't have the heart to tell him about the letter. When we broke the news to Peter, he broke down. His whole happy go lucky demeanor melted away. He's a teenager and has already gone through too much pain for a lifetime. Losing two of his best friends was the last thing he needed.

But I can't lie to him either. He doesn't deserve that.

"Sit down, kid." I led Peter over to a small table and he sat down and wiped tears from his eyes with the sleeve of his hoodie.

"We have a minor update." He looked hopeful and it broke my heart. "I got a letter today." I pulled out the letter and handed it to him. I watched as he read it and it was like when we first told him all over again. He sniffled and wiped his nose on his sleeve.

"I want to see the pictures." He spoke barely above a whisper.

"No you don't."

"Please," he looked up at me with glossy eyes. "Just let me." I sighed, knowing how much I'll regret this, and pulled out the photos. I set them on the table in front of him and watched as he took in every detail.

He choked out a sob and I pulled him into a hug.

"I can't lose them too." He cried hard into my shoulder.

"You won't. Well find them." I don't know if I was comforting him or myself.

A/N: I wasn't planning on posting this yet but this book just hit 3k reads so here, it's a treat.