Protect You

The escape and rescue

A boy's head remains slumped against the wall behind him. His breaths are shallow and his eyes are closed. The iron bars of his cell seem to close in around him, casting long eerie shadows over his malnourished frame. Subconsciously, he is aware of the smell of decay and mildew around him. The sharp tang of copper on his tongue no longer stands out to him. Somewhere in a distance, he can hear the loud clangs of metal on metal. An alarm is going off loudly.

If he could open his eyes without feeling nauseous, Peter Benjamin Parker would have noticed HYDRA agents rushing past his cell, fully loaded with guns.

Teresa Elizabeth Parker, he remembers the name like a whispered promise. Who was she to him? His heart swells at her thought, a protective instinct flaring. Alas, it's not strong enough yet.

For now, he rests.

Amongst the HYDRA agents outside, an orange haired girl struggles to keep up her balance. They attacked while she was still in that God forbidden chair. They had tried yet again to take over his mind but Peter resisted. She was left vulnerable by the torture that had preceded.

She remembers. She remembers shared laughter with a boy, late-night talks and mischief. Peter Benjamin Parker, her rock. Her older brother. But no matter how hard she tries, she can't remember his face.

Peter never seemed to break, not in front of her. On the other hand, she had shattered after the first few days spent in their captivity. The HYDRA agents had used his unconscious body as leverage, ushering her on. Teresa was forced into sitting on the same chair that had almost destroyed Peter.

The agents around her shoot every cell's occupant. She can't bring herself to do that. Peter is in a cell, she suddenly remembers. He is still a faceless boy but she knows she loves him, that she needs to protect him like he protects her.

Peter knows he should have more of a reaction to the turmoil surrounding his cell. He knows he should try and get up. What if the intruders in HYDRA turn out to be helpful for them?

He takes in a deep breath and stands. The sound of gunshots grows louder and louder as he faintly realises that the HYDRA agents are following their abandonment protocol.

If the base is ever attacked by intruders deemed too strong to fight without preparation, all prisoners are to be murdered.

Following the same protocol, the cells of agents supposed to be brainwashed, are open. Peter wobbles out, his legs weaker than ever before. He needs to find Teresa. They need to at least try escaping. He needs to protect his sister.

Teresa scans every cell for... what? A glimpse of familiarity? A sudden connection? Her brother remains faceless in her mind but she remembers every contour of his soul.

The agents around her jab and yell, taking out every occupant with ruthless efficiency. She can't do the same, not when Peter might be among them.

Out of nowhere, an agent jumps in front of her and Teresa immediately drives the knife in her hand into him. The boy in front of her lets out a pained gasp as she pulls it out. 

"Teresa! I found you," He says, sweat and blood drying on his brow. His hand clutches the bleeding wound on his stomach.

It all comes back to her, every feature of her brother's face. His short, brown hair and small nose. The smattering of freckles across his cheeks and his quick, bright smile. She looks into his blue, doe eyes which though weary, sparkle with hope.

"Peter?" Teresa whispers.

"We need to get out of here," Peter says with a tone of urgency. "We need to escape."