Search for the Soul Gem

Chapter Nineteen

     "Goddamn it! Sit still!" the one cursed under his breath. I was about to yank my arm away from the solider again when the helicopter jerked up off the landing pad. I fell into the back of the seat and that allowed the soldiers enough time to lock my arms into the restrains on the chair. I tried to pull my arms free but it was no use. My gaze landed on the door leading back into the tower. There was a burst of color through the door. Red, white, blue, gold, black, and purple. The Avengers all stood on the landing pad watching the helicopter raise higher and higher into the sky. I took a deep breath to scream out for help again when I was gagged by a thick piece of cloth. I bit down and tried to scream but all that came out where muffles. 

     "Get us out of here Ace!" the soldier on my left called up. Shots were fired at the helicopter rocking it back and forth. I tried to call out for Tony but it was muffled. Steve threw his shield at the helicopter which just missed it. The helicopter rose quickly into the air and started off in the direction of the bay. I saw a flash of red from behind the helicopter trailing behind us. I wrenched myself around to look out the window and watch Tony try to keep up. I watched helplessly as Tony fell further and further behind us. I clenched my jaw and tried to keep my lip from trembling. There was nothing they could do. I was going to whatever the Raft was and I knew nothing good was going to come of it. As we reached the edge of the city, Tony disappeared from view behind us. I closed my eyes against the new onslaught of tears. With force, I managed to look out the window. The helicopter was lost over the bay, the city falling away behind us. This was the second time I was being taken over the ocean by strangers. Within minutes, we were swallowed up by the infinite stretch of blue. Dots of white waves broke up the vast expanse of blue. We flew for a long time over the ocean. It was almost like we'd stopped, all he blue bleeding in to a single color. Suddenly, after what felt like hours, the helicopter jerked to start a decent. 

     "Chopper to Raft, come in Raft," Ace called into his headset. There was a pause where I assumed there was a response, "We're incoming with a new prisoner," Ace said. But that didn't make any sense. There was nothing around and no land in sight. 

     "Copy that, standing by," Ace replied. The helicopter came to a halt over the water. A vibrating sound broke over the sound of the helicopter. A huge circle in the water started churning, almost like someone had pulled the plug on a full bathtub. Suddenly a bright metal building erupted out of the water and rose over the water. My blood ran cold. A prison under water. No one would ever find me here... 

     The water poured off every side of the prison as the helicopter started forward again. A hatch opened in the center of the roof to allow the helicopter entrance. The helicopter touched down. The two soldiers next to me yanked my arms free and prepared me to fight back but all my rebellion had left me. What was the point of fighting when there was no possible means of escape. I couldn't fly a helicopter and even if I made it to the water, I couldn't swim that far. I let the soldiers pull me up and out of my seat. They pushed me toward the door and I tumbled out of the helicopter and down to the landing pad. Every part of my left side that struck the ground ached. I made to try and push myself up on shaky arms. Charlie and Sal's hands appeared on my arms and roughly yanked me up. Ace appeared in front of me. 

     "Are you going to keep quiet?" he asked. My jaw flexed and I glared back at him. He reached up and pulled the gag out of my mouth. I kept my mouth closed but continued to glare at him. A crooked, cruel smile spread across his mouth, "That's a good girl," he brought his hand up to caress my cheek. I jerked my head away from him, disgusted. Ace laughed, his fingers tangling in my hair and yanking my head back violently. I yelped out in pain and leaned back to try and lessen the pain, "Listen here, you better behave. You don't want me angry," Ace threatened. I clenched my jaw to keep from trembling. He broke another cold smile and a small snicker escaped his throat. I suppressed a shiver. Ace turned from me and led us down the short walk off the landing pad.