The Avengers Experiments

Chapter 20

Scarlett:

I stared at the message, then at the picture. From what I could tell, it was Ria, but how could I be sure?

Hesitantly, my fingers flew over the keys as I typed,

:Who is this?:

A few seconds later, a reply came.

:That's not important. What matters is that Victoria is alive.:

My eyes narrowed.

:How do I know you're not just Loki trying to trick me into handing myself over?:

There was a pause, before the mystery number replied simply.

:I can't. But would you rather risk taking a leap of faith, or spend the rest of your life wondering what might've happened if you had chosen to trust me?:

I let my eyes flutter closed, my exhaustion getting the best of me for a second. Then an image appeared in my head.

It was a tiny Ria, sitting on my bed, holding my head in her lap and playing with my hair as I cried. We had just gotten our worst injections yet, but she had been strong for me, never letting me see her tears. She had taken care of me, even though I was older.

In that second, I knew my answer.

:Alright, I'm in.:

:Good. I cannot tell you where Victoria is currently, but I know she only has 4 more days to join Loki willingly. I don't know what will happen if you refuses him.:

A shiver crawled down my spine at the words. I knew Ria would refuse him. It's not what decision she'll make, it's how he'll react that worries me.

:She'll never say yes.: I texted.

:Then you must rescue her before 4 days is up.:

:Maybe if you told me where she was, I'd be able to do something!: I scoffed, suppressing the urge to crush my phone.

:I can't tell you because I don't know where we are. However, I can get a message to Victoria. Would you like to give me one for her?:

My fingers paused over the keys.

:Tell her:....

:Tell her I'm sorry.: I typed, letting a sorrowed shudder rush through my body.

:I will send the message. I must go now, but I will update you as much as I can. Do not tell your parents or anyone else about this transaction. Loki has eyes and ears everywhere.:

Then the conversation was deleted.

I sat in a nearby chair, my hands flattened against each other in my lap.

If there is a chance....

I have to take it.

I owe my best -my only- friend that much.

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Ria:

I lay facing the wall, unwilling to face any of the maniacs here, Loki chief among them. With my hands and feet shackled to the bed and a muffler over my mouth, this was the only act of defiance I was capable of.

It's only been a few months, but it feels like an entire lifetime. A lifetime I could be spending with my dad, seeing my mom, being with Scarlett....

Behind me, the door opened with a soft whoosh, but my eyes never moved from the wall in front of me. Footsteps sounded from behind me, pausing at the edge of my bed.

My breath hitched in my throat. Was Loki here to mock me? Attempt to persuade me? Punish me?

A pair of hands grabbed my shoulders, tugging until I was facing them. The light leaking from the doorway stung my eyes, and I squinted, cringing away. After a while, my eyes adjusted, and I looked up at the figure. Soon, the face cleared, and I realized it was the girl who was so familiar, the guard who had given me the good advice. Finally, her name came into my mind.

"Marie!" I attempted to declare, but the muffler completely blocked out all noises I tried to make.

Marie seemed the understand, because she smiled, sitting next to me on the end of the bed. "I don't have a lot of time." She stated quickly, pulling something out of her pocket. "I've been a bit busy babysitting the baby minions." She rolled her eyes as she spoke, placing a tiny slip of paper in my hand.

I opened it slowly, reading the three words scrawled across the page.

-Scarlett says sorry- it read plainly.

Looking back up at Marie, I was about to attempt to question her about it, but I caught a glimpse of a red dot flashing in the corner of the room.

Of course. She can't say anything or she's screwed.

"I just came to tell you that Loki wants you to make your choice in 4 days, on Sunday. For your sake, I hope you make the right choice." Marie said, rising to her feet. As she walked towards the door, she suddenly turned. "He also told me to get you anything you wanted. Anything come to mind?"

One thought came to mind instantly. I held my left hand flat in the air, then mimed writing on it with my right.

"Pen and paper. I think Loki can spare a few materials." She grinned, before leaving me alone in the dark as the door closed.

Immediately, I rolled back over to the wall. But as I stared at the wall, twin tears crept down my cheeks.

-@hulkfreak13