Search for the Soul Gem

Chapter Fifty-Three

"You will not speak to me like that. You are in my house and will behave yourself," Tony hissed, pressing his fingers into my throat. Panic flooded my mind, "You will behand or I will send you back to the Raft," he threatened. Fear shot through me. I didn't say anything, just pulled at his hands. My vision tinted black and I was about to blackout. I tried to bed with him but only chocked gurgles came out. My pleads did nothing to him and my vision went black.

I was busy in Tony's kitchen when the elevator dinged. Anxiety filled my chest. If Tony was home, there would be another fight. There always was. But I had nowhere else to go. My brownstone had been sold and my lower apartment was given away. This was all I had.

"Lucy?" it was Steve. The anxiety lessened slightly.

"I'm here," I called. I heard his feet heavy on the wood. I'd have to clean it before Tony came up. Steve appeared around the corner and stood by the counter.

"Are you thirsty?" I asked. He shook his head.

"I have some bad news," he said. The anxiety chocked me again.

"What is it?" I asked.

"There's been an accident," he started.

"Who's hurt? Is Tony hurt?" I asked.

"It wasn't Tony," he said.

"Then who?" I asked. Steve took a moment.

"Your parents," he said.

"My parents?" I breathed, feeling panicked.

"There's been an accident," Steve repeated.

"Are they okay? Where are they? I need to get to them!" I said, rounding the counter. Steve didn't move or say anything or even move, "Come on! We have to go!" I urged.

"Lucy-" he started.

"Steve, tell me where they are!" I demanded.

"New York City morgue," Steve said heavily. My chest completely constricted and cut off my ability to breathe.

"What?" I gasped.

"I'm sorry Lucy. Your parents were in a catastrophic car accident. They didn't even make it out of the area. They passed while en route to the hospital," Steve said. I grasped the edge of the counter to keep from collapsing.

"How?"

"Drunk driver in Brooklyn," Steve said.

"They were almost home," I breathed.

"I'm sorry,"

"No-no. This can't be happening," I denied. My parents can't be dead. No. They weren't. This had to be another sick joke.

"This isn't a joke. I'm so sorry," he apologized. I swallowed hard, I had no one. My family was gone, Thalia was gone. I didn't even have Tony, who I'd thought I'd have forever. Now I was trapped and alone.

"Lucy!" Tony's voice echoed through the apartment. I knew I should move and greet him but I couldn't. My mind was completely numb and my body was so sore that I couldn't get any energy into my limbs. "Lucy! Answer me!" Tony growled. I didn't say anything, I knew it wasn't a good idea but at this point, I didn't care. Maybe this time Tony wouldn't stop and I could be with my family. Tony appeared in the doorway of the room, fire in his eyes. "When I call you, you answer," he hissed. I looked up at him through eyes heavy from crying. He looked taken aback for a moment. "You look like shit," he spat. I had no energy to even feel pain from his insult. It didn't matter if I did or not. Tony wasn't going to suddenly become caring again. He hated me and I don't know why. But if I tried to go anywhere, I'd be sent back to the Raft. There was nothing I could do, so why fight.

"Earth to stupid, come in Professor Nittwitt," Tony's prodding brought me back to reality. I refocused on him but still didn't answer. Quick as lightning, he knelt over me and took my throat in his hand. He pulled me up slightly, "Are you so dumb that you lost the ability to even speak?" he demanded. I let out a strangled gasp but didn't answer. My refusal to answer was infuriating him. I could see the anger rising behind his eyes. He launched me from the bed, across the room, and into the wall.

"Answer me when I'm talking to you!" he bellowed.

"You haven't asked a question that needs answering," I croaked out. His face twisted into a sick grimace. He stalked over to me. Without waiting, his foot began colliding with my stomach. I bit down on my lip to keep from crying out. Tears spilled down my face but still, I made no sound.

"You disrespectful, little, slut," he said between kicks. A few, small moans of pain escaped but that was the only sound. He bent down and gathered fistfuls of my shit, lifting me off the ground. My feet hoovered over the ground, my arms hanging at my sides. His face was inches from mine, "I could kill you and no one would notice," he hissed. I stared into his eyes, dead.

"Go ahead, I'm dead already," I deadpanned. This seemed to startle him slightly. But as soon as it was there, it was gone. He took me and hauled me across the room.

The light hurt my eyes, even with them closed. It took me a moment to realize I was awake. I launched upright, expecting Tony or someone else to be there to attack me. There was no one around. The room I was in was completely empty except for me. There was a door on the wall to my right and across from that was a large window. I pushed myself off the ground carefully and made my way to the window. I couldn't remember how I'd gotten here or where here even was. From the window, all I could see was mountains and show. I definitely wasn't in New York anymore. Where was I? Was I still in the States? Was I in Europe? How'd I get here?

Behind me, the door opened. I turned around, not sure who I was expecting to come through the door. The man with the long, black hair stared back at me with a curious smirk on his face. It took me a moment to remember who he was. And suddenly I remember how I'd gotten here. Loki. I staggered back into the window. He laughed once.

"Did you have a nice sleep?" he asked.

"What did you do to me?" I asked, my voice shakey.

"Nothing that you haven't already done to yourself," he suggested.

"Where am I? Where have you taken me?" I asked, though my voice wasn't very demanding. His smirk grew.

"Well that wouldn't be as fun," he said, stepping toward me. I wanted to move, to run away from him but my legs wouldn't move.

"What are you going to do to me?" I whispered, my voice trembling. He smiled as he reached me.

"Have nice dreams," he said, waving his hands in front of my face. I only had time to register his arms catching me as I fell back into a deep sleep.