Scarrlet's POV

The snow was falling quickly now mixed with rain. The ground was like soup, it sucked you down making it nearly impossible to move fast. The cold water stung my eyes and as the wind swirled both snow and water together seeing became difficult. A hand grasped the back of my jacket collar pulling me to my feet.

"Come on Scar, keep moving we'll meet Hope soon." Natasha tried to spur me forward but her words lacked any motivation. Her hair was pasted to her face and it was clear even she was struggling with the weather. With a shiver I marched on managing a slow jog. Steve led the way carrying Tony who had severely twisted his ankle.

As we clambered up the hill large spots of mud slid down hitting us in the face, shoulders, or any other part of the body that wasn't already filthy. Just as soon as the mud hit you though it was washed away. The group struggled on in front voices barely audible against the storms cries. Grunting I lifted a heavy mud covered foot. As I took a step a large clump of mud slammed me hard in the chest. It sent me toppling backwards. My vision darkened and my sense of direction disappeared as I tumbled backwards. Snagging the trunk of a tree I straightened myself trying desperately to get my bearings.

"This way!" Thor's voice boomed. Cocking my head I followed the sound. Stumbling in the direction of his voice I clawed my way of iñ forward. Water and snow continued to batter my cold shivering body. I could feel my energy slowly slipping away and moving became increasingly difficult. Keep going. The trees around me swayed teetering dangerously on their loose roots. Reaching the top I searched for someone anyone I recognized but saw nothing. No. They should be here. Wouldn't they notice me missing?

"Hello?" I yelled my voice catching and forcing me to cough. Come on they have to be here somewhere! But even as the thought crossed my mind I knew it was hopeless. I called again and again but no answer came. I screamed so much that my voice became cracked and shaky. My legs had trouble carrying me forward and my mind seemed to be slowly consumed by a fog. The ground became more unsteady with each step I took. Maybe if I just... Un-able to finish the thought I slumped over into the mud and snow. Breathing seemed difficult with each second but I forced the bitter air between my chattering teeth. Where are you guys?

Time for the kill. It seemed those words were etched in everyone's thoughts. Our conversation with Hope had ended with a short clip of exchanged words.

"Where are you?" Steve asked. He seemed extremely nervous and so did Natasha.

"Clint knows. Go to the Mount, if I'm not there I switched locations. Head to the Saddle." With that the green light disappeared and the device was quickly crushed under Steve's boot with a mumbled 'just in case.'

"Can someone explain why this is so important? Who is after us in the first place?" Tony insisted nervously. Just as the words left his mouth a flash of lightning and the boom of thunder jolted him in his seat.

"Laura said a storm was do." Clint whispered absent mindedly.

"What was the room?" Thor asked thick brows furrowed.

"Nothing! That's not important. We need to leave before they get here. We need to make sure Laura and the kids are safe." Natasha ordered. She stood along with the others heading to the door when Tony stepped in front of the group along with Thor.

"Hold up. You want us to drop everything and leave?" He inquired. " No way. We haven't gotten a single explanation about any of this."

"I agree." Thor supplied. " It seems foolish to drop everything and leave. We do not have a clear understanding of the situation."

"Look we don't have time for this!" Natasha insisted her voice hitching and it sounded as if she was pleading. "Listen to me."

Her begging seemed to throw them off a bit. Sadly Tony's resolve returned and he shook his head. With a quick grab he snatched the key to the door, locked it, and tossed the key under the door crack. An uproar passed through the room. Clint had installed the doors to only lock from the inside with a key. Now our means of escape were gone. Except for the window. With that fleeting thought I moved towards it but was stopped when Thor tossed a large stack of books in front of it and set his hammer upon it. There was no light in the room now. Luckily Clint managed to find the emergency candles.

"What are you doing?!" Clint cried. " If there is a threat I want my family to get to safety!"

"We need to leave!" Steve boomed. Suddenly loud voices blended together until one pierced the mess of jumbled words.

"I JUST WANT THE TRUTH!" It was Tony and from the glow of the candle it was clear to see he was fuming. "I am not going on with this. Not anymore. I almost burned to a crisp, I have dealt with lies and secrets, I have gone into hiding, and not once have I gotten an explanation."

The room fell silent and it seemed that everyone whether they were willing to say it or not agreed. I had to admit I felt the same way. Steve shuffled in Natasha's direction where she seemed to be trying to hide in the corner. 'Always in the shadows' I thought.

"Natasha..." He rested a hand on her shoulder and it was easy to see the tension in her shoulders increase. "They're right...and I think you know that... Maybe if you just t-"

"I don't think you'll understand." She cried and it was clear she was fighting off tears. "You all want answers but what about me? Have you ever stopped to think that maybe there is a reason I don't..." Clint stepped forward.

"Guys just stop okay." He glanced over his shoulder at Steve who was trying to console her. "What we need to focus on is getting out of here."

"He's right." Thor conceded. "We are in the wrong Tony. It is not safe to do this not now."

"Look. All I'm saying is talk about this weird room thing keeps happening, those numbers keep popping up, and there's only one of us who knows what this means. We have been attacked more the once, electronically and soon physically by these people. We have a threat, and we need the details. Whoever it is somehow knows we are here and the information needed to get into my web servers. Whoever or whatever this is it's out to get us and more specifically her." He said calming down and nodding in Natasha's direction. "Just keep that in mind."

With that Thor moved to the window brushed aside the books after lifting his hammer. He motioned for us to come closer as he lifted the window pane. I did not expect to feel the nip of the air and the sting of snow and water. We had been so caught up in our own predicament that we had not cared to notice the weather.

"Come." Thor commanded with a gentle but authoritative voice. With that he leapt through the window. Tony mumblings curses under his breath followed and jumped through with an aggravated call. Next Clint went calling to Thor that he didn't need to be caught. Next was Bruce who awkwardly crawled out followed by me. With a glance over my shoulder at the two remain figures I leapt safely into Thor's grasp. Looking around realized Clint had disappeared and barely spotted him running towards the Homestead.

Seconds later Natasha and Steve landed next to each other Steve with his shield and Natasha now armed. I noticed that she stayed particularly close to him half hiding behind his bulk like a child. Clint returned minutes later winded and gave us a nod. "They're safe. They're in the basement and Laura has a way to contact SHIELD if need be."

As Clint finished his sentence another crack of thunder called and the wind and sleet came harder. By now all of us were soaked to the bone but with the amount of adrenaline in our blood we hardly noticed. Glancing towards the horizon I watched as a strike of lightning illuminated the night. It was almost impossible to see but it looked to be people. Coming from the woods a group of seven emerging from the trees. Upon another flash it was clear that it was a group of people and they were moving dangerously fast.

"What the...?" Bruce did not get to finish his sentence when beams of light broke the veil of darkness and flashed in our eyes. The soft hum of vehicles filled the empty space. With the sudden amount of light we could see the group mounted on motorcycles rushing towards us. In moments they were upon us. Our group shrank back backs touching as the threat motored around us in circles. Steve had enough sense to bring his shield, which was why he and Natasha had appeared later. Thor held his hammer but Clint was unarmed as well as Tony. Bruce shuddered next to us but he kept himself contained for the time being. Sliding a clip into her gun Natasha readied herself though I could see the slight look of fear in her eyes. It was masked well enough that anyone else wouldn't have noticed. What is it about these people that terrifies her so much?

"What's the plan?" Tony asked.

"I'll try to create break. When it happens run into the woods from what I can tell their bikes aren't equipped for the terrain." Steve ordered. With that he tossed his shield knocking an unsuspecting rider off of his bike. His motorcycle collapsing to the side and caused another to go flying. Almost instantly Clint, Bruce, and Tony sprinted in the other direction. There was so much chaos that they were unnoticed. "Go with them they'll need someone to watch their backs."

Natasha paused an almost look of pain etched in her features but she turned following the escapees. Thor, Steve and I faced the now recovered group of bikers. Two broke away from the group in pursuit of Natasha. The sound of gunshots rang and I assumed she was firing at them. A flash from my peripheral vision gave me just enough warning to hex the metallic chain headed for me. Seconds later another wrapped around my arm yanking me to the ground. Twisting I pulled the chain from the rider's grasp. Stumbling to my feet I ducked as Thor's hammer sailed over my head knocking the rider a good eight feet. Steve deflected a chain and dodged a bike that had broken ranks heading towards him. Sliding I slipped under another of the metallic whips, turned and hexed it. The chain went flying smacking the rider in the recoil. Four down one left plus the two following the others.

The last rider turned to face us. With a rev of the engine they charged. Thor tossed his hammer causing it to slam into the bike however the rider was ready and leapt off. With a roll they were on their feet. A flash and a yelp came from Steve's direction. Another flash and a kiss of the skin told me he was throwing knives. Steve rolled deflecting the third blade from its designated path. Me. Thor grunted as he was hit but charged any ways. Whoever it was that attacked us was light on their feet. They dodged in fluid motions in and out punching Thor in specific spots. Obviously out of knives Steve and I rushed to help. Rolling away from Steve's shield the aggressor sprang forward landing a punch on Steve's arm. Raising my hands I blasted the aggressor backwards where Thor snagged him out of the air and tossed him into the dirt. With a grunt our enemy was on their feet again.

"Who is this guy?" Steve asked in frustration. The fighting resumed Thor and Steve trying to knock him down but whoever it was was almost to fast and each time he landed a hit Steve and Thor slowed. From afar I redirected his attempted punches and kicks as best as I could and with this small advantage we weakened the opponent. When Steve managed to land a good clean hit the enemy went down hard. Unmoving we ran for the woods.

As we got closer the sound of two sputtering engines greeted our ears. On closer examination two rider's were lying on the ground motionless next to their bikes. With a sigh of relief we pushed on into the woods. Steve called for the others and with the help of Thor and a blast of lightning as a signal we met in a small clearing. My arm stung slightly and I knew I had been hit but there wasn't time to examine the injury.

"Where to?" Thor inquired.

"Follow me. We have to hurry more are coming." Clint urged. Sure enough the faint sound of grumbling engines caused my adrenaline to pump anew. So we turned and ran. As we went my energy drained as did every one else's along the way Tony had fallen his ankle severely twisted and possibly broken. Coming across a steep incline we pushed on.

My eyes threatened to close and I focused on forcing them open with what little strength I had left. Gasping my breath hitched and I felt like I was suffocating. Just hang on. They'll find you, they have to?