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𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟯𝗿𝗱, 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟮
bakersfield california
• 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 •

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THE TOWN WAS quiet at this time of night, all though to be fair- it seemed to always be quiet here.

    There were no tourists lounging about, no cars at the stoplight, no distant chatter from families. It could have been abandoned- but I knew better. Something had changed about this place, though I had only been living here for a couple of months, I knew that this eerie atmosphere was most unfamiliar.

    I lengthened my strides, keeping my hooded head down as I neared my apartment complex. I was in a rush tonight- my senses practically on override as I risked a glance behind me. I wasn't being followed. Yet.

    I couldn't believe I had slipped up again. It was becoming a constant theme for me, I would move cities, create a new life for myself, finally become comfortable, and then I would lose control over my emotions and reveal my true monstrous nature.

    I scaled the rusty stairs quickly, knowing it was only a matter of time before they came. They being the government... I presumed.

    You see, they had been after me for quite some time now, their intelligent technology apparently able to trace my energy semaphore across the country. I didn't know what they wanted with me, and I didn't want to find out.

    Once I reached my floor, I fiddled with the lock, hands shaking as I recalled what I had done just an hour prior. Pushing the memory out of my mind, I finally opened my door and stepped inside, only to be greeted with a gun to my head.

    I froze my limbs, pulse rushing as I stared down the weapon before me. A dark skinned man, who wore a long black trench coat and an eyepatch, was behind the weapon, singular eye narrowed at me.

    "Lotus Abernathy." He stated, voice radiating authority. "You are a hard woman to track."

    Feigning confidence, I shrugged. "What can I say? I didn't want to be found."

    "And yet here we are." The man glared, not lowering his weapon.

    I sighed, fighting to keep my emotions underway. The last thing I needed was for two episodes to transpire in the same night. "What do you want?"

    "Peace." The man said, finally placing the gun back in his holster. "And answers."

    I needed to buy myself time. I knew he wasn't here alone. In fact, he probably had agents in the other room. I moved to the kitchen, opening my fridge to pull out some orange juice. I poured myself a glass, offering the agent before me one. "You're gonna have to be a little more specific, agent...?"

    "Fury." The agent ignored the orange juice and stepped closer, towering intimidatingly over me. "There were reports of an explosion, just down the street from here. In a bar."

    "Something about an angry woman and a malicious perv." He continued, looking at me expectantly.

    "He really wouldn't take a hint," I rolled my eyes at the memory. "Someone had to teach him to keep his hands to himself."

    "So you blew him up?" The man arched a brow.

    I scoffed, "Don't be ridiculous. I barely even touched him, he's fine. But you already knew this, so I ask you again; what do you want?"

    "I want to understand," He started. "Who you are."

    "Why? So you can drag me in and turn me into some science experiment?" I laughed, setting my empty glass down, eyes searching the room for a quick escape. "I don't think so."

    The man was quiet for a while, both of us staring the other down, not wanting to be the first to give in. "We need your help." He said at last, voice sounding gruff and reluctant.

    That got a real laugh out of me. "You're joking, right?"

    "I don't joke Miss Abernathy." He shot. "Let's just say that there's a threat to our planet. We don't have long before it attacks, I'm gathering some of Earth's strongest beings to aid us in the fight- unfortunately that includes you... although we aren't exactly sure what it is about you that makes you so special, we could use all the help we can get."

    I considered his words, eyes finding my window on the opposite wall. "So you're not here to arrest me?"

    "That depends on your answer." He stated. "Are you going to help us, or not?"

    "Are you threatening me?" I crossed my arms.

    "Maybe I am." He didn't back down.

    I considered his words, debating jumping out the window and bolting off to the next city. "What kind of threat are we talking about?"

    "So you'll help?"

    "I didn't say that." I frowned. "I just wanna know what we're up against."

    The agent sighed and passed me a Manila file. "This is everything we know so far."
   
    I opened it, glancing halfheartedly at the images and text. "His name is Loki, he comes from space- and exactly 2 days ago, he stole a powerful weapon called the Teseract and blew up one of our bases."

    "He plans on taking over Earth, no matter the cost. We need to get this weapon back and stop Loki before Earth is under his control." The man explained.

    I froze at the image of the Teseract, the cubes familiar blue hue stirring something within me. I had seen that weapon before... a long time ago.

    I snapped the file closed, sliding it back to the agent. "So you really expect me to believe that if I come join your band of weirdos and fight off Lord Greasy, you won't arrest me?"

    The man shrugged. "It won't matter anyways, because if we lose- getting arrested will be the least of your worries, trust me."

    I thought about that, watching the man stalk for the door, not bothering to take the file with him. "Or keep running away from your problems- see how that works out for you."

    He paused, just about to leave. "But, if you do decide to make yourself useful- you'll know where to find us."

    Then he was gone.

    I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and locked the door quickly, not wanting to risk any more agents entering my home tonight.

    What he had told me... about Loki and his plans... couldn't be true, right? I opened the file back up, the Teseract staring up at me, as if laughing at my discontent.

    I had hoped to never see any of those Stones again, and yet now there was one right there. That could only mean one thing- my vision was teetering on the edge of inception. And I knew exactly how it ended.

    On the last page of the file was a name and an address:

Nicholas J. Fury
12834 Symphony St.

Be there at 9 am sharp tomorrow if you're in. If you're not, we'll find you.

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Hope you liked chapter one, it was sort of short but don't worry- they'll get longer as the plot progresses, this was just an introduction. Let me know what you think! Thanks for reading and see you soon!