EMILY POV

Wanda sat next to me for the next few hours, rubbing my arm in comfort as I clutched a mug of steaming hot chocolate, thanks to Laura, who had said hot chocolate helped to calm her down after something stressful. Nat was kneeling behind me on the mattress and gently braiding my hair, which she said was something she and her sister use to do to relax. She didn't say much more about her sister, so I decided not to ask. She had already braided it several times, but kept redoing it.

Steve kept attempting to start conversation for me, but I felt like if I opened my mouth, I would be sick, and Nat ended up talking to him instead. It wasn't just guilt churning in my stomach, but it was the main cause. I couldn't really remember what happened in the backyard, or even how I got out there, but I vaguely remembered using my power that was shortly followed by a green flash which I guessed was Loki's. Judging by the lack of memory of what happened, I was guessing it was something to do with HYDRA, which lead me to believe that I had tried to attack Loki or something.

I had tried to make eye contact with him several times, but he looked away from me every time, although he stayed close. All of the other Avengers hung between the kitchen and lounge room, except Thor, who was outside playing with Cooper and Lila.

"Do you want anymore hot chocolate?" Laura spoke up from where she was sitting near the window, watching Thor with the kids. I shook my head softly, trying not to ruin the braid Nat was doing.

"Do you want me to get you some snacks?" Wanda asked and I shook my head again, looking down at my clenched hands on my lap. Nat tied off the braid she was doing and gently put it over my shoulder, but I didn't even react. I could still hear screams faintly ringing in my ears, but they weren't noticeable if I didn't focus on them. The churning in my stomach was the worst.

I skipped lunch as well, I couldn't stomach anything. I just sat quietly on my mattress while everyone helped themselves to the platter of sandwiches. If anything, my stomach tumbled even more when the smell of food reached my nose. Wanda and Nat resumed their positions next to me, but thankfully didn't try to strike up a conversation, I wasn't really in the mood to talk. Wanda did try to get Loki to offer to calm me down a little bit but I refused, knowing that a little magic wouldn't be able to help. Wanda tried to get me to go through the breathing exercises I had shared with her a little way back when I had come back from Asguard, but they didn't work.

It wasn't like I was stressed, I was just... numb almost. Apart from the sick feeling in my stomach, I couldn't feel anything. I wasn't sure if it was actually me or if it was HYDRA making me feel that way.

"You should eat something." Wanda said softly, startling me slightly as I snapped my head to see her sitting next to me. "Even if it is one sandwich. We can't have you loosing your strength." I shook my head and turned away from the sandwich she had been holding out.

"Maybe some fresh air would do you some good." Suggested Laura and I looked up at her. "You could help Lila fly the kite, she's been going pretty good."

"You could try it yourself Lady Laura." Thor called out from the couch where Lila was plaiting his long hair. At any other time I would have laughed at the clips in his hair, but I wasn't really feeling in a joking mood with the constant heavy feeling over me.

"I can teach you." Lila grinned at me and I slowly nodded. Some fresh air would probably do me good. Lila grinned happily and left Thor's hair, running over to me and grabbing my hand, trying to pull me towards the door.

"Gentle Lila." Laura warned as I slowly stood up. "Emily's not feeling well remember?" Lila nodded and wrapped her hand around my fingers, being slightly more gentle as she walked me towards the door. She grabbed her kite from the coat rack and opened up the door, immediately hitting me with a wave of fresh air, my senses sharpening instantly. I slowly walked out with Lila and took in a deep breath, letting the cool air fill my lungs. My eyes instinctively darting to the tree line to see any signs of people, though I still didn't relax when I didn't see anything.

"Come Emily!" Lila tugged on my hand, drawing me out to the middle of the grass. She held out the handle of the kite to me and I slowly took it from her. She very quickly showed me how to hold the handle and what to do with the kite when it was flying before she threw it up in the air with a giggle. I required more concentration than I thought, more often than not it nose-dived to the ground, but Lila kept throwing it up for me.

Flames flashed in front of my eyes, bright orange and tall, the crackling filling my ears.

I blinked rapidly, clearing the flames from my mind and saw that the kite was back on the ground. Lila threw it up again and ducked away squealing when the wind swept it towards her. I tried to force all thoughts of the fire out of my head as I angled the handle so the kite wings could catch the breeze.

Screams echoed in my ears, some crying out for help, others dying away pitifully or with a gurgle.

"Emmie?" Lila's voice broke through the screams. "Are you okay?" I nodded and swallowed back the lump of emotions in my throat. The kite flapped around in the breeze and I smiled weakly as Lila clapped happily.

Blood splattered across my face, the warmth dripping down my face. It trickled into my eyes and into my mouth, the metallic taste too familiar.

"That was a good one!" Lila squealed as the kite crashed down to the ground again. "Again!" She threw the kite up again and I watched it as it flew in front of the sun, shading my face temporarily.

The sky was clouded with rolling black clouds, thunder rumbling, lightning crackling. I was burning flame though, bright against the darkness. Ash lay all around me, the screams of those who once lived dying away from my ears.

I blinked rapidly and the normal blue sky came back, almost too bright, causing me to squint and shield my face from the sun. The kite still flew in the breeze darting back and forth over the sun.

The cold metal disc against my skull throbbed, metal band clamped around my head and arms, keeping me in place. My skin was pricked by numerous needles. Someone kept repeating the words "to make sure you don't questions our orders again", and it echoed through my head.

"Emmie?" Lila's voice came from next to me and I looked down sharply to see her standing there next to me. "Are you okay? You look a sick. Do you want me to get Mummy?"

"I'm okay." I forced a smile as my voice cracked slightly. "The sun's just a little bright for me." Lila nodded and I rubbed my neck gently, making sure not to bump the disk so I wasn't shocked again.

"Can I have a go at flying it now?" She asked and I nodded, keeping up my forced smile as handed her the handle and walked a metre away with the kite. I waited until she had the handle firmly gripped before I threw up the kite.

Fire erupted from my palm and filled the air, raining down hard on those around me.

I swallowed the reforming lump in my throat and focused on watching the kite in the air. It tumbled to the ground as the wind changed and I stepped forward to pick it up, my gaze turning to Lila to make sure she was ready.

Lila withering on the ground in pain, grass churned up all around her, flames licking her skin, slowly turning her to ash. The Barton house overcome my orange flames, the yells and screams of everyone still inside. There was a groaning noise and the roof collapsed, immediately cutting off those screams. I was breathing in smoke, tears running down my cheeks as I tried to breath. Lila said something amongst her screaming and I flicked my wrist towards her, smothering her in more flames until she was no more than a pile of ash.

I was on the ground before I could even register that I had fallen. Lila rushed over to me as I sat up and knelt on my knees. I jerked my head towards her, my eyes darting over her as tears began to prick in my eyes. I fisted my hands tightly as I felt my arms begin to tingle, my power trying to break free. I looked down at my arms and saw faint orange ripples in my veins.

"Go get your Dad." I croaked, my voice stuck in my suddenly dry throat. A stab of pain hit me directly in the back of the neck and I double over. More tears streamed down my face and I clenched my hands until my nails dug my palms. My ears were ringing and I couldn't hear a single thing except my uneven heartrate.

Подними -

I felt my flames leap underneath my skin and it took all myself control to not unclip my bracelets, though my brain was urging me to. The word echoed inside my head and if it weren't for the pounding in my skull, I might have been able to figure out what it meant.

I swallowed a pained scream as the disk in my neck sent another shock through me. My head began to become cloudy and I doubled over even further, squeezing my eyes shut as I struggled to try and stay in the present. My fire was desperate to break through and I could almost feel myself burning up from the inside out. My face was slick with tears, my palms dropping blood on the ground from my nails.

Мое –

"Emily!" A faint voice called out, but I barely heard it over the pounding in my head and ringing in my ears. Something cool floated into my mind, but it didn't do anything but worsen the pain rippling through me. Something touched my arm and I jerked away from it, the whole world spinning around me as my face met cool grass. Something or someone moved me away from the ground and put me against something solid, a chest. The cool presence floated in my mind again, almost struggling to break through the ringing and cloud clogging my thinking. There was another stab of pain in my neck and my eyes flew open. Through the blurriness of my pained tears, I saw Loki holding me up off the ground, his hands covered in a green haze as he touched my skin. Under my skin, I saw the orange flames rippling through my veins, powerful and painful, but not as bad as everything else.

Пламя.

My vision suddenly flickered and everything inside me just stopped.

"Found you."

"They're here." I whispered.