Chapter 5

Darkness surrounded Rebecca even after she'd opened her eyes. She could hear the sound of the van's engine, and feel its cold interior wall pressed against her side, but she still couldn't work out why she couldn't see anything. Then she remembered; she was travelling in the van with Loki off to somewhere. "Loki?", she asked quietly, thinking that he was near her. No answer. She tried adjusting her position, realising her arms had gone numb behind her after not moving for however long she had been asleep. "Loki?", she asked again, this time a little louder. Still no one answered her. She started to panic, fearing that she had just been put in here on her own and was being driven somewhere to get dumped. "Loki!", she screamed panicking, frantically trying to get up. A firm hand came from beside her and clamped down on her shoulder, pushing her back down. A few seconds later, the hood she'd forgotten she had been wearing was removed, and she blinked, letting her eyes adjust to the darkened interior.

Hawkeye was kneeling down in front of her, his hand on her shoulder, the hood in his other hand, looking at her seriously with his piercing blue eyes. Looking past him, she could see other SHIELD agents and Selvig sitting down, side by side, not speaking, just staring blankly ahead of them. Up at the top of the van, beside the closing door, she could see Loki, sitting down, his eyes closed, his face even paler than usual. He looked as if he was muttering something under his breath, but it was too inaudible to make out. What caught her eye though was the mysterious golden sceptre that sat on his lap, emitting a pulsating blue glow at the tip. Transfixed, she couldn't take her eyes off it. However, her stomach let out a loud rumble which alarmed her, and brought her attention back. She didn't realise how hungry she was. It must have been a good day at least without food. "Here, eat this", Hawkeye said to her, pulling out what looked like a chocolate bar from his pocket, offering it to her. Hesitantly, she looked from it to him, unsure of whether she should take it. "Last chance", he said, offering it to her again. Knowing she might not get the chance to eat again, Rebecca gave in, and leant forward and took a bite, and with Hawkeyes help, ravenously ate it all. He also pulled out a bottle of water from behind him, which she again was undecided about accepting. "Last chance", he said again, wiggling it in front of her. Hesitantly, she nodded her head, and leant forward as he poured it for her to drink, which she gulped down greedily. Once she had finished, he put the bottle away and reached down behind her, touching her bonds on her wrists, checking they were still tight. Seeming satisfied, he got up and moved over to the other side of the van and sat back down, keeping a watch on her.

She slumped back against the wall of the van, sighing, looking at each of them in turn, trying to figure out what was doing this to them. "Where are we going?", she dared herself to ask them, perhaps not as confidentially as she would have liked. "Stuttgart", Barton replied almost immediately, blankly, not taking his eyes off her. "Why?", she asked him, shuffling to adjust her position. "To get Iridium". "Oh, right", she replied slightly confused, having no idea what that stuff was, probably something scientific she assumed. "It's all part of the plan. Unlike you", Barton said unexpectedly at her, his eyes almost likes knifes in her. She gulped, realising how much of an inconvenience she must be causing them. The only reason she was here was because of Loki, she thought. She had taken something of his, and he needs her so he can get it back. But where had she put it. Her thoughts trailed off. She glanced back at Barton, and froze. He was sat watching her, twisting a knife in his hand. "Where's the ring?", he asked forcefully. She blinked, gulping, and tried to edge backwards. Barton suddenly leapt forward, grabbing hold of her hair, pulling her head back and thrust his knife against her neck. She screamed out in terror, her breathing coming in sharp gasps. "Tell me!", he demanded, thrusting the knife deeper against her. "I... I don't know", she pleaded, trying to push herself away backwards. "I don't believe you", he said slyly, bringing his face closer to hers. She looked up at him pleadingly, shaking her head, "I'm sorry. I can't remember". He looked at her, and slowly pulled his knife away from her neck slightly. "I don't believe you". He sharply pulled her head back further, pushed the blade forcefully against her neck causing her to scream out in terror.

"Enough!", Loki commanded suddenly. Rebecca glanced over to him. He was stood, sceptre in hand, looking coolly at Hawkeye. "We're here". Hawkeye released his grip on Rebecca, pulling his knife away from her, pocketing it, before turning around and heading back to where he was sat. She breathed heavily, gulping in air, looking up at Loki in relief. He knelt down beside her, and placed his hand gently against her cheek. She flinched slightly at first, but was grateful for his cooling touch that calmed her. "Where is my ring?", he asked gently, looking at her, his blue tinted eyes looking deep into hers. "I can't remember, I...", she tailed off. Her eyes were drawn to the golden sceptre that he had slowly brought up in front of her, its sharp, pointed, glowing blue tip aimed towards her. She froze in thought, looking back at him, her eyes alive in terror. "You will tell me, when I return", he said menacingly at her, his deep blue eyes piercing into her.

The van came to a sudden halt. Loki stood up, towering over her, before turning, making his way over to the van's side door, and opened it. She could hear traffic passing by, people talking and laughing, and music playing. One by one, the agents jumped out along with Hawkeye, until there was only Loki, Selvig, an agent and Rebecca left inside the van. "What are you going to do?", she asked him, looking slightly worried. "Crash a party of course", he replied slyly, smirking at her. Without warning, the sceptre in Loki's hand started glowing, emitting a powerful golden glow all around him. Watching in awe, she watched his clothing change, from his heavily layered black leather to a slim-fitting smart black suit, his sceptre changing into a gold cane, and a green scarf hanging around his neck. "But, that's ...", she said tailing off, in shock over what she just saw. He simply smiled at her, before too turning and climbed out of the van. Then she had a sudden idea; if people were around, then perhaps there was a small chance she could escape. Seizing the opportunity whilst Loki and Hawkeye were too busy in conversation, she took a big breath, and screamed for help. Both their heads immediately turned to look at her, their blue eyes full of rage. The SHIELD agent beside her swiftly grabbed hold of her, one arm wrapped around her neck, their hand clamped firmly over her mouth muffling her cries. "Pathetic", Loki snarled at Rebecca, watching her struggle, before grabbing the door and slamming it shut.

After kicking out and screaming for a few more minutes, Rebecca gave in, realising it was pointless, sighing in frustration. Even after she'd stop the SHIELD agent kept his hold tight round her neck, but removed his hand from her mouth. "Thanks", she said sarcastically to him, attempting to look round at him. She looked across, over at Selvig, and couldn't help but feel sorry for him too. Like so many of the others before, he was still sat there, staring blankly ahead, his blue eyes unfocused. Looking at his attire, she couldn't help but think that he hadn't taken a shower for a while, his clothes all scruffy, sweat visibly clung to his face. She continued to sit there in silence, listening to the noise outside; the chatter of people at this party, the gentle music playing. And then there was silence. A deadly silence.

Then the screaming started. She could hear the frightened screams of people running around outside, combined with the noise of police vehicles speeding past. Suddenly, the van was rocked by an enormous blast of an explosion, followed by the sound of a dying siren. Then, just as swiftly as it started, the screaming stopped as a powerful voice boomed above the chaos. Rebecca tried to shift her position to hear what was going on better, but she failed in vain to move, as the agent kept her pinned down. Straining her hearing, she could just make out the voice, which sent a cold shiver down her spine. "You were made to be ruled", she heard Loki proclaim to them, "In the end, you will always kneel". His voice scared her, making her wish she wasn't there at all. But then she couldn't make out what else was happening or being said, it became too difficult to hear. And then the screaming started again; she could hear the frightened people outside running past, mixed with what sounded like a fight. This was then joined by a sudden blast of music, an AC/DC track she thought, then nothing. Just silence.

Unexpectedly, the van door flew open and SHEILD agents started pouring inside, resuming their seats quickly, Hawkeye followed up the rear, clutching a bow in one hand, and a metallic cylinder in the other. "What's that?", Rebecca asked him as he set his stuff down in the corner. He didn't reply, but turned around and closed the van door behind him, before addressing the driver, "Let's go". Rebecca quickly looked at them all, their blues eyes staring back at her. "Where's Loki?", she asked a little concerned at Hawkeye as he knelt down in front of her. "Where is he? What's happening?", she asked him again, starting to get panicky as the van's engine started and started to drive off. "It's all part of the plan. Now stay still", Barton said coolly, reaching into his pocket, pulling out a needle. "No!", Rebecca screamed, now wild in panic, kicking out at him, trying to get her hands free, not wanting him to come anywhere near her with it. The agent holding her tightened his grip, and clamped his hand over her mouth again in an attempt to silence her. Hawkeye grabbed hold of her arm, and in one swift movement, plunged the needle straight into her arm, injecting her with its contents. She continued to fight with all of her strength, but soon started to lose consciousness, until it overwhelmed her, and she was consumed in the growing darkness.

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