Chapter Thirteen

Warning: Graphic and bloody!

When Malone awoke, she was in someones arms. "James?" she muttered sleepily. She looked up, dread grew in her gut. This wasn't James, it was Steve. "Steve? Where's James? What's going on?" Mal demanded.

Steve tightened his hold on her, grimacing, "You don't remember?" Malone's forehead creased as she strained her memory. Suddenly, she gasped, "You have to go after him! Hydra, they took him!" Steve shook his head sadly, "They've already had a twelve hour head start, Mal. They're gone."

Malone pushed herself out of his arms, "No, I'm not going to accept that." Her pale hand flitted to her lips, rubbing them self-consciously. Had she imagined the kiss? Her hand fell from her lips, it didn't matter if she hallucinated it, she needed to find him.

"Where are we?" she asked. Steve answered, "On the Helicarrier." "Then take me to the armory," Mal commanded. Steve looked at her strangely, and with a surge of anger she realized he didn't take her seriously. "Steve, I don't care if you try to stop me. I swear to God, I will find him." He sighed, "I know, Malone."

At the armory, Malone picked her weapons carefully. She had two long, curved daggers hanging from her hips, throwing knives were secured to her thighs, and widow bites were wound around her wrists. Steve watched silently as she became more weapon than human. The usual gleam of humor in her eyes was gone, instead her eyes glinted with predatory hunger. It occurred to Steve that she was personally trained by the best assassin in the world. She looked absolutely lethal.

"Take me to Natasha," Malone said, her voice flat. Steve led her to the control room, where the red-headed woman sat. Malone rested her hand on the hilt of one of the daggers, "Where would they take him?" Natasha shrugged, "Somewhere."

Malone's face twisted, "Tell me, now." Natasha looked at Steve, who nodded assent. "Their closest fortress is in Canada. It's outside of Montreal, you won't miss it." Steve held up his hands, "Listen Malone, you can't tackle this alone. We'll all leave tomorrow, okay?"

Mal's shoulders tensed, "Alright." Steve relaxed, but Natasha kept her eyes fixed on Malone. "I'm, uh, gonna go rest," Malone lied. Steve nodded, walking with her. She opened the door to her room, "Steve?" "Yeah?" he answered. Her back was turned to him, and she made no move to turn. "I'm sorry," Malone closed the door quietly.

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At midnight, Malone opened her door. Her footsteps were silent as she made her way to the back of the helicarrier. She opened the outside door and a cool breeze from outside caressed her face. Mal stepped out onto the tarmac, when a voice stopped her.

"I knew you'd go," Natasha stated. Malone turned to see her leaning against the wall. "Are you going to stop me?" she asked warily. Natasha shrugged, "Maybe. It depends. Do you love him?" When Malone didn't answer, she laughed. "You can't afford to love anyone in this game, I hope you know that."

Malone glared at Natasha, but she wasn't fazed. "It makes you weak. You can go after him if you want, but if you die..." Nat paused, "I won't loose any sleep." Malone walked to her, sticking out her hand, "Let's leave on good terms then." Natasha shook her hand, "Good luck, Malone."

Mal turned and walked towards a quinjet, ignoring the swirling emotions inside of her. She climbed aboard the jet, strapping herself in. She looked down at the controls, realizing one huge problem with her plan. "Stupid!" She groaned, of course her training had not included flying. "Computer?" she asked hesitantly. "It's J.A.R.V.I.S, actually. How may I help you?" a voice stated. "Take me to Montreal. Please?" she asked awkwardly. To her surprise, the jet fired up and lifted from the tarmac.

Malone moved to the back and sat on the floor. She pulled out her daggers, testing the sharpness of each. Mal checked all her knives, pausing at the one tucked into her boot. It was the one James had given her. She flipped it, catching the worn grip in her hand.

"I'm gonna get you back," she promised.

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When Malone got over Montreal, she disengaged the autopilot. Surely, she thought, it couldn't be that hard. The control stick for the jet reminded her of a cross of joystick and steering wheel. "I can do this," she breathed.

Her hands shook as she took control, slowly circling high above the city. The ride was shaky, and definitely not comfortable, but Malone kept the jet in the air. She eased outside the city limits, spiraling out to find the base. Soon she was searching forest. After three hours, she saw it. A thick and low bunker, made completely out of concrete.

Malone spotted a safe landing site about a mile away in a clearing of trees. She eased the quinjet down slowly, landing with a bone-jarring thump. She climbed out of the jet, beginning her trek through the woods. Eventually, she came to the base. Malone crouched in the heavy overgrowth, watching silently.

She waited, checking her watch and seeing it was five in the morning. Men and women filed into the building, arriving on foot from a nearby airstrip. Malone scuttled over to the walkway, singling out an important looking man. He was trailing behind, checking his phone. She walked behind him, grabbing him and dragging him into the overgrowth. Mal pinned him down, pulling out a piece of fabric and gagging him. She took away his possessions, and looked down at him with a sick grin. "We're gonna have lots of fun."

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The man hadn't struggled much, which was a surprise to Malone. She got him aboard the quinjet, tying him securely to a seat. Malone lifted the plane off the ground, surprised the controls were so easy. She expected that J.A.R.V.I.S. was helping quite a bit. She flew the plane back to Montreal, landing on top of an abandoned warehouse in the outskirts of the city. Malone sighed, she seemed to always wind up in abandoned warehouses.

Mal shoved her hostage out of the jet, taking him down the stairwell with a knife at his throat. When they got to the first floor, Malone tied him to a pipe. She removed the gag, "Hey there, mister. What'cha been thinking about on the ride over here?"

He grinned creepily, "I've been thinking about how Hydra's gonna find you, and they're gonna kill you."

Malone took one of her daggers out of it's sheath, "That's nice, but between now and then? I'ma mess you up." She hovered the knife threateningly above him, "Where did you take James?" The man's grin got wider, "Oh, you're her. That woman the Asset's been with these last months." Unfazed, Malone moved the knife closer to him, "You're not going to tell me?" The man shook his head.

She nodded, "Well, we'll see about that." The knife glinted as she stabbed his shoulder. He gasped in pain, his face white. "Where is he?" Malone demanded. The man shook his head, his mouth shut tight. Malone twisted the dagger. He screamed, his voice high with pain. "Where?!" she yelled.

He was silent. Malone jerked the dagger from his shoulder, watching the blood leak from it. She looked at the man, his face was drawn and tight. Malone felt no pity for him. She stabbed his thigh, twisting the dagger before asking him the question. "I'm gonna keep going," Malone breathed, "I'm gonna keep on hurting you till you break."

The man's head slumped forward, "No."

Malone gulped, feeling like she was going to throw up. She hoped the man couldn't tell that she was so uncertain. Did she have the guts to keep going? Could she continue to torture this man? "I'm sorry," James had said. Anger like a wildfire scorched Malone's veins, she had to continue.

"Which finger would you like taken off first?" she asked politely. The man laughed, "You wouldn't." Malone took out a small, almost delicate knife. "Don't underestimate me," she warned. He gulped, "The Asset, they already moved him. He's being wiped as we speak." Malone pressed the knife against his thumb, drawing a thin line of blood. "W-wait, I know where he is!" "Get on with it then!" Malone snarled. The man gulped, "He's in S.H.I.E.L.D. tower, the very bottom floor."

Malone smiled, "Thank you, for your time." She got up, turning to leave. "Wait!" The man shouted, "Aren't you going to untie me?" Malone laughed, it was a hollow sound. "Just be thankful I'm not going to kill you. If you're lucky, Hydra will find you before the rats do."

A/N Woah, she got real here, am i right? Was it too out of character for her? I just wanted to show that she'd do anything to get James back.

Also, has anyone seen Ant-Man?? WHAT ABOUT THE AFTER CREDITS SCENE. HOLY CRAP! I CRIED.