20 | dude in distress

Tony

"You're late."

I rolled my eyes behind my shades before taking it off and giving Obie a sarcastic smile.

"You're lucky I even showed up." I answered.

He shook his head at me and just pointed at the backstage peeps.

"Just go get prepared." He just said.

See, I would...but I kinda need to go number one.

"I need to pee first." I told him.

He looked at me with his eyebrows scrunched together. What's wrong with that?!

"You don't have time. Pee after." Obie responded.

Pee aft—Are you kidding me?! I'll be walking and talking around the stage for an hour. He wants me to hold it for a fucking hour?

"You want me to hold it?" I asked, my eyebrows cocked at him.

"Yes. Hold it." He just answered.

That's rude.

"I don't want to hold it." I said as I shook my head and stood my ground. I refuse to go on that stage while a voice is screaming at the back of my head saying 'you'll wet yourself.'

"You have to hold it." He demanded.

"I don't wa—Can you hold it?" I asked as I pointed at him. His forehead creased further at my question. Okay, what is so hard about my question?

"What do you mean can I—"

"I'm asking you if you can hold it."

"This is not about me."

"No, this is about the natural reaction of the male anatomy to 'holding it'. We can't."

"Tony—"

"Can you hold it?"

"This is ridi—"

"Can you hold it?"

"Anthony—"

"Can you hold it?"

"Fine! Just hurry up!" He finally said.

I grinned at him and patted his back. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"

He once again just rolled his eyes at me before turning around.

The smile on my face did not falter as I walked my way toward the men's room. I don't have to ask anyone where it is because for the past two years that I've given a speech here, that the men's room is basically my safe place.

I wish I could get out of doing this again next year. This would be the last time I'll be stepping foot inside the grounds of Miami Enterprise Academy.

"Mr. Anthony Edward Stark." A man's voice said from behind me as soon as I touched the door knob of the men's room.

Does he have to mention my whole fucking name?

"Please, not the government name." I whispered to myself before turning around and meeting the person who called me.

I could describe him more but his curly hair is distracting me.

"Can I help you?" I asked.

I hope not. Because I have to goddamn pee.

"I'm Ryan Clarke. And you can, actually." Damn it. "I was told you met a young woman last night. Yay high—" he said as he described her height, whoever this woman is. "Auburn hair. Blue eyes. Feisty attitude. Ring any bells?"

No, but I would love to meet her. She sounds hot.

"Nah. I don't think so. But if you find her, give me a call because I would love to have a chat with this mystery woman." I said.

I turned around as an attempt to finally go and have my business in the men's room when I heard Ryan mutter something behind me.

"She compelled you to forget. That's no problem." He said.

She what now? I meet his gaze again. I saw him just standing there with I know is a fake grin. And that was suspicious enough. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to react quickly.

The next thing I knew, they put a bag over my head and I was being dragged to God knows where and stuffed in what I can only assume is the trunk of a car.

Well, that's another way to tell me to hold my fucking pee.

—

I'll be fine. I'm sure he's already noticed I've gone missing. Unless he thinks that I just ditched the seminar because I don't want to do it. I mean, that does sound like something I would do.

No, I'll be fine. I'm Tony fucking Stark. I'm scrappy. I can get out of here.

"Oh, come on. Take the bag off of his head already. We don't treat someone as important as him Like that. Go on, take it off." I heard Ryan's voice as soon as they chained me to a cool metal chair.

Finally, the bag was removed from my head and I immediately squinted at the sudden light that shone straight into my eyes. I had to close my eyes again and move my head away. After a few seconds of adjusting from the new sight, I completely opened my eyes and roamed them around the room.

Where the fuck am I? There's not even one window in this room. The light that stung my eyes was coming from the only light bulb that was hanging above me. Now this is some cliche kidnapping shit.

"Why did you take the bag out? I was starting to get cozy with it." I said, making sure my sarcasm was noted by accompanying with a smile.

"Our apologies about all this, Mr. Stark." Said Ryan.

Are they? Are they really sorry?

"I think we're way past apologies, don't you think?" I responded, tilting my head and narrowing my eyes at him.

He thinks he can say sorry while I'm still chained up in this chair like a fucking psycho?

"Maybe." He answered. "But, there is some very valuable information hidden in that genius mind of yours. We only seek to get it so you can go back to being one of the most influential people in the world."

I scoffed. "Every piece of information in my head is valuable. You're gonna have to be more specific."

Ryan held my gaze for a few seconds longer before he took a tablet from one of the guards behind him and made his way towards me. He browsed through the tablet before flipping it around, letting the screen face me.

"That's you last night, isn't it?" He asked.

My eyes followed the video on the screen and it showed...me? It showed me crouching down behind my car and before a woman's body who seemed to be crippled after an accident.

"I don't..." what the fuck is this? "I went straight home last night. I don't remember this. This didn't happen."

"That's what she wanted you to think." Ryan said.

I'm starting to feel very annoyed by all this bullshit. There's no way that I could just magically forget that this happened.

"Who's 'she'?" I asked. Who the hell is he talking about?

"This woman." He pointed at the crippled woman in the video. "The woman you accidentally hit with your car."

I flickered my gaze between the woman and Ryan before I rolled my eyes and sighed deeply in frustration. Yes, I'm frustrated. No, not sexually. Never.

"First of all, I did not hit that woman with my car. I'm too good of a driver. Second, that woman is crippled, I don't think she'd be able to do anything, let alone 'make me forget' or whatever. Third, can you let me out of this for a second because I was supposed to go to the loo back at the academy before you guys showed up with your bad hairdo and your kidnapping gear." I snapped.

Ryan let out a breath and reluctantly looked at the guards behind him before nodding towards me. The two guards made their way towards me and took the big ass chain off of me.

"Wonderful." I said as I stood up and stretched my limbs a bit. Then I looked to the two guards that stood on both sides of me before I hung my head down and sighed deeply. "They're coming with me, aren't they?"

"They're not leaving your side." Ryan answered.

I arched an eyebrow at him as I plastered an absurd expression on my face.

"You expect me to take a piss while they stand there?"

"What? Men do that all the time in public restrooms."

"But we don't watch other men! It's like an unspoken rule! You don't watch other men take a piss!" I exclaimed. Goddamn these people and their lack of respect for people's privacy...and people in general.

There it is again, the effect that I have on people. Ryan closed his eyes and ran his palms down his face before speaking.

"Fine. You two, stand outside the door. If he isn't done in 30 seconds, get in there." Ryan commanded the two.

I shot Ryan a sarcastic smile before I felt the two bulky men grab a hold of each of my arms. They 'escorted' me out of the dimly lit and mostly empty room and we reached the well-lit halls of whatever building this is.

So that room is the only poorly lit room? For what? Suspense purposes? I assure you, it's not even remotely intimidating.

"Is this it?" I asked when we stopped in front of a door.

One of the men simply nodded before they finally withdrew their grasps.

This is most definitely the saddest men's room I have ever seen.

I counted in my head, making sure that I won't take too long and reach 30 because the last thing I need is them barging in on me with my package hanging out. Not that I'm ashamed of it. I just don't want my kidnappers seeing it.

This situation is weirder than it is scary.

Once I was done, I went to the sink to wash my hands and while I did that, my eyes scanned the room. I was looking for something that I could use against them. But like I said, this comfort room is the most depressing one I've ever seen.

Just like when I came in, I came out of the room empty-handed. Only unlike earlier, Ryan was waiting outside.

"Good. Let's have a tour, shall we?" He said.

Great. Let's have a tour of the building that they'll be keeping me in against my will.

Ryan walked in front of us while the two men proceeded to grab both my arms. So on enough, we reached a large room crowded with both vast kinds of technology and people clad in their white scientist coats.

"Welcome to Triad Industries." Ryan introduced.

Triad Industries? I've never heard of Triad Industries. What the fuck is Triad Industries? As if he read my mind, Ryan continued to explain what this weird shit is all about.

"In general, we monitor the supernatural world. Witches, werewolves, vampires, and other monsters. But our main purpose is to look after Malivore." Ryan explained.

Super-what now? I couldn't contain the chuckle that left me. Oh, I knew it. This is some kind of prank.

"I see what this is." I said.

Ryan looked at me with skepticism all over his face. He had his head slightly tilted to the side and his eyes narrowed at me, bordering in a glare.

"You do?" He asked.

I nodded. "Yeah. This is a prank. Who paid you to do this? Is it Rhodey? I'm sure it's Rhodey. This is his payback for the last time I pranked him. Do you know what I did? I—"

"Mr. Stark, I assure you, this is no prank." Ryan interfered, his voice much deeper than before and his eyes darker. "I'm gonna have to ask you to take this seriously while I still have my patience. But every second that passes with you blasting your sarcastic remarks at me, my patience is wearing thin. Don't make me force you to listen."

I'm pretty sure he just threatened me. But still, I'm on 50/50 about this. The supernatural shit really threw me off. Witches, werewolves, vampires? There's no such thing. But I guess there is such a thing for these looney people.

"Fine." I said with a roll of my eyes. "Is this woman you're looking for supernatural, too?" I asked, just going with the flow even if my brain is just screaming 'bulllshit' at them.

"Yes." He answered.

"And what is she? Vampire? Werewolf? Witch? Mermaid?" I asked.

Are mermaids real too? Because I would love to see one. Not the scary, murderous ones though. I mean, the gorgeous ones. Like Ariel. Ariel's hot. Her red hair and her seashell bra.

I shouldn't talk about her like that when she's literally sixteen years old.

Anyway, I wish I could meet a young adult version of her. That would be so cool.

"Based on our observations, we've developed a theory." He said. "She's a tribrid. Part werewolf, part witch, and part vampire."

This is getting more ridiculous by the second.

"A tribrid?" I echoed. "She's...a werewolf, a witch, a vampire at the same time?"

"Yes."

I blinked. That's it. That was my response. I literally just blinked at him because I'm just too stunned at how ridiculous this is.

"This has gotta be Rhodey. I know Rhodey paid you to—" i was cut off again when Ryan pulled out a knife. The knife shined against the direct light. That's fake. Does he really think he can scare me with a fake knife?

He grabbed the wrist of one of the men beside me and pressed the blade against their palms. It tore through his skin and bled crimson.

The smile on my face vanished.

That's a real knife.

"One more mocking remark from you, Mr. Stark, and I will cut your tongue out." He threatened. "And push you into that pit."

He pointed towards the large screen in the middle of the room, showing a live feed of what I think is just a big pool of black goo. That's disgusting. It's even bubbling.

"And that is...?" I asked.

"The Malivore Pit. It swallows monsters, traps them in never ending darkness and isolation, and then wipes them from the collective conscience." He explained. "It even works on humans like you."

I raised an eyebrow at him in suspicion. Humans like me? Is he low key telling me that he's not human?

"Are you not human, too?" I asked.

Ryan gave me a smug smile before bringing the same real knife against his palm. He sliced through the skin and I internally winced at the sight. But the feeling was soon washed away when I saw that instead of bleeding blood, the wound bled out a thick black goo...just like the so-called Malivore Pit.

"No, I'm not." Ryan answered.

I was going to ask another question when he spoke first.

"Field trip is over. Take Mr. Stark back to his room and notify the witch that he's all ready." He told the two men that were holding me before they started dragging me out of the room and back into the familiar halls and the familiar room.

"And we're back at it again." I whispered to myself as they chained me back up on the chair.

My eyes landed on the woman that came through the door.

"Mr. Stark." She greeted.

"Witch, I presume?" I said.

She simply smiled at me and nodded.

"I'm going to be reversing the compulsion that she did to you. This may hurt, so I suggest that you take a deep breath." She warned.

I arched a brow at her. "May hurt?"

I have a feeling that she's not telling me the whole truth.

"My bad. This will hurt." She corrected.

And there it is.

I wasn't given any time to give a retort to what she said when I felt what seemed like a thousand fucking needles poking through brain. The scream that I let out was almost inaudible in my own ears because most of what I could hear was the high pitched ringing of my mind.

I thrashed against the chains as sweat dripped down from my head to my neck.

Motherfucker! I will fucking rip this woman's head off.

I had no idea how long I was under that kind of agony but when it stopped for a moment, I tried to catch my breath as fast as possible.

"Just a little more and all of this will be over." Said the fucking witch.

I shot her a glare as my chest heaved up and down. "Oh, trust me little missy, this won't be over until I strangle you myself."

I will strangle her. I will get out of this fucking chair and strangle her. I'll make it my sole purpose in life to wrap a wire around her neck for—the fuck that hurts!

The agony lasted for a few more minutes before the pain started to dissipate and my brain started to show images of scenes that I didn't even know existed before.

"It's done. The mind compulsion is gone." Said the wench. "You should remember now."

And she was right. There weren't that many scenes but it all came rushing back at once.

That's when I finally remembered her.

"I remember..." Andrea. I remember Andrea. But of course, I wouldn't say that. "...saying I want to strangle you. Can I do that now?"

"I wasn't hurting you on purpose. And even if I was, it's nothing personal."

"Well, it's personal for me. I don't like it when people dig through my brain. I have a lot of nasty stuff there."

I remember Andrea. Fuck, I remember everything. That little bloodsucker wiped my memory of her and everything I knew about the supernatural world.

"You're protecting her....is this woman important to you?"

Hmm. Not particularly. I just enjoy her company, even if every second I spend with her is a death wish. I like annoying her. And she makes that eyebrow arch thing when she wants to look tough. It's cute.

"No. But unlike you, she didn't use her magic wand to hurt me. So, it's pretty clear where I stand when it comes to choosing between protecting her and complying with you." I said.

Well, that's not entirely true. She did seal my mouth shut and that was so uncomfortable that I could almost feel physical pain. But 'almost' doesn't count.

This wench literally dug through my brain.

I saw the woman open her mouth to speak again when both of us heard a strange sound coming from the wall to my right. As soon as I looked at it, my eyes widened at how the cemented wall was beginning to melt. When half of it was already melted, I saw a familiar woman standing behind it.

This bloodsucker.

"Didn't know you were the 'damsel in distress' type." She said after the wall had completely disintegrated under touch. Literally.

Then she gave me what nearly killed me. A smirk.

Goddamn, this woman is attractive. I don't care if I sound like a simp right now, but that woman is like a goddess. A howling, bloodsucking, magical goddess.

"Trust me, neither did I." I just said. I didn't even get the chance to think of a retort for that. I could've said I'm a dude in distress because I'm far from being a damsel. But seeing her, well, I was awestruck.

She then laughed softly. Even her laugh is addicting.

I'm not in love with her or anything. I'm just amazed at how well she's handling all this badass stuff while also looking hot. She's actually the type that I want to fu—

"Well, this one's going to be a lot harder to cover up." She said with a playful smile curled on her lips.

The bitch witch then extended her hand out and tried to mutter something.

"Phasmatos sangu—" her words were cut off when Andrea spoke faster.

"Silencio." Andrea said, causing the witch's smooth to seal shut.

What the...that's what it looked like when it happened to me?!

"That's creepy." I commented. It really is. I think I had a similar nightmare.

"You want me to shut you up, too?" Andrea threatened.

After experiencing that earlier this day? Nah. No, thank you.

"I'm good." I answered.

She then took something from the witch's neck by using her vampire speed. She was practically a blur to me while she did that. It kind of made my head a bit dizzy. Or is it because of what that witch did?

Probably both.

Andrea chanted something as she held the witch's hand. What is it with them chanting words in a different language? What is it anyway? Is it like abracadabra?

After that, Andrea knocked her out by hitting her with her elbow.

Is she dead? I mean, I saw that she knocked the witch out, but I also saw her chant something. What if it was a death spell or something? That exists, I think.

"Is she dead?" I asked.

"No." She answered.

Oh, thank God. I thought I wouldn't have the chance to kill her myself someday.

"Good. 'Cause I didn't get the chance to strangle her yet."

"Would you actually have done it?"

"The woman was frying my brain! Strangling her would be the least I could do for revenge." I complained. Andrea simply shook her head but she suddenly stopped. She looked as though she was concentrating on something, but I don't know what.

Andrea made her towards me and started breaking me free from the chains that had me tied in the chair.

"I have a confession to make." And it is a big one. "I liked it better when you tied me up."

I wasn't lying. I really liked it more when she did it. At least she looked like someone I'd be willing to die for. That woman Andrea knocked out, she looked like someone I wanted to kill. Not particularly because of her looks, but because I just really hate her for messing with my brain.

"Tony?" She called as she completely took the chains off of me.

My name sounds good in her voice.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Read the room." She said.

This day has just become me being a simp for a spunky, hot tribrid.

"Right. People are trying to catch us. We should go." I said. I couldn't help but groan as I slowly stood up from the chair because my whole body felt so sore. I guess that's what it does when your brain was literally being fucking fried.

"You're a genius, yet that's the first smart thing I've heard you say this whole time." She said.

I am a genius. I'm just really distracted right now.

"I guess you should get to know me more. Maybe over dinner?" I joked. I mean, if she weren't someone who could kill me without blinking then I could bring her to dinner.

God, why do I keep doing this? Don't I have anything else to do to deal with the fact that I'm fucking nervous right now because a whole organization is out to potentially kill me?

No. Flirting is my coping mechanism. It keeps me sane. I know, it sounds weird, but it's true.

She then glared at me...You know what, I'm just not gonna comment on that.

"Tony." She called, the tone of her voice resembling that of a warning.

"It's my coping mechanism!" I defended

"Well then let's cope when we're out of here!" She said.

I just nodded before she grabbed and dragged me out of the building. When we stopped, I had to find my balance again because her bringing me with that vampire sprint of hers is worse than riding a roller coaster.

"I might puke." I said.

Andrea shook her head. "Trust me, you won't puke. Because this is your car."

She's right. This is my...This is my car! Why the hell does she have my car?!

"Did you steal my car?!" I said. Obviously, she did. That was a dumb question.

"How else am I supposed to get here?" She reasoned out before climbing into the driver's seat.

I followed and stepped into the passenger's seat and glared at her.

"I don't know, with your vampire speed?" I suggested.

She stifled a laugh. "And ruin these shoes? I don't think so."

Women and their heels. I thought wearing heels hurts them? Do they like the pain? Well, I should know because most of the women I've been with before like the pain.

Focus, Tony. A building filled with people trying to kill you is still present.

"Seatbelt." Andrea said. I rolled my eyes and put on my seatbelt and as soon as I put it on, she immediately drove so fast that I thought my soul left my body for a second.

"Jesus Fucking Christ, slow down!" I exclaimed.

We were going so fast, I feel like I was being dragged with her vam speed all over again.

"I swear to God, if you crash this car—"

"Do you want them to catch up to us?!" She asked.

"Do you want me to puke in here?!" I asked back.

"Will you just shut up? I just saved your life." She said.

I laughed sarcastically at her before speaking. "Yeah, right after you erased my fucking mind!"

"You were annoying." She just said.

She compelled me because I was annoying? I know I can be irritating but pole don't usually resort to mind-controlling me!

"You know, if you weren't hot, I would've strangled you right now." I said.

There's that eyebrow arch thing again. That gets me every time. "You have got to stop saying that."

"Saying what?"

"That I'm...never mind."

"That you're hot?"

"Yes."

"It's true, though. You do that eyebrow thing."

"What eyebrow thing?"

"That eyebrow thing. You know when you arch an eyebrow and it makes you look bossy and hot."

She closed her eyes for a moment and sighed deeply in frustration.

"You're irritating." She said.

It was my turn to cock an eyebrow at her. "I call you hot and you call me irritating?"

"It's true, though." She echoed.

I squinted my eyes at her, scanning her body language and her expression before I realized something. At that, I smirked.

"You came back for me." I said as a smirk curled on my lips.

"Because you got yourself in trouble." She reasoned out.

Nah, I don't think so.

"Nope. You like me." I said then leaned back on the leather seat. "I mean, you're mean and scary. Why would you come back for someone like me? You like me."

"I don't like you." Andrea tried to clear up.

That's true. This woman is so not into me. But I couldn't help but tease her. It's so fun teasing her.

"Yes, you are. You are into all of thi—"

Then I saw nothing but darkness.

—

She spelled me to sleep. Andrea spelled me to sleep the whole ride home. I woke up with my body feeling so sore which I can only assume came from how uncomfortable my position was while knocked out in my own car.

Though, when I woke up, I found something on my wrist that I didn't expect to find there. She said it's a vervain watch. As long as I keep it on, no one can compel me, not even her. She gave it to me because she's planning on staying here for a while. And of course, I don't want to be her mindless puppet. I guess she felt the same.

For a moment, I actually felt thankful to her. And for a moment, I saw the goodness in her. Maybe she really is good. I mean, there are good vampires right? I just didn't give her a chance to be one because I kept annoying her.

After she gave me the vervain watch, my perspective of her suddenly changed. At first, I saw her as this gorgeous monster who could kill me in my sleep. But now, I see her as someone who's misunderstood. She's good. It's just not noticeable because she keeps it buried, especially from people like me.

"The beach has magic powers, too." I said. I watched as she turned around to look at me. We're at the porch of the beach house nad I caught her staring at the waves. And by the looks of it, she was thinking about something very serious.

My hair was getting messed up as I took a few steps near her. I pushed my lips into a thin line before I stopped to stand beside her and speak.

"It makes people think deeply." I said.

This beach is the main reason why I bought the house. Just waking up in the morning with that as the view is a great start to anyone's day. And seeing that before going to sleep is refreshing. Sometimes, it makes me forget my problems. Like it's getting swept away by the breeze, or getting dragged away by the waves. Either way, it always works for a moment.

"What are you thinking?" I asked as I looked at her.

Though when she met my gaze, she was already glaring at me. It wasn't as stern as before, but it was there. I had to hold my hands up.

"Fine. Never mind." I said. She looked peaceful. I didn't want to break that.

But I was surprised when she actually answered my question.

"My friends." She admitted.

I whipped my gaze towards her, my lips parting, and my eyes slightly widening at her response. So, she has friends. I wonder if they're human or also supernatural likes her. They're probably supernatural. It's more likely.

"They're in trouble. And I don't know what to do." She explained as she looked away from me and focused her eyes on the ocean. "I'm scared that they're trapped somewhere...dark and horrible."

Dark and horrible. I can think of one thing that resembles that.

"You're talking about the Malivore Pit." I said.

I remember Ryan threatening to push me in it. If it is as horrible as they it is, then I'd really prefer staying away from it.

I could see how shocked Andrea was when I mentioned the Malivore Pit. I bet I wasn't supposed to know that, just like every other thing I know about the supernatural world that I learned literally overnight.

"Ryan Clarke might've shown and told me a few things." I said, shrugging my shoulders lightly in the process.

She nodded. "Did he also tell you what happens when someone goes in it?"

He did alright.

"They'd be forgotten." I answered while I scratched my jaw gently. "Which is basically one of everyone's worst fears, to be forgotten by the world."

"Yeah." She agreed, her voice almost inaudible because of how soft it was.

"But you still remember them, right? That's a good sign. That means they're not in that dark pit of doom." I said.

"Yeah. That would be a good sign if it weren't for the fact that I'm an exception to its mind-wiping ability. I'm the only one who can still remember everyone who goes into the pit." She said.

I looked at her. I saw her looking down on her fingers while she played with it. She clearly looked troubled. But why was she an exception?

"What makes you an exception?" I asked.

She then looked at me, and God only knows how much I was struck when she did that thing with her eyebrows again followed by a small smile, not a smirk, a smile.

"And why should I tell you that?" She asked, teasing.

I pursed my lips and shrugged my shoulders playfully.

"Because I said 'pretty please'?" I answered.

I had to swallow how surprised I was when she stifled a laugh. This whole day, I always see her so annoyed at me. So, when she laughs because of something that I said, it felt like such an achievement.

"I don't think so." She responded.

"Oh, come on! If we're gonna work together, I should know things about you. Like for example, I know you're not just a vampire. According to Ryan, you're also a werewolf and a witch. That's confusing, you know? I need to know how that's possible." I said. I was rambling again.

She doesn't seem to want to disclose that information yet, so I just asked for another one.

"How about your last name. I should know your last name, right?" I said.

She sighed deeply before looking at me.

"Marshall." She answered.

Hmm. Andrea Marshall. I tilted my head to the side and squinted my eyes at her. It kinda suits her but it kinda doesn't at the same time. Good explanation, Tony.

"Andrea Marshall...I thought you'd have a more badass name, but okay." I said.

"Stop pushing your luck." She replied.

Andrea then turned around and made her way towards the inside of the house,

"Good night, Stark." She said.

See? Goodness.

"Good night, Marshall."

—