V I G I L A N C E ~ (Marvel) ~

C H A P T E R 1 3_

I blink and rub my eyes. I look around the room; my room and whisper, "What the hell?" as the memories of the recent events came back to me and I take in a sudden breath. Most importantly, the memory of when I blacked out sticks out. The acid blood that rained down on me and the burning pain from the explosion, I remember the way it stung and hurt.

But now? Now I don't feel any pain. My head almost throbs a bit, but any other pain is gone. If anything other than pain, I feel refreshed. Brand new, almost. How is that possible?

I get out of the bed slowly. My legs don't feel sore or anything. I glance at the mirror in the corner of my room and I don't see any injuries. No burns, no nothing. "This is very odd," I state out loud. I shake my head and I walk to the door. I turn the knob slowly, and I peek out into the hallway. Seeing no one at all, I walk out and I make my way to the common room with hesitation. As I am walking I look around, not paying attention, and I bump into someone.

I look up to see Steve, in a t-shirt and army pants, his face not dirty at all as he seems to perk up. "Oh, Esther, you're up," he stutters. "Are you okay? I was just going to check on you."

I shake my head. "I don't know."

He lifts his brows slightly in concern. "You look good—I mean healthy though," he says almost nervously. "I didn't think you had hurt yourself too badly back there. Just fainted it seems..." his eyes look down.

I watch him as he stands there awkwardly. "I feel fine, which is what has me worried. I was in an explosion. I shouldn't feel or look this normal."

"Explosion?" he questions.

I look at him like he's crazy. "Yeah. There was a big one when I was about to be attacked by one of those creatures. Someone shot grenades at it and then Loki and I got hit with the explosion."

He frowns a little and then cracks a smile. "I think you've been dreaming, Esther. But it doesn't surprise me when that witch was messing with your head..."

I stand there a moment, eyes wide and my mouth opening and closing like a fish. What does he mean that I must've been dreaming? "What do you mean a dream? You were there! There were creatures sent from hell and we were under attack! Jane died! There was utter chaos everywhere and-and... I was in an explosion and I died and... and it couldn't have been..."

"It's okay," he says with sympathy and puts a hand on my shoulder. "It's alright, you're here now. I don't know what Wanda did to you but I know for a fact it makes things seem real... But you're here and alive... Okay?"