Lacuna [1] {Completed}

Chapter Three

"Avoy (n.) An expression of fear; surprise"

Erin led them back towards her apartment complex. They tried to hide their faces under baseball caps to blend in, but Erin wasn't sure if it was helping. Since the jet was stationed on the edge of the city, they had to take a bus that stopped three blocks away from where she lived and walked the neighborhood with their faces low.

"This is where you live?" Clint asked looking around the neighborhood and at the old brick walls of the buildings on the block. Over the months, Erin had become accustomed to the smell of faint mold and other odors that Clint and Wanda weren't used to.

"I work at a coffee shop down the street," Erin said approaching the door with her apartment number on it. "Doesn't exactly pay for a luxury condo." She fished for her key that was, thankfully, still in her pocket from this morning.

Clint raised an eyebrow at her sarcasm.

Erin was about to put the key inside the lock but froze as soon as she noticed something. Ever since she had gotten into a little trouble in Berlin, she got into the habit of placing a small slit of paper in between the door and its frame. That way if anyone other than Erin opened the door they wouldn't notice the small strip fall from its place signaling Erin that someone else had been there when she wasn't. The piece of paper she left in her door this morning was half red and black. Whoever had opened the door to her apartment while she was gone was smart enough to realize she had the piece of paper there and set it back, but was dumb enough to not notice which color had been sticking out. Erin remembered placing the red facing out that morning, but looking at it now the black was showing more than the red.

"Erin?" Clint noticed Erin studying her door a beat too long.

"What's wrong?" Wanda asked anxiously.

Erin stared at the door, "Someone's been here," She said quietly.

She could feel Wanda and Clint stiffen behind her.

"Just walk in like normal, we have your back." Clint said.

We have your back. It took Erin a moment to realize what that meant.

She unlocked the door and pushed it open. It was dark as they walked in. She turned her entryway lap on to illuminate the room. They listened for any sign of an intruder, but Erin heard nothing.

"Get your things and let's get out of here," Clint said eyeing the room for any threats.

Erin nodded and went to work watching every corner as she walked about. Her apartment was nothing special. There was one main room where a twin bed sat in the corner. A couch and television occupied the east wall next to the bathroom. To the left of the bed a doorway led into a small kitchen and window overlooking the city.

Erin began to gather what she had. She didn't have much for clothing or other material things, most of it fit into the one backpack she owned. She stuffed clothes, cash, and other toiletries into her bag and then headed for the bed. What she hid under the floorboard was far more valuable to her than everything she had combined.

"Clint, will you help me move the bed?" Erin asked.

"I can do that," Wanda offered.

Erin nodded and red sparks flew off Wanda's hands. It took her less than 5 seconds to move the bed 10 feet from where it had been before.

Erin tapped the ground with her foot listening for the sound of the hallow hole she hid her treasure. When she heard it, she got down on the ground and pried the loose floorboards apart and searched the hole for what she was looking for.