Search for the Soul Gem

Chapter Sixty-Six

As soon as the Stone was placed on the staff, I felt like a vice wrapped around my entire body. Almost like there was a lasso around me. Loki's face broke out into a harsh smirk. He swooped out his arm and it felt like I was a puppet. I stood, my feet working on their own.

"Lucy?" Tony questioned, watching me stand. Before he could do anything else, more Chituri and soldiers descended down on him. He turned to face them. My feet on their own accord stepped toward where Loki stood. Bullets tore through the glass, shattering most of the windows. Wind whipped around the room, adding to the chaos. No one seemed to notice me walking closer to where Loki stood. I heard Tony's voice but I couldn't make out what he said. My feet walked toward the open window. I tried to force my feet to stop but they wouldn't. They walked me through the window and hung me over the canyon. It felt like someone was holding me up by my collar. Fear shot through my entire body, my breathing coming out in gasps. The wind whipped my hair around my face and caught my sweater. Loki looked at me with a smile.

"Hang tight dear," he said. He turned to face the room, "Enough!" he roared. The noise in the room faltered. The Chituri around the room disappeared, the heroes stopping to look back at Loki.

"Lucy!" Tony shouted and made a move toward Loki.

"Ah, ah, ah! Not too close," Loki said. As he said this, I fell slightly from where I was hanging. I yelped as the fear rushed through me from the small fall.

"Okay, stop! What do you want?" Steve asked quickly, holding his hands out. The heroes froze, unsure of how to continue. Loki laughed, starting to pace side to side.

"Isn't this much nicer? Don't you want life to be simpler? It shouldn't come to such a threat," Loki said with a smile.

"Tell us what you want," Steve said, his tone cold.

"It's simple really. I just want all the Stones," Loki said.

"Absolutely not!" Thor said without hesitation.

"I don't know if you're in a position to be denying requests, brother," Loki said. I felt like the grip on my collar loosened. My hands sprang out in fear and I yelped.

"No!" Tony gasped, shifting forward.

"Now, we're at a standstill. I have the leverage and you have what I want," Loki said.

"We don't have them! We only have the one!" Tony said.

"Maybe so, but I know for a fact that you have the resources to find the other five," Loki said.

"That was destroyed," Tony said quickly.

"Oh now Tony, it's not wise to lie to the person holding precious Lucy's fate in his hands," Loki said. I looked down at the water below me, tears falling down my face. I was panting, but it didn't help. The panic in my chest made it impossible to breathe. Suddenly there was a flash of movement. Peter stepped forward and knelt down in front of everyone. His hand flung out and his web attempted to reach me.

"Peter, no!" I screamed but it was too late. Loki reached out and grabbed hold of the web. He yanked on it as hard as he could, launching Peter forward. Because Peter was so close to the front and so small and caught off guard, Loki managed to pull him so sharply that Peter flew through the missing window. I gasped, unable to move to catch him. "Peter!" I screamed as Peter catapulted down the canyon. Inside the room was a flurry of movement and sound. Tony sped by me after Peter. Peter's scream echoed through the ravine. I watched below me until I saw Tony collect Peter in his arms and speed off down the canyon.

"Bad idea," Loki said with a smirk.

"Loki, stop this! These people are not going to give you any of the Infinity Stones," Thor exclaimed.

"Well, it's either the Stones or dear Lucy's life. You decide," Loki said. Everyone was silent.

"Don't give them to him!" I shouted finally. They all looked at me.

"Doll-"

"Don't give him anything. You saw what he did to New York! Don't worry about me," I cried. My stomach churched violently at the thought of the fall but it was better than the alternative.

"Is that the decision then?" Loki asked. Rhodey's suit powered up. Loki pointed the staff at him, "None of that," he said. Rhodey's suit beeped in warning. My throat tightened, new tears forming.

"He was never going to let me live anyway," I muttered, eyes blurring with tears. I looked around, Tony was not where to be found. This was where I would die.

"You're right," Loki said. Before anyone else could say anything, the force holding me up disappeared and I was free falling down the canyon. My stomach lurched up into my throat and I screamed. I heard a faint yell of my name but I couldn't make anything out for long. My scream burned my throat as I fell, the river getting closer and closer.