VAIN | Inside the Universe

Chapter Thirty Five • Rumination is the Ruin

Not wasting another second, I enter the building and keep to the perimeter, each step seemingly in rhythm with the ticking of the clock.

I hadn't anticipated the lab to be kept this dark, though. The only sources of light were the green and blue hues from the tech on the main floor, making everyone that walked amongst them silhouettes. Really it wouldn't be difficult for anyone to come and go unnoticed in this environment. Honestly, it's a bit underwhelming.

Now it seems I could afford an extra second, and I take it for skepticism's sake. I can't help but think these circumstances are a little unfair. I mean, I'm grateful, I suppose, but more...concerned? Do they have break in's often? I feel as if I should have gone through at least two or three obstacles before getting comfortable. And it's not like I had even cheated.

I leaned against the wall and took in my surroundings, eyes narrowed as I practically yearned for any sign of danger. My lips had the audacity to actually pout, which if I still knew myself, must look more like disgust than anything endearing. If only to make matters worse, I spot a staircase to the second-floor balcony that will seclude me even more.

At that moment, it was difficult to discern whether I should be offended or terrified at how easy things had come. 'Luck' and I have never been friends. Thus in the most literal sense, I can't believe it. But I suppose there's little to lose when my intention is on complete exposure anyway.

Maybe the universe has moved from hatred into pity for me. Personally, I could see this as the perfect opportunity to take that end-all strike and finally take me out. So I climbed each step like they were actually wired with bombs because, well, they fucking should be, and if the universe has decided to take a sick day, I'll be sure to keep up the work for it.

Although that became increasingly difficult as I reached the top of the staircase and almost sent myself right back down.

I had to rub my fucking temples. "No fucking way."

If I didn't know any better, I'd say I was almost angry. Standing before me, all vacant and ready for the taking, was a string of twenty sum computers. Somehow, exactly what I needed.

Taking a deep breath, I forced myself forward, practically turning on an autopilot switch just to get the job done. I turned the computer on, switched to a secure server, and picked the flash drive from my pocket.

I know the second it's activated, Fury will get some kind of notification, and although the response time is dependent on his unknown location specifically, I know that there is no S.H.I.E.L.D. office within twenty-five minutes from here. Regardless, I'll have to work twice as fast to hack through whatever defenses he put on himself. Quickly, before I could fight myself on it, I put the flash drive into the computer

Well, I guess this is it.

I'll stick to my statement that my entrance back into the world has been a bit underwhelming, in comparison to shit I've done before. It has essentially been reduced to something as simple as putting a flash drive into a computer. But yet, I couldn't ignore the feeling in how the act itself had somehow taken a weight off my shoulders.

Despite the irony of this 'mission' and the threats to come, I sank down into the chair below me and let out a breath I didn't know I'd been keeping. Perhaps it's a sort of helpless feeling, like I had eliminated any time that I could have stopped myself. And now there is nothing more for me to do than to let it all play out. So, dutifully, I watch the computer load before me and precede to wait, accepting my fate.

While tapping my fingers on the desk in the dark and empty space, I found that I truly had no other choice but to resort to eavesdropping to pass the time. Of course, otherwise, I would feel a bit guilty about it, but everything else about this lab is pretty bland. It seems the thrilling, passing conversations below me of their kid's dance recitals and school grades have become collateral. If it makes the jury feel better, I promise not to go spreading it around.