Chapter 3
Daisy was lucky that she had spent so much time in LA; she knew the exact streets to turn down in order to get to Robbie on Hollywood Boulevard.
To their dismay, Hollywood Boulevard is long, and Robbie wasn’t too specific when he told Daisy where he was.
They made it to the Chinese Theatre when they stopped to catch their breath.
“Where…” Nico was out of breath, “is your friend exactly?”
Daisy, hands on her knees, breathing, stood up straight and looked around her. “I don’t know. But it sounded like he was in a fight so we need to find him fast."
Daisy started slowly walking down the street, ears turned up to catch any sounds of fighting.
Further down the street, Daisy stopped suddenly, Nico bumping into her from behind.
“Watch it,” Nico scoffed. Daisy hushed her, listening.
She turned to the right, hearing something, but not fighting. She heard crackling of fire. Robbie.
Daisy turned to Nico, “C’mon!” The two started running the lengthy two blocks until they reached a nearby park.
At the top of a hill, Daisy saw Robbie, head ablaze, fighting someone. She couldn’t see who, but she could tell that more people were coming.
“Seriously!” Daisy was tired, without powers, and needed to help. “We run all the way here, and now we have to hike to the top. Geez, okay let’s go.”
Nico put a hand out, stopping Daisy from waking forward. She pulled out the staff from where it was safely hooked on her belt, holding it out in front of her.
Turning to Daisy, “Start running on three.”
Daisy nodded. “One…two..three!” The two took off running and with a quick command, Nico yelled “Ascend!”
Before they knew it, Daisy and Nico landed safely at the top of the mountain.
“Woah. That’s one magic stick you got there.” Daisy had to chuckle.
Something must be different about Nico’s powers, since hers obviously didn’t work here. Even still, Daisy adjusted her gauntlets, grateful that Simmons made her pack them before she left.
Daisy took off running to Robbie. As she got closer, she noticed him fighting at least 5 other people.
Without her powers, Daisy had to put her weeks of training to use. She had told Nico to stand back to guard the Darkhold until they could get Robbie alone.
Nico retreated down the hill, just enough that she could still see Daisy, but far enough away that she was hidden by brush and out of others’ view.
Running up beside Daisy, she knocked one of the people off Robbie and to the side. Robbie, with his head ablaze, turned and nodded to Daisy. Even when Ghost Rider took over, he could still appreciate the help.
The man Daisy had knocked to the ground was laying face down. She slowly turned, bringing herself to her feet. Daisy cocked her head to the side. She recognized him as one of the men Hive had tried to turn.
“You gotta be kidding me.” Daisy ducked, as the man’s hand swung at her face. She kicked the back of his knees, bringing him to a kneeling position on the ground, before she took her own knee to under his chin.
He fell back, as an arm wrapped around Daisy’s neck, choking her. She was being pulled back, thrashing her arm against the one around her throat.
She jabbed her elbow back, making contact with someone’s nose. His head snapped back just enough to release Daisy from his grasp.
With a quick turn, she kicked him in the stomach, pushing him backwards. She felt a rush of hot air fly next to her and the man was thrown back into the brush. Ghost Rider had thrown a fire ball at him, knocking him down.
She turned around, realizing that everyone had been taken down. Daisy started walking toward Ghost Rider, whose fire was slowly diminishing as he transformed back into Robbie.
Robbie turned his head to the top of the hill, Daisy meeting his gaze. Someone was walking down toward them.
As he got closer, Daisy recognized him. Of course he would be here. He wasn’t in the quinjet with Lincoln, which meant he had to be somewhere.
Hive.
Daisy glanced at Robbie. “Seriously?” She threw her hand toward Hive’s direction. He was still wearing Grant Ward’s body, with a smug, stern expression on his face.
“He came here looking for the Darkhold,” Robbie explained. “He’s been sending his little minions after me for months since I got back.”
They watched Hive walk down the hill, almost in slow motion, giving them a chance to talk while they watched him.
“What does he want?” Daisy asked.
Robbie shrugged. “I’m assuming he got in contact with that witch woman, Morgan Le Fay.” Daisy recognized that name from what Nico told her.
Robbie went on, “She took the Darkhold from me, claiming that it belonged to her. And then she disappeared to your dimension. She must be gone, since she never came back.”
Daisy nodded. “The people I came here with took care of her. We came to bring the Darkhold back to you."
Robbie’s eyes widened. “You guys have to get out of here. If Hive gets it, who knows what he’ll try to do. We can’t risk him getting back to your dimension.”
Daisy nervously glanced back to where Nico was hiding in the brush. At least Nico was far enough away that Hive wouldn’t see her.
Robbie and Daisy watched as Hive got closer. A shiver ran down Daisy’s spine. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
Hive stopped, far enough away from Robbie and Daisy, but close enough for them to hear him speak.
“Daisy,” he hissed, with a sinister grin. “It’s been a long time.”
Daisy shivered. She couldn’t stand looking at him or hearing his voice.
Hive took a step forward, arms out, almost in a greeting. “I’m glad you’ve come here. I think you might have what I need.”
“Not likely,” Daisy said through gritted teeth.
She clenched her fist. This would be the time that she would quake him back, but this dimension wouldn’t allow that for whatever ridiculous reason.
Instead, they’d have to find another option. Daisy nervously glanced at Robbie. She didn’t know what else he could do. It was starting to get dark, and Daisy knew they were running out of time.
Robbie moved toward Hive, hands up to show he wasn’t armed. “Look, we don’t have what you want. Why don’t you just go back to your hole and stay there.”
Hive smirked. “That’s not possible,” he hissed. “I know you have what I need, I can sense your nervousness.” He glanced at Daisy; her body tensed.
“And why do you think we would give anything to you, amigo?” Robbie was getting angry. Daisy could see the glow of Ghost Rider peaking through behind Robbie’s eyes.
She took a step closer to him, warning him not to loose control quite yet. They needed to be strategic.
There was something about Hive that was different. He was filled with more rage, a certain gleam in his eyes that told Daisy to be careful.
“My business back out in the world was left unfinished.” Hive paced back and forth, hands clasped calmly behind his back.
“Morgan Le Fay was unable to bring me back as we discuss, so now I must do it myself.” He threw his hand forward and with some invisible force, Daisy was thrown backward. She skidded, hitting a boulder placed next to where Nico was hiding in the brush.
Head spinning, Daisy rolled on her side to face Nico. “You have to get out of here.” Daisy whispered. The Darkhold wasn’t safe here.
Pulling herself back to her feet, Daisy watched as Robbie’s head cocked to the side before erupting into flames. Pulling a chain from his back pocket, Ghost Rider whipped his arm back, catching the chain on fire, before throwing it in Hive’s direction.
Daisy ran to help. Nico watched from the brush. She couldn’t just stand back and watch these people die. Securing the Darkhold in the satchel, Nico pulled the staff from her belt and stepped out of the brush.