Deals With Our Devils
Episode 9: Deals with Our Devils
October 23, 2018- Midnight
“So, are you going to let me out? I’m waiting. You better hurry before somebody comes down and find out what you’re doing.” Robbie drawled his face etching into a smirk. Glaring at him she typed a few buttons on her pad and the wall flickered before disappearing as he stepped out slowly.
“Alright, let’s go” She muttered under her breath before turning only to find herself yanked backwards by his grip on her arm. Turning abruptly to slap him she suddenly found her face dangerously close to his.
“Not yet Little Flower” His whispered his breath wafting against her face. Frowning at the pet name she moved to yank her arm back, but he held steady. Digging his nails into the flesh of her arm causing her to wince. “We need to finish the deal—make it official, so to speak. We wouldn’t want you back out now, would we?”
“What do we have to do? Sign a contract?”
“I’m not the devil Chica. My ways a little less pleasant” Cocking her eyebrow at the statement he smiled and released her arm slowly taking a step back, before holding his hand out towards her. Staring at the outstretched arm she held her hand out and grabbed his hand. Feeling the warmth radiating from his palm
It was only a few seconds later when she felt his palm getting warmer until it became unbearable heat. A scream tore from her throat before she could stop it and she fell to her knees. The flesh on her palm burning with an intense fire, and then just as quickly as it began it was suddenly over and she cradled her burnt hand gingerly, glaring up at him.
“Can’t you people ever make deals that don’t involve burning flesh?” She muttered getting to her feet
“Now where would be the fun in that?” Robbie teased.
Rolling her eyes, she shoved past him and headed up the steps.
Peaking out into the hallway to make sure the coast was clear she pushed the door open and stepped out, “Come on” she said heading down the hall. “So, you got a plan or are we just going to wing it.” Daisy said turning to glance at the rider.
“I don’t need a plan. You do know who I am, don’t you?”
“Oh, right. Because you think your so great.” She said rolling her eyes.
“I’m the ghost rider. I physically can’t be killed.”
“So, your saying my fight with you would have ended with me losing.” Reaching the end of the hall she turned to face him while crossing her arms.
“Yes exactly”
“Bullshit! I could’ve kicked your ass any day of the week. If it wasn’t for my arms being so fucked up.” Scoffing, she shifted her body away from him and continued on.
“Well, whatever makes you feel better” Gritting her teeth she resisted the temptation to comment knowing that he was only baiting her.
“Lets just save the small talk until we get out of here and I still say I can kick your ass any day,” she grumbled softly under her breath causing Robbie to grin before he abruptly stopped, and the smile slowly fell from his face as he glanced past her.
Following his gaze, she froze. May stood at the front entrance her arms crossed and a murderous expression flicking over her face. “Daisy, what the hell are you doing?” May growled taking a step forwards, “You let him out. Are you insane!”
“I’m sorry May, but I didn’t have a choice. He can save Bobbi and Hunter. I had to do something” stepping in front of May she paused, “Get out of the way May. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You don’t want to hurt me? Daisy! He tried to kill you! He wants to watch this world burn. You were supposed to be the logical one but freeing him is not going to help us.”
“I will do whatever it takes to help my family, and that’s you. All of you. You don’t have to worry. The deal I made won’t affect you. You’re just going to have to find a way to stop judgement day without me. I’m sorry May now please get out of my way.” Daisy pleaded, not wanting to hurt he friend.
“I can’t do that Daisy” May’s tone was final and there was no backing down.
“Then I’m sorry May”
Walking towards her friend she brought her arms up and swung her fist towards Mays face. The older woman caught her wrist easily twisting her around until Daisy’s back hit her chest. Swinging her elbow back she hit May across the face before kicking her into a wall.
May swung back her feet sweeping Daisy off her feet. Momentarily stunned she jumped up and grabbed Mays wrist when she moved to swing it and twisted her arm upwards and swung, throwing the older woman hard against the wall. Kicking off the wall May sucker punched her in the face her head slamming into the wall behind her before she twisted and caught Mays other fist and landed a harsh Blow to Mays throat with her free hand before kicking her chest hard cutting off Mays air supply.
A shout tore from May and she charged. Holding her hand up she released a single quake, knocking May back into the wall, “You can’t defeat me May, so what was the point?”
“Your making a mistake Daisy. Things aren’t going to go the way you want. Don’t do this. We’ll think of another way, please.”
“I’m sorry May” the older woman’s pleas falling on deaths ears. Bringing her fist back, she swung. Knocking May out in a second.
“Let’s go” she said looking up at Robbie, “and whatever you do don’t say another word or ill knock your lights out as well, understood” Glancing at him sharply, he grinned.
“Whatever you say flowers.” He said following her out of the compound, free for the first time in months.
Daisy wasn’t entirely sure where they were going. Let Robbie take the lead since he seemed to know exactly where they were headed. By now May must have woken up and told the others. If it wasn’t obvious by Robbie’s absence from his cell.\
“You know, you and I aren’t so different as you think we are.” Robbie said his voice snapping her back into reality.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I miss the part where we were taking now? And don’t ever compare yourself to me. I am nothing like you. I’m not a murderer, I don’t enjoy killing and I certainly don’t want to watch the world burn.” She snapped her anger just on the edge of the surface.
“You blame yourself for everything that’s happened to you. Putting everything on your shoulders until you can barely stand and one day your going to get crushed under all that weight, but me I stopped blaming myself a long time ago and realized that the problem wasn’t myself it was the world. You and I both need someone to blame and we both want it to end.” He said softly.
“Your full of shit. In case you haven’t noticed I am trying to stop you from ending the world.” She snapped glaring heatedly at the man.
“The only difference chica is that we both have different ways of ending it. You want to end your life, your suffering and all I want is to end the world. Different styles, same ending. In the end both of us have nothing to lose and that makes us the most dangerous.”
Daisy didn’t say anything in reply. Maybe he was right, maybe they were the same and that’s why she hated him so much and yet here she was. Together, with him. Trying to save the little family she had left and a part of her in that moment didn’t care about the world, didn’t care about the end fast approaching. The only the she cared about in that moment was her small family, and she didn’t know if that made her a bad person.
They didn’t speak the rest of the way there not even when Daisy could see the building fast approaching. Her heart pounding with nervousness. Robbie glanced at her and nodded, “Stay here. I’m going on ahead to scope out the place although it shouldn’t be a problem for the ghost rider anyways.” Watching him disappear into the dark she stood by the alley and let out an exhausted sigh.
A movement in the ally alerted her to a presence and she slowly inched towards the dark when a hand reached out and grabbed her pulling her into the darkness her back hitting the ally wall, surprise flickering across her face.
A second later a face came into view, a face covered in thorns a small smile gracing the woman’s face, “Daisy” she said softly, almost dreamily. “I have been waiting so long to meet you and now your finally here just as I knew you’d be.”
“Get your hands off me! What do you want?”
“It doesn’t matter. I came here because I had to deliver the message. Just as I saw it.” The woman said her sharp yellow eyes peering into daisy.
“Message? What message?” this woman was crazy, and she wasn’t making sense.
“Ive seen the future Daisy…... long long after your mission is over. Ive seen the outcome and ive seen what happens after.” She whispered in Daisy ear.
“I’m sorry, but like you I’m trying to protect this world.” Something nudged against Daisy’s chest and she look down slowly to see the but of a gun resting against her stomach.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to protect this world Daisy, to protect everyone and I know that you feel the same, but ive seen what you’ll. What will happen in the end. I’m trying to save your soul Daisy.” She hissed.
“Well it’s a little to late for that. She already sold it.” A voice suddenly said, “And if you don’t drop that gun, I will burn you alive.”
Shaking the woman turned slowly, before smiling softly. “I see” she murmured. “Then it appears this is fate after all”
Turning back towards Daisy the woman grabbed her and placed her lips near Daisy’s ear, “Then I will deliver one final message. You can’t win Daisy, not against yourself. You’re not strong enough to defeat the darkest part of you, not unless you fight on equal terms. I’m not talking about the up coming battle. There will come a day a long time from now after the final battle when you will find yourself facing something you have never faced before and then my words will make sense and you will know why I tried to kill you. Whats coming is worse than the end of the world and you won’t be strong enough to stop it. Only a monster can defeat a monster.”
And with that she released Daisy and disappeared into the darkness and daisy knew without a doubt that she would not be seeing that woman again.
“Let’s go” she said finally turning back towards Robbie.
Getting into the facility was easy when she had the ghost rider on her side and she watched as the facility burned down around her followed by the screams of the hydra agents that never stood a chance. Rushing towards the end of the hall she threw open one of the doors and rushed in. Collapsing to her knees when she saw Bobbi and Hunter. Grabbing her friend, she pulled her up and Bobbi’s eyes fluttered open in surprise before she wept with relief upon seeing Daisy. “Come on” she groaned, “We’ve gotta go” Getting the chains off the pair she helped Bobbi get Hunter up as they made for the door.
By the time they had stumbled into the main corridor Daisy could see the dead bodies everywhere. Robbie had left no mercy for his victims, but its not like she had expected any anyway. Dragging Hunter along with Bobbi who had barely said a word they made their way past the carnage until they had arrived outside.
“Bobbi” She said grabbing her friend into a tight hug as she let out a sigh of relief. “You idiot” Bobbi whispered, “You shouldn’t have come”
“I’m not going to leave anyone else to die ever again” She said as she looked over Bobbi’s shoulder and noticed Robbie stepping out his eyes piercing through her, “You need to go Bobbi. Take Hunter and go. There is something I need to do first. Go to the avenger’s initiative. I’ll catch up.” Bobbi looked uncertain as she looked between Daisy and Robbie before she let out a sigh and nodded. Grabbing Hunter, she hauled him up and together the pair disappeared into the night.
“Well Chica, it looks like it’s just you and me” He said his face breaking out into a grin. Holding his hand out towards her she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. A slight breeze blew past ruffling her hair and she slowly opened her eyes.
“Sorry Robbie, but I can’t go with you. Not yet” she said.
“We had a deal, and do you know what happens to those who break deals with me” he growled his flesh starting to burn off as the anger took hold.
“I don’t plan on breaking my promise Robbie, but I also can’t give my soul over until I know this world and the people, I love are safe. So, I’m not going to die. Not until I’m done!” she yelled.
“Why are you so stubborn! You clearly have a death wish and yet you still continue to fight me! Ugh I have never met anyone as frustrating as you. Fine then you want to fight! I’ll give you a fight!” He roared his skin peeling away until he became the ghost rider again.
Lunging forwards his fist burst into flames.
“Then I guess it’s a rematch, but this time there won’t be any interference” Daisy yelled lunging forwards as well her fist releasing a giant wave of vibrations as their attacks clashed.
Bobbi kept running her body exhausted and weary she dragged Hunter who was still half out of it. Holding onto his arm she closed her eyes. Thing had been different several weeks ago. Back then Hunter meant nothing to her and she could have easily left him behind and escaped if it had really come down to it, but now she couldn’t even think of that. Funny, when did things change between them. Was it….?
A Few Weeks Before- Location Unknown
She couldn’t move. Her whole body felt as if it had been endlessly pounded on for days and she had no idea where they had taken Hunter she hadn’t seen him for what felt like years and she wondered if this was what Daisy felt when she herself had been locked up, unable to see the sun or any living human being except the one torturing you.
A groan started in front of her and the door was abruptly wretched open as a body was tossed inside carelessly before it slammed against leaving her back in the darkness. Reaching out blindly she felt the skin of another person followed by a soft moan that she recognized.
“Hey” she croaked. Her voice dry from lack of water among other things.
“Bob?” Hunter whispered softly studying her face for what she didn’t know, “They didn’t hurt you? Did they bob?”
“Don’t call me that like we’re old friends” she snapped still having a little fire in her.
“You don’t strike me as the kind of person that has friends. Its probably cause you have that giant wall that you built up to protect yourself from getting hurt. I noticed that about you future people. Don’t know if the others have noticed but I’m not stupid. There is something wrong with all of you and I’m not talking about your story. With everything ive seen I’m not surprised time travel exists, but what I have noticed is that despite what the future is supposed to be. None of you actually seem inclined to want the future to change. You just see this as a mission and as long as your focused on that you don’t have to face reality.”
“Yea, and whats that?” She snorted.
“That your afraid. If the future changes then everything you knew will be gone with it, and your afraid of how you’ll function when you go back, and I get it. Change is terrifying but isn’t it scarier to live in a world without rules. You shouldn’t be afraid of the world your trying to save. Look around you’re already living right now in what the future could be and its not so bad right?”
“You do realize we’re locked up in a dungeon in an unknown hydra base, right?”
“Yea, but atleast we have each other” he grinned.
“How can you still have hope!” she yelled feeling the tears sting her eyes as they threatened to spill.
“Because of you Bobbi” he said softly his grin softening.
“Your proof that despite what happens here humanity will live on and we will keep fighting even after the world ends, we will still fight to the bitter end and if people like you can fight even when the world is already over then I can spend atleast till my last breath fighting this damn organization, right?” he said holding her hand tightly and squeezing.
“Yea” she whispered softly a small smile gracing her face, “Thank you Hunter”
Present Day
“Come on Hunter! Didn’t you spew a bunch of bullshit about fighting till the end! Why don’t you hurry up and move your sorry ass!” she yelled collapsing to her knees out of breath.
“I have to keep going I have to keep moving. I can’t give up.” Pulling Hunters body up she took a step forward when suddenly the whole ground shook knocking her back into the ground, “What the he—” Turning to look behind her she froze her eyes widening in shock.
Fire rose up behind her and the place where the hydra base had once been was gone. An explosion had occurred behind her smoke making it impossible to see what had happened.
A blurry figure rose from the mist, but she couldn’t make it out. “I have to get back to the others, I have to tell them whats happening!” Grabbing Hunter, she pulled him up and stumbled away from the explosion only one thought crossing her mind.
Daisy I hope your okay.