“Mcfly, or that’s what he calls you anyway, huh? My dad.”
Lillian frowned and turned her head, there was no pleasant setting this time around, she was still strapped down to the table but she was no longer alone. Now Iosif Wright was standing in the corner. Actually he was lounging against it like it was no big deal. One foot crossed behind the opposite ankle, his arms loosely forward while he leaned. Those eyes. Those bright blue eyes were locked on her and there was no hint of kindness in them.
“How’d you get in here? How’d you even know…”
Lillian felt hope begin to build in her chest. If Iosif knew she was here, then so would everyone else. Someone would do something, someone would get her out. Her blissful thoughts were interrupted by his smooth voice.
Immediately her head rolled to look at him. “How did you even get in here? If you did, someone else will, and I’ll get out.”
Iosif only shook his head before shrugging his shoulders. “I’m the master of metal, not too difficult for me to get through a few locks and doors, you know. It’s easy… all of that meditation and control crap that you like to make fun of me for.”
A long silence fell between the two while she studied him carefully. “You’re not actually here… this is just another delusion. If you really were here, you’d have me out by now.” Unfortunately her resolve was beginning to waver so her voice wasn’t as strong as it typically would.
Laughter shook the room as Iosif pushed off the wall, letting his arms drop. His million dollar smile was on his lips as he moved to walk the foot of the bed slowly. “Alright, Graham. Pretend I’m not here if that makes it easier. But I promise you, I’m here. I just came for a little chat, give you a few messages.” His grin continued as he turned and walked up the side of the bed, bracing his hands on either side of her head as he stared down at her, challenging her.
She met his challenge, lips shut but her eyes locked on his. Honestly, she had never noticed how intense his eyes really were, at least not until now. Right now they had Adler written all over them.
“No one, is coming for you.”
His words came out in slow, darting, painful paces and he remained where he was hovering over her keeping his eyes on her face to watch her reaction.
“No one even cares that you’re gone, Lillian. Hell they’re probably relieved. You opened up a lot of people by being gone, and even when they find out where you are, they’ll still leave you here. We’re better off without you. Keera didn’t even show up to leave did she? No, she didn’t. Why? Because she figured a life without you here at SHIELD would make this place a lot more tolerable. How do I now… well, because she told me.” With his last words he gently caressed her cheek with the back of his hand and straightened up.
“No one is coming, no one even wants to. Everyone is at peace now. Keera’s finally happy. Her and Derek are quite the little pair. And I am so glad I don’t have to sit and listen to Noah anymore. He got over you rather quickly when he realized you weren’t coming back. I always told him it was just puppy love, but I think now he gets it. I think… he and Soto actually have something going on and he’s doing great, right back to normal Noah.”
The boy moved from the bed to go back to pacing the foot of it slowly. “You know it’s kind of funny, you always talked about how he came down so hard on himself and he was in his own way, when in all reality… you were the one that was hard on him, the one that was just mean. I mean you took the kid’s virginity, and then you went right ahead and strung him along like he meant nothing. Using him like a toy when you were bored.”
Lillian’s fingers tightened around her restraints as her glare darkened Iosif’s way. “I may have taken his virginity, but I was NOT stringing him along. Not even for a second. Shut up. Shut up now, you have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He laughed again, he was laughing at her, laughing at her words when she was painfully serious. Her fingers had tightened into her palms now, she wouldn’t be surprised if there would be blood soon. “Whatever you want to keep telling yourself, Lillian. I’m just here to tell you that he’s doing a hell of a lot better without you around – everyone is.”
She wanted to turn him to dust on the spot, watch him burst into nothing but still her power didn’t work. “Get out.” Her teeth clenched as she watched him pacing, her head shaking but it was the only thing she could move. “GET OUT.”
“You want me to leave? Gladly. After I say this.” Iosif stopped and turned, his hands resting on the end of the table while he stared up at her. “My dad knows you’re down here, and he’s not coming. Not now, not tomorrow, not ever.” The wicked smirk was still on his lips and she had never known Iosif to be so cruel, but she somehow managed to hold herself together.
“Remember Graham, he’s MY father, not yours – hell, you were just a little toy to entertain him for a while. Not even worth having sex with, and now that you’re down here… well he just moved right along to his next toy, no big deal. Right now, you’re where you belong. He’s not coming to save you, you’re staying right there.”
He turned to her, giving her the killer smile that accentuated his dimples and he winked her way. “Nice chat. I’ll be se- well, actually I guess I won’t be.” He snickered and it turned into laughter once more as he gave her a wave.
Lillian threw her head back against the metal table when he left. The door actually opened and closed behind him. His words were screaming through her head. Keera never wanted to go. Noah was happier without her. Cole didn’t care she was down here. Her head felt like it was on fire, she wanted nothing more than to scream but instead she continued hitting her head until it went into black.
All the while the man above her slowly removed his fingers from her temples and glanced up toward the machines, all the while the girl slept soundly through another one of his attacks. “I think we’re getting somewhere. The friends next. We’ve planted the idea and now we just need to pound it home…”
