Starter!
@missmargomuse616 sent Starter! for a starter
Johnny's skin prickled with goosebumps, not just from the chill but from the creeping sense of unease, as the heavy iron door creaked open. He scanned the area quickly, pausing to listen, every nerve on edge. When no footsteps echoed back, he exhaled and ventured further into the dingy basement.
Earlier that day, SHIELD, apparently fresh out of infiltration specialists, had briefed him about a worrisome situation. Yet here he was, the best they had, and he had to admit—he was surprised he'd gotten this far undetected. But now, surrounded by pitch darkness, he needed some light. With a flick of his wrist, a small flame ignited over his pointer finger, casting a warm, flickering glow around him.
Turns out, he was standing in a narrow, claustrophobic stairwell that wound deeper underground. Great. He sighed, shaking his head. "Why did I have to get myself into this mess?" he whispered, his voice barely above a breath, as he started his descent.
The faint hum reached his ears first. It grew louder as he descended, each step amplifying the sound, until he finally stepped off the stairs into a small room. The source of the hum was clearer now, and the only light came from across the dungeon—an eerie, bluish glow. Johnny hesitated before reluctantly extinguishing his flame, allowing the room to be bathed in the cold, unnatural light.
Then, movement. A figure, barely visible, shifted in the shadows.
"Who's there?" he called out, his voice breaking the stillness before his brain caught up with his instincts. Great, genius move, Johnny. He clenched his fists, every sense sharp, bracing for a response—or worse, an attack.
