EIGHTEEN

                                    

                                          
CENTURIES | ENDGAME
Chapter Eighteen
⚡️
Vormir: 2014
         THE JOURNEY TO THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN IS NATURALLY LONG AND EXHAUSTING. But doing that journey on a different planet was surprisingly different, and not in a good way. Laurel was beginning to regret her decision of choosing to be on the Soul Stone team. Should've gone to 2012's New York. 
"The Guardians could've at least warned us," Laurel huffed out, leaning forward to plant her hands on her thighs.
Natasha let out a dry laugh, sharing Laurel's exhaustion. "I bet you the raccoon didn't have to climb a mountain," she pointed out with a sarcastic smirk. 
"Technically..." Clint dragged out as he continued the steep trip to the mountain's peak. "He's not a raccoon, you know."
Natasha rolled her eyes, folding her arms once they stepped to the top. "Whatever. He eats garbage," she spat, earning a light chuckle from Laurel. 
With an exhale of breath, Laurel returned to giving a stern gaze, spinning to examine their surroundings. "So, what'd Nebula say to do now..?" she asked no one in particular, finding the view quite beautiful all things considered. 
The trio was caught off guard by the ghostly figure of the Soul Stone's protector. "Welcome..." Red Skull's voice was drained of emotion. It was as if his entire gymanity was stripped away from him and he was a hollow outer shell of his former self. 
Clint, Natasha and Laurel drew their weapons swiftly, pointing each piece of weaponary at the hooded villain who once threatened the safety of the globe. The sight of him was confusing for sure. 
"Natasha, daughter of Ivan. Clint, son of Edith. Laurel, daughter of Elise..." Red Skull drawned on, earning a pointed look from Laurel as he named her mother. Someone she could never remember or find, there was a part of her that didn't want her parents to see what she became. 
Natasha squinted her eyes at Red Skull. "Who are you?" she demanded, finger resting on her gun's trigger delicately.. 
"Consider me a guide. To you, and to all who seek the Soul Stone."
Laurel shuddered at the villain's tone. It lacked any emotion and gave her chills. It was the voice of a person put through decades of trauma, someone who inevitably gave up with living. 
Natasha kept her head high. "Oh, good," she sassed Red Skull. "You tell us where it is. Then we'll be on our way."
Red Skull slowly shook his head. "Ah, liebchen– If only it were that easy." As he passed, he was like a ghost. Red Skull seemed to float past like a feather in the wind, his massive coat fluttering gently in the soft breeze passing over the cliff face. "What you seek lies in front of you... as does what you fear."
Laurel swallowed harshly, forced to look away as she took in the great height they stood at. She felt sick, the sight of the massive drop causing the memory of when her life turned and went a different direction. The moment Black Siren was born. 
"The stone is down there?" Natasha spoke up, glancing over to Red Skull as Clint continued to take in the great height. 
"For two of you. For the other... In order to take the stone, you must lose that which you love... An everlasting exchange. A soul, for a soul."