New York City.
Manhattan.
Palm Street.
House 521A.
The mailbox out front still bore fresh lettering: "Phoenix House." Behind it stood a spacious detached home, complete with a garage and a storage shed.
Early that morning, Gwen woke up, checked her phone, and saw there were still no calls from Hawk—even after seventeen days.
She didn't worry.
Hawk had told her before leaving: this trip could take a while.
So…
She tossed off the blanket, stretched, and padded barefoot into the bathroom.
After a shower, she dried her golden hair and tied it into a high ponytail. She slipped the Andromeda Cloth necklace back around her neck, changed into comfortable loungewear, and stepped out.
Summer break had started. From her bedroom to the living room, Gwen turned on the TV, then wandered into the kitchen. She pulled out recipe cards she had recopied at her mom's place, planning to test a new dish today. If it turned out well, Hawk would have a new favorite to taste when he returned.
The big TV was tuned to NYTV. Their star anchor was reporting the latest "breaking" news.
Typical New York fare—
Another shooting.
Another bank robbery.
In the land of the free, gunfire was a daily soundtrack. In New York, it was hourly.
Gwen prepped ingredients, half-listening.
Then—
"…now for coverage of yesterday's Times Square shooting."
"According to an FBI insider, the suspect is confirmed as Sharon Carter, tied to an international terror organization based in London—"
"What!"
"Sharon?"
The knife nearly slipped from Gwen's hand. She rushed into the living room just as a photo flashed onscreen.
It was Sharon Carter.
"The FBI has listed Sharon Carter as wanted. Citizens are advised to—"
"Impossible…" Gwen whispered, breath catching. "Wasn't she with some world security agency?"
Then—
Knock! Knock!
Urgent pounding at the door. Gwen froze.
"Gwen—it's me, Sharon…" came a weak voice outside.
Gwen bolted for the door and flung it open.
Thud!
A car sat half-parked on the lawn. Sharon stumbled forward and collapsed in a pool of blood at Gwen's feet.
"Sharon!"
Gwen dragged her inside, slammed the door shut, and eased her down on the rug by the fireplace. Blood poured from wounds in Sharon's shoulder and abdomen.
Gwen sprinted for the first-aid kit, knelt, and prepared to help.
"Wait—" Sharon gasped. "The bullets are still inside."
Gwen steadied her breath, disinfected forceps in hand. "Relax. I'm the daughter of a police captain. You'll be fine."
She worked quickly, extracting the bullets with steady hands. Sharon clenched her teeth through the agony. Once both slugs clinked into the tray, Gwen threaded a suture.
"There's no anesthetic…" she murmured.
Sharon managed a pale smile. "Do it."
Gwen nodded. "Okay."
As she stitched, she asked, "What happened?"
Sharon inhaled sharply against the pain, but forced out the truth.
Hydra had risen again.
Ten years after Project Insight, Hydra agents hidden within S.H.I.E.L.D. bases worldwide had launched a coordinated second uprising—just yesterday at 2:00 p.m. Washington time.
Gwen's eyes widened. "Hydra? But… history says they were destroyed!"
"So did I," Sharon hissed. "But they never vanished. They grew like a parasite inside S.H.I.E.L.D., feeding and waiting."
She explained—
Ten days ago, she visited the Raft to transfer Dr. Merrick, arrested years ago for human cloning experiments. But the man inside didn't match the original records. Digital files insisted he did. Alarmed, she reported to Commander Hand, who contacted Maria Hill.
Evidence mounted: items swapped out of secure vaults, contraband disappearing, even vibranium shipments unaccounted for right under Hill's nose.
Hill secretly reinstated Nick Fury's authority. Fury summoned Natasha and Barton back from Africa, then linked with Captain America to track the missing vibranium.
But—
They tipped Hydra off.
Fury was ambushed, declared dead after a second attack.
Hydra struck S.H.I.E.L.D. hard. Agents fell where they stood. Sharon and Hand tried to escape, but Hand was shot and stayed behind to cover her. Sharon barely fled alive.
She hid all night. This morning, with pursuit slackened, she stole a car—only to be shot again en route.
Her first instinct hadn't been Gwen. She didn't want to endanger her. Hydra wanted power, not Hawk's fiancée. If Gwen died… Hawk's fury might end the world itself.
But options were scarce. Safehouses? Compromised. Other allies? Thor was in New Mexico. Tony Stark was in South Korea. Wanda Maximoff—still training in New Orleans. Natasha and Barton? Missing.
So she gambled on Palm Street.
Hydra had followed—until her car crossed into the neighborhood. Then, strangely, they braked.
"They stopped at the block's edge?" Gwen asked.
Sharon nodded. "Hawk's reputation. They know. Even Hydra fears him."
Hawk: the Devil King.
In official files, his codename was Phoenix. Off-record? Demon Lord. He was known to wipe out families—or whole tribes—when provoked. Ross's clan. The Wakandan Black Panthers.
If Hawk was terrifying, Gwen was worse—his leash. Anyone who threatened her paid in extinction.
Hydra dared not risk it.
Gwen blinked. Hydra was supposed to be the nightmare. Yet even they balked at Hawk.
But Hawk? He was gentle with her. Loving. Obedient. Wash when told. Kiss when told. Lick when—
She shook her head quickly, cheeks heating.
"Then I'm safe here?" she asked.
Sharon tried to rise, failed, and sagged onto the couch. "Give me your phone."
Gwen fetched it. Sharon frowned at the screen. "No signal. They've jammed it."
Her face tightened. "I can't stay. If they breach this house, you'll be in danger."
"No." Gwen pressed her down firmly. "You said it yourself. They won't cross into this street. Not unless Hawk is gone forever—and he's not."
Sharon froze. Right. Hawk was alive. Hydra wouldn't gamble.
Then—
Bang. Bang.
Another knock at the door.
Both women tensed. Sharon gripped her pistol. Gwen drew a breath, hand on her necklace.
"FBI, Miss Stacy," a voice called.
Three men in dark suits stood outside when Gwen cracked the door open. FBI vests over their jackets.
They looked at her—and saw the blood on her clothes.
Her gaze was calm. "Can I help you?"
The air between them was taut with silence.
…
(End of Chapter)
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