"Before you expect me to join you, at least tell me who you people are."
Skye Quinn tried to swallow, but two days without water had left her throat painfully dry. Even swallowing her own saliva was impossible.
The man who appeared to be their leader chuckled, as if amused by her resilience. "Fair enough."
He leaned closer, eyes shining with a frightening kind of devotion as he spoke three simple words.
"Hail Hydra."
His voice carried the weight of obsession. "Our organization has existed for thousands of years. During the Second World War, Hydra reached the peak of its power. We were only one step away from ruling the world."
He sighed with disappointment, then lifted his chin again.
"But when the war ended, we had no choice but to retreat into the shadows. Still, it does not matter. Hydra is everywhere."
Those last four words struck Skye like a physical blow.
She understood instantly. These people were not some random gang. They were the kind of organization you never want to cross, the kind that hides behind history books and conspiracy theories. Even someone like her, who barely paid attention to world politics, knew what Hydra represented.
"All right. You can think about it," the leader said. "But if you still refuse to join us after today, you will die."
He stopped acknowledging her, as if she were already a corpse.
Skye forced out a bitter smile. She had only accepted a simple freelance hacking job, yet somehow she had stumbled into a nightmare far darker than she could have imagined.
Life at Locke Technologies had been good. Stable. Comfortable. But Skye was not the kind of woman who enjoyed a quiet life. She liked excitement. She liked challenges. So from time to time, she accepted private jobs.
This time, a mysterious client asked her to hack into a certain company's servers. She did not think much of it at first. It was just another company, nothing she had not done before.
But the moment she breached the outer firewall, she realized something was wrong.
The defense system was too strong. Too sophisticated. It felt personal, almost like it was daring her to try harder. She was so absorbed in cracking the system that she didn't notice the men sneaking into her home until it was too late.
Even if she did not understand the bigger picture, she knew one thing: she had been set up.
One of the Hydra agents hesitated. "The firewall at Locke Technologies is not simple. Do you really think this girl can solve it?"
The leader let out a cold laugh. "Of course not. Our intel says she already tried once and failed. But whether she succeeds does not matter. We don't need her to achieve anything."
The implication made Skye's heart freeze. How did they know so much? How did they know she tried before?
A few thoughts came together in her mind.
These bastards were working with the people who kidnapped her last time.
She was doomed.
For the first time, Skye genuinely believed that joining Hydra might be her only chance to survive.
What she did not know was that in a room not far away, a man was watching everything through surveillance feeds. His gaze was cold, yet underneath it was a flicker of something complicated.
After all… Skye was his daughter. A true descendant of the Inhumans.
But Skye remained unaware of this truth.
After struggling with herself for several minutes, she finally asked, "If I agree to join Hydra… do I get any benefits?"
Her tone softened, a hint of desperation slipping in.
The leader turned back, lips curling. "Of course. For starters, you get to live."
His eyes flashed with malice.
"Looks like you've made your decision," he said as he picked up a knife and walked toward her. "Tell me your answer."
Skye flinched at the cold metal brushing her cheek. She felt despair building in her chest. If only her boss would crash through the door again like last time. If only he could save her again.
If he did, she swore she'd consider him her prince charming. Actually, she already did…
A deafening explosion shook the room.
Skye's pupils contracted. Warm blood splashed across her face. The Hydra leader in front of her was suddenly missing half his body, the rest collapsing to the floor in a pool of blood, his eyes still open in disbelief.
Everyone froze.
Several Hydra operatives tried to run, but the rapid crack of automatic gunfire filled the air. Bodies fell one after another, the room turning silent within seconds.
Nolan Locke kicked open the door. His Thunderhammer Armor gleamed in the flickering light, and he looked furious.
Skye had been kidnapped twice.
Once could be coincidence. Twice meant someone was targeting her.
Nolan swept the room until he found her. Skye was covered in blood, trembling, her eyes unfocused. He sighed.
Trouble. Serious trouble.
He had seen the danger through infrared and pulled the trigger without hesitation, sniping the Hydra leader before the man could hurt her.
Nolan removed the armor and crossed the room. He pulled Skye into his arms, his voice low and steady.
"You're safe now. It's over."
Skye broke. The tears she had been holding back burst out in waves.
When she finally calmed down enough to speak, she told him everything.
"Hydra…" Nolan whispered. His breathing hitched.
Not only were they Hydra, but she suspected the people who kidnapped her last time were Hydra too.
"Courting death."
Cold fury flashed in Nolan's eyes.
Hydra had targeted him more than once. If he continued ignoring them, one day they would strike at his doorstep.
"I understand," he said gently. "I won't let anyone hurt you again."
He sent Skye home, but once she was safe, Nolan's expression turned icy.
He did not know which Hydra faction had acted. But that no longer mattered.
What he needed was blood.
He recited names, one after another, each belonging to a known Hydra operative. Every one of them held a high-ranking position.
Except for the Pierce faction, which he left untouched.
Alexander Pierce had no reason to get involved in something this sloppy.
After finishing his list, Nolan took out a small vial containing a single drop of blood.
Dr. Green's blood.
He had collected it earlier and sent it for testing. The results were unsettling. The blood contained unnatural substances. Not quite superhuman, but enough to grant strange abilities such as poison immunity.
The only person who matched this profile… was Ophelia Sarkissian. Madame Hydra herself.
Everything suddenly aligned.
Nolan realized Dr. Green, the elegant scientist, was the same woman feared across the underground world.
He had originally planned to keep her close. Knowing her identity meant he could contain her if needed.
But the repeated attacks had pushed him to reconsider.
It was time to confront her.
Back at the company, Nolan instructed the AI Red Queen to summon Dr. Green.
She entered his office minutes later, swaying her hips as usual.
"Boss, did you need something?"
Her smile was soft, inviting, almost charming.
Nolan remained still.
"Ms. Green, please keep some distance. I have a few questions. For example… how exactly did you poison me?"
Her smile disappeared.
"You know it was me?"
Nolan nodded.
"And I know everything else too. You orchestrated all of it, correct? Madame Hydra… Ophelia Sarkissian."
He stripped away her disguise in a single sentence.
Ophelia's posture changed instantly. Her gentle demeanor vanished. Without altering her appearance, she became a different person entirely. Cold. Beautiful. Dangerous.
"Such a shame," she said softly. "I planned to play with you a while longer. Working at Locke Technologies was the most peaceful time I've had in years."
She tilted her head, studying him.
"You really are impressive. Not only did you discover I poisoned you, but you also uncovered my true identity."
Then she smiled.
"But you are wrong about one thing. I never harmed you. My only goal was to bring you into Hydra."
She paused, then added casually,
"Although your little sweetheart Skye being kidnapped twice… that part was indeed my people. Both times were accidents. Unfortunate, but accidents nonetheless."
Nolan's eyes narrowed.
"So the bridge attack, the poisoning, the robbery outside your home… all coincidences?"
Ophelia nodded, completely calm.
"Everything except your collapse from poison was luck. Pure luck."
Lucky. Of all abilities Hydra feared the most in her, it was not her poisons but the terrifying force that bent probability around her.
She leaned forward, voice low.
"Tell me, Nolan. What do you think? Could I kill you right now? Or perhaps… you are already poisoned?"
Nolan stared back, completely unshaken.
"This is my Hive."
That confidence made even luck hesitate.
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