Weakest Link in the Chain, Part 9

Chapter Nine: The Impalement Arts
By C.M. King

The high-pitched clink of Hawkeye’s lock bursting open resounded throughout the darkened room. A few seconds later the now useless chains fall to the ground with a dull clang. Freed from his confines, the archer speeds purposely across the room. A convenient piece of metal provides him with the means to pry open the locked cupboard where his bow and arrows are held. “I’ve been feeling naked without these,” thinks the bowman to himself. “If Hawkeye’s gonna save the day again, he’s gonna need to be fully armed.”

As the hero revels in his newfound fortune, a link of the discarded chain floats noiselessly behind him just out of sight. Suddenly one end of the chain wraps itself around Hawkeye’s left leg - then pulls itself quickly backwards dumping the startled bowman headfirst onto the floor.

“My-my, you Avengers are resourceful aren’t you? Still, it’s nothing like enough,” mocks an amused Dymium.

In one swift motion, Hawkeye loads and fires an arrow straight at his nemesis. With great glee, Dymium uses her power to cause the arrow to turn sharply when it gets near her and crash harmlessly into the wall.

“Face it, William Tell; my magnetic powers are too much for you. My reverse polarity field won’t let your weapons through if I don’t wish it.”

Then channeling her power through her gun for better focus, Dymium causes Hawkeye’s bow to fly away from him sharply and land across the room.

“And without your bow, you are helpless.”

Her magnetism then incites some random metal objects in the room to slam into Hawkeye, knocking him over. Dymium stands over the fallen archer and points the end of her gun-like prop at him with an evil smile on her face.

“Goodbye, hero. You will not be missed.”

Unexpectedly, Hawkeye snatches an arrow out of his quiver and slams it into her arm with a blinding speed. The arrow gives the woman an electric shock. “Don’t cry for me yet, Argentina! I’ve got more fight in me than that,” announces the bowman as he gets back up to his feet.

“Damn you, Avenger. I’ll rip your heart out if I must!” On her hands and knees, Dymium surges her power again, once more making Hawkeye the target of flying metal objects. Staggering over on wobbly legs, Hawkeye reaches the villainess and slaps her into unconsciousness. “Sleep it off, sister!”

Alone and out of breath, he muses to himself, “I hated doing that more than I thought I would. In a way, I kinda liked her, but she’s clearly on the wrong side. She even called me, ‘hero’ like it was a dirty word. But I’ve learned my lesson about bad girls by now.”

Further reflection is lost as held-back pain finally clouds the Avenger’s head. Then his battered body betrays him as he collapses to the floor and into darkness himself.

NEXT: No One Here Gets Out Alive!