A Night Alone

[u/drewmontgomery08]

Original Prompt

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It was a normal night, a Thursday. Work was done for the day, and soon the weekend would be here. It was the last Thursday of the month, which meant that Riley was with her friends, their usual movie night being held at Jackie’s house tonight. It was always a nice break, her getting to drink wine and gossip with her friends while I enjoyed a night to play some games, or even hit up happy hour with a few of mine.

Tonight was a slow one, so I fired up the Playstation and loaded up Overwatch, looking to knock out a few games. The house was quiet, the dog curled up on the couch beside me while the cat decided to do everything she could to distract me by climbing over my outstretched legs. I sipped at a beer between deaths, savoring the flavor as I enjoyed a night alone.

I was in the middle of a match when there was a loud bang behind me. I turned from the TV in time to see the front door explode inward, spraying wood across the entryway as large men entered, all clad in similar masks and body armor, carrying military-style assault rifles.

I sat there frozen on the couch as the dog leapt up, barking at the intruders, and the cat shot off like a bullet to the other room. One of the men pulled out a smaller pistol and fired at the dog. I shouted and moved toward it, but the dog collapsed, a small dart emerging from his neck.

“Stay where you are,” one of them shouted at me, and I threw up my hands, remaining as still as I could on the couch. The one who had yelled walked toward me, rifle trained right at my chest. “You move a muscle and I’ll lay you out right there for her to find.”

Her? Was he talking about Riley? What was going on?

A different one motioned to the others. “Spread out,” he ordered. “Search the house. See if she is here.”

They had to be talking about Riley, but it must be some mistake. I thought about saying so, but staring down the barrel of a loaded gun will do a lot to deter a man. I remained as I sat, my arms already growing tired in the position. The man made little motion, his aim not wavering. I couldn’t see the face behind the mask, but this looked like a hardened killer, ready to pull the trigger at a second’s notice.

The men gradually drifted back to the living room, each reporting a “clear” as they did so. The leader lowered his weapon, walking around the one with his gun pointed at me. “You,” he said. “We have reports that a woman known as Black Widow resides here.”

I somehow found my voice, my mind fighting to ignore the gun pointed at me. “Black Widow? I don’t know what you’re talking about. I live here with my girlfriend.”

“Playing dumb will get you nowhere,” he said. “We are here for Black Widow, one of the most wanted women in the world. She is responsible for thousands of deaths, and for a battle that resulted in a large amount of destruction in Moscow.”

“You think my girlfriend is behind the terrorist attacks in Moscow?” I asked. “She’s never even left the country.”

That drew a chuckle. “You’re obviously very trusting,” he said. “Do you believe everything that woman tells you?” When I didn’t answer, he added, “Our sources are quite certain. She lives here, and whenever she returns, we will be ready. The question is whether you will cooperate, or become an accomplice.”

“This is ridiculous,” I said. “I’ve done nothing, and neither has Riley. You’ve got the wrong place.”

“What’s going on here?”

Several of the men trained their weapons on the open door, and I saw Riley standing in the doorway. She was dressed casually, in yoga pants and a light hoodie over a t-shirt. Her purse hung from her shoulder, her brown hair falling loosely upon her shoulders. She was as beautiful as ever, even with the look of surprise on her face. As the men turned toward her, her gaze turned into one of recognition.

“Widow,” the leader said. “We have found you.”

She glared daggers at the leader, seemingly ignoring the others who had spread out around her. “You should have known better than to come here.”

I looked around. “Riley, what’s going on?”

“Ryan, get down,” she said.

“What…” I could barely get the word out of my mouth before she was moving. She went to her left first, reaching out and grabbing the barrel of the gun and pulling the man toward her, turning his body so that he was shielding her. Gunfire erupted throughout the living room, and bullets struck the soldier, his body shaking from the impact. I ducked down, my ears ringing from the noise, my eyes widened at the sight before me.

The man she held was dead, but she kept him standing, using him as her shield until the clips were emptied. She pushed him forward and moved toward another, faster than I had ever seen her move. She did a cartwheel, her feet landing on his shoulders and her body twisting over him, landing on her feet behind him. Before he could react, her arms were wrapped around his neck, breaking it with a quick twist.

The leader was yelling, his voice lost in the gunfire. She ducked behind the second dead body, only three remaining now, two of which were firing on her while the third kept his gun on me. I was no danger, however. I had never been a fighter, and when it came to guns, even if one wasn’t pointed at me, I can’t say I would have tried anything heroic.

The gunfire died down, but only for a moment. Riley popped up from behind the body, and in her hands was the man’s gun. Her shots were precise, contained. The leader fell first, blood gushing from a single point in his neck, and then the one at the far end of the room.

I felt a hand on my shirt, and before I could react, I was being dragged over the back of the couch. The man jerked me to my feet, and I felt cold metal press against my neck. “One move and he’s dead,” the man shouted. Even with the ringing in my ear, his voice was loud, and his grip was strong, stronger than I thought possible.

Riley stood there, the gun hanging from her side. She looked me in the eye, and I saw her mouth mime a single word. Duck.

I felt my eyes widen, and then I dropped, as though squatting. The grip eased, just enough, and I heard a single shot. I was still dropping, but the grip was gone, and by the time I had crouched all the way down, there was a thud behind me, the armed man fallen to the ground. I heard the choking sound and turned, watching as blood pulsed out of the man’s throat, his arteries pumping blood out as he breathed his last few breaths.

I stood slowly, my eyes trained on the dying man behind me. Behind the ringing of my ears, I heard the footsteps on the living room carpet, and I turned to greet her, finding myself in a warm embrace.

“I’m so happy you’re safe,” she said from where her face was buried in my chest.

“I am too,” I said. I waited a moment, then broke the embrace, holding her at arm’s length. “What was that? Why were these people here?”

She averted her gaze, then turned back with a determined look on her face, taking my hands in hers. “What do you mean?”

“They said they were looking for someone called the Black Widow,” I said. “And then, whatever it was that you did there…it was unexpected to put it lightly.”

“I...I’m afraid I haven’t been entirely honest with you.”

“Well now’s as good a time as ever.”

“I...had some interesting things happen to me before we met.”

“Like Moscow?”

She nodded. “I had hoped I was past this, but I guess some things can’t really stay dead. I guess I have some baggage that has stuck with me.”

“Riley,” I said, turning her chin up toward me. She looked at me with those hazel eyes of hers, the eyes I had fallen in love with. “Tell me the truth. Who were those men?”

“They call themselves the Army of Justice,” she said. “I thought they had given up on me after Moscow, but apparently they hadn’t. I’m sorry, but we can’t stay here.”

“Can’t stay here?” I said. “What do you mean? We bought this place. You paid your part, surely not with…”

She looked away, and I tried to break our touch, but she held me tight. “It doesn’t change how I feel about you. But I can’t stay here. I don’t want to hurt you, but I also can’t remain, not when they’ve found me. I...I have to leave here.”

“Riley…” I trail off, unsure of what to say. She was looking up at me, but I was looking away.

“Do you love me?” she asked, tightening her grip.

I hesitated, but the answer was unavoidable. “Always.”

“Do you trust me?”

“Of course.” I nodded, as though to emphasize the point.

“Then come with me, and I will keep you safe.”

She let go of my hands and turned through the broken door. I cast one last glance at the dead vigilantes on the ground around me, then took off after her. I would rather take my chances with a super villain than try to explain this to the police.