The captives had been imprisoned for over two months. Initially, they clung to the hope of escape or rescue. But as days dragged into weeks, one by one, the prisoners succumbed to despair, their spirits broken by the merciless experiments inflicted upon them. Each lost soul met a painful end, dying in agony and hopelessness.
By now, they had abandoned any expectation of salvation. They merely waited, numb and resigned, for the lizardmen to drag them away to yet another experiment—a step closer to death.
Seeing the despair etched on the captives' faces, Gwen couldn't help but feel her own resentment grow toward the mysterious Dr. Lizard. The haunting memory of Peter's terror and regret before his death only fueled her anger further.
Gwen glanced over at the woman lying unconscious in her cell. In a way, the woman's oblivion was a mercy; at least she wouldn't have to be cautious in Gwen's presence. After all, she needed to keep her Spider-Woman identity secret, especially with the police actively pursuing her.
Circling around the woman sprawled on the floor, Gwen retreated into the shadows, readying herself to disguise her appearance. Just as she began pulling off her loose sweatshirt, she heard a noise nearby. Quickly, she threw the sweatshirt back on, concealing the black and white combat suit beneath it. Moving carefully, she peered through the bars to see what was happening.
In a nearby cell, she noticed a familiar figure emerging as the heavy iron bars swung open. Holm landed soundlessly on the ground, his gaze keenly scanning the surroundings. The cell door, previously locked tight, had now been forced open by him, thanks to Venom's assistance and Chocolate's encouragement. Venom, now in high spirits, had proven invaluable.
As Holm mentally praised Venom for the impressive feat, he promised a chocolate reward once they were free. But his attention was soon captured by the sight of a young woman staring at him through the cell bars. It was the same "alcohol-loving" girl he'd encountered before. Her big blue eyes widened in surprise and disbelief.
Holm had no idea he'd interrupted Gwen's quick attempt to slip into her Spider-Woman identity. Assuming her reaction was simply a mix of shock and relief, he approached her cell, planning to enlist her help.
"Have you sobered up by now?" Holm asked with a wry smile, reaching for the padlock on her cell door.
Gwen, momentarily caught off guard by his teasing, quickly realized Holm had been watching her before she was captured. There had been a strange sensation, a feeling of being watched, but she'd dismissed it at the time. Now, it seemed her instincts had been right.
Inwardly, she was glad she hadn't let her guard down or done anything to reveal her true identity. But now she knew he had seen her at the bar.
Her mind raced, evaluating possible excuses, but Holm's smirk told her he'd already drawn his conclusions. She remembered the times they'd met, always somehow tied to alcohol, and his attitude had shifted from initial concern to indifference, and now, outright mocking.
Gwen's gaze hardened as she narrowed her eyes. "I didn't drink. It was just juice," she emphasized, her tone defensive. "And how exactly did you know I was even at that bar?"
With a loud click, Holm pulled the padlock off the cell door, dropping it casually to the ground. Opening the gate, he looked at her and said, "I thought you would've figured it out by now. Didn't I show you my FBI ID the first time we met? Even the driver saw it."
Holm grinned. "Being in the FBI, it's not unusual for me to know where you've been—like the bar. I even know what you had for dinner last night." He gestured for her to join him. "Come on. Help calm these people down, and we'll all get out of here once I've released everyone."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked to the adjacent cell, deftly pulling the padlock from its gate as well.
'FBI agent? As if! And what kind of agent keeps track of people's dinners?' Gwen thought, rolling her eyes. But she didn't have time to argue over his absurd claim, so she focused on helping the others. Waking up the unconscious woman in her cell, she hurried to catch up with Holm.
Holm moved with remarkable speed and efficiency. In under two minutes, he had unlocked every cell in the area. Unlike his quick work with the padlocks, Gwen's job took longer, as she reassured the frightened captives. By the time Holm had opened all the doors, Gwen had only managed to communicate with half the group.
Seeing her struggle to reach everyone, Holm approached the remaining captives, whispering instructions to them.
Once they were briefed, Holm led the group toward the cell he had originally broken into, instructing them to crawl through a newly created tunnel. Along the way, he had prepared instructions and shared the escape plan with the most alert prisoners, ensuring they knew where to find safety outside and that SHIELD agents would be waiting to collect them.
As the last captive disappeared down the tunnel, Holm turned back to Gwen, who hadn't yet moved. "What are you waiting for? You're in the best shape, so you could lead, but I think you'll be more useful here. If anyone strays, you can guide them back."
His tone was firm, yet his logic made sense. Gwen wasn't opposed to the plan, even though she wanted to stay and help him directly. "I'll wait for the next group. I can handle myself."
Holm didn't hesitate. Taking her hand, he gently but firmly pulled her toward the tunnel entrance. "I know you want to help, and I appreciate that. But if you leave now, you can double-check that everyone's moving in the right direction. That'll be the best help you can offer me."
Holm's patient explanation left little room for argument, and Gwen could sense that he was trying to keep his tone from triggering her rebellious side. Their past encounters had likely painted a clear picture of her independence in his mind.
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