The Girl in the White Gown

The music swelled loudly at the gala in Germany. Sixteen year old Victoria sat at a table all alone while her father wined and dined with some of the richest people around these parts. She was bored to death, but she passed the time talking to her best friend Sissy over the phone.

"Tell me why we can't just text," said Sissy in an aggravating growl in her voice.

"I told you, my father doesn't like me texting. He says talking is old school and old school is the best school," said Victoria in an annoyed manner. She was twisting her long black hair in and out of her fingers.

"He checks in every now and again," said Victoria. She brushed her hair out of her face to reveal her bright blue eyes with her white and silver eye shadow shading her eyes brighter than they were.

"Where is he now?" asked Sissy.

Victoria peeked over the crowd and saw her father talking to an old woman.

"He's schmoozing some old woman," said Victoria.

"That's gross," said Sissy.

"Tell me about it," said Victoria. She rolled her eyes.

"Has he even spent an hour with you or anything?" asked Sissy.

"No he basically tossed me aside like some old toy that had fulfilled its' usefulness," said Victoria.

"So what else exciting is going on?" asked Sissy.

Victoria was on her phone most of the night talking to her friend back in the United States, basically saying how bored she was that her father had basically tricked her into this vacation.

"He said we would be having lots of fun," said Victoria sarcastically.

"Like a fool I believed him! What a crock of bullshit," said Victoria.

"Maybe he's just having a tough time getting started," said Sissy.

"It's been four fucking weeks and I haven't enjoyed myself at all. We didn't even go shopping or go to restaurant or anything! The only thing good about tonight is this dress I'm wearing," said Victoria.

"What does it look like? I want fashion tidbits now!" screamed Sissy over the ear piece.

"I'll do you one better. Hang on and I'll send you a pic," said Victoria.

Victoria stood up and walked towards the back pillars where there were no guests around. She spun around and took a selfie of the dress which was floor length chiffon, had a jeweled bodice, and was pure white.

Victoria sent it and waited to hear back from Sissy.

"Did you get it?" asked Victoria.

"Yeah I did and I have to say you are rocking that dress, but who's that cute guy in the background?" asked Sissy.

"What guy?" asked Victoria.

She turned around and saw a man in his mid to late twenties, with black hair sleeked back showing off his piercing greenish eyes and pale skin.

He wore a black suit with a green and yellow scarf. What was really weird was that he had some sort of staff in his right hand.

Victoria cocked her head to the side in confusion.

"I don't know who that is. Probably some guy here for the exhibition," said Victoria. She paid no mind to the guy and went back to her table to sip some soda.

Sissy and Victoria chatted for a few more minutes, then the room erupted in screams.

"What the hell was that?" asked Sissy on the other end.

"People are screaming and running," said Victoria. She looked in all directions and watched people run with panicked look on their faces.

"I've got to go Sissy! Something is going on," said Victoria. She hung up the phone, put it in her purse, and followed the crowd rushing out the door.

Before she reached the door, she stopped dead in her tracks.

That man she had seen earlier had an elderly gentleman pinned on the table-like alter piece of art. The old man's body was trembling under the other man's grip. This black haired man wasn't letting him up. He was killing the old man. He was taking his eyeball.

The black haired mans' eyes found his way to Victoria. He glared at her and smiled, his eyes looking at her body up and down.

Victoria was staring into the eyes of a mad man. Who was this guy? Her eyes were wide with fear and confusion.

"You sick fuck!" screamed Victoria before she too was pushed out the door.

"This just got a lot more interesting," said Loki.

Victoria didn't hear him over all the screaming.

Once she got outside, she tried to find her father.

"Dad! Dad!" she shouted.

She didn't see him at all. She was being pushed in every direction possible. She tried following the crowd, but the crowd was being herded left and right.

Loki was now making his way out, but his clothes were changing, like magically changing. From his suit and tie he now wore gold and green leather like armor, with a glowing staff in one hand. But what was most terrifying was the huge gold helmet a top his head that had two horns protruding from the top.

A cop car came speeding down the road, its' lights flashing blue and red, but with one flick of that staff that Loki held, the car came to a screeching halt, being skidded with the front of the car sliding on the pavement, while the back was in the air. It crashed on the cement.

Loki focused his attention to the crowd.

"Kneel before me," he said.

The crowd tried running, but all they could do was run into his clones that were keeping them trapped. They were being herded like cattle to slaughter.

Everyone was in a panic, especially Victoria. She had begun to shake in fear.

The man's voice boomed again.

"I said KNEEL!" he yelled. This time everyone obeyed and kneeled down to him. Victoria was among the few of the last to go down. She hid her head while he made his way into the crowd of terrified Germans. He chuckled.

He spoke again.

"Is this not simpler?" he asked.

"Is this not your natural state? It's the unspoken truth of humanity. That you crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life's joy in a mad scramble for power, for identity. You were made to be ruled. In the end, you will always kneel," the man said.

An old man stood up in defiance.

"Not to men like you," he said.

Victoria looked up. She was right beside him.

"What are you doing?" she whispered.

"There are no men like me," said Loki.

"There are always men like you," said the old man.

Loki smiled while raising his scepter.

"Look to your elder people. Let him be an example," said Loki. And he took aim.

"NO!" yelled Victoria.

She jumped up and pushed the old man down on the pavement and the shot missed both of them. Instead it hit a tree, cracking it in half.

"Are you okay?" asked Victoria, helping the old man up.

"I'm fine dear," said the old man.

"What do we have here? A hero?" asked Loki.

He approached Victoria.

"Oh yes. You," said Loki

"You're the one who called me a 'sick fuck' as you so bluntly put it," said Loki.

Victoria stood up while Loki approached Victoria. Loki could see her body trembling. He was much taller than Victoria's small petite body.

"Your dress is ruined. But I must say, the blood gives it a nice touch, wouldn't you say?" asked Loki.

"You really are mentally disturbed aren't you?" asked Victoria.

Loki started to reach out to touch her face.

"Get away from me you freak," said Victoria slapping away his hand. She backed away from him.

Loki smiled. No woman had dared to strike him before.

"Did you enjoy the little show inside?" asked Loki.

"I saw you kill that other man! How can that be joyful?!" screamed Victoria.

"Yes well, I needed something of his," said Loki.

"Yeah and I bet you stole it no doubt," said Victoria.

"I take what I want," said Loki.

"So you're a thief and a freak," said Victoria.

Loki smashed her across the face sending her to the pavement.

"Watch your tongue you foolish mortal," said Loki.

Loki turned to the old man.

"Now where were we?" he asked.

He raised his scepter and stuck it through the man's chest.

Everyone screamed and started to run again. This time Loki let them.

"No!" screamed Victoria.

"Scream all you want. Nothing can help him now," said Loki.

Victoria crawled over to the gentleman and saw he was still alive.

He was gagging on his own blood, while trying to talk.

"Ssh. Don't try to talk. Put pressure on it," said Victoria using her dress to press over the bleeding stab wound.

"You're actions are futile. He's dying anyway," said Loki watching Victoria's sad attempt to keep the man alive.

"You really are a monster," said Victoria as she watched the blood continue to flow.

"No dear, your pathetic human race is the real monster," said Loki.

Victoria said nothing else to Loki.

Within seconds the elderly man was dead.

"No come on! Stay with me. Don't die, Come on. Fight God damn it! Fight!" said Victoria but it was too late.

Victoria found herself crying for this man. He was the one who stood up to Loki for his beliefs.

"Oh what a shame," said Loki.

"What have you done?! What have you done?!" asked Victoria in between sobs.

"I got what I came for but that doesn't mean I can't walk away without something more precious," said Loki.

Victoria felt herself being pulled up by her waist and being dragged away from the man's body.

"What the hell you asshole! Let me go!" screamed Victoria. Loki lifted her as if she were a light weight sack of flour.

"This would go much easier if you didn't refuse," said Loki.

"Get off me!" screamed Victoria. She scrambled her hands on Lokis' arms, trying to get him to drop her.

"You heard her! Release her," said a male voice from behind Loki and Victoria.

"Well isn't a surprise," said Loki.

He spun around with an arm around Victoria's neck, his grip tightening around her throat, cutting off her air circulation.

Victoria clung her hands on Lokis' arms, trying to get a good sight of who spoke to Loki. She was so close to Loki, that she could smell the leather.

"Dad?" she asked.

"No miss," said a man who stepped forward in red white and blue uniform with a huge shield with a star on it.

"Who are you?" asked Loki. Victoria was curious too.

"Captain America and I'm not going to tell you again to let the girl go," said Captain America.

"Why would I want to let her go?" asked Loki, grinning and putting the scepter on her left cheek, guiding it down her face, cutting her face open in the process.

Victoria gritted her teeth, trying not to scream from the pain that erupted on her face.

"Red suits her doesn't it?" asked Loki.

Captain America took another step forward while Loki took another back.

"Don't make this any harder than it has to be," said Captain America.

"I don't intend to make this hard. You can disappear any time you like," said Loki.

"Fuck this shit," said Victoria.

She opened her mouth and bit Loki hard on the arm.

She bit harder and harder downwards until she was tasting blood. She kept her eyes closed until the metallic taste was overwhelming.

Loki grunted in pain.

He spun her around to face him.

Victoria smiled and spit the blood in his face.

Loki was angered at this action and punched her across the face for the second time.

Victoria's face met the cement hard. She whimpered while trying to crawl away from him.

"You'll pay for that," said Loki wiping away the blood on his face. He looked down at his bite mark that she graciously left.

"Don't worry," mumbled Victoria, gazing back at Loki.

"I don't have rabies," she said cuddling the bruise that was forming on her face.

Before Loki could retaliate, Captain America came forward, punching Loki in the face and sending him flying into a stone statue, smashing it to smithereens.

"Good one," said Captain America.

He offered Victoria a hand and she took it. He helped her up just in time because Loki was charging up his scepter.

"Look out!" screamed Victoria.

Captain America shoved Victoria aside and blocked Loki's attack with his shield.

Captain and Loki both charged at each other and were met with hand to hand combat.

Victoria took refuge behind a stone pillar and watched the fights scene.

"This can't be happening," she mumbled.

The fight continued until a huge aircraft came from above. A woman's voice erupted from the PA system.

"Loki drop the weapon and stand down," said the voice. The guns on the craft took aim at him.

Loki took fire at the aircraft with his scepter but the aircraft easily dodged the attack.

"I guess the cavalry is here," said Victoria.

She dared to peek and saw that Loki and Captain America were fighting again.

Victoria then looked up at the aircraft. She did what she thought to do. She ran.

She ran back to the museum. She made it as far as the stairs before Loki blocked her path.

"Going somewhere darling?" he asked.

"What the hell?" asked Victoria.

She looked behind her and Captain America wasn't fighting Loki anymore. He had somehow managed to get away from the Captain and now he was standing within an arms' reach of Victoria.

"How did you do that?" asked Victoria.

Loki descended the stairs while Victoria backed away from the God of Mischief.

"I said you were going to pay for leaving your mark on me," said Loki, showing her the blood stained leather on his arm.

"Don't you have anything else better to do?" asked Victoria.

"Why are you doing this? What do you want?" asked Victoria.

Loki grabbed Victoria by the neck, lifting her off the stairs.

"I'm going to be a king," he said to her.

"Oh My God, you really are insane," said Victoria. She struggled against Loki's grasp.

"You better watch how you talk to your future ruler," said Loki.

"No one rules over me. I'm my own person," said Victoria.

Then Victoria screamed gaining Captain's attention.

"Loki! Let her go!" yelled Captain America.

He ran over to the two on the steps.

Loki let down Victoria spinning her around to face Captain America. His arms were around her body, entrapping her so she couldn't move.

This guy has a serious case of grab hands, thought Victoria.

The aircraft circled back around and aimed its' guns right at Victoria and Loki.

Music came over the PA system distracting Victoria, Loki and Captain America.

Both the Captain and Loki didn't know what was going on. They had never heard music like that before.

Victoria smiled.

"I know that song," she said.

Next thing anyone knew Iron Man descended on the scene with his usual flare.

"Did I miss the party?" he asked.

"Um what party?" asked the Captain.

Iron Man looked from the Captain to Loki.

He charged up his weapons aiming them right at the God of Mischief.

"Make a move reindeer games," said Iron Man.

"You strike me and you'll hit the girl first," said Loki.

"One casualty is nothing," said Iron Man.

"What?" asked Victoria in a rage.

"Sorry miss, but your sacrifice will mean something much more than you realize," said Iron Man.

"Mr. Stark surely you're not serious," said the Captain.

"As serious as the flu," said Iron Man.

"This has all been quite lovely," said Loki.

"If you'll excuse us, we have a schedule to keep," said Loki and he started to walk down the stairs dragging Victoria with him.

"You're not going anywhere until you let Victoria go," said Iron Man.

"You know my name?" asked Victoria.

"I do my research," said Iron Man.

"Victoria," said Loki.

"What a gorgeous name," said Loki. He rubbed against her cheek and Victoria closed her eyes in disgust. When she opened her eyes, she saw the mark on his arm that she had previously left. She then had an idea.

"You heard him. Time to let go Loki," said Victoria.

She elbowed him hard in the ribs, but instead her elbow met armor. She clenched her teeth in pain.

"Not the brightest of the bunch are you?" asked Loki.

"Maybe not, but I still have a few tricks up my sleeve," said Victoria.

Victoria jammed her hand on Loki's wound hard until he cried out in pain.

"Miss please," said the Captain.

Victoria looked from the Captain back to Iron Man.

"You know, you could have your usefulness," said Loki. He spun Victoria around so she was facing him. She gasped.

He aimed to tap her on her heart with his scepter.

"Not this time freak," said Victoria.

She kneed him in the groin and jumped to the side letting Iron Man and Captain America take him down.

Iron Man raised his arm cannon at Loki.

"You have a choice. You can come peacefully or in pieces," said Iron Man.

Loki made his armor fade out and he was back in his usual attire. He lifted his hands in surrender.

"Good move," said Iron Man.

Victoria smiled while standing up.

"I knew you wouldn't let me die," she said to Iron Man.

All three men looked at her.

"Yeah I know. I'm pretty sure I look a wreck," said Victoria.

She was putting up a front to hide the hurt.

"Captain can you make sure she's safe?" asked Iron Man.

Captain put his arms around Victoria in a hugging embrace, leading her to safety.

Victoria clung to the hero.

"Let's go find your parents," said Captain.

"Okay," said Victoria in a whimpering voice.

She glanced one more time at Loki.

She then flicked him off.

"She's got fire. I like fire," said Loki.

"Play with fire and you get burned," said Iron Man.

He shackled Lokis' hands behind his back and started to lead him to the air craft that had landed in the courtyard.

Victoria stopped and looked back at Loki.

She stepped away from Captain America and walked over to the God.

She stood in front of him looking him up and down in absolute disgust.

Loki smiled sweetly at her.

"Something you'd like to get off your mind sweetheart?" he asked.

Victoria smiled.

"Yes," she said.

She brought her hand down and smacked him across the face and it was hard.

Loki stumbled back a little bit.

"That was for the old man," said Victoria.

Loki grinned back at the girl and she hit him again on the other cheek.

"And that was for me," said Victoria.

Loki looked at Iron Man.

"I like her," he said.

"Get in the craft," said Iron Man. He shoved Loki in and waited for the Captain to come.

"That poor girl," said Iron Man. He felt for her.

Victoria turned on her heel. She made her way back over to the Captain who was standing with someone that Victoria recognized instantly.

"Dad!" she yelled.

She ran over to him and he greeted her with a hug.

"Oh my baby; are you okay?! I couldn't find you in all the chaos. I've never been so worried in my life. You have blood on your dress," said her dad.

"I'm alright. I'm okay. The bloods not mine. I just want to get out of here," said Victoria. She didn't let go of her father.

"Can we go home now?" asked Victoria. She now had tears in her eyes. She was finally letting it all go.

"Yes we can. I booked a flight for tomorrow morning and we'll be home in less than a day," said her dad.

He took her hand and escorted her to a waiting car.

Victoria didn't look back on that night. All she wanted to do was to get back to New York City and forget all that happened in Germany.

At least she could go back to New York and feel safe.