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Hill's body finally gave out. Her legs buckled, and she fell forward from the treadmill, collapsing almost flat against the ground. Sweat streamed down her face, her chest heaving as she fought to catch her breath. The machine still whirred behind her, its belt spinning wildly, but Hill no longer had the strength to keep pace. The sound of her fall echoed through the chamber, a sharp reminder of her exhaustion and humiliation. The air smelled faintly of burnt rubber from the treadmill, mingling with the salt of her sweat.
Jack crouched beside her, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. "Is it very uncomfortable?" His voice was low, almost sympathetic, but the smirk on his lips betrayed the mockery beneath.
Hill's eyes flicked up at him, her voice hoarse. "Do you feel?"
Jack leaned closer, his tone deep and deliberate. "You prepared yourself before, during the transaction time. I am also very uncomfortable. Truly, I have never seen a woman as stupid as you." His words cut like a blade, each syllable meant to pierce her pride.
Hill's lips curled in defiance. "You are stupid."
Jack chuckled softly, his voice light. "You said I am stupid? You are not wrong. I am indeed stupid." His grin widened, as though he enjoyed twisting her words into a weapon against her.
For a moment, silence hung between them, broken only by Hill's ragged breathing. Then she spoke, her voice quieter, tinged with regret. "These words I spoke… they were not my original intention. I did not want to do this."
Jack's eyes narrowed. "But you said them."
Hill's gaze hardened. "I will not deny it. But I hope you understand — even if I said such words, I will not submit to you. I said them to use you." Her tone was cold, defiant, though her trembling hands betrayed the strain of her resistance.
Jack's grin widened. "Use me? Brave."
Hill nodded firmly. "Right. Use you. Use you to eliminate the Chitauri army. The result is simple: you eliminate the Chitauri army, and the Chitauri army eliminates you. For us, there is no loss."
Jack raised his thumb in mock approval. "A treacherous plan. Good move. Luckily, I did not agree. Otherwise, you would have speared me."
Hill's lips trembled, her voice bitter. "I thought you would comply. I never expected you to reject me. In turn, you shamed me ruthlessly. Jack, you are fierce. Very fierce."
Jack waved her words away. "No need to praise me like that. And you — didn't you plan to trade yourself for your nonsense country?"
Hill shook her head, her voice heavy. "To deceive you, I had to play a bigger chip. What a pity, you were not swindled."
Jack's smile was sly. "That is truly regrettable. How unfortunate I cannot make you mine."
Hill's voice faltered, but she pressed on. "The words you spoke, though quibbles, had truth. Later…" She stopped, her eyes drifting away, her voice caught between pride and shame.
Jack leaned forward. "Later how?"
Hill's gaze avoided his, her voice steady but distant. "Later I will pay attention. But do not misunderstand. This has nothing to do with you."
Jack nodded knowingly. "I see. You hide your silver with no cover."
Hill's eyes flashed. "No. Do not twist it. You said before, if I asked you, you would help me eliminate the Chitauri army."
Jack tilted his head, feigning confusion. "Did I say such words?"
Hill's voice was stiff, her expression hard. "You said it. Now I ask you. Eliminate the Chitauri army."
Jack's grin widened, his tone mocking. "Is this the attitude you use to ask for help?"
Hill's voice faltered. "I have not striven excellently."
Jack repeated, his voice rising. "Without thinking of first asking others for help, you asked me. The first time. The first time. The first time." He repeated the phrase three times, deliberately, each repetition hammering into her pride.
Hill's complexion paled, her voice sharp. "You do not need to repeat three times."
Jack's grin widened. "Important words must be repeated three times. To make the impression profound. Since this is your first time asking for help, I will not haggle over your attitude."
Hill's voice trembled. "Do you agree?"
Jack rubbed his chin, feigning awkwardness. "This, this…"
Hill's voice rose quickly. "Say directly. Do not seize the chance to extort. If you comply, I will do it."
Jack's grin turned wicked. "On bed with me."
Hill's face flushed with fury, her voice sharp. "Impossible. I will not promise you that. Trade something else."
Jack laughed. "Rejection is simple. But I like it. Then, starting now, the first matter: pound my back, massage me. If you reject even this, then we cannot continue." He lay down on a deck chair, stretching lazily, his arrogance filling the room.
Hill clenched her teeth, her pride burning, but she stepped forward. "This I can do."
Jack's grin widened. "Good. If you satisfy me, the matter becomes invalid."
Hill's hands pressed against his shoulders, beginning the massage. Her fingers trembled, her mind screaming at the humiliation, but she forced herself to continue.
Jack chuckled. "Hey, hey, are you massaging? You sure you don't want to kill me? Your strength could kill a man."
Hill's voice faltered. "Mistake. I cannot do it like this."
Jack smirked. "You like extremes. Your strength is frightening. Just now you were like an ant, starving."
Hill took a deep breath, suppressing her anger. "Sorry. I have not massaged before."
Jack waved dismissively. "Then pound my back directly. Do not say you cannot."
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Hill hammered his back, the sound echoing through the chamber. Even Alice and the others, seventy meters away, heard the pounding.
Jack shot up from the chair, towering over her. "Stop! You are hammering me!"
Hill's voice faltered. "Sorry…"
Jack's tone was sharp, relentless. "Do not say sorry. Look at you. Useless. Cannot massage, cannot pound the back. Won't do women's tasks. You are defeated."
Hill's breath caught, humiliation burning her chest. "I am special…"
Jack sneered. "Agent? What does that matter to me? You failed. Failure is defeat. No excuses."
Hill's voice trembled, her pride shattered. "Please… give me another opportunity."
Jack's grin widened, his voice cruel. "No. You have no opportunity. If humanity perishes, it is your responsibility."
Hill clenched her teeth, her voice desperate. "Jack, I ask you. Give me another opportunity. I will do well."
Jack tilted his head, feigning thought. "Why should I be so good? Always out of control. Fine. I give you another opportunity."
Hill's voice was low, bitter. "Thanks." The word tasted like poison. Why must she thank this scum? He had no quality deserving gratitude. Hateful.
Jack waved his hand casually. "You're welcome. You're welcome. Should, should." His grin widened, basking in her humiliation.
Hill's teeth ground together, her anger suppressed. "What do you want me to do now?"
Jack lay back on the chair, his tone mocking. "Not difficult. Kiss me one hundred times."
Hill's face froze, her pride trembling. The chamber fell silent, the weight of his demand pressing down like iron. Her fists clenched, her heart pounded, and the humiliation burned hotter than the treadmill she had just conquered. The air itself seemed to thicken, every eye in the room waiting to see if Hill would bend or break.
Her breath came in shallow bursts, her mind racing. To comply would mean surrendering her dignity, but to refuse might mean losing the only chance to save the world from the Chitauri. The conflict tore at her, pride against duty, hatred against necessity. Jack reclined smugly, his eyes gleaming with anticipation, savoring the torment he inflicted.
Hill's lips trembled, her fists clenched tighter, nails digging into her palms until blood threatened to break the skin. The chamber seemed to close in around her, the walls pressing tighter, the silence deafening. Jack's demand hung in the air like a curse, and Hill knew that whatever choice she made, she would never escape the shadow of this moment.