Chapter 7

Jamie, all cleaned up and fresh, emerged out of the bedroom in a black gothic dress. Finding her way to the living room, she settled onto the couch and enjoyed a sip of the tea Koby had made.

"Go check out the cave and see if our target's there. Just be careful not to reveal yourself." Jamie instructed, to which Koby bowed before disappearing away.

After some time, Koby returned to the tent to share his findings. "He is there, Mistress. There be another man with him, and the whole place is being watched real closely."

Rising from her seat, Jamie walked out of the tent to take a peek. The sky had turned dark in the meantime. "Did you find the monitor room when you were there?"

Koby, who was following Jamie, answered, "I know where it is, Mistress."

"Let's give it a bit more time. Here, take this potion. When it's close to midnight, you pour it in the monitor room." Jamie handed a vial to Koby. The Sleeping Draught had been altered by her. Instead of having to drink it, this version only required the potion to be inhaled. It would induce a deep sleep without any side effects, making the person believe they had fallen asleep unintentionally.

She then went back to get some rest inside the tent.

* * *

Tony Stark took a long look at the blob of unknown substance that his captors seemed to think was food. He couldn't help but ask himself how his life had ended up taking such a huge turn. From surviving a bombing to being taken captive and coerced into working for his captors, and let's not overlook the fact that he now had a massive hole in his chest.

Pushing aside his disgust, he hurriedly crammed the food into his mouth, forgoing chewing and swallowing it straight down. After consuming plenty of water to rid himself of the unpleasant taste, he got back to work; pounding on a piece of metal.

"Hey Tony, I really think you should take a break. You can't keep this pace up much longer." Yinsen, who was held captive alongside Tony, spoke up with concern in his voice.

"We're nearly there, Yinsen. When this is completed, we can finally get out of here." Tony had a glint of determination in his eyes as he swung his hammer again and again.

All Yinsen could do was watch as Tony tirelessly worked on, his body clearly displaying signs of fatigue and strain. He didn't think he could convince Tony In his current state.

Sometime around midnight, Koby entered the monitor room without a sound, his head encased in a protective bubble. Clutched in his hand was a tiny vial containing a blue potion, which he carefully emptied onto the floor, and within mere seconds, the two guards who had been sitting in front of the monitors were out like lights, slumped in their seats.

Closing the vial with a cork, Koby then made a few adjustments to the surveillance camera where her target was being held. Once that was done, she returned to the tent where her Mistress, Jamie, was waiting. "All done, Mistress," Koby reported.

Jamie got up from the couch, fixed the wrinkles on her skirt, and grabbed the small wooden basket on the table. "Take me to Tony Stark."

Koby grabbed hold of her hand, and with a snap of his fingers, both of them disappeared from the tent.

In the dark and cramped prison cell, Tony found a corner to sit down. His arms ached from the constant hammering he'd done, while hunger gnawed at his stomach. "Man, I could really go for a cheeseburger right now."

Right as he finished talking, Jamie, who had just arrived, caught his words. "I don't have a cheeseburger, but would a sandwich work?" She quipped.

"Huh, who said that?!" Tony and Yinsen both stood up and looked at her.

"Wait a second, who are you? And how in the world did you end up here?" Tony asked. A young girl suddenly showing up in the middle of the terrorist base was the last thing he expected.

Meanwhile, Yinsen moved towards the metal door that was keeping them captive, only to find it was still locked.

Jamie smirked and stepped forward, her gothic dress billowing around her. "Calm down, Mr. Stark. I'm Jamie Black. Ms. Potts hired me to get you back home. Oh, and I've got food too. Want some?" She asked, popping open the basket's lid.

Tony glanced skeptically at Jamie, who was dressed elegantly despite their surroundings. Her choice of clothes didn't look like she was on a rescue mission.

"Pepper? Why would she hire you?" He inquired, puzzled by the situation.

Jamie was becoming impatient. The cave was stuffy, and both men had been enduring the grim conditions for weeks without a proper shower.

"I operate 'The Enchantress,' a shop that takes on various tasks. Ms. Potts compensated me generously to bring you back home." She explained, emphasizing the importance of their mission.

"Shh, keep it down! There are cameras everywhere. If they find you, you won't be able to escape!" Yinsen interrupted, worried.

Jamie glanced at Yinsen, sensing his genuine concern. He seemed like a good person. She thought she could help him escape from this place as well. "Don't worry, I've dealt with the people in the monitoring room. It will be a while before they wake up."

She then placed the basket on the ground and asked, "Hungry? I've got sandwiches, coke..."

The mention of the food made Tony's mouth water. He hadn't eaten any proper meal in what felt like ages. His stomach growled in response. He couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at the situation. "Well, if Pepper sent you, I guess I can trust you with a sandwich."

Jamie smiled and handed Tony a sandwich from the basket. "Good choice. It's a classic ham and cheese sandwich. I hope it satisfies your hunger for now."

Tony eagerly took the sandwich and took a big bite, savoring the flavors. It was a simple pleasure that he had been deprived of for too long. "Mmm, this is delicious. Thank you, Jamie." He almost cried tears of happiness as he finally tasted something that wasn't bland or unappetizing.

"You're welcome. There's more where that came from." Jamie said, and offered sandwiches to Yinsen, who eagerly accepted one as well. The two men sat down on the cold floor of the prison cell, savoring the taste of the sandwiches and enjoying the temporary respite from their dire situation.