The Chain of Souls ~ An LSHU Story

   Bruce Banner lied in the street, sweat dripping from his body. He couldn't remember how he got there; in fact, he couldn't remember anything from the past twenty-four hours. The last thing he remembered was-
   "Oh no." He jumped up and looked around. Flames bathed the city, and people were trying to get away. "What have I done?"
   "What are you doing?" yelled a middle-aged man from the sidewalk. "Put on some clothes and get away! That crazy doctor is attacking the city!"
   "I... I can't go with you."
   "Don't try that bravery stuff with me! That thing will rip you apart if you go in there!"
   Bruce started to hyperventilate. "No, really. You need to go right now. I'll be fine."
   "I'm not leaving anyone behind!" The man hurried across the street and grabbed Banner by the arm. "What's your name?"
   "Please, they're coming for me!"
   "Sir, you're in shock. What is your name?" The bald man had circular glasses and and grey mustache. He was dressed in a navy blue coat and beige pants.
   "My... my name is Banner."
   "Banner? And what's your first name?"
   "It's Bruce, sir. Please, go save yourself."
   "Bruce Banner, pleased to meet you. Your name sounds familiar." The man's expression slowly changed from caring to horrified. "Oh my God. You're the crazy doctor."
   Banner's legs almost gave out. "Please... leave."
   The man fell down to his knees, hands clasped together. "I have a wife and a daughter. I'll do anything, please don't smash me."
   "I don't want to smash you! Run away as fast as you can, before they show up!"
   "Thank you so much." The man scurried away, leaving Banner alone.
   A gunshot rang out from above, and the doctor felt his state of mind slip into that of the Hulk.

   "Reveal to me all that you detect."
   Every imprisoned soul in the depths of Hell lit up for Victor Von Doom. His armored hand pressed against the orange stone hanging from his neck.
   "Show me which are counted among the living."
   Six of the millions remained in view, in the distance.
   "As I feared, they have come and they have been punished. I must save them."
   His armor clinked as he ran toward the lights. As he reached them, a deep voice spoke from a giant, fiery throne. "Hello, Von Doom."
   "Hello, Mephisto. I'm sure you know why I have come. I do not wish for a fight; I simply wish to make a deal."
   "A deal? You have piqued my interest, Von Doom! What do you offer to redeem the soul of your mother?"
   "I offer up my own soul. I shall happily spend eternity with you in this forsaken realm. Simply give my mother a human body and let her live on Earth. She shall be instated as ruler of Latveria."
   Mephisto stood from his throne and extended his flaming hand. "We have a deal, Von Doom."
   "There remains another matter to address, Mephisto."
   "Oh?" The Hell-Lord sat back down.
   "Release the Avengers from your grasp. They have done nothing to wrong you."
   "They shall not be part of our deal. It is a soul for a soul. The Avengers have met their fate; they are experiencing their worst nightmares."
   "There will not be a deal without the Avengers!" Doom stamped his foot against the scorched ground.
   "Then there will not be a deal, Victor Von Doom."
   The Latverian ruler closed his eyes and grasped the Chain of Souls. He muttered under his breath. The stone shone orange light across the realm before going dim once more.
   "You are clever like your mother, Von Doom. What a shame you must undergo the same fate."
   "You assume victory too soon, Mephisto." He let go of the stone and pointed his hands at the ground. It opened up, and the five unconscious Avengers surfaced. He then opened a portal to the mortal world and sent them through.
   "You will live to regret this, Victor Von Doom," said Mephisto.
   He paused. "I know."
   He jumped through the portal himself, resurfacing on the other side.

aw thanks dear

   Hawkeye awoke to find himself lying on the cold, cobblestone floor of Castle Doom. His fellow Avengers lied, unconscious, around him. He noticed a man in a suit of armor and a green cloak standing over him. "What have you done?" he yelled.
   "Settle down," said Doctor Doom. "There is no need to fight."
   "Where are my arrows? What just happened? I... I was at a train station with Natasha, and then.... Oh my God...."
   "I said, settle down! You have just experienced your worst nightmare. I know it is seemingly cruel to expect you to battle so soon after that, but I obviously cannot solitarily battle the Lord of the Pit."
   "Lord of the Pit?" A flood of memories rushed into the mind of Agent Barton, and he was speechless.
   Doom stared at him. "Of course, you are presently attempting to piece together everything that just happened. Mephisto will be upon us soon, however, so you must aid me in awakening the other heroes."
   Hawkeye nodded and stood up. "So you want me to fight the Devil without my bow and arrows?"
   "I have simply confiscated your weaponry for the time being. Your assignment was to capture me; I needed time to explain to you that we are not enemies."
   "You haven't explained anything to me! A few hours ago, I got attacked by a bunch of robots that look like you. Do you mean to tell me that they were made by the Devil too?"
   Doom released a heavy sigh. "No, no. The Doombots were created and programmed by myself. I... needed to have security from those who did not know the urgency of the situation, such as yourself. But I was distracted in my work, and obviously did not program them well enough."
   The other Avengers began to awaken, each confused by their previous nightmares. Doom gave each the same explanation, and retrieved their weapons.
    A knock on the steel door rang across the room. "How curious," said Doom, walking toward the entrance.
   The door was opened, and outside stood Steve Rogers. He wore the gear, and held the shield, of Captain America.
   "I changed my mind, guys. Looks like it's up to me to save you from this lunatic."

whatever mod reads this: should i just rewrite chapter 20 at this point?

oh, so that's what was wrong with it. i'll say Hades from now on. thank you so much!