Encounter With the Red Skull

He smiled widely. I looked into his eyes now—unafraid. And it was like somehow he knew that killing me wasn’t going to be as fun as it was just previously. He slid the gun back into its holster. “I have a new plan for you.” He said. He then looked to his men, “Incarcerate her for the time being. I have more important plans to take care of at the moment.”

The Skull’s men harshly grabbed my arms and pulled me from the floor. “Shoot me!” I yelled, “Take out that gun and just shoot me!”

The Red Skull whipped his head around, his eyes widened. “No.” he then turned back around and held his left arm with his right behind his back.

I was taken to another room, the farthest from where the other men were setting up. They were planning something. I had no idea what. I was in the kitchen with a guard in a dark outfit. He had a large gun in his hands. He was given orders not to shoot me if I tried to escape.

--

And that was the end of my teaching job, and the end of my *easy* life. I had not spoken to the Red Skull in weeks. I was taken with them everywhere they went, I was treated like dirt. We barely had time to rest or even eat for that matter—taking bathroom breaks was never easy. I did find out the plan that Red Skull came up with, it involved taking down one of Lex’s corporations in Chicago. There was some powerful object he was looking for.

Today was the day; the Red Skull was putting his plans to the test, today. I was far away from the corporation, along with the Red Skull himself. He ever ran his operations in person. Maybe because he knew they were too high of a risk for him to get in. He had his minions to do all his work. And if one of them complained about the job they were usually shot. I had seen about, what, five killings in my month of staying with this terrorist organization.

Right now I was in the back of a van with computers inside. I was tied to a chair and gagged. The Red Skull was in my vision, manning the computers and cameras. They were in the process of stealing the item that the Skull was looking for.

His men were making their way into the building, so far, so good—I guess. The Skull gave them directions to the room they needed to be in. They had the supplies for breaking through a high security vault. The vault was in sight, the men did their work. They were now inside. And there, in the middle of the room was a large red glowing gem. They disabled the laser shielding and picked up the jewel with metal clippers and carefully set it in a metal box.

Now it was the hardest part, getting out of the building without being caught. After all, the whole mission would be pointless if they were caught in the end.

The Red Skull radioed in, “Take twice the precautions getting out, boys. This seems a little too easy…” he said, then leaning back in his chair with his arms behind his head.

I watched the camera screen and for some reason I hoped they could make it out safely. But what did I care? I hope they all died. Well, no, Lex was a bad guy anyway. Lex and the Skull. I suppose I hope they make it out alright because I was the only person near the Red Skull and I didn’t want him to take his anger out on me. Everyone knew he had a bad temper when it came to his failed plans.

The men were almost out of the building, they snuck out the front doors, and then lights. *“Oh, no.”* I thought. And there was Lex, zoomed in on the camera screen with a wide smile on his face.

“Really, you guys, you didn’t think it would be so easy to steal from me?” He said in his high and mighty, proud voice. “I knew your plan of attack weeks ago.” He then looked into the camera. “Red Skull, too afraid to visit me in person? Well now, I’m disappointed. I was looking forward to seeing you in person.”

The Skull took the microphone into his hand and spoke into it, his voice playful in his banter. “Don’t be over zealous, Mr. Luthor, you may have figured us out, but you are no match for my team.” He smiled.

Lex frowned, “Is that so?” he asked.

And so, obviously a fight broke out. I could see the Skull cringe every time one of his team members went down. I was also scared, but not for Skull. I was scared for me after the Skull lost. And when it seemed to be all turning for the worst for his team, someone found an advantage on knocked Lex right out. Everyone made a run for it, leaving the dead and wounded behind. That’s how Skull would have liked it.

Once the team was a safe distance away from Luthor’s corp, the Skull finally relaxed. “At last...” he said, “it’s mine.” He leaned back in his chair, with what I could have sworn was a smile.

I felt a sneezing coming on, I didn’t want to ruin the Red Skull’s moment, I didn’t want his attention directed at me—but I couldn’t stop the sneeze! And here it came, out my nose so it was quieter, but in a quiet van—it was the loudest thing on earth.

The Skull turned around in his chair; he interlaced his fingers between his legs. “I almost forgot you were here.” He said getting out of his chair and un-gagging me. “How about we celebrate!” he smiled, leaning towards the glove compartment and getting out a bottle of Champagne, and two plastic wine glasses. It was no effort for him to just rip the cork out with his bare hands.

The bottle fizzed a little before he poured it into each of the glasses. I was then untied and offered a drink. I was too scared to refuse. I hoped it wasn’t a dry drink. I didn’t drink much, but when I did—it was usually something sweet.

The Skull lifted his glass into the air to toast with me. “To victory!” he said in his loud triumphant German accent. Our glasses tapped. I sipped at my drink where he took his in one gulp. He then poured himself another glass. He leaned back in his chair and tossed his left leg over his right knee, his forearm rested on the computer desk. He watched me as I sipped at my drink. It wasn’t too bad, but it did have a bite to it. I couldn’t help but make a face.

Red Skull laughed. “You don’t drink much do you?”

I shook my head quietly.

The Skull leaned his torso over his knee and folded leg. “I’ve never had such a quiet hostage before.” He said quietly.

*“I’ve never **been** a hostage before…”* I thought.

“Why have you not tried to escape?” he asked, a question look on his skull face.

“I don’t see the point in it.” I said quietly, “I know I can’t get away. And if I did manage…” I paused. “I’d just rather stay put.”

The Skull had a chuckle before taking another drink of his Champagne. “It’s been a month and I still don’t know your name, American.” He said in a serious, somewhat threatening tone of voice.

“Amy.” I said. “Amy Bandan.”

“Amy. An old French name…” he said while tapping his finger on his glass.

“What do you prefer to be called?” I dared to ask.

“You know me by the name Red Skull.” He said, giving me a scary look, “My name is Johann, Johann Schmidt. It means God is gracious.” Skull raised his glass for another drink, “They got the God part right.”

I couldn’t help but smirk myself. Gracious, defiantly not, Godly? In his mind, obviously.

“What do you find so funny??” he asked.

“Not so gracious…” I replied, then taking a gulp of the remaining Champagne and cringing at the taste.

The Skull laughed loudly, smacking his calf with his hand. “Most defiantly.” He saw my empty glass, “More?” he asked.

I shook my head, “No thanks, I’m good.”

Meanwhile Skull took and filled his glass one more time.

“What am I supposed to call you?” I asked.

“You can call me Mr. Schmidt.” He replied. “If you need to. I suggest you only speak to me when I speak to you. Calling for me otherwise could be fatal.” He said, staring into my eyes with his vengeful blue eyes.

I never thought the color blue could seem so red. My eyes were blue and here I was thinking it was a cool color and something soft. When I looked into Schmidt’s eyes I saw hell. Who was this man before this monster? What was his story?