Not The Only One - A Winter Soldier Story

Chapter 11

July 24, 2016

     Steve helped Bucky up and laid his friend's remaining arm over his shoulders. They limped off, leaving a defeated Tony Stark and a scarred vibranium shield behind them.

     "She-she's still alive," Bucky managed to rasp out.

     "Who?" asked Steve.

     "The girl." Bucky paused. "H-he didn't keep her with the others."

     "Where did he keep her?"

     Bucky groaned. "A separate room."

     "Do you think you could find it?"

     Bucky nodded, and they picked their way through the rubble. After several minutes of walking through the ugly green and white hallways, they came to a large metal door. 

     "This is it," Bucky announced.

     Steve unbolted the door and pushed hard. It moved with a metallic moan. Steve turned to Bucky, and their blue eyes met. After exchanging a long look and drawing strength from the other, the two men entered the room together.

     Inside was what was left of a lab, and in the far right corner rested a Cryostasis Chamber. It was smaller than the other ones, but the eerie yellow light, soft, steady beeping, and icy whoosh sound indicated that it was functioning.

     Through the Chamber's haze, they could make out the form of a girl. She was dressed in the same specialized suits as the others and looked very young. Her right arm was metal with a red star, and her long blonde hair hung down her back. Her eyes were closed, and her expression was obviously pained, even though part of her face was covered with a muzzle.

     "What are we going to do?" Bucky's question ended the solemn silence between them.

     "We can't wake her up. Not safely. That could end with any one of us dead."

     "Steve, we can't leave her here. Not with Tony and Zemo."

     "I don't know, Buck. I don't know..."