In My Head • Bucky Barnes

Chapter 19

You could cut the tension with a knife. Fury had arranged two quinn jets to take us to the base. One of which he had crammed all the avengers plus Bucky into. Not sure if that was the smartest move since half of the people on this plane have attempted to capture Bucky on several occasions, and we are largely responsible for Belle's capture...

Okay wholly responsible. We were already treading on thin ice with the soldier but now? I think it's safe to say if Steve wasn't here we would all be dead. No amount of apologies or pardons is going to fix this. But I can sure as hell try.

"I'm sorry." I received a few odd glances from the agents on board, most of whom had never heard me speak russian before. My friends simply ignored it, used to me mumbling to myself whilst on missions.

Bucky's head jerked up and he glanced nervously around the plane, no doubt trying to pinpoint the speaker. Once he tracked me down his eyes turned dark, face set in a scowl.

"Forget it" Bucky replied in an equally thick accent. I don't know whether it was his expression or the tone, but the phrase managed to sound incredibly hostile. The others looked to me expecting an outburst, not understanding a word of our conversation.

"This is my fault. I should have just let you be."

"It's not your fault." The response seemed automatic, programmed. I wonder how many times he has said this to Belle.

"I put Belle in danger to get to you. Things might have turned out differently if I hadn't acted so stupidly."

"Why do you care? Your friends certainly don't."

"Because I knew you Bucky." The plane fell silent once more and for a second I wonder whether I had said that in English.

"What!" Steve and Bucky exclaimed in unison, both in equal states of disbelief. Shit.

"Before I was recruited by shield I worked for the KGB. You trained me in the red room."

"I don't remember that. I-I don't remember any of that." Steve took Bucky's hand much to the dislike of the others.

"It wasn't you Bucky. I understand that now. I'm sorry for everything we have put you and Belle through. We are going to get her back and we are going to give you your freedom."

"That's a pretty big promise to make." Bucky challenged with an incredibly forced smile on his face.

"Yeah it is Romanoff." Tony snapped, turning around in his seat setting the plane on autopilot. I can't help but roll my eyes at him.

"It's a promise I intend to keep." I state blankly glaring at Tony before returning to my seat.

Bucky stares after me until Steve whispers something in his ear. They don't look at me for the rest of the flight but I can tell Bucky is slightly more relaxed than he was when we boarded. I can't help but notice that Steve's hand is still laced through Bucky's, gripping so tight you wouldn't be able to pry them apart with a crowbar. The sight makes me smile; after all these years Steve finally gets the chance to be happy. I will make sure that happens even if it kills me.

---

Everything is dark. I don't know where I am, but it's cold and empty and silent. Filled with vast expanses of nothingness that despite their size seem to suffocate me. The only recognisable feature was a metal posted fold out bed with a thin sheet spread across the slats. A figure shrouded in shadow sat hunched over staring into the void ahead of us.

"Who are you?" The figure barely acknowledged my presence and for a moment I wondered if I actually said it outloud.

"Oh I heard you. Just trying to figure out the best way to answer."

Their voice shook with authority bidding me to be silent. They stood up allowing the light to strike their face. A scar snaked across their eye, which was white and fogged. The other was the deepest shade of black I have ever seen, as if they held the darkest shred of the universe within their iris.

"I'm Echo."

"Echo?"

"The better version of you."

"Yeah right." As I studied them further I noticed the tiniest black star at the base of their neck. My hand traced over my own as if on autopilot. To distract myself from the disturbing truth I turned away, gesturing to the bars that were starting to materialise around us. "Where are we? What is this place?"

"This is the place you have made for me. A never ending cell designed to keep me locked away."

"Then why am I here?"

"You've lost control Belle. Our body is spiralling, I had to protect your mind to save my own. Without you I am nothing." Echo's words on the surface may appear as a somewhat compliment, but her voice sent shivers down my spine.

"So...you saved me?"

"In a way yes."

"Thank you?" Echo laughed, a low rumble from the back of her throat that made my hairs stand on end.

"No need for that."

Silence. She took a step closer and I instantly backed away.

"Belle there is something you must know."

"What..."

"Hydra got us. We are back at the facility. They are about to complete the tests."

"T-tests? What are you talking about."

Flashbacks to the facility, the place I grew up in plagued my mind and suddenly the scenery began to shift. The bars morphed into solid concrete walls, an iron door set into the far side of the room. My breath hitched as the crackling of speakers filled the space followed by an unfamiliar voice.

"Iarnă"

"What was that?" No. No not again.

"The beginning."

"şase. Tăcere."

Stop it.

"You are going to stay here, they can't get to you here."

"What about you?"

A painful jolt of electricity coursed through my body sending me crashing to the ground. A terrified scream ripped my vocal cords to shreds as I tried to get a handle on the pain. It would seem whatever hurt me hurt Echo too as she was gripping her head.

"Vis de zi. Zece."

"They want me. Belle I'm-"

"încredere, scriptura."

Another shock followed the words and the pieces clicked together.second jolt of pain. Echo stumbled over to me, brushing the hair out of my face. A twisted smile crept onto her face as she stroked my cheek.

"I'm Hydra."

I jerked away, skidding across the floor until my back struck the wall. "No. But- no! No because that makes me-"

"They did to you what they did to Bucky."

"Albastru."

"I guess you could say I'm another winter soldier."

The pain was so much I could barely breathe. Echo laughed at my state and ignored my winces as I struggled to my feet. "No. No you're lying."

"Why would I lie to you."

"Lanţuri."

"Goodbye Belle."

"No!" Echo disappeared before my eyes, sending a final wave of pain across my body. The silence was deafening.

"Come back. Don't- don't leave me here."

Don't leave me.

---

At last I get my control. Oh I have missed this. She kept me trapped in that cell for too long.

"Bine ai revenit, soldat."

"Gata să mă conformez"

Time to have some fun.