Sambucky - Figuring out feelings: Book 1, 2 And 3

Book 3: Chapter 9: Wiped

'Uh... Sam!?'

Bucky looked around the rooms where Sam usually was. No luck.

'Sam!'

He wasn't in his room, he wasn't in Alex's, he wasn't in Bucky's or Olivias, he wasn't in the kitchen, sitting room, dining room or elevator. He was nowhere to be seen.

Bucky was feeling uncharacteristically worried.

There was nowhere else to look.

'Sam!'

He passed the elevator on the bottom floor. He looked at it. He had checked here so why was it striking him as important?

He walked forwards to inspect it. It looked normal. Shiny, grey metal. It was closed, tight. The green arrow on the right side of the elevator was also-

No. It wasn't.

Something was off.

Bucky touched it lightly with his flesh hand - wait both hands were flesh now- and inspected it. Something was off-

Wait.

The arrow was upside down. The green arrow was usually pointing upwards to symbolise going up but now it was down.

Was there a basement?

Before he could hesitate he had pressed the button and the elevator opened. It appeared normal. But when he stepped inside it had a new button on the side.

A basement.

Bucky pressed it without thinking. Damn. It probably wasn't a good idea but Sam might be down there so he had to.

The elevator jerked, almost knocking Bucky off his feet. It began moving slowly downwards.

Great.

Time to mentally prepare myself for what's down here. I need an excuse if he's there, a plan if there's robots and if Sam's there... An apology.

Soon enough the elevator juddered (?) to a halt and opened with a ding. Bucky went to leave but when he saw the room he froze.

It was extremely similar to some of the room setups they had used on him when he was the winter soldier. A restrained chair and other... Items.

The only difference was Sam was sitting in the chair.

Bucky sprung up and ran to him.

'Sam!'

Sam's eyes were closed and he had a strange red marking on his left temple. Bucky almost fainted when he got closer.

It was too similar. Far too similar. He was already getting flashbacks to when he was the winter soldier.

The words.

No. Concentrate on getting him out.

Bucky pulled at the restraints on his hands but they were locked tight.

'Sam!'

He gently tapped his face. Then harder.

No response.

He was scared now.

What is all this equipment for?

'SA-'
'Bella. What are you doing here?'

Bucky spun. Alex.

He instantly rushed to say his excuse.

'I-I... I noticed the elevator looked strange when I was looking for you and it brought me here... Why is Sam tied up?'