Necessary Good, Unnecessary Evil | No rest For Wounded Souls [Bucky Barnes]

My Little One

"When you have a child, the world has a hostage."
-Ernest Hemingway

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Amanda's Pov

Loud thuds echoed in the hallway, followed by screams and fighting noises.
"They're coming," I whispered, gripping tightly to my vest.
My heart began to beat faster, knowing what was coming next. "Faye, take her to the Gates." Mother spoke, turning to face me.
I shook my head, stepping forward. "I'm not leaving like a coward."
Lyana walked towards me, her usual gentle features roughed by fear. "There is no time for arguing, Astrea. You do as you're told." She chastised, staring at me.
My mouth felt dry as voices echoed in the distance. They were getting closer.

"Orion is still out there. I won't run away while my people die!" I stated firmly, refusing to leave.
I was raised to never walk away from my duties, and then more than ever, I had to stand up to my responsibilities.
My mother grabbed my face, piercing her emerald eyes into mine. "Listen to me, Astrea. Agapi is strong, more than you can imagine. Your people need you alive." She whispered, keeping our faces close.
I felt my chest shrink in size, aware of the hardship my home was going to suffer. "What use is my life if I have to hide and run for the rest of my days?" I rasped, inhaling deeply.
She shook her head, smiling proudly at me. "This family has protected Agapi since it was born. We won't let it burn down to ashes by the hand of a madman." Her words fell on my shoulders like a heavy sack. 

"Now go, and don't forget what I taught you." She muttered, pressing her forehead to mine.
I nodded, trying to absorb her courage, somehow, by only standing in front of her. "To live without having done right is not to live at all," I whispered, fighting back the tears.
Her hands left my face, and she stepped back, her hands glowing in deep purple light.
A group of soldiers stormed into the throne room, fighting against her.
Faye grabbed my arm, dragging me away as I kept hearing the turmoil of the fight behind us.

I turned around, seeing one of the soldier's swords passing through her chest. "Mother!" I shouted as I fell to my knees.
Everything seemed to stop as we locked eyes one last time. "Astrea, we have to go." I heard Feya urging, trying to lift me up.
Quick, heavy footsteps moved towards us, and when I looked up, I saw the soldiers being thrown across the hall, hitting the ground unconscious.
"Come," I got to my feet again, running through the long hallways till we arrived in the bright forecourt overlooking the city.
I walked past the tall Gates, stopping to look at my home or what was left of it.

Bright red flames were reaching for the sky, burning streets and buildings, making people run scared. "What have they done to our Land," I mumbled, my eyes burning as the wind blasted smoke into my eyes.
"I will find your brother, and we will come to get you, Astrea. We will restore everything." Faye promised, resting his hand on my shoulder.
A pendant was hanging from his hand. "Keep this with you. It will always bring you back home safely." He said, locking the necklace around my neck.
I took what seemed to be a coin in my hand, studying it. "How?" I wondered, looking at him.
He shook his head, moving me in front of the Gates. "Hopefully, you will never have to know."

A bright light was the last thing I saw before leaving Agapi.
After that, I faced several years of hiding, running, and lying.
I waited and waited, hoping for someone to come get me, and bring me back home.
Days, weeks, months, years. Decades started to pile up, and eventually, I gave up.
Rumors about my brother's death echoed through the different planets I visited, but there was one planet that seemed to be unaware of Agapi- Earth.

I had read about it but never got to see it for myself.
It was different from Agapi, but not in every way. A few things kept reminding me of home.
The chaos and the sunsets. 
It was a different chaos, but the sunset was the only thing that could stop it for a few minutes, just like on Agapi.
The city where I arrived was big and noisy. "Welcome to New York!" Some people screamed, standing outside what seemed to be a boutique.
Yellow vehicles sped down the streets. "Ma'am, get outta the street!" A man shouted, and I jumped back, almost getting run over by a big vehicle.