Rumors and Ghosts

vii. hunt for royalty

General Gleb Vaganov's ship docked in Brooklyn, New York and as soon as he was on ground, he set out on his mission to find Anastasia.

Bucky watched the man in uniform with a frown. Something about the man's demeanor worried him and he snuck away to find Anastasia.

Anastasia was sitting outside a small café and looked up to see Bucky. "Hello, James. Would you like to join me?"

Bucky grabbed her arm and pulled her up. He briskly led her to an alleyway.

Anastasia pulled away. "What's the matter with you?!"

"Listen to me," Bucky said. "Do you know some guy in a Russian uniform?"

"Bolshevik."

"What?"

"He's a Bolshevik. I was hoping he wouldn't find me."

Bucky crossed his arms. "I'm gonna need a little more than that, Anastasia. Who the hell is he?"

"His name is Gleb Vaganov. His father was one of the soldiers who shot my family and Gleb is now on the hunt for me."

"How'd he know you were here?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. Maybe he saw something?"

"No shit. You need to be even more careful now."

The two made their way back to the street and Gleb walked up to them.

Gleb smiled. "I apologize, but I need to ask the lady a question." He held up a photo of a young Anastasia. "Is this you?"

Anastasia looked at the photo, then at Gleb. "Yes."

A gun cocked and Gleb pointed it at Anastasia's head. "I must do this. I need to finish what my father started."

As Anastasia stared down the barrel, she tried to remind him of what she had lost. Perhaps it would stir sympathy in him. "In me you see them. Look at their faces in mine. Hear their screams. Imagine their terrors. See their blood!"

Gleb's jaw twitched, but he didn't pull the gun away. Instead, his finger began pulling the trigger.

Anastasia continued trying to sympathize with him. "Do it and I will be with my parents and my brother and sisters in that cellar in Yekaterinburg all over again!"

Gleb's hand let go of the trigger and he seemed to be having an internal conflict. Eventually, he put the gun away and spoke, seemingly to himself. "There never was an Anastasia. She was a dream. A dream only time will fade. The new order has no need for fairytales. The case is closed." He gave the two a nod. "I thought I had someone else. I apologize for disturbing you." He met Anastasia's eyes. "War is coming. You'd best be prepared." With that, he walked away.

Anastasia turned to Bucky and hugged him tightly.

Bucky placed a gentle hand on her back. "I've got you, Anastasia. You're safe now."