BOOK 4 of the ORPHIC Series
DISENTHRALL
/ˌdisənˈTHrôl/
set free.
~~~~~
When Lucille 'Lucy' Opal Baker starts adjusting to a world without Captain America and more government therapy sessions...
T H E F A L C O N A N D T H E W I N T E R S O L D I E R
24
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"A child's innocence is the one gift, that once stolen, can never be replaced."
Riga, Latvia July, 2024
ZEMO LED THEM TOWARDS a broad labyrinth of a building, worn down and housing those who needed refuge. There were children playing together with a torn up ball, giggling and laughing in hushed tones. Lucy didn't quite understand the dichotomy of Zemo's polarizing emotions, so she didn't exactly trust where he was leading them.
But Zemo was the only one comfortably intimate with the area, and none of them really desired to search for another tour guide—even if the three of them could barely tolerate him.
A part of Lucy suspected that Klause might know where to venture, but she would only ever ask him for help when she could find it nowhere else. Like hell was she going to drag him into another situation where he could die.
Madripoor couldn't touch Klause—Henry wouldn't allow it. It also meant that Klause was well-known on the island, which also meant they had been better off parading around with Zemo then with Klause. Besides, Klause was just like the two of them. He could never be a handler.
Zemo, on the other hand, was a perfect candidate, and would no doubt have risen in HYDRA's ranks, if not for his opposing ideology. The thought sent shivers down her spine, and she dismissed it before she could entertain it longer.
"Shame what's become of this place." Zemo started as they entered through a gate. "When I was young, we used to come here for fabulous dinners and parties. I knew nothing of the politics of the time, of course, but I remember it being beautiful."
Lucy's eyes flicked around the nearly barren area, the children's laughter still echoing gently against her ears. There were GRC posters hung everywhere, proposing an ability to restore the world to what it had been five years earlier.
She thought it was misplaced.
Sam cleared his throat.
"I'm gonna take a look around upstairs." He decided. "See what you can find out here."
He paused.
"And keep an eye on him." His voice was firm.
They replied with a curt nod.
James was pleasantly surprised that Sam still trusted him enough to leave them with Zemo. He wondered if the doubts riddling his mind were pointless, since Sam was always so understanding. It was irritating, actually, how much Sam could read him.
