Sea of Red - M.C.U Fanfic

Chapter 3

Steve

    The wind whistled against the car going against it. Leaves, trash, and smoke made soft thumping sounds as they hit the car's windshield. Steve stared out the window at the damaged roads. He made quick sharp turns to avoid the potholes and cracks in the road as best as he could. It had been a while since he had seen any sign of society although the sky was still pitch black so it couldn't have been too long. He tried to force the thoughts of the other Avengers out of his head. Steve felt bad for leaving them but he knew someone might need his help though he wasn't sure where. He let out an audible sigh as he kept driving past looming trees, their shadows stretched over the already dark road. The road began to get rockier and it began to get harder to navigate the road. As the road became less of a road and more of a minefield with all the holes and pieces of it scattered all over the remaining road Steve knew he was getting closer to the city. Instead of coming out of it like last time he came back into the destroyed city. The car slowly rolled to a stop as he opened the door. Steve decided to walk the rest of the way in to minimize the chances of getting caught. That and the fact that the road was too damaged to go any further in a car.

    Steve looked around at the same destroyed city he remembered leaving it hadn't been too long since he was last there, Yet somehow it looked different. Perhaps it was the fact that it was dark or maybe it was the eeriness of the uninhabited city. Whatever it was Steve knew that someone had to still be here. Cautiously he entered the city stepping over the road as if it was an invisible obstacle that marked the entrance, like an alien portal to a different planet. Steve looked around at the area of the city he entered. As he went farther in careful to be sure he wasn't spotted the remnants of asphalt and concrete began to lessen. He paused at iron gates that somehow managed to still stay on their hinges despite all the destruction around them. Inside the little gated area was a small park or at least was a park. The grass was covered in footprints and most of it was uprooted. Although the park wasn't what it used to be there was a sort of softness to it. The trees whooshed in the wind spreading their leaves on the ground. Crows cawed telling news to one another. Steve walked into the little park and took a deep breath. He didn't know why but he felt calm just being in the presence of this small gift.

    He looked around at the dark grass and the fountain in the middle which reflected the dark night sky above. The moon shown dully through the clouds making the trees seem to sparkle as they danced in the wind. There were a few broken benches here and there, the concrete slabs scattered over the once beautiful stone walkway. Steve didn't quite remember this park but it was small and most likely looked a lot different than before Hydra. He shook off the thoughts of destruction and guilt that came with those words. 'Before Hydra' they seemed to haunt him day and night, the Avengers lost and he blamed himself. Steve let out a shaky breath before turning around to exit the small park. The park itself had brought a small pleasure to him despite the situation. He stopped and looked around as his ears picked up a soft sound almost like the voice of another person. He got into a defensive position as his mind began to race with thoughts that the soldiers had found him. He waited for a second more and no one came. After a while Steve heard the sound again although it wasn't much of a sound he made out the sound as female. He wasn't sure about where it came from but as he walked back towards the fountain the sound was a bit louder.

    Steve could make out the sound as a soft sobbing noise. Curious if someone needed his help he was determined to find the woman or girl the noise came from. "Hello?" he softly whispered. There was no answer and the noise seemed to stop. The moonlight shown on a particular bench that happened to be the least broken. Steve squinted at it for a moment before recognizing the outline of a woman. Her brown hair made it hard for him to see her in the darkness of night. Carefully and slowly as not to frighten her he walked towards the bench. The young woman or perhaps young girl seemed to be aware of his presence. She let out a soft gasp keeping her head turned away from him. "I won't hurt you, you shouldn't be here, it's dangerous." he softly spoke almost in a whisper. "You don't know me." Steve was surprised at the quick response of the girl. "I may not but I do want to help you." he offered with a smile. She didn't answer this time. "I heard you crying... I was wondering if you were hurt?" Steve frowned. This time she answered. "I have always been hurt on the inside. I have learned to live with my scars- No one has cared up until this point... Why do you?" she softly answered him.