Red

The Base

Steve's POV

After knocking Strucker out with my shield, I heard what sounded like someone crying out for help. I cautiously followed the sound. It took me down a few sets of stairs until I was looking around at what must have been the prison block. The cries had stopped but I had already pinpointed its location.

 I saw a girl with long red hair sitting up against the back wall of one of the cells. Her cheeks were hollow and her wrists were bleeding from around the handcuffs. Remembering the other two enhanced, I readied myself for an attack. But it never came. The girl spotted me and stood. Wariness evident in her features.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I'm no friend of Strucker's, I assure you." She replied in a thick Russian accent and motioned to the cuffs on her wrists and ankles.

"What are you doing here?"

"The cell, or HYDRA?" She quipped.

"Both."

"Well I'm in the cell, because before you interrupted Baron Strucker's day, it was my execution day." I raised my eyebrow.

"And HYDRA?"

"I was sold to them a long time ago." I wanted to press more about her involvement with HYDRA, but her body language and expression said this was all I was going to get out of her.

"Do you have any family?" She tensed and replied,

"My parents died many years ago."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I have no memory of them." She told me bitterly. I gave an understanding nod before turning and tapping my comm.

"Guys I got Strucker."

"Yeah. I got something bigger." Tony replied.

"I found a girl." I added, lowering my voice and taking a few steps away from the cell. "I want to take her with us."

"What do you mean you found a girl?" Natasha asked. "You mean another enhanced?"

"No, I don't think so. She's a prisoner. Apparently we interrupted an execution day."

"It could be a trap." She mused.

"No. She has this look in her eyes that back in the 40s HYDRA prisoners had. She's a kid, Natasha."

"Well, bring her with us. Time will tell us if she's trustworthy or not." Thor said. I walked back over to her cell and ripped the door off its hinges. I walked to her, and removed her cuffs.

"Thanks." She said, rubbing her wrists. They were scarred and had cuts with scabs that had been reopened.

"When we get back to base, I'll have someone take a look at those."

"I'm sorry?" She asked. I hadn't even thought about the fact that she might not want to come with us.

"Well, you see, I'm an Avenger."

"I know who you are, Captain."

"Right. Well I figured since you don't have any family, you might want to come with us. You could start over in America." She hesitated and subconsciously bit the nail on one of her hands.

"I guess it might be nice. To live somewhere new." I smiled.

"Alright. I'll take you to the jet." She nodded and followed me.

"What's your name kid?"

"Kamila. Kamila Orlova."

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you Kamila. I'm Steve Rogers." She chuckled.

"I know, Captain."