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...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Trauma comes back as a reaction, not a memory."
Brooklyn, New York September, 2024
"SO, WHAT NOW?" JAMES questioned as he shut the door to Karli and Angeliko's shared room.
The pair were both sound asleep, undoubtedly tired from the plane ride back to Brooklyn. He was just as tired, if not more so. But he had things to talk about with Lucy, and he didn't really want to wait. He was. . .unsure of what exactly Lucy was involving herself with.
And, he was very uncertain over what they should do as parents when it came to HYDRA, if they ever advanced on Angeliko and Karli. Because they weren't meant to aim and kill like they used to, but James wasn't so sure if he would be able to uphold that promise.
He blew on his mug of hot cocoa as Lucy sat down across from him. She hugged her mug with her palms, drawing out a long breath. She didn't really know what they were going to do after this. After they traveled from one country to the other.
What– what came next, anyway?
"I don't know." Lucy said honestly. "I was thinking we could. . .we could find a nicer place to live? Big enough for the four of us."
James hummed in agreement.
That was a good first step.
"In a suburban neighborhood." James added. "So Angeliko has room to run around and play in. And Alpine."
Her eyes darted to their feline family member as she lay elongated on the couch. They'd trusted their neighbor to take care of her while they went on their excursions and vacation days. Their neighbor was an old woman who had cats of her own, so it was an easy decision.
But, it seemed like Alpine didn't like being cramped up in an apartment all the time. It made sense, since Lucy had traveled with her on a motorcycle before settling in Bucharest. And then Bucharest had been a disaster, since, you know, Alpine had been shot by an idiot of an agent.
"We could get a dog, too." Lucy nodded her head. "I'm sure Angeliko would love to have one. And it would be good for Karli."
James gave her a small smile.
"Out of Brooklyn, then." He said, his voice soft. "Are we ready to say goodbye to this place?"
The question was meant for both of them, because James wasn't sure if he was prepared to leave. He liked coming back to Brooklyn, even if everything had changed. The neighborhood was, well, dangerous. But the area was familiar to him and his memories.
