It's been four days since Bucky has left for Boston, and Steve and I haven't talked about the escape plan since. I know its because of the cameras and the paranoia that Bucky has instilled in us, but I can't help but get nervous that Steve is growing content with this life. Getting nervous that he's happy to share me with Bucky as long as he can paint silhouettes of my figure in the grass and the forest. I have to stay hopeful, though. I can't let myself fall into that Stockholm induced haze that I was living in while in the pent house.
"Would you mind coming down to help me with the flowers, Angel?" Steve called from below the deck. He had went rummaging through the garage days ago and found gardening equipment, quickly taking custody of the responsibilities for the flower beds outside.
I hummed in response, putting my book on the table beside the swing before making my way down the wooden steps. I found Steve crouched in front of the gardenias, pulling weeds from the ground beside them. I fell to the ground beside him, trying to determine what kind of help he needed when he was simply weeding. He gave me a wide smile before crouching behind me and wrapping his glove hands around mine, having me pull the weeds with him.
"Okay, here's the plan, Angel," he whispered so softly in my ear that I almost missed it. "We're gonna sit like this for a few minutes longer, just pulling weeds. Then, I'm going to take those big root cutters right there, and they should be able tossup through that plastic on your ankle."
My heart was racing as I realized what was happening. He found me a way out of here. He has a plan. My breath was heavy as I continued to mindlessly pull the weeds, puling some of the flowers out as well.
"I moved the car right outside of the garage. As soon as this anklet is off we run to that car, okay?"
I could only nod in response before something propelled to the front of my mind.
"Frodo?" I asked. He answer by nodding his head to the corner of the house where Frodo was laying in a patch of grass with a leash and harness keeping him from straying too far from the house. Where Steve got the leash and harness, I couldn't tell you, but I smiled excitedly at the sight of it.
So, for a few more minutes that felt like an eternity, we tended to the garden. his chest -pressed against my back as the two of us pulled the weeds from the ground. I tried to slow my racing thoughts, focusing the task at hand instead.
Then I felt it, the root cutters sliding between my skin and the anklet. It took only a second for me to hear the snap, and I was on my feet running. I sprinted to the car, only stopping to scoop up my sweet cat, the one thing that truly kept me from sanity all these months. As I slid into the front seat of the car I saw the garage door closing, something seemingly triggered by the anklet being cut. Steve was right behind me, jumping into the drivers seat and throwing the car into drive. I quickly buckled my seat belt, holding Frodo tightly in my lap.
I would have really preferred to have a cat carrier while carrying out the rest of my plan, but I'll just have to be extra careful with him, making sure he won't get hurt.
A loud laugh escaped me as the tires screeched, Steve driving as fast as he could off of the property.
"We did it, Angel, we're on our way home," Steve said with a smile, looking in the rearview mirror for only a moment.
Yes, home. While Steve was thinking of the penthouse or some other secure location in which he could hold me, I was thinking of something else. I was thinking of my parents house. I was thinking of the living room couch that u used to fall asleep on while watching FRIENDS. Thinking of my childhood bedroom where posters hung of my favorite bands growing up. Thinking of the freedom of having my own car again, of being able to go anywhere I wanted without asking for permission. Then at the front of everything, thinking of my moms warm smile, and the strong arms I knew my father would wrap around me the moment I saw them.
After driving for hours I started to recognize the scenery around me. We were no longer on backroads and driving through small towns that only took seconds to pass through. No, we're going to be in the city soon. Almost two hours soon. With every second my nerves grew as I knew that I needed to follow the next steps of my plan. I need to do it now, before we reach the city. I need to do it on this road where only a couple of other cars drove around us.
Steve has done his job in the plan. Now is when I get rid of him.
So, I placed Frodo in the floor behind my feet, effectively caging him in between me and the seat, and hoped for the best. I took a deep breath and Steve watched me curiously with furrowed brows.
"What's going," and before he could finish his sentence, I grabbed the steering wheel. "Angel, what the fuck is wrong with you?"
He yelled and fought as the car swerved all over the road. He was much stronger than me, making it harder to gain control, but I can taste the freedom on my lips. I looked through the windshield, seeing a single tree on the side of the road. With one last boost of adrenaline and the feeling of cat claws sinking into my calf, I yanked the steering wheel one last time before the car drove head on into the tree.
The passenger airbag blew my head into the seat behind me, and I swear that I could my arm snap as the drivers airbag pushed mine and Steves arms backwards.
A loud ringing filled my ears and everything looked fuzzy. I blinked as I tried to look at Steve, hoping in my heart of hearts that he was unconscious. Frodo was craving my up my leg, and while painful, I almost sobbed in relief at the thought of my cat being okay, even though anyone else might have left him behind.
And then I heard it, the sound that I would later argue to be an angel. A woman was running up to the car, asking if everyone was okay.
"Please, help me, please," I begged, crying, "I've been kidnapped, you have to help me."
My vision began to clear and I saw a red haired woman looking at me with concerned eyes. she helped me out of the car as I clutched my cat, refusing to let anyone take him from me, repeating my name over and over.
"Clint, Im taking her to our car while the emergency responders get here. If this man wakes up don't let him come near her!" She yelled at the man in a stern tone.
"Please, I was kidnapped, you have to help me," I sobbed.
"I promise we will, I swear it. We're going to do everything we can to help you."
It was then that I saw the police badge that hug from her neck, I started sobbing even harder, reaching up and wrapping my arms around her.
I'm going home.
