𝙴𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚁𝚎𝚍𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 - Bucky Barnes

6. LEFT BEHIND

PRESENT DAY - VILNIUS - LOCATION: LITHUANIA.

The door to Ivanov's apartment bursts open with a resounding crash, and Hydra operatives flood into the apartment with ruthless efficiency. Sergei's heart pounds in his chest as two of the men seize him, forcing him into the armchair with a firm grip, their hands pressing down on his shoulders to keep him immobilized.

The atmosphere crackles with an ominous energy as four other operatives conduct a swift and thorough sweep of the apartment, their movements calculated and precise. Sergei's eyes dart around the room, searching for any sign of hope or escape, but he knows that their chances are slim against Hydra's relentless force.

Finally, the tension reaches its peak as another operative strides into the room, unmasked and exuding an aura of authority. Sergei's blood runs cold as he locks eyes with the man, "Where is Voronin?" the operative demands, his voice cold and commanding as he fixes Sergei with a steely gaze.

Sergei's mind races as he tries to place the face, but the memories remain elusive, obscured by the fog of time and betrayal. He knows that revealing Anastasia's whereabouts would mean endangering her life, but he also understands the consequences of defying Hydra's demands.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Sergei replies evenly, his voice laced with a steely resolve. "And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you."

The operative's lips curl into a menacing smirk, his eyes narrowing with thinly veiled contempt. "You would do well not to test my patience, Ivanov," he sneers, his tone dripping with malice. "We both know the consequences of withholding information from Hydra."

As Ana listens from the loft, her heart pounds in her chest, the sound of her own pulse echoing in her ears. She strains to make out the voices below, her senses heightened by the imminent threat of danger. Though she doesn't recognize the voice of the operative, the mention of Hydra sends a shiver down her spine, a stark reminder of the horrors she's fought so hard to escape.

The confrontation escalates, each word exchanged between Sergei and the operative a chilling reminder of the stakes at hand. Ana's muscles tense as she braces herself for what might come next, her mind racing with fear and uncertainty.

Then, the situation takes a violent turn as one of the operatives strikes Sergei with the butt of his gun, the sharp crack of impact to his collar bone, reverberating through the air. Ana's breath catches in her throat at the sound, her chest tight with anxiety as she imagines the pain Sergei must be enduring.

Anastasia's mind races as she weighs her options, her instincts urging her to act. But she knows that revealing herself now would only put Sergei and herself in greater danger. With a heavy heart, she remains hidden in the shadows, her breath shallow and uneven as she waits for an opportunity to make her move.

The Hydra operative, now identified as Agent Thompson, narrows his eyes at Sergei's defiance. With a menacing smirk, he steps closer to Ivanov, the gleam of triumph evident in his gaze.

"I'm Agent Thompson," he announces, his voice dripping with disdain. "And I assure you, Ivanov, I am not a patient man... You may think you can hide the truth from us, but we both know you were involved in her escape from the Siberian base. You have something to do with her disappearance, and we intend to find out what."

Sergei's eyes flash with defiance as he meets Agent Thompson's gaze, his voice laced with contempt. "You still cling to the remnants of Hydra, Agent Thompson?" he mocks, his tone dripping with scorn. "I thought Hydra had dispersed, crumbled under its own weight, thanks to Pierce's failure as the director and Captain America cracking down on your infiltration of SHIELD."