October 14th, 2025
"You did this."
The words shook Kate, causing her to turn from the shadowy figure at the end of the hallway. She ran, but time seemed to slow, the stone walls barely moving and she tried to escape.
The figure behind her was closing in, a familiar glint of metal as he became inches from her. She had barely any time to scream before the Winter Soldier tackled her, plunging both of them into freezing water.
Resurfacing moments later, Kate found herself locked in a box, water steadily closing in over her head. She watched through the glass as General Karpov stood over the Winter Soldier. Their faces bled together as Karpov smiled, his face becoming distorted.
"He doesn't remember you." His voice became distorted through the water, echoing in her ears as James Barnes screamed. His voice, his screams rung throughout Kate's ears as the water submerged her completely. Through the haze of the glass, she could see the Winter Soldier, in mask and uniform, holding a gun to a woman's head.
The blonde hair was familiar, the green eyes undeniably hers as they drifted towards the winter soldier. She pleaded, begged for her life before him. He remained still, the gun in his hand unwavering.
Kate felt herself convulse, water forcing its way into her lungs as the winter soldier fired.
Kate shot up, cold air forcing its way into her lungs as she gasped. The night around her was silent except for her forced breathing. Resting her sweat coated forehead on her knees, Kate shut her eyes, willing the nightmare to leave her vision.
The images kept flashing across her vision, forcing her to open her eyes, glancing around the blackened room.
She sighed as she came to her senses, where she was. She reminded herself that the dark meant she turned off the lights, not that she was in a cell. The cold meant that she kept the vents on, not that she was strapped to a table. The floor beneath her meant that it was her choice to be there, not the habit she had for decades.
Kate stood, a thin blanket falling from her legs as she neared the massive windows. She gazed over the blackened city of Wakanda, the beauty in its night time, the buildings themselves coming alive under the stars.
With a quick glance at the clock on the wall, Kate knew it was too late to go back to sleep. Not that she could get rid of the images to begin with.
After admiring the city for several more minutes, she pulled away, deciding to get dressed. She changed from a tank top and pajama bottoms into straight leg pants and a loose fitted tee, much like what she wore nearly every day.
Going through the motions she'd developed over the decades in Hydra, she stood at her front door. Still not sure why she hesitated, she waited some more.
With another couple minutes of silence, she left her apartment, locking the door behind her.
It didn't feel like her to hold things in her hands. As if she had something of her own to hold. But now, Kate held a peach colored iPhone, paired with a set of keys given to her from Shuri. Even that was too much.
Knowing exactly what time it was, Kate heard the door down the hallway open. Seconds later, she heard the familiar voice of her neighbor. "Kate?"
Hesitating still, she turned to greet Sheeřa. The woman's delicate features were pulled into confusion as she gave Kate a once over. She smiled, her bright teeth giving her away easily. "I've never seen you out this early." She admitted.
Kate glanced away, "I don't like to sleep in."
Sheeřa laughed, checking the time. "But you're never out at four am. How have you been?"
YOU ARE READING
Eclipse (Born at Dusk - Book 1)
Fanfiction"It doesn't matter if you believe me or not, but our lives were created together within HYDRA's walls. They can't unmake us." To her, he was a ghost; to him, she was a stranger. Bucky is the only super soldier left, he'd checked himself. However...
