The Russian and the American (Bucky 1940's)

Chapter 26

  As Elizabeth spots The Winter Soldier, he had just shot Natasha. Liz is quick to taking him to the ground. The two fight, bringing guns and knives which are quickly nocked away from both. Then, as Elizabeth goes to throw a punch, he grabs her arm with his metal one and sends her flying into a nearby car, denting it.

  As Elizabeth forces herself up, her vision is blurred and her head pounding. She pushes it aside and sees that The Winter Soldier is winning the fight. She quickly leaps onto him, being the one on top. She then grabs the necklace that hangs around his neck and rips it off.

  The Winter Soldier places his feet on her ribs and forces her off. She places the necklace in her pocket to secure it. Then, Steve comes rushing in grabs him and flips him. The Soldier rolls with the movement, making his mask fall off in the process. As he turns around with his long hair in his face, both Steve's and Elizabeth's faces drop.

  "Bucky?" Steve asks.

  "Who the hell is Bucky?" He asks, pointing a gun at the two.

  Then, Natasha fires a mussel at him and next thing they know, he's gone. Elizabeth drops to her knees in disbelief and dispare. Her body becomes limp and her breathing becomes almost nonexistent. Her heart pounding and beating out of rhythm.

  She looks down to the ground and sees a knife. Soldiers surround them, brings Steve to his knees and pointing their guns at them.

  "Kill them my Widow," a voice whispers.

  Without even thinking, her sadness and loss is replaced by anger and rage. She quickly grabs the knife and her body goes on autopilot as she starts slashing peoples throats, stomachs, and wrists. After she kills around twenty-five men, she's back in control. Then, without even realizing it, she slits her throat.

  Blood spews out of the incision that goes ear to ear. As her body drops, soldiers surround it and Steve's face goes from gray to green. The soldiers force Steve, Sam, and Natasha in one van as they take Elizabeth into another.

  As Sam, Steve, and Natasha are in the van, Natasha is bleeding out and Steve is in his own little world.

  "He looked right at me, and he didn't even know me," Steve says, looking to the ground.

  "That's impossible. that was seventy years ago. How could he still be alive? Elizabeth said that he was murdered."

  "Zola experimented on him. He survived the fall. On one of the picture Zola showed, it was of the staged death of James Barnes. They faked his death."

  "It's not your fault Steve," says Natasha as she sways due to the amount of blood lost.

  Then, out of nowhere, Maria Hill comes to the rescue and is able to help them escape back to safety, however, they leave Elizabeth behind.

  As Elizabeth starts to gain consciousness, she keeps herself in a state of unconsciousness, that way she can figure out where she is and who's around.

  "Is she awake yet?" A voice asks, but Elizabeth is able to tell who it is.

  "She should be soon. Her brainwaves though aren't normal."

  "I'm going in," says Pierce.

  "Sir, there are only thirteen soldiers here, please wait for more."

  "She's not that dangerous. Besides, I know how to control her," Pierce adds.

  Control? I can't be controlled. I swear, I will kill him for what he's done to James. I know that was him. I could feel it on the bridge. How could I have been so stupid and blinded to not see it? To not sense it?  She thought to herself.

  Suddenly, the sound of a metal door scraping against a concrete floor can be heard. Elizabeths ears perk but she stays still. She can feel him walk up to her and bend down to her. Right as he does, her eyes shoot open with venom and she grabs him but the throat and forces his back into the floor.

  She's kneeling on top of him with her hands grasped tight around his throat. Suddenly, guards start pouring in with their guns pointed to her. Pierce holds up his hand, stopping them from killing her again.

  "I just want to talk," Pierce says with a smile.

  Without even thinking, she lets her death grip loosen. But the moment it does, she tightens it again with a growl.

  "I-I have a- an offer," he chokes. "For- James."

Immediately, she lets go and gets off him. She watches as Pierce sits up and rubs his throat as he lets out a couple of coughs.

  "You are even better than what I've heard of," he complements.

  "James. Where is he?" She asks.

  "He's fine. Getting fixed up from your little brawl."

  "Let him go," she growls.

  "I'm afraid it's not that simple. You're hearing voices, aren't you?" He asks. "You went and had a visit with one of your old comrades, yes? Zola said something to you. You've been going back to your old ways. Out of control."

  "I was in control. I had a choice. I could roam."

  "We're you? From what I've understood, they were able to change your memories with the help of a doctor. You were never in control. But when you died your mind had reset it's self. That's why you left. We always had control over you."

  "You're lying! I was in control! I went to infiltrate! So I could kill The Winter Soldier!" She yells.

  "Tell me, Liz. How long were you there for?" He asks.

  "Three years. I left after Vietnam."

  "Oh you poor girl," he says, standing up.

  He walks over to her and lifts her chin up. The two lock eyes so he can show her he's not lying.

  "You were there from '53-'97. You worked for us for forty-four years. You killed for us against your will. And you don't even recall a thing. We were able to change your memories into thinking that. Now, your memories with escaping are most likely real. But everything else is a lie. I'm sure some of the missions that you remember are real too, but you were never in control. You were never just a single mercenary. You always did and always will belong to us. Why do you think no matter what happens to you, you can never get rid of your branding?" He asks, still locking eyes.

  Elizabeth finally pulls away and Pierce walks behind her. She reaches for the back of her neck and she can still feel the branding. Almost still feeling hot and raw under her calloused fingers.

  "It was all fake?" She asks.

  "Yes."

  "But, what about James? His murder?" She asks, tears in her eyes as they lock.

  "We made a video of The Winter Soldier killing a man. We were able to go into your mind and change the man into your loved one. That way it looked like he was murdered. I don't fully understand why, but it wasn't real and you knew that. That's why they had to do it, to make it feel more real."

  "What's your proposal?" She asks.

  "I want you to work for me. I have been running Hydra a lot different. I will let your beloved free after this mission if you do as I say. You can't die, this makes you the perfect soldier. A soldier that can only get better and last Hydra forever."

  "You'll let him go?" She asks weakly.

  "Yes."

  "Ok," she sighs.

  Little do they know though, she'll break out of here, kill Pierce, and get to Bucky before it's too late. She can do it. She will do it.

  Clearly he's a fucking dumbass to think I would work for the man who killed my fiancé. I will escort him to hell myself and save Bucky. She told herself. And she will.