Broken Together

Chapter 28

Cassie's POV

    I wake up in a cold and dark metal room. I can't hear anything except the ringing in my ears and the engines roaring around me. I use my body to heat up a bit and try to remember what happened and where I am. It only takes me a bit to remember before I panic and try to jolt up from my spot. I jerk back and hit my head on the metal slab I'm on and then try to distinguish my surroundings.

    I start to feel the metal on my wrists and ankles, and I can feel the really strong strap wrapped tightly across my waist. My body temperature goes down and I can't heat up. I look at my body and see the glowing red coming from my necklace, but the heat in my body refuses to set off. I panic a little more from the thought of losing my powers. They are my only chance to escape when it comes time.

    I lay still on the metal table and cry. I didn't get to apologise for my behaviour to Bucky. I fear I will never see him again to tell him how sorry I am. I know he isn't a cheater. I know he is the most faithful man in the universe. That's why I love him so. I know he is coming for me and that he won't rest until he finds me. I know he loves me. I want to to doubt, but I know for a fact that Bucky loves me more than any man could love his girl.

    "Looks as if Sleeping Beauty has decided to wake up. Hello again sweetheart." That voice sends chills down my spine. I know that voice. It angers me that he would dare use Bucky's name for me. I don't respond I just rest my body and wait to see who I am dealing with.

    "Don't want to be friendly, that's okay. I'd rather my play things didn't speak anyway." The lights turn on and I see the last face I had expected. John, the last man to abuse me, the last man to hold me captive and make the fatal mistake of transporting me while the Winter Soldier was loose. I thought he was dead, but here he is. His face is half scarred and he carries a cane now. I guess he just barely made it out alive. I stare at him, pure rage and hatred seeping through my eyes. If I could use my powers, I'm sure the entire world would have burnt up by now.

    "It has been a while, hasn't it? The last time I saw you, you were carried away by the Winter Soldier...from my business partner's house." He sneers. "You looked so peaceful. I felt a pang of regret when we shot your boyfriend. Of course, we knew he wouldn't die. Oh, no! He lives but just long enough to find you and allow us to take out the entire team."

    He walks over to a computer and turns it on. It makes a loud noise and quiets down. He pushes a button and then I feel a strong surge of cold ice run through my veins. he laughs at my pain and I just try to toughen out the pain. I know I can do it just to keep him away from me. He wants to see me cry. He wants to see me in pain.

    "You know that I really wish we could have stayed together just a bit longer. You have been living with so many boyfriends and I decided that I wanted to make you my wife...I would have started to treat you a little better had you said yes. For instance," He walks over to me, and gently strokes my face. "For instance, I would have allowed you to fight more, and go out, and choose the option of less time together if you had wanted. You could have had your room. I could give you so many things. Like the option to let the Winter Soldier live or not."

    My heart stops, and I can't keep my mouth shut anymore. "What do you mean?" He walks around and looks at me from my feet.

    "I mean, if you want to keep your boyfriend alive, you may want to consider taking my offer. You see, I have a missile trained on their craft right now, and I just have to hit this button and everyone you love will simply die...with the exception of Dr. Banner. He will live, but I don't think he will be searching for you." He walks along looking at my body, and touching me gently.

    "What makes you think I'll really say yes to that. they are only coming to get me because I am part of the team. They don't love me. They are only associates that I deal with on a daily basis. And Bucky? We had a fight and I broke it off right before you grabbed me. You will be wasting your time killing them as a source of bribery. They will escape anyway and still come for me.

    "Okay, so you won't mind if I just push this button then?" With no hesitation he pushes the button and I flip out.

    "NO!" He smirks and walks over to another button.

    "I knew you were lying. I just had to make sure. This is the real button, and I will push it if you refuse to marry me. They will be here in five hours, I want us to be married by the time they walk in the door, consecrated and all. You understand. You have four hours." He walks out of the room and  I feel a strong surge of coldness run through my veins again, but I don't flinch at the pain. The decision I have to make numbs me completely.

    I feel tears run down my face, but I can't feel the sadness behind them. I don't want to lose Bucky, but I don't want to live in captivity again. I know that I could say yes and the possibility that they would still get a missile to the face is very high. I think my options through carefully. If John is a man of his word, then I could find a way to escape on a future day.