First mission. Anne's sorry to leave Steve, but she came to take care of Melinda Jo. She has a responsibility. "
"Bye, Anne. Take care of yourself." The young blonde man reaches out to give her a hug.
Anne blinks back tears. "Don't forget me, Steve."
She and MelJo bundle up into a plane headed for Germany. They're going to be collecting information from behind enemy lines.
...that is, until the plane starts veering wildly halfway there.
They tumble from their seats and run across the rocking floor to the pilot. He's pale and unhappy looking, but there's a wild light of determination in his eyes that Anne doesn't like.
"What's going on?" MelJo shouts over the shriek of the engine. The man turns to look at her, and frowns at her, almost looking sorry.
"We all fall to the one power. Hail Hydra."
"What?" MelJo shrieks, and lifts up a fist to grab him by the collar.
She's too late. He gurgles, chokes and foams at the mouth, and seconds later, slumps over in his seat. The plane drops without a pilot, and begins making a steep downward dive.
"Pull it back!" Anne screams. They scramble into the pilot and copilot seats and bring it up sharply.
Once they can catch their breath, MelJo chokes out, "What's a hydra?"
"Nazi rogue science division." Anne explains, breathing slower. "They must have some pretty dedicated guys. That one just died by cyanide."
"Why?" MelJo looks over at the body. "Seems a waste. He didn't even do anything to us."
As if in answer, the whole plane shudders. Lights begin to flash. Slowly, a burning smell rises from the engine. Anne looks over at her friend, and they both exclaim, "He did," with anger.
The controls fail a moment later, and they rush to the back as the plane tumbles from the sky. But there are no parachutes. There is nothing they can use to save themselves.
"Blast it!" MelJo braces herself against the wall as the plane goes into another loop. "There's nothing we can do, Anne."
Anne is cold with certainty. This is the end, and she's going to die all alone--but she isn't. She reaches over to take Melinda Jo's hand, eyes foggy with smoke or tears. "Well, I couldn't ask for better company to check out in."
The flames are starting to crackle around the edges of the cabin, and they've dropped a considerable distance. She knows any second could be her last, but she can't help stalling, as if she can forestall doom by not acknowledging it.
"We'll come back and haunt them." MelJo promises, squeezing her hand with a fierce promise. "They can't get rid of us that easily."
Anne laughs softly, turning away from her friend's sad blue eyes to look out the window at the tumbling world. "Anywhere." She says, after a few seconds that seem like hours. "I'll follow you anywhere, Melinda Jo."
Melinda Jo nods. "I'll follow you anywhere." She repeats. They both look at each other.
"Always." They both say.
And with that mantra as old as their friendship, the world goes all colors of red and fire, before falling into a painless, all consuming black.
YOU ARE READING
Don't Follow Your Heart-- Anne
Fanfic.:Marvel Fanfiction:. Once, there was a brunette and a blonde. Little girls, young women, soldiers, victims of brainwashing, or time-displaced heroes-- It didn't matter who they were, or what they were supposed to do. Nothing would ever come between...
