|| Hail Hydra ||

Brainwashed

Felix led them deep into the forest.

"I think... This is far enough for tonight." Felix panted, tossing Liam onto the ground and sitting down beside him.
Clover nodded and plopped down beside them.
As soon as their backs were turned, Liam's hands ignited and the scarf began to burn off.
"Hey!" Felix yelled, struggling to gain control of him again.
Liam glared murderously at him and grabbed his throat, leaving deep burn marks.
Felix winced and writhed slightly under his hold.

"What is wrong with you?" Clover yelled, her hands glowing faintly with radiation.

She placed her hands on the back of his neck.
Liam twisted around, grabbing her arm and burning through her leather jacket with one hand and clawing at her throat with the other.
She hissed in pain and drew her arm away quickly, clouting the side of his head with her uninjured hand.
Before Liam could do any more damage, Felix bowled him over and they rolled a few feet before continuing the fight.
Felix grunted and doubled over as Liam kicked him in the ribs.

"Enough!" Clover snapped, pressing her hands to Liam's temples.

"Let him go." She snarled. When Liam didn't comply her hands began to radiate.
He held on tightly, the claw-tipped gloves beginning to draw blood.

"Fine. Have it your way." The glow increased.
Liam winced but held on.
As the pain grew unbearable he released Felix, dropping to the ground.

Felix scrambled away from him, clutching his side and glaring in his direction.
"Felix? You okay?" Clover bent down to sit by him.
"I will be." He muttered, still glaring at Liam who was attempting to sit up.

"Are you sure you're okay? You look awful."
Clover lightly prodded his side and he hissed, doubling over.
Not okay.
"Hey, Einstein, where do you think you're off to?" Felix frowned and sat up.
Without replying Liam took off at a sprint.
"Hey!" Clover yelled, running after him.
Felix grumbled under his breath, carefully getting to his feet.

Clover couldn't keep up with him. She slowed to a stop, shooting a beam of radiation at Liam.
It hit him square in the back and propelled him forwards. He rolled several feet before slowing to a stop. Clover grinned and trotted up to him.
He held his back, too stunned to try and move again.

"Why can't you just let me go?" He rasped.
"Why do you think, Einstein?" Felix stood over him.
Liam's dead eyes flickered towards the sound of Felix's voice.
"Why do you want to go back?" Felix snapped.
"There's nothing for you there. You're under their control, Liam. Is that what you want?"
Liam's jaw set as he listened. Eventually he replied.
"If I do as they ask, I'm left alone. That's all I want." He glared in Felix's direction.
"But you're being used." Felix retorted. "You are nothing more than a weapon to them. They don't appreciate your-"
"And I'm nothing more than your hostage. There's no difference." Liam shot back.
Felix breathed in deeply, struggling to keep his cool.
"Liam-" Clover began.
"Don't." He said, his voice laced with fear. She moved her hand, surprised at the first sign of emotion other than anger she had seen from him.
She watched him a few moments longer before sitting down a few feet away, crossing her legs and attempting to start a conversation with Felix.

Liam turned his back to them, attempting to control his shaking hands.
I can't trust them.
They're no different.
They'll kill me in the end.
He winced as flashbacks of his time under Hydra's control filled his head. Screams from his victims echoed in his ears.
"Безмолвный призрак."
He closed his eyes, his hands clenching and unclenching.
I did what had to be done. I did what was right.
The screams grew louder and he winced.
Monster.
"No." He said audibly.

Both his companions turned to face him, confused when they realized he wasn't speaking to them.

He held his head as a rush of memories returned to him. His eyes widened and his chest heaved.
"Liam?" Clover tilted her head.
It was all a lie.
His throat constricted as he realized everything they had told him was false.
The world appeared to be spinning and he fell backwards.
"Liam." Clover stood and ran to his side.
She checked his pulse.
"Did he faint?" Felix stood beside her.
"Yeah. What would have caused that?"
Felix sat down.
"His memory was triggered. Maybe it was something we said, maybe not. I've seen it happen before. It's like a mild concussion, you slowly regain your memory, or it comes all at once, in this case."
Clover turned towards Felix.

"What's that?" She pointed at his neck, realizing for the first time the odd metal device strapped around his throat.
"Ah." He gave her a somewhat rueful smile.
"That would be the reason I can't tap into my powers."
"Is there any way to remove it?"
"No."
She snorted.
"Have you even tried?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"If I attempt to disarm it, it will either send out a few shocks or fatally shock me. I don't intend to find out which."
"Huh." She chewed at her lower lip.

"I'll take first watch." He stated, rubbing his eyes and glancing at the still-unconscious Liam.
"Not a chance." Clover frowned.
"I-"
"Nope. Lie down." She crossed her arms, grinning.
Muttering under his breath, Felix laid down, rolling onto his uninjured side.
"What was that?"
"Nothing." He mumbled, pulling his hood over his face.
"That's what I thought." Clover smirked.

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She awoke slowly, keeping her eyes closed and enjoying the early morning sun that pierced through the canopy of leaves. She finally opened her eyes, sitting up and stretching.
"Hey, Fel-" She stopped. Her pupils dilated as she realized she was alone.
"Felix?" She called softly, standing up and trotting over to where she had seen him last.
She cursed, her head whirling as she tried to piece together what had happened.
Maybe he just went for a walk. But what about Liam?
Her heart pounded in her chest.
"Felix?" She began running through the thick underbrush.
The trees spread out and she slowed to a stop, relieved when she saw two familiar figures sitting by a small stream.

Faintly she could hear their conversation.
"I just... everything that I did..."
"I know. But it'll get better. The memories should subside and eventually fade altogether, though I can't guarantee that for sure. Music helps, too."
She debated whether to approach them or not.
"How many?"
Even though they weren't facing her, she could almost see the look of confusion on Felix's face.
"How many what?"
"How many did I kill?"
"Liam..."
"Please." She could hear the desperation in his voice.
"56. Not including the bombing."
Not a good time.
She backed up a few steps, wincing as she stepped on a branch, snapping it in half.
They whirled around and Liam's hands ignited.
She raised her hands in mock surrender.
"Just me."
"Clover." Felix breathed out, relieved.
"I didn't want to interrupt. I saw you had left and I thought-"
"Thought what?" Felix frowned.
"I didn't know." She crossed her arms.
He tilted his head slightly, then turned back to Liam.
He dug through his coat pocket, placing his goggles in his hand.
Liam closed his palm, lifting his head.
"I think you've merited them, now."
Liam faked a smile, placing them over his eyes.
"These are rather tacky, aren't they?"
He mumbled in an attempt to lighten the mood.
"Little bit, yeah." Felix grinned.
"Shouldn't we get going?" Clover swatted a bug away. "And where are we going, anyway?"
"St. Petersburg. I don't know how we'll make it on foot, though. There's likely a tracker on this collar and if so, they could catch up with us at any time."
"Let's get going, then." Clover kneeled by the stream, cupping her hands and drinking as much of the water as she dared before they started.

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Thank you so much for reading! Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out there *glances at StarDancer111 who throws a tomato at me* I'm terrible with dialogue XD