Fear on Fire - Steve Rogers x Reader (Completed)

Part 4

2,602 words

Everything was a blur as you came to, taking a second before peeling your eyes open partly to examine your surroundings clandestinely. The room was dark, with limited natural light provided and you swallowed your fear. Your limbs began to tremble as your eyelids fully separated. You were surrounded in glass windows, most likely at the bottom of the submarine, revealing everything that dwelt within the ocean right before your eyes. Your wrists and ankles were tied together with the glass windows behind you and in front of you. You could see the dark water moving from the ocean's creatures and from the movement underwater and you had the urge to either cry out for help or burst into a fit of sobs.

With the color of the water, you could only assume it was around eight or nine in the evening which meant that everything you were terrified of was roaming the waters behind and in front of you. You remembered what the doctor said about your phobia and you shuddered.

'Everyone is different. Some people fear the ocean because of the large masses of water it possesses, and others because of what's in the ocean. But, those are all forms of thalassophobia.'

You weren't sure if you were either. Most likely both, but your only worry at that moment was if the floor beneath you would collapse and you would fall into the depths of the ocean and drown or be eaten alive all before you could confess your love to Steve Rogers. That was it. Your heartbeat increased as soon as you realized what you needed to do. No matter what the circumstances, the next time you saw Steve you would tell him. You were overcome by an urge to rip the ropes that bound you from your wrists and ankles and find him yourself.

You glanced down at the spikes that remained attached to your embroidered suit and bit your lip. If you could just twist your right arm slightly to the right behind you, you'd be able to cut the ropes off that connected your arms. It would hurt like hell but it would bring you one step closer to Steve.

Using all the strength you had, you twisted your arm in the least comfortable position and began working at the thick rope. A strangled cry vibrated your throat but you bit the inside of your lip and continued moving your arm back and forth. In your peripheral vision, you kept your eye on the ocean through the window whilst the rope prepared to snap.

Once it snapped, you froze and made sure you hadn't been caught. You seemed to be in the clear, but as soon as you allowed your shoulders to relax, you heard a click and then silence for about five seconds before one of the windows across from you slid to the side like a panel and began permitting cold water into the large room. It felt like your heart had beat its way into your throat, cutting off the air supply to your lungs. Panic began flooding through you as you back away from the open panel and to the far wall.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no," You pressed your back to the wall and slid down while your arms began wrapping around your head. This could not be happening. You couldn't prevent the panic attack from taking over your muscles and body so you let it. It was the only option you had left. You were going to die.

Your eyes subconsciously squeezed shut and a broken sob passed through your lips. The sound of the cold water filling the bottom of the submarine caused more hot tears to cascade down your cheeks. You had no clue how they managed to keep the vessel running despite the amount of water that was filling it, but it was HYDRA. Who knew the kind of technology they had access to?

You assumed they would continue filling the room with water but as soon as the heavy footsteps of someone nearing you became louder, your initial thoughts changed. You didn't think you could become even more afraid but you were mistaken as someone wrapped their grimy fingers around your bicep and yanked you from the floor.

"You shouldn't have messed with your ropes, sweetheart." His hot breath fanned across your neck as he whispered in your ear and you resisted the urge to gag. The pet name made you sick to your stomach but you shook the feeling off and attempted to open your tightly shut eyes. But, your panic attack had other ideas, preventing you from moving a muscle.