Full Throttle

Chapter 3

The following day was my day off. I spent the morning cleaning my kitchen and doing laundry before heading to a local outdoor farmers market to pick up some groceries. While I'm there I can't shake the feeling that I'm being watched. Every time I turn around I catch a glimpse of oversized sunglasses and a black hoodie with a red patch on the one sleeve.

Eventually, I've had enough and make my way back to my car. Just as I reach the carpark someone bumps into my shoulder, almost making me drop the bags in my hands. "Hey, watch it!" I huff irritatedly. One glance is enough to know that this is the guy I've been seeing all over the place today, it sends a cold shiver down my spine.

I hurry over to my car and get in, starting it and peeling out of the carpark as fast as I can. I keep checking my rearview mirror to see if I'm being followed, but there's nothing.

I'm driving down a long deserted road when a golden retriever comes bounding out of the tall grass, right in front of the car. I swerve to avoid it while punching the brakes but they aren't working, I can feel the car starting to spin out of control until I'm off the road and into a small ditch. I hit my head on the steering wheel as the impact of the sudden stop jars my bones. At least I'm off the road I think as darkness consumes me.

"Is she gonna be okay?" A masculine voice asks, worry coloring his tone.

"We'll only know that once she wakes up, but so far it looks like it's just a minor concussion. She'll need plenty of rest, food, drink and peace, and quiet. I'll come by in the morning to check on her again," another man answers, sounding as if he were right next to me.

"Thanks, doc, Tony will see you out," hold the phone, that sounds like Bucky...I slowly struggle to open my eyes, wincing at the harsh light invading my senses and sending my head pounding like the drums of war and bile to sit in my throat. A soft groan escapes me and I try to sit up slowly.

"Woah there spitfire, the doc said you have to take it easy," Bucky's face swims into view with Steve right behind him. They help me lay down again after I've taken the ibuprofen and water that was set down next to me.

"What happened? The last thing I remember is swerving to avoid a dog and ending up in a ditch," I croak out.

"Well you hit your head pretty hard and passed out, Lucky came to get us, and we called the doc, you have a concussion," Steve explains gently.

"I have so many questions right now... Who is Lucky, who is this doc you keep talking about, and where am I?" I say as I look around the little bit of my surroundings I can see. I'm laying on an overstuffed brown leather couch with a soft grey blanket draped over me; there's a stone fireplace directly opposite me with a coat of arms above the mantelpiece which houses several photo frames.

As I finish talking a golden retriever slowly pads into view and plops down on the hearthrug, watching me silently. The boys chuckle before Steve speaks again. "That is Lucky," he points at the dog, "the doc is doctor Stephen Strange, he's also a member of the Howling Commandos MC, and you are currently in the clubhouse, in the lounge to be exact," he says with a warm smile.

Before anyone can say anything else a sandy-haired guy comes jogging in, he looks nervous, almost worried. Steve and Bucky instantly straighten up, taking on an air of authority I've never seen on them. "What is it, Clint? What did you find?" Steve asks first.

"You guys might wanna sit down for this," Clint says, waiting until both men are settled on the end of the couch before speaking again. "So we managed to get the car towed to the garage and Tony took a look at it, turns out the brakes were cut. That's not all we found either; when we took the bags and stuff out of the car, this fell out of the handbag," he hands a slip of paper to Steve, who looks like he's about 5 seconds away from shattering his teeth with how hard his jaw is clenched.

When he hands the slip to Bucky, I catch a glimpse at a very familiar looking handwriting, but a completely foreign phrase; "Hail Hydra"