The Sapphire Spirit | Book One~Captain America: Civil War

C H A P T E R 2

I landed somewhere in what I judged to be New York. The alleyway I landed in was dark, the full moon shining above me. Here, I couldn't see the stars; Too much light pollution.

Glancing around to make sure I wasn't being watched, I started changing my outfit. HYDRA gave us clothes, sure, but grey onesies weren't really my style. As I thought about it, my clothes started glowing red, phasing. The jumpsuit seemed to melt, shifting into actual clothes.

My grey top melted into a black one. The top was fitted, flowing at the hem with half-length sleeves. My pants melded into a pair of black denim capris, and my bare feet wore black sneakers. In my raven black hair sat a simple black headband. When the blue energy died down, I was clothed in black from head to toe. Call me dark or whatever, but years at HYDRA do that to a person's mind. I winced, nursing the small wound on my leg from the bullet, which had already started to heal.

As a breeze blew through the alley, I hugged my arms closer to my body, shivering. I needed to find somewhere to sleep. Leaving the alley, I started down the sidewalk. I felt uncomfortable, as if someone was watching me, following me. I glanced over my shoulder, looking for my stalker. Of course, no one was there. Maybe I was just imagining it. Maybe I was paranoid that HYDRA was coming for me. Maybe walking along a New York sidewalk at night was giving me the rational fear of being mugged. I mean, it could happen.

Hearing a noise behind me, I whirled around. Stranding there was a man. I swear, he wasn't there before. The man looked at me. He wasn't old or poor or anything. If anything, he looked well kept and healthy. But this guys was scaring the hell out of me. I would've turned heel and ran, or even used a bit of magic, but one thing was stopping me. Mainly, a gun.

The guy held a gun. Not like a pathetic pistol that standard cops are issued with. More like a rifle, or a sniper. The tool of an assassin. The guy had dark hair that came up to his shoulders. He wore a mask, covering his nose and mouth. His eyes were a piercing brown, covered in black eyeshadow. He had a silver prosthetic arm. The thing that scared me most was the uniform he had. It was one I had seen around the base for years. I had heard his screams coming from the... persuasion room. He never came out the same. Always a little colder, a little harsher. A little bit more of him gone.

It was the Winter Soldier.

"Subject E5-09," he addressed me. I flinched; He used my full name. Crud, I was in so much trouble. "Surrender yourself and HYDRA might be lenient." The Winter Soldier spoke again, his voice devoid of warmth or expression. I shook my head, trying to stand my ground.

"No," The word came out shaky, unsure, as if I was going to burst into tears. I mentally scolded myself; HYDRA didn't tolerate this kind of behavior. If I went now, I'd get a beating, sure, but not too much. If I tried to escape, well... I could only evade HYDRA for so long. And HYDRA didn't like to be kept waiting. That would mean certain death.

Already, imagining the torture and the mind-washing that lay ahead, not to mention the classic, "You're grounded," lecture, I bowed my head, walking toward the Winter Soldier.

At the last second, I stopped, lasing out. Glowing blue tendrils snaked up and down my arms, like armour. A few more lashed around the Winter Soldier's prosthetic arm, holding it immobile. He grunted, yelling, "Now!"

I turned around, seeing about eight more HYDRA agents emerging from alleyways. Of course; They didn't trust me. Either that or they didn't trust the Winter Soldier to be capable enough to bring me in. I smirked at the thought; Sending a "super soldier" after a thirteen-year-old? Was I really that important? I certainly wasn't dangerous. I mean, I was just getting used to my powers. It wasn't like I could do any serious harm.

Then again, HYDRA did send about eight agents after me, with the Winter Soldier to lead them. Okay, I could probably cause some damage.

I thrusted my hand out, and willed the man nearest to me to be swept off his feet. He yelled, falling. I smirked; Telekinesis was pretty sweet. I spread my hands, making a bubble of blue energy around me. The attacks never reached me, every bullet turning to dust and ashes as it passed through the blue barrier.

I strained, trying to keep up my shield while playing offense. I was throwing blasts after blast of energy at the men surrounding me, always keeping one eye on the Winter Soldier. I was about to launch another ball of blue light when I felt my shield break. I screamed as the force field dissolved into actual shards of glass. I covered my head, feeling sharp pain running across my body where the glass had embedded itself into my skin.

There's an upward blow of his bare fists, knocking my head back; I taste blood. After collapsing on all fours, I heard guns click into place, and knew I had lost. I had lost. HYDRA had won.