The Girl Out of Time

Chapter 24

Brooklyn, NY 1946

It's been 3 years since I last saw James and Stevie. Only a year since the two of them became national heroes for dying. Both of them. Those stupid idiots. I had tried to keep going on after hearing about their deaths but everything just became so much harder. I'm still working at the hospital almost every day. I had to do something with my time. My Pa had started to chide me about not being married yet. I'm only 26 years old. I never wanted any other man but James. Any other man would try to make me everything I'm not.

I said goodnight to the nurses as I left the hospital. I had worked a shift and a half today. I'm exhausted and just want to go to bed. I held my bag tightly as I hid my hand holding my small knife inside the bag. Brooklyn wasn't the safest place especially at night. Luckily I only had a few blocks to walk. I hummed to myself as I tried to keep my mind clear of any thoughts. I didn't want to spend another trip home in tears like I had done so often.

"Hi there pretty lady." A man said as he appeared out of the shadows in front of me.

The first thing I noticed was his eyes. They looked cold and dead. They were beady and staring right at me. I pulled my hand out of my bag showing the man the sharp blade. He chuckled darkly.

"That won't be necessary." He said in a think accent.

It made a cold chill run down my spine. I stepped back from him only to have hands pull my arms behind me making me drop the knife.

"What do you want?" I asked trying not to panic.

"I just want to know what you know about an old friend of yours. Steve Rogers." The man's lips curled into a sinister smile.

"I have no idea who you're talking about." I said as harshly as I could.

"Tut tut little one. It's a bad idea to lie to us. Let's try a different name. James Barnes." He narrowed his eyes at me.

I couldn't stop the gasp that escaped from me. It made the man smile.

"She's the one. Take her." He order the man that was holding me.

"Wait! No! Hold on!" I screamed as I tried to struggle and kick myself free.

"Oh shut up!" The man shouted.

A sharp pain went threw my head as everything went black. When I came to again I was strapped to a chair. I screamed as I pulled at my restraints. This can't be happening! Why? What did I do?

"The more you struggle the worse it will be." A deep voice grumbled from in front of me.

I looked up to get the shock of a life time. Sitting only a few feet in front of me was James Buchanan Barnes. He's alive! He looked exhausted. He was also strapped to a chair like I was but he was bruised and bloody. Someone had done a real number on him.

"Jamie" I whispered in absolute disbelief.

He leaned his head back against the chair as the smallest smile appeared on his lips.

"It's good to see you Will." He said in a strained voice.

"What have they done to you?" I asked as I took all of him in.

"You're arm" I gasped at the sight of the missing limb.

He tried to chuckle but it only turned into a cough.

"Don't you worry about me beautiful. Don't worry about yourself either. No matter what I'll protect you." He told me.

A door slamming made me jump. Two men entered the room. One man came to stand between the two chairs. The other moved to stand next to me. He slowly stuck some kind of wires to my temples and forehead.