Out of Oblivion

Chapter 2

My first day at work did not suit me well. Newspapers plastered everywhere screamed the headline: THE WINTER SOLDIER IS BUCKY BARNES. The TVs playing throughout the building flashed images of the Winter Soldier. When I entered my office for the first time, a newspaper sat on my clean sleek wooden desk, along with a leaf of paper and a cup of pens. I grabbed the newspaper, ripped off the first page, crushed it, and stuffed it down my trashcan with all the viciousness I could muster.

"Agent Stanton! I see you have settled in quite nicely!" The booming voice of Agent Dashner echoed in the small office.

"Uh...er...yes. This is...uh...a very nice office. I love the uh desk. Nice and big and..."

"Yes, yes I'm glad you like it. Now, before you begin your day's duty, there is someone here to see you. May I send them in?"

"Oh um yes of course."

Agent Dashner spun out of the room with a smirk on his face. He seemed pleased to have caught me red-handed. I combed my fingers through my brunette locks and sighed. How many more times would I mess up? It was a wonder that Agent Dashner did not fire me on the spot for inappropriate behavior.

I began rearranging things on my desk, pulling out office supplies and decor from the boxes I had brought in the night before. It had been a week since my interview and my new apartment beneath the building was already set up. Tonight would be my first night.

I pulled out a framed picture of my parents, my sister, and I standing at Liberty University the day of my graduation. It had been a year since then...so much had happened. I then pulled out a second framed picture of Heather, my dear friend from my college years, and I, horseback riding in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She was a tiny dark haired beauty with a heart set on compassion for other people.

 Images flashed in my mind that set off my anger. Images that were a catalyst for the tears that glossed over my eyes. I set down the picture quickly before the tears spilled over. I quickly reached for a tissue and wiped them away, just as there a knock on my door.

After two more dabs on my face I pulled the door open, revealing just the person I needed to see on such a bad day. A genuine smile broke over both of our faces.

"I had to come and formally congratulate the Agent Stanton."

"I'm so glad you did, Agent Stanton," I replied, breaking into a hearty laugh and pulling my sister into an embrace.

My sister, Grace Stanton, had been working for SHEILD for two years as a professional photographer. Her main job was to capture the Avengers in action. We often joked that the only reason she had the job was so she could look at Captain Rogers longer. She had had a huge crush on him since our childhood.

"Come on in, you can help me set up my room!" I exclaimed.

"Don't you have work to do, sis?" Grace replied, always the responsible one.

"Right now my work is setting up my office," I told her confidently. She let out of puff of air and shook her head. Then, as if a ghost had entered the room, her whole demeanor changed. Her pale face became paler and the smile was wiped off her face.