CHAPTER 2
Bullets hailed through the room, rocketing off everywhere. I crouched beneath the shield. I was so small I could hide behind the shield completely. Part of me felt sorry for the first issue of Captain America. It must have cost a fortune, unless Coulson got it him. Everything would have went fine if a stray bullet hadn't hit tore through the wardrobe and struck the shield. The sound echoed, sending quite a rough vibration through the shield. It took all of my ounce of strength to hold onto that shield. I only had a matter of seconds before I was discovered. I stood up and looked around. I spotted the holder for the shield. I slung it onto my back and over my shoulders. It was far too big and complicated for me to worry about it right out. Someone yanked open the wardrobe doors. One door, which was hanging by a hinge, came right off and clattered to the ground. Oh my god, what if Steve turns up to find his apartment filled with Hydra agents? I assume their hydra, I thought to myself. The illogical, fearful part of my mind hoped his clothes would hide me but my feet were spotted. The biker helmet dude opened his mouth. I made my move, charging shield first at him. I slammed into him. He went flying backwards, crashing into the wall. I yanked the gun free from its holster on my thigh. My hand was shaking. I found myself unable to pull the trigger. More guys piled in. there were only three. I assume they just thought I would be this weak, spindly kid that's easily disposed off. I'm several steps ahead of them and I like it that way. I flung the shield at them. It was no way near as graceful or well-aimed as Captain America but I knocked them down. None of the agents got up after the shield whacked them. The shield landed in the couch, cutting into it and wedging itself there.
"Typical," I muttered.
I looked around the apartment. It was a wreck. I turned to face the comic, wincing. It was utterly destroyed. My heart broke a little at the fall fragments of comic fluttered to the ground, amongst the stuffing from his pillows. I chewed on my lip, feeling terrible. His apartment is destroyed and it's all my fault, I thought, picking my way through the debris and unconscious bodies. I decided not to hang around much longer. A drawer on his telephone stand had burst open. I peeked it and noticed it had a few valuables. There was a blood stain Captain America trading card, an extremely old pocket watch and a photocopy of an old photograph. The photograph showed two young men smiling- Steve before he became Captain America and a much taller, handsome man with dark hair and a cheeky smile. Both were wearing shirts and trousers. I decided to take the valuables. If Hydra agents get here before Steve does, they'll discover Captain America lives on, and has already saved the world once in this era. Of course they probably already know that but now they'll know where he lives. I tucked them between the files I keep in my bag. I yanked the shield out of the couch and left through the front door. I snatched up his motorcycle keys as I went. I walked calmly as I could down the hallway. Nobody poked their heads out- they were too afraid. I hoped my neighbours were okay, I might not like them or get on with them but I don't want them hurt because of me. I tried to remain as calmly as I could. Inside I was quaking- I have never been so close to death before, not even when I was selling non-lethal drugs to drug lords. There I was respected and nobody dared harm me with the risk of starting a gang war. I thought about seeking refuge there as I waited on the elevator to arrive. Too risky- the respect you but not enough to protect you if the price is right, I decided silently to myself. I felt a pit off despair as I fell into a hopeless cycle of nothing but betrayal and death. The elevator arrived and I stepped in. it was empty thankfully. I pressed the button for the basement and the elevator jerked into motion. I let out a deep breath, my knees still knocking. The shield was far too big for my shoulder proportion and the straps were uncomfortable. The shield was heavier than it looks. Disneyworld, I thought suddenly. I'll move to Florida, change my name and work in Disneyworld for a while. The plan came suddenly but I was planning on buying a one way ticket to Florida by the time the elevator dinged onto the basement. I marched on purposefully to the only motorcycle in the underground car park. I slung onto it, the motorcycle groaned under my weight. I stuck the ignition keys and the motorcycle roared into motion.
First things first, I have business to attend to, I told myself as I swung the bike around. It purred smoothly as I drove it up out of the car park and into the flowing traffic. I navigated my way smoothly through the traffic towards one ugly building that stood out like a sore thumb.