The familiar laughter of children and adults alike having fun made Steve want to go and join them. His eyes caught on a young couple enjoying a picnic, making him think of Peggy, but he forced himself to look away and continue to walk through the park. His baseball cap was pulled low over his face, and sunglasses covered his eyes. His snug leather jacket felt reassuring as he made his way across the park and towards the center of the grassy park.
Sunshine beat down through the trees, casting a warm glow on the walkway. Happy people passed by, but Steve didn't look up. His footsteps were quick, and his strides were long, and he reached the center of the park, a secluded willow growing out of the ground and casting a shadow over the large stone circle. Benches were lined along the edge, and lights had been strung through the branches, giving the tree a glow.
Steve chose a park bench, checking his watch. He was a good 10 minutes early, and he allowed himself to drift into thought. The vague message he had received on his nightstand had left him a bit shaken. Someone had breached the facility without warning or alerting the systems, which made him instinctively double security patrols and go through hours of footage, only to find nothing but an ant infestation in the compound. No clue to how the letter had got there, into his room, in a high security compound, full of Avengers.
"You came." A voice said from above, and Steve jumped, looking up. There, in front of him, stood a man clad in a brown blazer and slacks. Sunglasses identical to Steve's, and the gray hair seemed to be brighter against the weeping willow's shadows. The man sat down next Steve, folding his sunglasses and tucking them into his blazer pocket. "You're not with anyone?"
"I came alone, like you asked." Steve muttered, taking off his hat and rubbing his thumbs over the brim. "Though I can't understand how you got the message into my room."
"Some secrets," the man stated, putting on a pair of reading glasses and taking out a newspaper, unfolding it and beginning to read. "Shouldn't be revealed. And it has nothing to do with why I called you here."
"What are we going to do? The daily crossword?" Steve snorted, placing the cap back on his head. The man stayed silent as he read, and Steve was about to leave when the man handed him a file.
"Cecelia Howell." He stated, returning to his reading. Steve looked at him expectantly, waiting for more, but sighed. This man was curious.
"Who?" Steve asked, opening the folder. There were a few pictures of a girl Steve didn't recognize. She was pale, an oxygen mask around her mouth and face. Her hair floated behind her, black as night, as if it were in water. Her eyes were closed, as if she were sleeping.
"You know how you were frozen?" The man stated calmly as he read the paper. "She's been 13 since the S.H.I.E.L.D. compound was finished. After the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D., the prison ward for enhanced beings was kept. Yesterday at 9am, she escaped."
"What are her enhancements?" Steve asked, flipping through the file. Birthday, family members, records, health files. Nothing Steve wouldn't expect.
"That's the slight issue." The man sighed, closing the paper. He opened his mouth to continue, when a hand fell on Steve's shoulder. The Avenger turned his head, and saw Sam Wilson standing above him, checking his phone.
"Something's happened." Sam stated, glancing over his shoulder, his eyes covered by sunglasses. "You need to see this." He nodded to the old man in greeting. "Dr. Pym."
Steve gave Sam a small look, before turning back to Hank Pym. "Thanks for the file. I'll let you know when we detain her."
"Good luck." Pym stated simply, folding the paper and standing, pulling on his sunglasses on once more. "I'll be looking forward to it."
The lights flickered every so often, and the man tied to the chair breathed quickly. Sweat and blood trailed down from his temple, and he stared into the shadows, where he knew his assailant waited.
"Mitchell Carson." A smooth and cool voice sounded from the shadows where she stood. "Double agent of H.Y.D.R.A., formerly of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Right hand man to Howard Stark. How are you still alive?"
"Who are you?" Mitchell gasped, struggling in his bindings. "Let me out! I can have the FBI, SWAT and CIA here in one call!"
"You're threats don't scare me." She laughed, crossing her arms. Her sharp gray eyes sparkled in the dim light. "Besides, I despised your phone when I knocked you unconscious. Now, answer the question."
"I'm valuable." Carson sputtered, the chair scraping against the cement as he struggled. "Now, answer my question!" His demands were futile, as his position wouldn't help. But he was shocked to hear a response."
"Experiment 6414A." Her voice sounded, and footsteps sounded as she drew closer, her slim form becoming more visible. "Successful. Results unknown. Frozen, comatose state, preventing aging and oxygen mask keeping alive. Notes: Hair color change, unresponsive to shocks, and heartrate 61 beats per minute."
Carson sat, rigid. The chair creaked underneath him. "How are you alive?"
"I never died." She laughed, finally coming into the light. "Don't doubt me. Now, you're going to give me what I want." Her posture was straight, arms folded across her chest, her face straight and her eyes focused on Carson.
"I'd rather die." Carson snarled, struggling in the chair again. "You'll never get it. Nobody will let you!" His voice was filled with rage, and his face was flushed, but his eyes showed his fear.
"Have it your way." Cecelia shrugged, holding up her hands. A spark of light appeared. Carson's vision became blurry, as if something was surrounding his head. He tried to breathe, but his lungs screamed in pain as he couldn't find any oxygen. His vision spotted, and he felt his body go limp. Before it all went dark, Cecelia met his gaze, steady, and everything vanished.