We couldn't stay at the cabin for more than a few minutes after Bucky and I made our way out of the tree line. I hadn't considered how dangerous all of this really was because I was having so much fun at the cabin, but the bullet graze on my leg was a big clue as to how this was going to play out. It was irritating to be so helpless. I felt like a burden to Bucky and Sam. I had sat in the back of the car, bundled up in the sweatshirt and sulking, overthinking all of my life choices. I could see Sam glancing back in the rear-view mirror every so often to check on me. Bucky and I hadn't said anything to each other since the moment we had in the woods. It stirred up a real fear in me of genuinely falling for him and then being sent back to my own reality. What man could ever measure up after him?
"We have a friend who's going to loan us a plane to get to New York." Sam said out loud, catching my attention. I furrowed my eyebrows. It dawned on me that I didn't even know where we currently were. I had just popped up in a random location and assumed I was in the same state I lived in. "Where are we?" I questioned, sitting up straight in my seat and looking out the window. "South Carolina." Bucky answered, earning a scoff from me. What a random place to end up. "It's too dangerous to be driving right now." Sam began. "So, I hope you're good with flying." I scrunched up my face and made an elongated 'mmm' sound. Heights weren't my favorite but it was better than being shot at again.
We spent the rest of the long car ride in silence, Bucky turning back every so often to check my leg. He never made eye contact or said anything to me, but it was still sweet of him to do. When we finally did make it to our destination, in the middle of nowhere, I noticed it was just a small air strip with a dinky white plane sitting at the beginning of it. There was a run-down building sitting to the side of the strip, which is what we pulled up to. "Stay here." Bucky said sternly while getting out of the car. Sam followed behind him, the two of them striking up a conversation as soon as the doors closed and they began walking away. I couldn't make out anything they were saying but Sam had a smirk on his face the entire time. Then it turned in to what looked like an argument, Sam backing off and Bucky turning back to look at the car.
Bucky stayed still and Sam continued on in to the warehouse, disappearing out of sight. I couldn't help but stare at Bucky, hiding behind the driver's seat headrest so he, hopefully, didn't notice. This is fucking insane. I was still trying to wrap my head around this. I had breakfast with Captain America and the Winter Soldier and they were now taking me to see Dr. Strange. Nothing cool like this ever happened in my universe. Going back would be hard to do. Did I even want to go back? Could I stay here? That's ridiculous. You have a cat to take care of. I cursed myself for forgetting about Artemis. It was hard to keep track of anything in my universe with everything that was going on here.
I sighed and focused my attention back on Bucky, who was still keeping an eye on the car. Me being here was only causing trouble for him and Sam, and probably whoever else got in the way of Ross. I needed to go along with their plans and go back to my home. It's the only thing that made sense. I felt an ache deep inside my chest as I admired Bucky. But I want him so badly... I attempted to convince myself that it was purely a physical attraction and I was doing a good job of it until I saw Bucky begin running to the car, worry plastered all over his face.
My door was ripped open and off the hinges, a pair of strong hands forcing me out of my seat. "No!" I shouted, not being able to fully comprehend what was going on. I was pulled behind our car and shoved in to the back seat of another. I watched as a familiar face ran up to meet Bucky, their fists colliding with each other's bodies. Bucky was knocked back and the other man stumbled a few steps, both of them lunging back at each other. "Get her out of here!" The man shouted as my car door closed, those same pair of hands holding me back as I struggled to escape. When I heard the man's voice is when I realized exactly who he was. John Walker.
"Bucky!" I screamed, watching John strike him in the jaw, blood beginning to pour from his mouth. Behind the two of them I saw two men dragging Sam from the warehouse, unconscious. I didn't get a chance to see any more of the scene unfolding before me as the car took off down the road, the driver picking up as much speed as they could. Like they knew exactly what would happen if Bucky or Sam caught up to them. I clawed and scratched at the hands holding me down, earning a hard punch to the back of my head. My vision blurred a little and I began to feel dizzy as I went limp.
My captor took advantage of how dazed I was and placed some handcuffs on my wrists behind my back. The other people in the car with me were all wearing masks, making it impossible for me to see their faces. I was confused as to why John Walker would be working with Ross, considering how he was stripped of his Captain America title and didn't leave on a good note with the government. I felt a sharp prick in my neck and winced, trying to wiggle away from the pain. I spotted the person behind me holding a syringe before they threw it on to the floor, dread swelling in my stomach as my vision started to tunnel.
"No, no, no..." I begged, trying to fight the wave of chemicals coursing through my bloodstream. My muscles started to go numb and I slouched back against the seat. 'I can take care of this problem for us.' A familiar voice chimed in my head. It was the voice I'd heard in my dreams. I was surprised to hear it while I was still awake. Well, barely awake at this point. 'Give me your approval and I can help. If you're unconscious that makes it harder for both of us.' The voice explained and I shook my head slowly. "No, you're not real..." I mumbled, my captors turning their attention to me. 'I'm as real as you and I'm here to help. Now let me out.' The voice became demanding and horrifying.
I decided not answering back would be the best course of action as I finally slipped in to unconsciousness. That would prove to be a big mistake.
"Look at the trouble you've gotten us in to now." I opened my eyes but I was surrounded by darkness again. The only light was the glowing blue flame I'd seen in my dreams before, hovering a few feet from me. "You're a stupid helpless little girl and you're going to get us killed." The flame grew wildly as the voice spoke. The words stung as if I were actually being burned by the fire. "This is just a dream." I told myself, squeezing my eyes shut to ignore the flame. "You need to stop being feebleminded and grasp on to what's happening right now." I felt my eyes forced open; the flame closer now.
"This is about the both of us. If you die, I die. You're lucky you have that human you're so fond of to save you time and time again." Anger filled my body, causing me to clench up. "Don't talk about Bucky." I snapped. I heard laughing coming from all directions and it sounded almost demonic. "Bucky." The voice uttered his name so sourly. "He's just a distraction, my love." The voice changed its tone up entirely, now sounding sweet and delicate. "The pain of losing him won't be worth it and, trust me, you will lose him." My heart sank at the thought. Maybe I did feel something more than just sexual attraction for Bucky...
It was a crazy thought considering I haven't known him for that long but I also kind of did. I knew who he was from what I'd watched on either a movie screen or tv. Could you really know someone based off of that? No, of course not, but I still felt a connection. "We made an agreement when you were brought here. I kept you from being torn, atom from atom, and you provided me with a safe haven. You're going to get us both killed and I won't allow that." I had absolutely no recollection of what this voice was talking about but I did remember bits and pieces of the dream I had before I got to this universe.
I remember feeling like I was being emotionally ripped apart but not much else aside from that. "Please pay attention. We don't have much time and you let your mind wander too much." The voice was annoyed and short with me. Like a parent scolding their child. This being took me through too many emotions at once and I just wanted to wake up. "We're still in danger and we will be even more so when you wake up. The moment you're conscious I need you to let me take it from there." I sat in silence, debating what exactly that could mean. "I need you to trust me."