A/N: I've written SO much of this story, so I'm really excited about it. It goes to some pretty wild places and it's more adventurous than anything else I've ever written. I've got quite a grand overall plot planned out, so I really hope people get on board with the story! As always, reviews are awesome!


Feeling largely helpless and defeated, Sophie tried to go to sleep. It was her only way of escaping this horrible situation. But the bumping of the car kept jostling her and her mind was consumed with thoughts of how panicked her parents would be once they realized she was missing. She wasn't very close with her parents but they'd always tried to protect her from harm and discomfort, which she appreciated. It was the best they could do.

They sped through the marshlands at a fast pace. So fast that Sophie dully wondered if he was breaking the speed limit. Of course, a criminal like him probably didn't care about trivial things such as speed limits—but still, wasn't he trying to avoid detection? Getting pulled over for speeding seemed like a stupid way to avoid detection. Or perhaps he thought there were no police out here, since they'd passed a maximum of four cars in about two hours. As if someone were reading Sophie's mind, just then they heard the sharp whoop whoop of a police car behind them, not a chasing wail but a warning bark.

Now he's done it, Sophie thought with vicious pleasure. A second later: Oh my god. This can be my chance to escape! There's no way he can explain why I'm tied up in the back like this. The Winter Soldier slowly pulled the car over on the narrow dirt road and waited patiently in his seat. Sophie heard the heavy slam of the police officer's car door and then a man appeared in the driver's window of the van. "Sir—" He tapped on the glass. The Winter Soldier rolled the window down and looked at the officer. The policeman seemed confused for a split second by his full face mask. Sophie could almost see the cogs working in his brain. She saw the moment he recognized something was not right dawn in his eyes—but before he could say or do anything, the Winter Soldier had pulled out a gun and shot the officer in the face.

"NO!" Sophie screamed, throwing herself forward with all her might but the harness held tight. The Winter Soldier rolled the window back up, put his gun back in his holster, and resumed driving. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" Sophie screamed. "You just killed an innocent man!" He took no notice of her and she noticed him drum his fingers once on the steering wheel, almost casually. Taking someone's life hadn't shaken him at all. He hadn't even had to think twice about it. He'd just shot the man as if murder was something he did on a routine basis.

That's probably because murder is something he does on a routine basis, her mind said with awful sarcasm. Her stomach heaved and she grabbed the plastic bucket, thankful it was around, and gagged into it. Nothing came out because she hadn't eaten in hours now but bile kept coming up as she thought of the officer's body…laying there, bleeding…a hole blown in his face… Perhaps he'd had a wife, had had kids, a best friend… Sophie gagged and retched, her eyes watering and nose stinging.

When she was done, she felt limp. She pushed the bucket full of saliva away and closed her eyes, wiping her mouth and nose on her sleeve, not even caring how gross it was. She felt gross, right down to her core. This was all wrong. He had just murdered a man like it was nothing. Sophie didn't belong to this world. She'd tried her hardest to stay out of trouble. How could she be in this mess?

They drove through the night. Sophie fell asleep again because sleep was her only escape from this nightmare, but it was an uneasy sleep, full of bumps from the road and nightmares and her aching body. She woke up feeling not rested at all. Her head was pounding, her stomach was aching for food, her left shoulder hurt to move, her right arm was sore to the touch, her lips and cheeks still felt bruised, and her abdomen winced in pain where he had kicked her. She was a mess.

She watched through the window as the first rays of dawn rose. They were on a largely empty highway now. He was driving too fast, and she was at too weird of an angle, for her to see any of the signs or exits they passed, but her sharp eyes noted that when they passed a toll way, there was a yellow sun painted onto the top. She recognized this from a trip to Florida she'd taken with her parents as a child: the SunPass toll way system. So they were in Florida. She didn't think there was a SunPass on their car. The car was probably stolen, so it's not like he would worry about getting ticketed on this license plate.

Sophie, he just murdered a cop. I don't think he gives a damn about being ticketed at all.

She was feeling almost dizzy with hunger and thirst now. She hadn't had food for over 24 hours now. The last time she'd eaten was her meager lunch at work the day before yesterday. She hadn't even had a chance to drink her tea. No wonder she hadn't had to use the bathroom yet. Maybe it was a good thing she wasn't eating or drinking…she couldn't imagine trying to tell him that she had to use the bathroom. He'd probably watch her, just to torture her or make sure she didn't run away.

Sophie would die before she degraded herself in such a way.

She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of asking for food so she tried to hold out for as long as she could. The more time passed, the more she felt herself fading. She sat limply in her harness, arms like limp spaghetti at her side, trying to ignore the gnawing ache in her stomach. I will not tell him I'm hungry. She hoped she could stick to her convictions because right now, all she could think about was a cheeseburger…a delicious burger with cheese and pickles and a tomato slice and lettuce with some greasy fries…she could almost smell it…

She was so lost in her fantasies about food that she missed the glance the Winter Soldier tossed back at her. He didn't care that she was feeling poorly but he knew he had to deliver her in reasonable condition. She would be no use to Hydra if he delivered her dead. His sharp eyes were quick enough to take in that she was hungry and weak—weaker than normal. Her eyes had a dull look in them.

She was startled out of her reverie when the van suddenly screeched to a stop and she was thrown forward in her harness and then slammed back against the wall. Rubbing her head slowly, she peered through the front windshield. They were at a gas station. He turned around in his seat and looked at her—or she thought he was looking at her. He still had his mask and goggles on. "Do anything," he said slowly. "Signal to anyone. And I'll go back and rip your family to pieces."

Sophie, effectively cowed, nodded. He turned back around and pulled his mask and goggles off. She leaned forward to try and see his face but his back was turned to her at an angle that she couldn't see, no matter how much she leaned. The harness didn't allow her much wiggle room. He stepped out of the van and slammed the door shut. She saw him walking to the gas station store, somewhat hunched over, hands in his pockets. He passed people—a family, a young woman, a couple—and she wondered what they saw. What did his face look like? Was he old? Young? Handsome? Ugly? He was white, she knew at least that from his forehead. Did they just see some average man, shy, minding his own business, looking at his feet while he walked, wearing average workman clothes? Did anyone sense that he was a killer…that he had a girl locked up in his car?

The helpless rage Sophie felt then was incredible. She had to watch as he passed people and no one magically stopped him. She had to watch people pull up for gas, park their cars, walk past the van, without screaming or waving her arms or getting their attention somehow. If he hadn't killed that cop, she might have tried it. But now she knew it wasn't an empty threat—he was a murderer and she had no doubt that he would kill her parents if she tried anything. Besides, even if someone tried to help her…she doubted a psycho like him would just let her get away. No, he'd probably just kill the civilian to get her back and she didn't think any one of these people stood a chance against his ruthlessness and deadly strength.

Sophie was surrounded by people and she was still very much alone.

For the first time in her life, she wished that her ability was more powerful. She'd spend her whole life wishing it didn't exist—but now she wished it was a hundred times more powerful than it was. Why did she have to get the world's stupidest, most useless ability? Why couldn't she be telekinetic or have the powers of fire so she could burn him to a crisp? It would be a satisfying end to the Winter Soldier…

Sophie had avoided thinking about till now but for the first time, she wondered if perhaps her kidnapping had anything to do with her abilities… But no. It couldn't be. There wasn't a soul on Earth who knew about them—she'd made sure of that. It had to do with the fact that her dad was powerful and rich. It's because of Dad, she told herself firmly. All because of my family connections. They're worth a lot. Still…her unease wouldn't go away. Would her family connections justify this level of violence and aggression? And for that matter, why would her family connections require a kidnapping this extensive and secretive? If he was going to hold her ransom, wouldn't he have done it in D.C., where she could be exchanged for the money?

Unless he had never planned on giving her back…

Or unless it really wasn't about her family connections.

She squeezed her eyes shut. No. Don't even consider it. It can't be the other thing. It can't. It won't. Because if it was…the damage she could cause… She shuddered at the thought.

She nearly jumped out of her skin when the driver's door suddenly opened. He slide into the seat, slammed the door shut, and then tossed a bag in the back. It landed next to her. She opened it and peered inside. Lots of random junk food things. Not exactly the nourishment she'd been hoping for—but food nonetheless. She didn't even want to know how he'd known she was starving. Was he telepathic? It sometimes seemed like he knew her every move before she even knew it.

She tore into a bag of chips and winced every time she ate one, thinking that her crunching sounded deafening in the silence. He seemed not to notice but she knew by now that he took everything in. He had probably heard her stomach grumbling. He could probably hear her heartbeat. Maybe he was a vampire.

She ate as quietly as she possibly could. The snacks didn't make her feel very good—too greasy and salty, and she generally tried to eat healthy—but at least her stomach wasn't growling like Cerberus at the gates of the Underworld. They drove on and she silently watched through the front window as the day, and Florida, passed by. It was a sunny, beautiful day and Sophie could only imagine that the cars around them were full of happy, squabbling families whizzing by on their way to Disney World (if they were anywhere near Disney World). She remembered coming to Disney World but it hadn't been very fun; her parents didn't like to go on the rides and they wouldn't let her go on them alone, so there'd been a lot of standing around and going to shows.

Her legs were cramped up by now and her butt was hurting after sitting for so long. She had never been a car this long before. She'd never even taken a road trip before. The few times she'd gone anywhere in the past, she'd gone with her parents and they'd flown (usually first class). She tried to ignore the ache but eventually the discomfort began to be too much. Looking out the window, she saw they were now driving on a narrow, semi-isolated stretch of highway surrounded by swampy, marshy forests on either side, having driven down further south. She had a sudden brilliant (or possibly stupid or brilliantly stupid) idea and spent a few minutes thinking it over. Be careful, Soph…if he catches on to it…he might throw you in with the alligators or something…

Her stomach somersaulting with nerves and anticipation, she called to him, "I have to use the bathroom."

He ignored her.

She raised her voice. "I said, I have to use the bathroom."

"Wait until a stop," came his wooden reply.

Sophie gritted her teeth and then hastily put a pained expression on her face, in case he was watching her in the rear view mirror—which she was sure he was. "Please," she begged. "I'm going to explode. I haven't used the bathroom in almost two days. I'm going to pee in my pants and then I'll smell and people will smell me and ask questions, and you'll have to stop somewhere and get clothes for me—"

He pulled the van over, screeching to a stop so suddenly and twisting around in his seat so quickly, that Sophie's heart nearly gave out in fright, thinking he meant to murder her or something. She slammed back against the wall, pulling away from him. But he only stared at her for a long moment—and then he clambered into the back. She cringed away from him as he crawled towards her, not wanting to be anywhere near him—Is he going to strangle me?!—but all he did was roughly unlock her from her harness and shove her towards the front seats of the van. "Get out from the passenger door."

"What?" she asked, confused.

"Now."

Then she suddenly understood. Duh. If someone driving by saw him pull her out of the back…it would raise some eyebrows. But if someone saw her stepping out from the passenger door… She closed her eyes for a moment. He is so smart. How can I beat this guy at his own game?

"You have one second to move or I'm strapping you down again." His tone made it clear that this was not an idle threat so Sophie got moving. She crawled into the passenger seat, her limbs feeling achy and light from disuse, aware that he was right behind her, following her to the front. She settled into the passenger seat and he into the driver's seat. She opened her door a crack and he mirrored her movement. Her stomach dropped. This will never work if he follows me and watches me! "You can't watch me!" she said, not even having to fake her horror.

He looked at her, not saying anything, and Sophie wished again she could snatch his stupid mask and goggles off. See the monster under the mask.

"Seriously, please," she begged. "I promise I won't run away. Where the hell would I go, into the wild to get eaten by crocs? Please don't watch. Give me—give me two minutes. And then you can come get me if I'm not done by then." She waited for his response, her underarms feeling prickly with sweat and nerves. They sat and stared at each other and Sophie's heartbeat grew louder with each passing second. She began to feel extremely uncomfortable. Why isn't he saying anything? Can he hear my heart? Can he smell my fear or something? Does he know I'm lying? Oh god, why isn't he speaking?

"Two minutes," he finally said.

She didn't need to be told twice. She opened her door and scrambled down to the ground, too short to simply step down from the van. She left her door open and walked to the back of the van. She stood there for a second and then ducked low and slowly, ever so slowly, crept back around to her door. She made sure to stay far back and low enough that he wouldn't see her in her side view mirror. Then she waited, her heart pounding. She hoped this would work. He would only get out for one second to grab her, so hopefully he would leave his keys in the ignition…

She waited, hardly daring to breathe, sweat trickling down her neck thanks to nerves and the oppressive Florida heat. No one passed them by on the road, something she was thankful for. She probably looked very weird—and suspicious—crouched here. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she heard his door open and the sound of his weight hitting the ground. The crunching of his combat boots on the gravel. She had seconds. Now! She threw herself into the truck, scrambling up inside and banging her knee in the process. Ignoring the sudden burst of pained tears in her eyes, she sat in the driver's seat and frantically searched for the keys—and there they were! Hanging, beautiful, ready to go. She wrenched them, starting the engine up, but before she could shift the gear and slam her foot on the accelerator, he was grabbing her left arm (her bruised shoulder screamed in protest) and then she was flying, out of the van, past the guard rail, and into the overgrowth next to the highway.

She hit a tree and fell to the ground. Tasting a mouthful of dirt and regret, she lay there for a moment, shaking from the sudden fright and pain, mentally groaning. She waited a moment, cringing and waiting for his inevitable yanking her up and throwing her into the van—but he didn't come. She opened one eye and slowly sat up, tears spilling over onto her cheeks from pain and rage. He leaned against the driver's seat, arms crossed, staring at her. Sophie thought she detected a note of…sarcasm in his stance? Could people stand sarcastically? Or mockingly? Because it seemed like he was. He cocked his head slightly and his meaning couldn't be clearer: Are you done?

Yes, she was. She was so done. She was over. Granted, her plan had been stupid and wild—but it had been her only plan. She had nothing now. She had nowhere to go. So she stood up, ignoring the pain her screaming arm and aching back, dusted herself off, and walked towards the van with the shreds of dignity she had left. She didn't even stop by him, just walked to the back of the van, opened the doors, climbed in, and sat down. Waited. A moment later, he appeared, locked her back into her harness silently, and climbed out, slamming the doors shut.

Then they were driving away.

Sophie didn't know what to do now. She had no clue what came next.

So she slept. It was her only respite.