Chapter 12 – Control
I met up with Maria outside my room the following morning before sunrise and we walked towards the gardens, where it was quiet at this time of morning. I smiled as I watched the flowers sway in the wind and Maria took my hand.
"Over this way" she said and led me towards a bench to sit down.
"What are we learning today?"
"Basic control; being able to pull back and shut it off" she told me. I nodded. "Have you ever accidently thrown your fear or pain on a room full of people and not been able to pull it back?" I looked to my hands as I picked at my cuticles.
"Quite recently actually" I admitted.
"I can teach you to control it, and I only need a few hours" she smiled.
"Teach me" I said with a smile. I was ready to learn control.

It did indeed take hours, it was midday by the time I gained complete control over my empathy. I was able to pull it back and turn it off, while also learning how to extend it to more than one person intentionally. Many of the residents of Afterlife had come onto the field to see what was happening and had joined in as part of my training.
"Thanks for the help Maria" I said as we walked towards the picnic area where one of the other residents; Thomas, was cooking lunch on a barbeque.
"Anytime, I remember how difficult it was to control in the beginning and I wouldn't wish that pain on anyone" she told me.
"Am I the first person you've trained?"
"No, I trained three or four other people before. They also got it pretty quick" she picked up two plates and handed one to me.
"Thanks" I said. "Is there anyone here who can help me with my telepathy?"
"Jiaying or Gordon. They both have the best teaching skills. They've also been here the longest."
"I'm assigned to Gordon" I told her. She smiled and nodded.
"You'll learn a lot from him."
"I hope so. I have someone I need to go back for" I told her and she stopped in place.
"Why would you leave Afterlife? This place is home and nobody ever leaves without permission from Jiaying AND Gordon" she said.
"I have family out there; my fiancée, my nephew and my best friend. I can't stay here forever" I told her. She nodded.
"I understand, but stay here until you're stronger in your abilities" she suggested.
"That's the plan" I told her. "I'm not leaving here until I know I can defend myself when necessary."

Two Years Later…
I walked along the walkway in the garden and frowned when I saw a flower had died. I closed my eyes and pictured it alive again, forcing my thought onto the flower it grew back into bloom and Gordon smiled.
"Your new student is arriving later today. I'll be bringing her in this afternoon and her power is projection; her thoughts can become reality. Your telepathy power is advanced to the point where you would be a great teacher for her" Gordon told me and I nodded.
"Of course." I smiled and Gordon walked away.
"Have you seen the news?" Maria asked me. I could hear the fear in her voice.
"What's going on?"
"Come with me." She grabbed my hand and dragged me to Jiaying's room where the news showed Captain America, Natasha Romanoff and Sam Wilson fighting against the Winter Soldier and a few of HYDRA's soldiers on a highway.
"Bucky" I breathed. I'd gotten so distracted by learning about my powers that I'd left him behind.
"What do you want to do?" Jiaying asked.
"I need to go home" I told her, extending my fear out to her.
"Then go, I'll get Gordon to take you to the Falcon's house" she told me and I debated asking her how she knew where he lived but quickly remembered her psychic friend.
"No. Let me tell Gordon where to go, I'll put the location in his head" I told her and she nodded.
"Okay."
"Thank you for everything you have done for me" I said as I hugged the older woman.
"Just call Gordon if you ever want to come back" she told me and I nodded before pulling away to look at her again.
"Goodbye." I said as Gordon took my hand and teleported me to a bank vault in New York City.

Gordon and I hid behind a door as a thump was heard from the vault. I could hear chatter.
"It's okay Gordon, you can go" I told him and he nodded.
"Call if you need anything" he told me before teleporting back to Afterlife. I peered into the room and saw the Winter Soldier, or was it Bucky? He looked sad and confused. I pushed out to feel his aura and felt anger and confusion. So I pushed out with my mind, trying to read his. Steve had brought a piece of Bucky back.
'Bucky, can you hear me?' I said telepathically. I ducked down as I kept my eyes on Bucky. 'Don't reply out loud, I can hear your thoughts so just think' I continued.
'Who are you? Where are you?' He replied.
'Madeline, and I'm in the vault. They are going to wipe you, like they always do' I warned him. I noticed him stiffen but he was leaning over. I could feel his memories overwhelming him.
'Madeline? I recognise the name. Did you know Steve too?'
'Yes. But enough talking, I can hear your handler; Alexander Pierce. Stay strong Bucky.' I told him as Pierce walked into the room where Bucky was.
"Mission report" Pierce demanded. "Mission report, now" Pierce tried again with no response. Pierce leant down so he was face-to-face with Bucky and then backhanded him across the face. I fought to hold back my anger, this wasn't the soldier they trained. This was Bucky. Bucky turned back to Pierce but didn't look him in the eye.
"The man on the bridge, who was he?" Bucky asked, finally looking at Pierce.
"You met him earlier this week on another assignment" Pierce told him.
"I knew him" Bucky told him. Pierce pulled up a stool to sit on before continuing the conversation.
"Your work has been a gift to mankind. You shaped the century, and I need you to do it one more time" Pierce said. Bucky didn't seem convinced, I could feel his distrust and I could understand why.
'Be careful Bucky. He's a vicious man' I warned.
"Society is at a tipping point between order and chaos, tomorrow morning we're going to give it a push. But if you don't do your part then I can't do mine, and HYDRA can't give the world the freedom it deserves" Pierce went on.
'Filthy liar, you just want to destroy the world and use a good man to do it.' I hadn't realised I was still connected to Bucky.
"But I knew him" Bucky told Pierce, who nodded before standing.
"Prep him" Pierce told the room. I could see the pain on Bucky's face, I wanted to run to him and order the room to let him go. But I had to be careful in this situation; I couldn't control a room this big without accidentally grabbing Bucky's mind too, he was in the middle and my power would grab everyone.
'I can't save you today Bucky. I have to let them wipe you and then wait until there are less of them, I can't get to you without hurting you' I told him.
"He's been out of cryofreeze too long" one of the doctors told Pierce.
"Then wipe him, and start over" Pierce instructed. The doctor and another lab-coat-wearer pushed Bucky back into the seat, I could feel his defiance. He allowed them to place a mouthguard in his mouth and then I felt his rising panic as the machine locked his arms into place.
'I love you Bucky, and I promise I will come back for you' I told him with tears in my eyes. The electricity showed as the headpiece came to rest over the side of his face and I had to turn away and cover my ears as I heard Bucky scream.
"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry" I repeated as tears fell down my face.

Reviews:
Mara-Chan: I have the next two chapters ready to post but since I will barely be home due to work and study, I will post them tomorrow and Tuesday. Thank you for letting me know that you enjoy the story and I know I should have more confidence, but due to a lot of bullying I have never had confidence in myself or my writing. I hope you enjoyed this chapter