Winter's Ghost
Chapter 3
It had been four days since she'd left New York, and Bucky. Dora was actually doing, physically, pretty well for someone who was homeless, friendless and getting little work or food. But every night she stayed up, trying to chase away the nightmares, and worse than the nightmares the dreams about Bucky that she kept having. She missed him so much, and although she knew that eventually both he and she would get over it and move on, she couldn't deny the fact that sometimes she desperately wished she hadn't gone and that he'd be there to hold her and never let her go.
But this had been her choice, and she was following through with it.
Her thick black wool coat blocked out most of the cold, but she still wanted to find a place where she could warm up temporarily before heading out again. Dora didn't know where her destination would be, or where she'd end up, but she knew that as long as she kept moving, neither HYDRA or S.H.I.E.L.D could keep up with her, and that was all that she was worried about. Two monstrous entities trying to hunt her down, a lone wolf in a great big world. But a dangerous one as well, and not easily caught.
Soon enough she saw a small pub on a street corner that looked welcoming enough. The fog had died down somewhat, enough for her to be able to see how many cars were in the lot, and whether or not there were police nearby. Fortunately there weren't and she quickened her pace, slipping inside before anyone who might be watching her could see.
It was a smoky little room, it smelled like men who liked cigars and yeast from the beer. The place was full, but not overcrowded, and Dora made her way up to the bar, waiting for service. An older man who was balding looked over at her, eyeing her up and down.
"Not from around these parts, are you?" He asked, pulling his stool closer to her. Dora swallowed nervously, not sure she was ready for interaction with people yet. Normally she'd have Bucky to help her with this. But she was alone this time.
"No, sir I came from New York."
"And what might a pretty little thing like you be doing out here? Surely you didn't run away from— parents."
She blushed heavily, knowing that she looked younger than nineteen, and the way the man addressed her made her extremely nervous. Suddenly she felt chills running up and down her spine and she knew she had to get out of there as soon as possible.
"No, I'm just trying to find a fresh start outside of the city." Was her only reply. She ordered a small glass of whiskey and drank it quickly, leaving the building as fast as possible before anyone else could ask her questions or talk to her. The people were too friendly, they didn't mind their own business enough. For all she knew anyone could be a HYDRA agent, or a S.H.I.E.L.D agent, and she as a fugitive couldn't be careful enough.
Perhaps leaving the country was the only option for her.
After she left the building, she walked calmly away until she was out of sight of the small town, and then broke into a run, speeding away as fast as she could from humans, trying to get towards the country and head north towards Canada. There were a few dead leaves left hanging on the ice covered trees, Dora knew that she'd need to find a place to live before the heavy snows came, or she'd be screwed. If only she could find someone to help her.
Someone who didn't have ulterior motives, that is.
The sound of a heavy vehicle broke her train of thought as Dora dived behind the bushes beside the road, getting out of sight of the oncoming vehicle. As it came into sight, Dora knew this was no ordinary truck. It was black, and heavily armored. Not military, she knew military when she saw it. And it wasn't S.H.I.E.L.D, they always marked theirs with the eagle symbol. As the truck moved on, Dora decided to follow it to see where it was going, who owned it, and even more importantly— what was inside of it.