We're pretty close to the end, folks! c: thought I'd give you a heads-up.

"You've heard about me over the last few days. Some of you were even ordered to hunt me down. And I think it's time you know the truth."

I almost drop the roll of gauze in the sink. No… It can't be Steve Rogers. He was arrested.

"Shield is not what we thought it was. It's been taken over by Hydra."

Oh damn, he knew! That must be why they were hunting him after all.

"Alexander Pierce is their leader. The Strike and Insight crew are Hydra as well. I don't know how many more. But I know they're in the building. They could be standing right next to you."

Oh god, no. No. Hearing someone else say it makes it 100% real. A wave of guilt crashes into me. Technically, I'm Hydra by association because I was working with them.

"They almost have what they want. Absolute control. They shot Nick Fury. And it won't end there. If you launch those helicarriers today, Hydra will be able to kill anyone that stands in their way… unless we stop them. I know I'm asking a lot. The price of freedom is high, always has been. And it's a price I'm willing to pay. And if I'm the only one, then so be it. But I'm willing to bet I'm not. "

I rush into one of the bathroom stalls, locking the door behind me. I drop the toilet lid and climb on top, waiting for the hell that's inevitably about to break out now that everyone in the building has heard the news.

I need my phone and keys… Damn it! I don't have my car, and even if I did, there'll be mass panic trying to get out of the parking garage anyway.

The sound of gun shots and screaming echoes outside.

It's begun.

I rub my face, wishing I had some kind of weapon to defend myself with. No one's going to check in here, right? No one knows I'm here except Chris and Taye. I wonder how they're coping with the news.

I spend the next fifteen minutes mulling over the whole debacle, ignoring the sounds of fighting outside, praying that no one will stumble in here for cover.

It feels like an eternity, and it does nothing to appease my fears. Am I technically an accomplice? What happens if Captain America and the good guys lose? Do I keep playing along, and doesn't that make me a coward for going along with an evil organization? People are dying out there, trying to stop Hydra. And here I am, cowering in a bathroom stall.

That's right. I have always been a coward. I've always thought about preserving my own life before the lives of others. If I hadn't, maybe Michael wouldn't be dead. Maybe I could have been like Kenji, refusing to help Hydra have their way. They both died noble deaths.

But me? I'm a coward.

The building begins to rumble and a shower of plaster cascades from the ceiling.

There are fewer gun shots now, but the violent shaking doesn't stop. When a large piece of tile falls to the floor just in front of me, I decide it's time to leave. I don't know what's happening, but it can't be safe to be in the centre of the conflict anymore.

I slip out of the bathroom cautiously, scanning the lobby for any signs of danger. There's broken glass and debris everywhere, and I see a few casualties sprawled near doors, mortally wounded from the fighting.

I run quickly to the first-floor meeting room, only to find the door already open. Someone is speaking, their arm raised, pointing a gun… I suck in a breath. It's Chris.

I angle my head so I can see into the room and spot Taye leaning up against the wall, holding her hand to a bloody wound just below her shoulder.

"You could have joined us, Taye. You didn't have to reject Hydra."

Damn it! So he was with them all along.

If I'm spotted, it's over. I creep into the room and silently pick up a chair. Taye sees me, and Chris turns around just as I swing the chair at his head with all of my power. The gun goes off, and a bullet hits the wall behind me. He crashes to the floor with the chair, seemingly knocked unconscious, and I grab the gun from his hand.

I scramble across the room to Taye as the rumbling intensifies, and barely dodge the falling projector.

"You have to leave, Elise. The building is going to collapse." Taye pleads, wincing at the pain her injury inflicts with every syllable.

"I can't leave you here. You're hurt." I frown at her, inspecting the bullet wound. She's losing a lot of blood… I'm not sure how much longer we have until she passes out.

"No! There's no time. You have to get out." She's still protesting even as I prop her up, wrapping one arm around her to steady her as I lift her up.

I'm not going to leave her. I've seen too many people die, and I'm not about to add another to the count. I refuse to be a coward anymore.

I grab my bag and phone from the table, and help her hobble over the fallen chairs. We're almost at the door when Chris comes to, struggling to his feet in an effort to block our way.

"I won't let you leave." He glares at us with steely determination, and I curse him for his idiocy.

"Get out of the way, or I'll shoot, Chris. It doesn't have to be like this." I raise the gun at him, aware that my hand is shaking.

God, feels like forever ago that I assured Rumlow I'd be able to defend myself if the time came. And now look at me. How can I protect anyone?

"Never." Chris lunges towards us, and I fire. Taye flinches beside me, turning away from the shot. The bullet hits him square in the chest, and he seems to freeze for an instant before he crumples to the floor.

Well, I've done it now. I've killed a man.

I'm no better than Hydra. I'm no better than Rumlow. I'm a criminal and a murderer.

Taye places a steadying hand over mine.

"You had to do it."

I draw a shaky breath. She's right, isn't she? I didn't have a choice.

I help her move past Chris' body and through the door. The building is rumbling more violently than ever, and we struggle to maneuver around large pieces of concrete debris to get to the front doors of the Triskelion.

Outside, we're met with a myriad of flashing lights as police cars, ambulances and fire trucks pull up to the front doors. There must be at least a hundred Shield employees out here. The police are trying to clear the vicinity, and as I look up I see why.

There's an enormous flying thing—it must be a helicarrier—plowing into the side of the building. That must be the reason for all the falling debris inside. If we'd spent any more time inside we might have been crushed in the collapse.

I conceal the gun in a nearby bush and then deliver Taye to an ambulance. As she's strapped into the patient bed, she smiles at me.

"Thanks, Elise."

I nod, feeling too lightheaded to process her words.

Everything after that feels like it happened in a daze. I remember brushing off the hands of police officers and paramedics asking if I needed treatment. I remember walking away from the flashing lights, trying to get away from the noise, the death, the insanity that just happened.

God, I killed someone. I killed Chris. If the police don't come after me, won't Hydra? He was one of Hydra's people. What will I do now? I have to escape. Anywhere but here… maybe if I call Dr. Nikolav he can help.

I search my purse for my phone, and feel a hand grab my shoulder suddenly.

All hope drains from my soul as I realize that it's not skin I'm feeling. It's too hard, too metallic. I turn, bracing myself for death as I stare into the subject's eyes. Instead, he opens his mouth to speak.

"Help me."