The Curse of Dr. Zola
Chapter 35
Interlude
Willa put the pen down and looked at the newest section she wrote. Secretly, she actually had grown to enjoy coming up to the cottage, but she'd never admit it out loud.
Her old friend had helped her arrange a secret trip whenever she'd come to visit him, just in case anyone might be spying on her.
Even after all the years, she never got out of the habit of travelling in secret; one could never be too careful.
Dearest Daughter,
I was at your house today, and visiting with Uncle James again. I suppose you might think it funny that I call him "Uncle" James, but I've never known him as anyone else. Mama always referred to him that way.
I suppose in her way of thinking, it was the easiest way to explain him to me. I was just a child then, but I was very aware of the world around me; sometimes too much.
I suffered from terrible headaches when I was a child, but they were caused by using my strange ability. How I hated to use it! But mama and I were so far from home, and Uncle James had to be kept safe. Mama bribed me with toys or food at first, but once I caught on, all I wanted was to talk to Uncle James!
It's funny now to think if it, but really, he was the one thing in my life that never changed. I'd often sit and marvel at the container he was placed in, and how it kept him alive. Oh, there were times I doubted it, but mostly, I believed in him. Mama always did. Mama said he was going to change the world.
I was always tempted to release him, but Mama said I'd know for sure when the time was right. I never felt it, no matter how hard I tried.
And then it happened…
I got too old.
I got too old to train him, and that's when I knew.
I knew it was YOU I was saving him for! You were the one. You were always stronger than I was.
You scoffed at your ability. You got mad at me for trying to keep you home when all you wanted was to go out and be accepted by your friends.
But then you found out they weren't really your friends, and that no good boy you had a crush on! He was so mean to you! All I wanted was to hold you and tell you everything would be okay. You cried for days, and I felt your pain. I also felt when your ability emerged. You had to deal with so much, but you wouldn't let me help. You needed to do it on your own.
I knew when you were old enough, you'd be strong enough to handle both your abilities and him, and I knew I had to let you.
Stay strong, my angel from Heaven. You were my miracle! I love you so much.
Your loving mother,
Willa
Willa wiped the tears from her cheeks, and drew a symbol in the book; a wheel with Rune symbols
around the edges. She walked the book back to its hiding place. She secured the book and closed up the secret hiding space.
"When you are ready, daughter, you will find this. You will be tested, and should you be victorious, only then will your soul be worthy."
Bucky screamed again, only this time it ended in an anguished, defeated wail.
Pierce walked in just in time to hear the last notes. He waved to the technician to end the torture. He knew Bucky was close to breaking.
This was the longest time he had denied Bucky food and water, and he was about to crack; he could sense it. He walked over to where Bucky hung on the wall. He grabbed his chin and lifted up his head, but before he could speak, someone came running into the room.
"This had better be good. You know the punishment for interrupting me when I'm working."
"Yes, sir. I have a message for you."
Pierce let Bucky's head drop and walked over.
The messenger whispered the message in his ear, and Pierce's head snapped up. "Now, that is what I call good news."
Pierce turned towards the tech. "You are done for the day. Send the Asset into my office."
Pierce took one last look at the man hanging on the wall before he left.
The Asset stood at the doorway to Pierce's office. He dared not to enter until he'd been invited in.
Pierce let him wait there a good 10 minutes before acknowledging him. Total obedience included restraint.
He'd been teaching that to Bucky, as he had taught it to The Curse. Even tho you got a reward, you had to wait until you were told you could have it.
The Curse was easy to train. He was young, and strong. He'd come to Pierce from the Russians, and before that he had been trained by Dr. Zola and Johann Schmidt.
The techniques had been improved over the years, and The Curse had felt them all; deprivation of food and sleep, electric torture, extreme temperatures, beatings, the Chair of Agony, broken bones, and rape.
They raped his mind and his body until he showed no emotion at all. They robbed him of every decent thought. They drilled into him that pain was a way of life; order only came from pain. His rewards were often others punishment. The Curse felt nothing about doling out punishments. They failed; therefore, they deserved to be punished. And The Curse was good at it, no; he excelled at it.
"Enter."
The Curse entered the office and stood in the exact spot he'd stood many times before.
"Mission report."
The Curse reported to him the latest update, and Pierce nodded his head.
"Good work soldier. I have a new mission for you. First, you are to take Barnes down to room 5. He's hanging on the wall. Throw a bucket of ice water on him to wake him up. How you get him down there is no concern of mine, however…after you treat him to some hospitality bring him to the infirmary, and lock him down. Second, you may reward yourself with Dottie once again. She's in room 1. One hour, and prepare yourself; we're going to have a guest joining us."
Bucky coughed up the water from his lungs again. Was it four times? Five? He'd lost count.
Shawn shoved Bucky's head under the water again before Bucky had completely discharged all the water from the last time. The ice cold water stung his eyes, and panic gripped him again. He felt his head being yanked backwards by the handful of hair Shawn had grasped and it hurt.
Bucky coughed more, and tried to get air into his oxygen-starved lungs. His body was limp, held up only by the fistful of hair that Shawn held him by.
Finally, Shawn had had enough fun, and let Bucky drop to the wet floor. Bucky continued to sputter, not having enough strength to do anything else, except fight for his life.
Shawn rolled him over onto his back and dragged Bucky down the halls to the infirmary by his feet. Why he was told to bring him there, he didn't know. The infirmary was for healing time. But it wasn't his place to question; he did as he was told.
He pulled Bucky into the infirmary and yanked him to his feet. He placed him on the steel table and clamped down his limbs. The doctor came over and began checking on him. "What is it this time?"
Shawn just glared at him with those cold eyes. "I was just told to bring him down here." Then he turned and left.
Mary was picking thru her closet and packing her bag, getting ready for the trade-off with whoever was in charge of HYDRA.
The remaining prisoners were brought to justice, while the one was let go.
She had cried a lot on the way home, and Steve and the others kept trying to change her mind about this.
"The world needs James Buchanan Barnes more than me." That was her argument against Steve.
She started crying again in the closet. This isn't going to help, Mary. Stop it! She banged her fist against the wall in useless protest repeatedly. A distinct sound came from inside the wall and she stopped. Her mouth dropped open.
She leaned out of the closet and yelled. "STEVE!"
Within seconds Steve raced into the bedroom and expected the worst. "What is it?"
"Tap all along the walls; I think there's another hidden room or compartment in my closet!"
As Steve tapped, Sam, Nat and Clint arrived.
Clint pushed Mary out of the closet so he could squeeze through. "What are we looking for?"
"Another hidden compartment; apparently this whole house is full of them."
"Sounds hollow there." Clint muttered.
"But where's the unlock feature?" Steve added.
They both felt around with their fingers, but couldn't come up with anything until Clint noticed a design on the light switch. When he pushed what appeared to be the two screws, a click sounded and Steve was able to open a small compartment. He drew out a number of composition books. "Mary?"
Mary poked her head in to see what they had found. "More books? Oh my!"
They all went to the living room and sat.
Mary's fingers shook as she opened the first book. It was old and it was dated 1950-1960 on the cover.
Dear Diary, Mary read it out loud. "Oh my! It's my mom's!"
Today is my 10th birthday, and I got this book as a present from mama. I also got a new blue dress that I can't wait to show Uncle James!
"Uncle James?" The look on Mary's face was priceless.
Uncle James lives in our basement. I've known him for most of my life. He sleeps in his cradle in the basement. I don't know why though. Mama has promised me that she will tell me when I'm old enough, but for now she gave me this book so I can write about my life and remember things. When Uncle James wakes up, I can tell him all about me, and all the things he missed about me growing up.
"Didn't Kate mention something like this?"
"She did, but I never expected this." Mary flipped thru the pages and read random passages out loud.
She skimmed over pages here and there until her face turned ghostly white.
"Mary?" Steve prompted.
Mary was silent as her eyes read the words on the page and her eyes began filling with tears.
Dear Diary, Mary choked out.
I am late! I haven't had my monthly and I'm scared! I think I'm pregnant!
"But that can't be! I wasn't born until 1970 and this is reading 1958! What the hell?"
Dear Diary,
Another month has gone by and still nothing! I am so scared! What am I going to do? How do I tell mama? She is going to be so mad at me. I can't sleep, and now I feel sick this morning, but I hid it from her. Graduation is in June, but I can't hide this until then! Oh, Uncle James, what would you tell me to do?
Dear Diary,
I told mama. I had to! Now, she's SO mad at me. I'm in my bedroom. Mama slapped me in the face and called me stupid. She has to send me away to a boarding house in the city for unwed mothers. I'm so ashamed of myself.
Mary skipped ahead.
Dear Diary,
I can barely walk my belly is so big! Everyone says I'm going to have a boy, but I'm not sure. The women who run the house look at me like I'm dirty, but I was in love! Now look at me! Big as a house and all alone. Of course, I was never allowed to see him again….ooh, ooh, I think I feel something! The baby is kicking me something awful! Oh my God, what is that? I think my water just broke! I'm going into labor!
Dear Diary,
It's been a long time since my last entry. Something went horribly wrong! I gave birth to a boy, a very big boy, 10 pounds, but he was too big for me and it hurt something inside me. They had to call for a real doctor, and I had to have surgery. The doctor said I can't ever have any more children because the baby was too big for my body.
He's beautiful! The most beautiful thing I've ever seen! I'm still in a lot of pain, but I'm nursing him. Even mama said how beautiful he was. I named him James Buchanan Engel. I named him after you Uncle James. Since I refused to name his father, he has my last name. It's funny, but I can't remember knowing mama's maiden name.
Dear Diary,
We're going home today! Mama told me she sold the house and we're moving again! Uncle James has already been moved, and I can't wait to show him my beautiful boy!