Chapter 38

Raising my head, my ears twitched upon hearing a helicopter over head.

It was circling the area and I know Bucky must've made it out.

Getting to my feet, I bit my lip and forced the pain away before running towards the moving machinery.

I jumped, creating beams that shot me upwards.

For a moment I was suspended on air and then I smashed through the doors, kicking two guards unconscious.

The pilot tried to shuffle me out but I manifested a small energy blade and point it to his neck.

"Duceți-mă la luptă," I spat in Romania, the glowing blade reflecting off his face.

Get me to the fight.

He nods and turns the chopper, so we were somewhere near downtown.

He flies us over to a bridge and I see three figures darting past cars and traffic.

Bucky, Steve and the Black Panther.

"Mulțumesc."

Thank you.

The pilot stared at me before I knocked him in his jaw and he grunted from the pain, the chopper veering slightly

I jumped off the chopper, landing gracefully on my feet before advancing on the three figures below me.

Bucky was in the lead so it didn't take long for me to catch him with my abilities.

"Soldat!"

I jumped down and threw out barrier waves, stopping the cars in their tracks and creating a bottleneck for the Black Panther and Steve.

Bucky walks over to me and grabs my arm, fury in those eyes. "I told you to leave."

Scoffing I gave him a half glare.

"And you know I won't listen."

Loud sirens erupted along the tunnel and Bucky glance at it, both alarmed and angry.

I watch them grow closer and pushed Bucky forward.

"Run, I'll hold them off."

He grabs my arm and twist me back so I hit his chest. "No, we run together."

I had no chance to react because he was running and dragging me along with him.

Given he was faster then me, I opted in using my abilities, already knowing the backlash it might give me.

I didn't care. I needed to get him off the rig and now.

Cars were spinning out of control and the flash of blue and red tells me police coming our way.

"We're not going to be able to out run them!" I shout, informing Bucky. "I can slow them down!"

"You're not risking it!" He shouts back at me, determined for me to run with him.

Frustrated at his concern for me, makes me snap in an almost desperate tone.

"I can't run with you, you know that!"

I didn't hear his reply because he turned to another tunnel to get away from the horde of cars.

I wasn't so lucky.

Jumping across them, I balanced gracefully on the roof of their cars, deflecting each bullet sent my way.

Igniting the lights I allowed them to swirl around me creating a shield that would hopefully deflect the other bullets as I focused more on my footing.

"Lorelie, why are you doing this?" I heard Sam shout from above me in his Falcon suit.

"Nice to see you too, Parrot!" I rolled off a car and teetered dangerously on the ground before making off in a run once more.

"And just so you know, I'm not doing anything, but trying to stop you and Steve from doing something the two of you will regret!"

Sam was above me, criss-crossing his way through brick beams that blocked his way.

Igniting swirls of lights, I branch them above and they exploded like spiderwebs, combing the ceiling with strains of blue to green.

Sam shouts out his annoyance as he hits one and is instantly trapped.

I turn to the right of the tunnel and breath out a sigh of relief upon seeing Bucky just in front of me.

He notices an incoming motorcycle and before the poor driver could react he grips the handle and swings it around with force causing the driver to fly out.

Oh what the--

His body lands gracefully on the bike, taking him less than a milisecond to get it under control before he's driving right up to me, metal hand held out.

"Get on!"

I resisted. "Bucky-"

"GET ON!"

I obeyed and circled my hands under the seat as Bucky revved the bike, kick-starting the vehicle to drive dangerously through cars and trucks.

From behind, I noticed Steve is catching up in an SUV.  The Black Panther is latched on top of it and I feel rather than see what he intends to do.

He jumps at us, claws out, but I wave my fingers, pushing him right up against the tunnel wall and practically dragging him along as Bucky continued to drive.

Pain raced up my spine, and the back of my eyes was starting to burn from the exhaustion and lethargy gathering in between my bones as the black veins seared themselves into my skin. 

I thought I saw stars.

The Black Panther took advantage of my moment of weakness. His legs kicked out, bearing upon my held-out arm. 

I grunted in pain falling sideways off the bike with no control. My Protector was faster, his metal hand reaching behind him to clamp at my back, keeping me pressed onto the back of his shoulders.

Bucky's face darkens. He tries to lunge at the Black Panther but he is too quick, his movements meant to throw us right off the Bike. 

I desperately try to still the moving metal, keeping us stable but my powers were wavering and each use was getting me closer to the serum being worn off.

"Fuck off, you jerk!" I supercharged my kick and finally managed to knock the Panther off the bike.

The rear-back is thunderous, I felt the shockwave of my power as it sent the Panther flying back to Steve's SUV, cracking the windshield inwards. The amount of power it took for me to do that makes me breathless and exhausted.

I rest my entire weight on Bucky's back, feeling my body weaken.

My eyes moved toward the SUV Steve is driving. I reach out a hand, determined to stop it, to blow up the tires so he would stop following, but just as the thought comes, I falter, the edges of my vision finally darkening. 

"Lorelie?" Bucky notices the shift in the way my body slackens, he tries to turn around to see what was wrong, but I hid my face into the back of his jacket, desperately trying to keep my breathing even. 

"I... I'm fine..." I tell him, my eyelids fluttering shut.

I don't remember feeling so tired.

Stay awake. You need to stop Steve. Stay awake before it's too late!

My Protector growls under his breath, spitting a string of Russian curses. He eyes the light coming from the end of the tunnel.

"Hold on," Slipping a hand into his jacket, he throws out a beeping metal plate, making it latch onto the roof above us. 

A bomb.

He wanted to block off the entrance to keep them from coming after us. 

The bomb ticks, once, twice, and without warning explodes. 

I watch as the concrete spiderwebs across the tunnel, breaking pillars and support systems. The rubble fell downwards breaking into clouds of dust. 

Through the haze, a figure emerges, shooting off like a bullet, claws out, hands extended.

The Black Panther.

His claws swipe at the tire, puncturing it whole, causing a mini explosion.

My whole world is titled on its side as Bucky loses control of the bike, the two of us falling to our sides. It's too fast for my powers to catch up and as I land hard against the rough terrain, I feel tiny rocks scrap my skin, causing burns and fresh cuts. 

I rolled a couple meters away from Bucky, black spots lining my vision. 

"F-Fuck," Spitting blood, I shakily looked up, feeling the cool ground with my touch. Blood was leaking out of my nose, dripping steadily down my lips. 

Loud crashes can be heard coming from ahead.

Steve is running through the rubble, the SUV he'd abandoned pinballing its way towards us.

I force my hand forward, and clench my fingers, directing what's left of my wavering powers to stop the metal from coming any closer.

More blood gushed out of my nose, the lack of it is starting to make me feel dizzy. 

Eventually, the car comes to a stop and before I can catch my breath, I spot my Protector in the corner of my eye who is getting to his feet, clearly winded by being thrown off the motorcycle.

He doesn't make it in time as the Black Panther latched on top of him, raising his sharp claws to deal Bucky in one fell swoop. 

Steve makes it just in time, wrapping both hands around the Panther's waist and using his full weight to throw him out of the way. 

Frustrated, the Black Panther rolls to a stand, claws extended, letting out a noise of annoyance at being deterred once again. 

The five of us breathe deeply as we stared at each other, each in our own respective corner.

I rise to my feet at the momentary parley, grabbing hold of my side in an attempt to hold in my pain. It does absolutely nothing. 

"Ved'ma?" Bucky's concern is clear as he takes in my bloody dishevelled form.

Witch?

I waved him off, only to stop when my body protested. Coughing, I spat more blood and winced at it dribbled across the ground. 

I don't think it's because of the bruises I've endured.

More like the veins that were threatening to kill me.

"Lorelie, don't move. You'll hurt yourself more," Steve tells me, hand held out.

I scoffed, wiping my bloody mouth. "Does it look like I'm planning on going anywhere?"

Jesus, like I didn't know.

Loud shouts and commands can be heard surrounding us on all sides. An army of guards is abruptly upon us, shoving artillery guns and the likes towards the four of us.

It was a war zone.

I've failed in stopping Steve.

I failed in getting us out of here safely.

Now things were going to get much, much worse. 

War Machine dropped down beside us, both hands held out as a warning.

His repulsors glowed.

I watch with grim interest as Rhodey's words rang loud and clear.

"Stand down, now."

Sam is the first to obey. He lands on the ground beside us, wings folded up, hands upwards.

Steve is second as he reluctantly places his shield behind his back and raises his hands to surrender.

Bucky does the same, although his eyes are trained on me.

I felt the eyes all around us, the anger and rage from every guard and my family. It's disorienting, it makes my breath wheeze. 

Staring at Rhodey tiredly, I raised my hands and obeyed his command, no longer having any energy to fight.

"Congratulations Cap, Lorelie," Rhodey tells us. Disgust in his tone. "You're criminals."

Criminals.

The word is forbearing. It makes my skin crawl. It makes me remember my time in HYDRA. I looked at Steve and hold my stare. 

"I told you to trust me, Steve."

His face falls when he sees my grief-stricken eyes. We were all going to be detained now, captured, shipped off to god knows where.

"Why didn't you trust me?" I whisper, voice cold.

I was angry, I was frustrated, I was scared. He should have let us go, I would have been able to get Bucky out of here. A war wouldn't have had to happen.

Now he forced my hand and we have to face the consequences.

Consequences that may kill my family. 

With my hands still hold out, I take a step forward, toward the man I love.  "Why?" 

Every step seems to be echoing in my ears, following the rhythm of my heart as it beat against my chest. Steve's eyes grew heavy, blue eyes filling with a mixture of regret and longing.

"You should have stopped." Another step.

I was getting closer to him now. Each movement was powerful all on its own. It was meant to prove, to show him, to tell him what he's done. What he's caused. I trusted him. Yet he didn't trust me. 

"You should have let us go." 

Steve falters.

I felt my powers fizzle beneath my palms, felt them spark, felt the blue as it grew hot and sick. I'm choking on my fear. Choking on what will happen next. 

"Why didn't you let us go?!"

There was a loud pop.

I barely managed to blink before something heavy latched onto the back of my neck.

There was a stunned silence.

One that everyone seemed to realize.

I watch Steve's eyes widen.

I watch my Protector step forward.

I watch Sam's mouth drop open in shock.

I froze.

My fingers found the root of the weight and the cold metal that freezes my skin.

"W-What?" It was wrapped around my neck and the feeling of it sent me into a cold panic.

But it only lasted for a second before blinding white hot pain electrified the shit out of me.

I screamed, falling head first onto the pavement.

My body twitched as surges of overpowering energy run through my body.

"NO!"

I am aware of the panicked voices coming from Steve, Sam and Bucky.

The Black Panther is staring at me from where he stands, claws retracted in grim quietness. 

My body bowed from the pain, at the full mental damage the very machinery was doing to me. I can hear voices, past, present, it didn't matter. Flashes of white and grey enveloped my vision whole as I'm brought to my knees. 

I couldn't move.

I couldn't think.

I couldn't do anything.

I'm screaming. I'm screaming so loud.

It's killing me. 

Its killing me!

Loud heartbreaking sobs erupt from my lips and I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling the darkness as it crept up my lids.

My abilities ran rampant, sliding in and out of my body, cracking the ground, fighting against the chain around my neck with furious force. Blue and green danced across my hands but they dimmed with a start when the electricity surged harder.

I fall to my back, knees buckling, watery eyes to the grey skies above. 

"Please..." It's a broken plea.

It's a calling to save me.

But no one did.

I was alone.

Again.

Backed up in HYDRA's warehouse. Used for their own gains.

No. Not again. Not again!

"Make it stop! P-Please, make it stop!" My voice sounded raw.

Gut-wrenching and filled with unfounded pain.

My brain was going overdrive and my powers were cackling out of control. 

I dropped all my defences unable to put them up any longer.

My mental block with Wanda.

The restrictive barrier that was preventing the black from showing.

It felt like I was bleeding dry.

Help me... Please! Stop!

Black leaked out of my hands and the shadows glided downwards all over the road.

A heavy hand gripped my forearm, held tight with enough force that I have to refocus. Bucky's dark eyes greet me.

Protector. 

"Soldat," He begins, the words a silent prayer.

I recognized the tone and my eyes widened. His eyes drooped sorrowfully and I hear the pained yelling from Steve from somewhere in the background. 

"Prizrak. Temno."

The words. The goddamn words.

The words HYDRA would use to shut me down.

I recognized the familiar buzzing, growing at the back of my head. It's so powerful I can feel it vibrate my teeth.

"21. Yarost'."

The command hit me harder than expected and my body shut down. Automatic. Obedient.

"Gidra."

His words are my undoing. I obeyed, grateful for the peace.

As my eyes flicker shut, I watch the metal link connected to the strap on my neck with dimming interest.

If it wasn't for such large writings I would've never seen the bold italics plastered over the machinery the police held.

My heart screamed out its betrayal.

My soul ripped itself into pieces.

No. Oh god, please no.

As darkness welcomed me with open arms,  all I could see were the words. The goddamn words connected to the collar wrapped around my throat.

Because it was built by one person and one person only.

STARK INDUSTRIES.

Tony Stark.

My brother.

~~@ @ @~~

A/N

*Runs away screaming*

*Silently peeks from behind a blockade and swallows nervously*

"Are you still on team Steve and team Tony?"