I wake up in some sort of containment room. No windows, only a table with two chairs. I try to stand up but the chains holding my hands behind my back hold me to the chair. I lean back in the seat and stare at the door, waiting for someone to walk in.
I try to use my mind to undo the chains, but the second I do a sharp pain goes through my head. I grimace in pain and stop trying to use my powers. I look up at the door when I hear someone fiddling with the handle. A woman with red hair walks in and sits down at the chair across the table from me. She gives me a stern look before she speaks.
"What happened? Where did you go?" Her questions sounded more like demands. I glare at her.
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"Come on Vanessa, just tell me what happened. You know you can trust me." The woman answers. I furrow my brows in confusion.
"Why does everyone keep on calling me Vanessa? And no I can't trust you." I snap back. The woman looks at me for a while, contemplating her next move.
She abruptly stands up, walks out, and closes the heavy door behind her. I hear a couple of muffled voices. I can't seem to make out any words, but I know she is not alone.
After a minute of me sitting in silence, I start to strategize any possible way to get out of here. But my thoughts are interrupted as the door opens. Instead of the red-haired woman from before the tall man I fought earlier walks in and takes the seat across the table. I look at him blandly, waiting for him to talk.
"You don't remember do you?" He sighs. I roll my eyes.
"Am I supposed to remember something?" I say snidely.
"Where is metal man?" I demand. I think that's gonna be his new nickname, yeah, metal man. I like it.
"None of your concern." He answers. "Who sent you?" I stay silent. I remember being given strict orders to not give away any information. I don't break the intense stare we give each other as we sit in silence.
"Fine. I'll just have to jog your memory." the man says as he stands up frustrated and walks to my side of the table. I watch him, confused as he walks right behind me. I feel him grab the chair I am chained to and pull it against the back wall.
"Hey!" I protest as he sits on the table, looking down at me. I swear I could see a hint of sadness in his expression as he contemplates what to say next.
"Your name is Vanessa. You are 21 years old. You Recently started your job here with the Avengers." He lists. Apparently I'm supposed to know these things, but I can't remember them at all.
"And...from what Nat has told me, and what I've seen...you were trained by the Red Room." After he says that I freeze. Those words sound so familiar, yet so foreign. I feel like something in the back of my head is trying to say something but I just can't hear it. Red Room, Red Room, Red Room. I was trained there? Wait a second...
My mind feels like it on the brink of collapsing. I start to remember things. Although I wouldn't call them memories. It's more like seeing parts of another person's life. I try so hard to remember whatever it was I was supposed to, but I can't seem to.
"I...I...wait what's happening? What are you doing to my head?!" I accuse. He's lying, that isn't me, there is no way. I start to struggle in the chair, trying desperately to get out.
"Hey, hey! Stop! Calm down." The man orders, grabbing my shoulders to stop me from struggling. My breathing is heavy as I look up at him, confused and almost fearful. He looks me right in the eyes, but instead of trying to seem intimidating, his eyes soften.
I calm myself down as I look back into his eyes. They seem so familiar...so...safe. I see his expression change from worry to sadness as his hands release my shoulders and move to my face. He slowly inches his face closer to mine until our noses are almost touching.
I'm frozen. I don't know what to do. Part of me wants to slap him and get the hell out of here, but there is something...somewhere making it impossible to move.
I feel one of his hands hold the back of my neck as the other cups my cheek. He leans down and I close my eyes, feeling his soft lips gently press against mine. I feel shivers go down my spine as his hold on me slightly tightens.
I suddenly feel memories come flooding back. My head seems to spin for a second before coming to a screeching halt. My eyes are closed? Why are my eyes closed? Wait, is that...is someone kissing me?
I pull back and see Steve. He is looking at me, searching to see if I have remembered.
"Steve?" I ask. I look around and see we are in some sort of cell.
"Yeah, yeah it's me," Steve reassures, a relieved smile spreading across his face. And then I remember. I remember everything about myself, who I am, who I was. I remember how I found Bucky when HYDRA took me, and how we were brainwashed. I remember the orders HYDRA gave us, the mission, the fight. The fight...
"Oh my god! Steve, I'm so sorry!" I apologize. I hurt him. I hurt Nat. How could this happen again? Again I have hurt people I care about, again and again.
"It's ok, we are fine," Steve reassures. I shake my head and can feel my eyes sting, struggling to keep in the tears.
"No, no it's not. I hurt you. I hurt Nat. And I...Bucky!" I try to get up, forgetting that I'm chained to the chair.
"Hang on, I'll get you out," Steve says as he grabs the chains and types something into a digital keypad, unlocking the chains.
I quickly stand up and open the door, rushing out into a hallway I've never explored before. I stop trying to figure out where Bucky could be.
"Hey, calm down. Bucky is this way." Steve says, coming out of the room behind me. I follow him down the hall and stop at the next door.
"Does...does he remember anything yet?" I ask. Steve shakes his head.
"No, I've tried to remind him but I haven't had enough time yet. How do you know Bucky?" He asks. This is not the time for this. I need to get Bucky back, then explain everything to Steve.
"Just stay out here. I promise I will explain everything once I'm done." I say. I don't even wait for his answer before unlocking the door and walking in.
*****
YOU ARE READING
Damaged Goods
Fanfiction"I'll always remember you." Vanessa has been on the run from the Red Room academy ever since she was taken by hydra right before her graduation. With both organizations after her, she has been living a nomad's life, constantly moving. The fear that...
