CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT:
AN ANOMALY

WHEN SHE WAS SURE THAT all of the footsteps had passed her by, Celeste quickly pulled herself from the empty room. She continued to run down the hall, the sound of the alarm still blaring in her ears. It was making her head pound violently but she had to keep going. All of her limbs ached terribly but the adrenaline that was starting to course through her veins was quickly beginning to numb all of the pain that she felt. She was about to round a corner and came to a quick stop when the sound of voices reached her ears. Of course, she knew the empty halls had to be too good to be true. She squeezed her hands into fists, looking down at them as they shook. She had no strength, but maybe the Adrenaline could get her past them. She carefully peeked around the corner, pulling back and silently cursing when she saw three HYDRA men standing there.

     She stood there and stretched some, whispering to herself silent prayers. "Father, give me strength." She closed her eyes tightly before they snapped open and determination and adrenaline took over. She came around the corner and immediately their guns were on her and they were shooting. She slid across the ground, slamming her foot into the first man's leg, knocking him down to the ground. She hopped up, grabbing the wrist of the other man as he shot at her, the bullets hitting the roof as she pushed his arms upwards. She kicked the third man in the side sending him stumbling back before she turned back to the second guy and grabbed his arm, twisting it behind his back until a snap could be heard.

He yelled out in pain and Celeste kicked the back of his knees before slamming his head into the wall. She ran and wrapped her legs around the third guard, quickly bringing him down to the ground and knocking him out. She untangled herself from him and grabbed the gun of the second man, quickly shooting the first man just as he went to reach for his gun. She stood there for a moment, leaning against the wall as surprise took over her face. Maybe she wasn't as weak as she thought that she was. The sound of far away footsteps made her quickly go sprinting, running as fast as she could, taking random turns and hoping that she was almost there.

More gunshots rang overhead and she quickly covered her head with her hands before turning around and groaning in annoyance when four more were coming her way. She held up the gun she stole and started firing. She got one down in two shots before getting a second man down with a bullet to the head and the third one down with a graze to the side and then a shot to the stomach. She shot the fourth one in the hand, sending his gun flying to the ground and when she went to shoot again her gun clicked, telling her that the chamber was empty. She groaned again. She knew this wasn't going to be easy, but she really was starting to get annoyed.

Celeste walked forwards, reaching the last man and giving him a sharp uppercut before taking her empty gun and slamming it against his head, sending him crumpling to the ground in heap. She nudged him with her foot and when she was sure that he was knocked out she dropped her empty gun and kneeled down beside of the unconscious man. She grabbed the knife from his waistband, stuffing it into her pocket before grabbing the mans gun along with some extra ammo and turning back around, continuing the way she was going.

She pushed through a set of double doors and ran down the hall before she found herself stopping and baking up. She turned her head and looked inside one of the rooms and despite her better judgement, she pushed the door open and made her way inside. The room was empty, eerily quiet. There was a chair in the middle of the room, empty restraints attached to it. In the far corner of the room there was a chamber. There was someone inside. She swallowed thickly, carefully making her way towards the chamber. Her eyes darted to the empty vials that lay on the metal table. The chair was still warm from someone sitting in it. Someone had been here recently.

For some reason her heart started pounding in her chest, echoing in her ears. Fear started to replace the adrenaline as she walked closer to the chamber. The gun was held tightly in her hand to the point her knuckles were white. She came to a stop when she was close enough to the chamber and immediately tears welled in her eyes. She placed her empty hand against the glass, praying they would do the same but their was no movement. Suddenly, she could feel a presence behind her and she didn't have to turn to know who it was.

     "What did you do to him?" Celeste asked, trying her best to keep her voice from cracking.

     "Simple. We put him in cryo. We've erased his memories. He won't remember you when he's awake." There was a taunting in his voice that made anger thrive in Celeste. "What's the point of doing all of this if he won't remember it."

     "He'll remember me." Celeste whispered before turning around to face him. She couldn't stand seeing Bucky in that state. She looked at Zola. "You know he'll remember me. This is just a taunt."

     "He will remember you, won't he? But only you. Why is that, Celeste?" The way he said her name made her want to vomit. "I know there's something special about you. It is scientifically proven that you are not exactly human. But if you aren't human, then what are you?"

     "Like I'd tell you." Celeste spat. "I don't care what you have to say. You can try and be conniving and convincing, but I know you have a lot of men coming here to get me because I am an anomaly to you and losing me. . . now that would just not go so well for you now would it? I am your experiment. Your mission. But you are not mine."

     "And what is your mission?"

     "To live." Celeste replied before quickly shooting him in the side, sending him to the ground. She looked at Bucky one last time, pressing a kiss to her hand and then to the glass of the chamber before walking over the doctor and towards the door. She stopped. "I'll give you a hint. Ascendit inde superius."

     Zola looked at her for a moment before whispering, "From up above."

     Celeste said nothing before pushing her way out of the room.