The cold air outside hit me like a slap in the face as we made our way to the Quinjet. The dark sky above was heavy with clouds, but the steady hum of the aircraft's engines made it all feel like a blur. It was almost like the world was holding its breath, waiting for what was to come. I could see Steve's silhouette beside me, his jaw clenched tight, his focus unwavering. The tension between us was palpable, but there was no time for small talk. No time to reflect on what was about to happen. The mission was everything.
The Quinjet took off, its engines roaring to life as we ascended into the night sky. The wind whipped through the open hatch, but it didn't matter. I was numb to everything now—numb to the fear, the worry, and even to the growing uncertainty gnawing at the back of my mind. I couldn't afford to doubt myself now. Not after everything.
Inside the jet, Fury, Natasha, Clint, and Maria Hill were already on their seats, strapped in and ready to go. The look on Natasha's face said it all—this was a mission with no guarantees. She wasn't a stranger to danger, but Hydra was always a different kind of threat. Clint was checking his gear, his bow slung across his chest, a steely expression behind his eyes. Fury, as usual, was calm and collected, though his one eye seemed to hold a storm of its own.
Maria Hill was busy running final checks on the mission details, her voice steady as she communicated with the team on the ground. "We're two hours out. Target facility is ahead. Everything's on track."
I didn't say anything. Words felt useless now. The only thing I had to do was focus on the fight. It was the only thing that had ever made sense to me. I could feel the weight of the metal on my arm—the Winter Soldier's arm—heavy with the memories of what it had done. What I had done. But there was no time for self-reflection now. Hydra was out there, and I wasn't going to let them destroy any more lives. Not while I had the chance to stop them.
Fury leaned forward, his expression unreadable. "We'll land at the northern entrance. It's the least fortified. We'll infiltrate from there, take out their first line of defense, and move in fast. Once we've neutralized their comms, we'll split into two teams. Rogers, Barnes—you're with me. Natasha, Clint, you handle the extraction. Hill, you're on backup."
Steve glanced at me, the corners of his mouth lifting in a rare, tight smile. "Ready for this?"
"I've been ready," I replied, my voice low. "Let's finish this."
We approached the facility. From the air, it looked like a mountain range, the complex buried deep within the jagged peaks. The landscape around it was barren, windswept, making it all the easier to remain undetected from the outside. But that would all change once we hit the ground.
The Quinjet came in low, barely making a sound as we descended toward the target. As the facility loomed in front of us, I could feel the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. This place was a fortress, a hidden snake pit where Hydra's true power was lurking. We were about to walk right into their den.
"Five minutes," Maria's voice crackled over the comms, her calm tone almost out of place with the tension in the air. "Everyone, get into position."
The Quinjet hit the ground with a soft thud, the hatch opening immediately. Fury was the first out, his boots hitting the dirt as he motioned for us to follow. Steve and I were right behind him, weapons drawn, ready to face whatever Hydra threw our way. Natasha and Clint were already off to the side, positioning themselves for the extraction. They would handle the rest once we cleared the way.
We moved quickly, crouched low against the facility's exterior walls. The place was eerily quiet, and it made the hairs on my arms stand on end. It was too quiet, too still. I didn't trust it.
Steve motioned to me, and we darted forward, staying low. Fury led the way, his tactical instincts sharp, guiding us toward the north entrance. We could hear the faint sounds of guards on patrol, their voices low and muffled by the walls. I could feel the adrenaline building inside me. The closer we got, the more my mind sharpened, the more my instincts screamed to stay alert. I could sense their presence—Hydra agents, lurking in the shadows, waiting for us to make our move.
As we neared the entrance, Fury signaled for us to stop. He pulled out a small device, hacking into the security system with practiced ease. The entrance door creaked open, and the smell of damp air and metal filled my lungs. We moved in fast, Fury first, with Steve and me right behind him.
The interior was exactly as I'd imagined: sterile, cold, and empty. The low hum of machinery echoed off the walls, a constant reminder that we were walking through a complex built to hide in plain sight. Fury led us down a narrow hallway, the lights flickering overhead.
It wasn't long before the first guards spotted us.
The sound of boots echoed down the corridor, and the moment I heard it, I was already moving. The Winter Soldier's instincts were second nature to me. I drew my gun, squeezing the trigger just as the first guard rounded the corner. The shot rang out, and the man crumpled to the floor in a heap. His partner froze for a split second—too long. I didn't hesitate. Another shot, and he fell too.
We kept moving, the pace quickening as we moved deeper into the heart of the facility. Every corner we turned, every door we passed, felt like we were getting closer to something bigger—something more dangerous.
The deeper we went, the more intense the resistance became. Hydra had prepared for this. They knew we were coming.
But we were faster. Smarter.
We reached the comms room first. Fury breached the door, tossing a flashbang grenade inside. The explosion was deafening, and when the smoke cleared, the room was ours. Fury quickly set to work, disabling the facility's communications and alert systems. It was time to move forward.
"We've secured the comms," Fury said, his voice steady. "Now we make our way to the heart of Hydra's operation. We take them out, and we end this."
I felt a surge of determination. There was no turning back now. Hydra had chosen their path, and now they would pay the price.
But as we pushed forward, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was waiting for us. Something worse than we had anticipated.
And whatever it was, we were going to face it head-on.
The fight had only just begun.