MEMORIES OF RIVER
PART ONE
CHAPTER THREE

STEVE INSTANTLY FELL SILENT, staring into open space as the weight of her words settled. Had he really slept that long? The prospect alone induced a numbing sensation to wrack through his entire being but the realisation that everyone he knew and loved had lived on without his presence, and likely passed on to whatever exists after death, caused an out of body feeling like no other. He had never felt so alone and more so than anything else: left behind.

River's expression momentarily softened, she couldn't begin to understand his disorientation but she did understand loss. She studied his face for a moment and how his mind ravelled around his new reality, his deep blue eyes akin to a surging sea in a storm that threatened to spill. However, momentarily disturbed from her observation as Atlas placed his head on her boot knowingly, she drew in a deep breath and glanced back at Steve.

"I'm-," she hesitantly paused as Steve glanced at her with glazed eyes, instantly pulled from his trance by the curiosity, "-for what it's worth Captain, my name is River."

Steve's face then shadowed a ghost of an appreciative smile before Atlas suddenly jolted to his feet, cutting his impending response short. In an instant, a low growl erupted from him and he sprinted to the door, an alerting bark exerting from him as River reached across the table for her bow and quiver of arrows. Atlas desperately began to claw at the door, his instincts tearing through as River quickly composed herself ready, leaving Steve dumbfounded.

His brow furrowed, his posture instantly straightening in apprehension as he watched the situation before him unfold. His lips then parted, the words tingling on his tongue as River wedged herself into a ragged coat but his voice was once more cut short as Atlas managed to manoeuvre the door open, sprinting out of the cabin whilst River hurried to sling her quiver onto her back.

"I wont be long," River's voice was muffled amongst the noise of the wind and her own difficulty of composing herself, the cabin's interior quickly becoming a mess with the burst of wind that followed the open door. Sheets of paper from the table were strewn across the room and objects fell from handcrafted shelves and cupboards, accumulating across the floor as River rushed to the door, her bow drawn.

"Wait!" Steve rushed out, "I can help-"

"Don't answer to any voice but my own," she yelled across the room, blatantly disregarding his offer before slamming the door shut behind her, sending the cabin into complete silence and Steve into a deep confusion. Who else could possibly be outside? And why did it matter he didn't respond? And why couldn't he go help? It was hardly like Steve coerced to rules that went against the greater good and he failed to see how this was to be any exception.

So, albeit dumbfounded, Steve stumbled to find his feet and quickly follow after. However, much to his displease, he instead instantly slammed straight back on to the bed as the restraints yanked him back into place. He grunted, glancing to his restrained hand. Having regained a little more strength with the sudden adrenaline rush, he knew what he had to do - of course avoiding breaking the bed as she had asked kindly.

With a deep breath, he mustered up the entirety of his strength and yanked once more at his arm with a huff. To his avail, the chain snapped and as a token, left a forming red band around his wrist. He winced but stumbled up from the bed, reaching for the table as his uneasy legs sent him fumbling. He clutched firmly onto the edge of the wooden table, the world spinning on an axis for a moment as he attempted to regain his bearings before he felt his arm accidentally push something off the table with a clank as it hit the floor.

Instinctively glancing to his feet, he acknowledged a glint of metal beneath some sheets of paper and with furrowed brows, reached down to discover what the metal was. With his trembling fingers from the cold, he flipped a few sheets over to reveal a ridiculously sharp knife. He retrieved his arm the slightest amount, feeling almost like a dishonest thief if he took it but then the nature of the sheets of paper caught his eye.

Feeling his stomach twist inside of him, he snatched up the sheets and placed them firmly on the table. His eyes glanced over each and every word, his breaths growing rapid as he recognised the three headed serpent, the Lernaean Hydra, on the sheet and the particularly clear instructions that followed. With an increasingly growing heartbeat, he glanced all around him for other sheets and began to collect a bundle.

Spreading them all out across the table to the best of his ability, he also came across candid photographs in colour (a momentous shock in itself), handwritten letters and at least three other knives. He stepped backwards, a small stumble in his step as he did so but his mind too loud with thought to care. He stood still, staring at the sheets across the table before his gaze slowly shifted to the knife on the floor.

And without a second thought, he picked it up.

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A/N

Hey guys!! This is just a preview of the chapter because I haven't finished it but I haven't uploaded in decades so I'm very sorry! This is also a celebration cause I booked my infinity war tickets... EEEEEEEE!!

Have a great day guys!

- s