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𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐨: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐫

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After staring at the abhorrent white walls of the archive room for what feels like forever, Allie picks herself back up and roughly gathers the pile of papers that are now scattered around the cold concrete floor. She shoves the manilla file into the box from which she got it from and steps back. She takes in a deep breath and wipes away the one lonesome tear that had fallen from her eyes as she fell into her state of panic.

I need to get out of here, she sighs in pain. I need to do it now. I can't stay here anymore.

She quickly gathers the boxes into her arms and carries them towards the exit, dashing down the hallways of shelves without a second glance. It doesn't take long for her to reach the exit to the archives and she hurriedly begins pounding on the door, somehow managing to juggle the boxes in one hand as she awaits for the guard to open the door.

The second that the door is pulled open, Allie forces the guard aside and sprints down the hallway to get back to Zola's office. Her feet pound against the concrete floor and she hears a scoff fall from the guard's mouth.

"Hey, bitch! What's got you in such a rush?" The man chortles as he regains his balance and calls after Allie.

A low growl falls from Allie's lips as she ignores the man's words. Instead, choosing to turn around the corner of the hallway and leave the man behind. Far behind.

Pricks, is what HYDRA is made up of, complete and utter pricks. And she has had enough of dealing with pricks.

Allie slows her pace as she nears the prisoner's chambers, successfully evading the insolent guard's laughter. She goes back to juggling the boxes in one had and carelessly throws open the door to the chambers. Almost immediately, the scent of pure filth invades her senses and the cries for help drown out all other sounds.

With an exhausted sigh, she keeps her eyes trained on the stack of boxes gripped in her hands as she makes her way down the hall, ignoring the pleas for release and screams of pain.

When Allie looks up briefly, her vision begins to play tricks on her as the cells seemingly begin to close in around her. They begin to entrap her in a cell of her own. Her breath begins to quicken and she swiftly turns her gaze back to the boxes in her hands, internally questioning her own state of mind.

She hurries down the hallway and lets out a sigh of relief as she makes it out of the prison chambers. But unfortunately for Allie, she now has to go report back to Zola.

Zola.

She has to go talk to the man who robbed her of her childhood. Who robbed her of a family. And she has to pretend that nothing is wrong. She has to act like Zola didn't take the life that she has dreamed of for so long away from her. If he found out that she knows, she would essentially be in deep shit. She doesn't even want to think about the consequences that she would face for snooping through her file.

But even the thought of talking to him causes anger to swell in Allie's mind. Pure unadulterated rage overwhelms her. So much so that she soon finds herself standing out the front of his office with no recollection of how she even got here. She had been so fixated on her thoughts that she hadn't even been paying attention to the world around her.

Taking a deep breath, she wills herself to calm down. She knows that confronting Zola will get her nowhere, so she just has to play nice for a minute of her life. That shouldn't be too hard.

Actually, she takes that back. She is nice to those who deserve it and Zola most definitely is not deserving. His exterior fools most people into thinking he is nice. He is small with an innocent-looking face and wide eyes that make you think he is this pure, perfect being that could do no wrong. Because "just look at that face! That face can't do anything wrong!"

Fools, absolute fools those people are.

And don't get her started on that bloody red bowtie he wears.

Pushing those thoughts from her mind, she enters his office with a hybrid of a scowl and a grimace on her face which is probably not the greatest combination.

"Zola." She says sharply, slamming his files on his mahogany desk. "Here are your files."

Zola lets his thin wire glasses fall down his nose as he looks at Allie suspiciously. "You took your time down there, Alexandra." He responds mockingly and Allie feels her hands twitch, aching to slap him across his 'innocent face'.

"If you don't like how long it takes me to find your files, then find them yourself." She snaps, letting a grin pull at her lips once she sees Zola's shocked face.

Already knowing that she doesn't have the willpower to control her anger right now, she spins on her toes and heads for the door. Just as her slim fingers wrap around the cool handle of the metal door, Zola calls out for her.

"Wait." He exclaims. "You have another assignment for the day."

"You're kidding. It's like 10.30!" She argues, very annoyed that HYDRA is now cutting into her sleeping schedule.

Zola ignores her comment and continues speaking. "HYDRA has captured a small American force in Italy and they are currently being transported to our facility. Once they arrive, you and some other troops are to take them to their cells and get them ready for tomorrow's building of the Valkyrie." He says.

Allie frowns at the news and lets out a disappointed sigh, knowing that she isn't going to be able to get out of this one. "Am I to gather the troops that are accompanying me?" She asks.

"No, that has already been handled." He answers.

Allie is grateful that she doesn't have to organize a squad to help her, as she knows that no one will be willing to give up their evenings to sit in the freezing cold outside. Shivering at the thought of it, she flicks her gaze to the door pleadingly before she turns back to Zola. "Right, well can I-"

"Please do." Zola cuts her off and Trickery quickly takes her leave, not even bothering to give one last snippy comment before the door closes and separates the two of them.

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It took Allie a little longer than usual to change into some much warmer clothes and stand outside at the gates of the base. The reminder that she had to soon to face the cold Austrian nights in the Alps that is known to freeze anybody who is left outside without the proper attire made her hesitate and enjoy the heat of the base for a few extra minutes. This cold tundra holds one of the harshest winters in the world, with nights that seem never-ending and posses a bitterness that pierces deeper with every passing minute.

She also knew that her job tonight would be boring as hell. She has been staring out of the base waiting for the familiar trucks of HYDRA to pull in for 15 minutes. 15 freezing cold minutes of seeing nothing else other than plain white sheets of snow covering everything in front of her.

The land is completely barren. All the wildlife has crawled into their dens in an attempt to escape the dreary weather which is a fate that Allie can't afford. The beauty of nature has fallen asleep under the thick blanket of snow, waiting for the dark winter to pass. Even during the day, the sun barely rises and even when it does, it still doesn't offer any alleviation from the cold. It awards no warmth and no relief.

The wind whips against her face and flings the snow into the air, creating a beautiful miniature tornado in front of her eyes. But right now, Allie is left in the perpetual night and allows the small winter phenomenons to alleviate some of her inner turmoil. The pain of the revelations she uncovered repeating, swirling and overtaking her thoughts. It is completely neurotic.

When suddenly, the large array of trucks reveal themselves as they turn the corner and drive through the gates and into the base.

As they near, Allie straightens her stance and whips her hand up to her head in salute, following a traditional HYDRA greeting. Once they park themselves in the bay area, she drops her hand and marches over to the driver who drops down out of the front seat and salutes her. "Soldat, " He says, not showing any sign of the cold bothering him.

"Soldat meldet sich für den Dienst. / Soldier reporting for duty." She responds fluently. The man taps the side of the truck which is filled with the prisoners and motions for her to follow him around to the back.

"Kennst du deine Aufgabe? / Do you know your assignment? " He questions as they turn the corner, reaching the door that separates the captives from the two of them. She nods her head and watches as he motions to another soldier to open the door for them.

The doors fling open and almost immediately the prisoners lift their hands above their head, shouting pleas that they surrender and to not shoot them. The HYDRA soldiers behind Allie and the driver lift their guns but don't say a word. That was her cue.

"Alright soldiers, you are to follow me inside without causing any problems. If you speak, you will be shot. If you try to start a fight, you will be shot. If you make one wrong move, you will be shot. These men here-" Allie gestures to the soldiers behind her holding the revolutionary weapons created by Zola's crazy mind, "-do not speak a word English. So I can't stop them if they sense any disobedience. Am I understood?" She speaks firmly as the men stare at her in disbelief.

They all give small nods as their eyes flicker around, analyzing the new terrain. Their eyes hold fear as they are one by one ushered out of the truck. The chains that bind their bodies together creates a steady melody as they walk down the steps of the truck and form a line in the snow.

Once they are all out, Allie moves to the front and beckons them to follow her into the base. With Allie leading the pack, they make their way through the camp and head towards the new prisoner chambers that were built specifically for the Americans' arrival.

Unlike this morning, the hallways are packed with HYDRA soldiers as they all want to catch a glimpse of the infamous American prisoners who had nearly defeated them out in battle. They would have won if it wasn't for the tank that they narrowly managed to get out to the front in time.

Within a few minutes, they approach the chambers and Allie turns around and opens one of the cell doors. She gestures to the cells and holds the door as the prisoners quietly shuffle in. She fits 10 in the first cell and then locks the door before pushing another 10 in the second cell. When all the soldiers have been locked in the cell she addresses them again.

"Everyday you will construct and build whatever it is you are told. Completing the work means that you will be rewarded with a meal. If you do not, you will be punished-" Allie begins but is suddenly interrupted by a voice at the front of the first cell.

"What do you mean punished?" A dark man with a buzz cut inquires. He grips the bars that confine him in the cell. Allie turns and glares at the man who interrupted her, stalking over to his cell.

"Well, Mr..." Allie trails off raising an eyebrow as she stops in front of him.

"Jones," he responds sourly.

"Well, Mr. Jones. Make it your mission to not find out. And do not interrupt me again. If it was anyone else, you would be on the floor becoming a bleeding mess." Allie says curtly and returns to her spot in between both cells.

"Where was I.. Ah yes, punishment. If you behave during your time here you will be treated justly. If you do not, your time here will not be as... pleasurable. It would serve you best to remember that during your sentence." She finishes and begins to leave the chambers. As she makes her way down the hallway she hears the same man as before calling out in protest and thrashing against the metal bars of his cell.

"This isn't fair! You can't do this to us!" He shouts in desperation. Allie turns around but stays in her spot, eyeing the man who doesn't seem to get the message through his thick skull.

"Life isn't fair Mr. Jones, a grown man like yourself should have realized that by now." She responds sharply then leaves the men to discuss how horrible of a person she is by themselves.

She knows how true that statement is, and soon those soldiers would too. These men will quickly find out how despicable this place is and hopefully, they will find a routine that will keep them alive. Or perhaps death is a more preferable option than the torture that they will have to endure. But it doesn't really matter how they will cope at HYDRA because once they are no longer needed, they will be disposed of just like everyone else.

Guilt begins to creep into Allie's mind at that thought. Once again she has delivered another hoard of lives to death's doorstep. She has knowingly played a hand in their ultimate death and it is an action that she can't undo.

But somewhere deep down, she hopes that HYDRA will one day rot in hell for all the lives that they have destroyed. She hopes that someone somewhere will put an end to HYDRA and all the carnage that they leave in their wake.

Allie knows that she too will end up in hell for all the lives that she too has destroyed at HYDRA. For all the people that she has hurt, killed and left to die. And the thought that during her entire life, Allie has not committed one deed that has benefitted anyone other than HYDRA or herself tears her up inside.

And as Allie walks down the same hallways that she has walked down for nearly 20 years, the same hallways that plague her nightmare, she knows that she has a decision to make.

No more will she be used as a weapon or a soldier in combat. No more will she walk prisoners to their deaths as she has just done. No more will she put up with HYDRA's tricks and games.

She will decide what she is going to do with the rest of her life. She will finally have the freedom to make her own choices. She is going to stick up for herself which is something that she has never been allowed to do.

But as cruel as HYDRA is and as much as they had scarred her, they also gave her one of the best gifts that she might not have learned growing up as a normal child. She learned how to be tougher than the rest. How to be resilient and persevere when it seems like everyone else is just waiting for you to fail. To pick yourself back up when you know that you are going to continue being knocked back down.

All these things that HYDRA had taught her are going to aid in her escape. Whether she makes it out alive or not, she is going to finally be released from HYDRA's grasp. She is going to be free.

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A/N - Hey guys! 

I hope that you enjoyed this chapter! I'm sorry about all the German that I have put in but I feel like it's making the story more authentic and realistic. So bear with me for the moment but soon as the story moves forward it will lessen a fair bit.

Sorry for the short chapter! This one is only at 2700 words which is nearly half of chapter zero. But the next chapters will all be much longer so don't worry! JK, you probably weren't even worrying anyway...

Now onto the questions!

1. What do you think of this chapter?

2. What do you think of Allie's decision to leave HYDRA?

3. How has your day been?

4. What is your all-time favorite movie?

Anyway, that's enough from me, have an amazing day/night !!!

-Grace xx