The Valkyrie's Hunt

“And all I see is red”

I remember the words from that song, but I couldn’t tell you where they came from. It was a phrase repeated in my mind as I moved through the base. There was no one else to be seen, so I knew it was safe to make my way further into the facility. The facility appeared to have been abandoned for some time; there were no lights on, and the only sound came from my footsteps echoing off of the metal walls.

The corridor led me down a set of stairs into a large room. A number of machines sat against the far wall. They had red lights blinking on them with numbers counting down, and what looked like a series of tubes connecting each machine together.

“Don’t touch anything Rogers!”

I heard whispers in my ear from three different people at once. I turned around and found nobody there. “I don’t think this place is safe Cap!” Another voice said in my ear.

“I got a really bad feeling about this Rogers!” Came a third voice.

“Who-?” I began to ask, when suddenly something hit me hard in the back and sent me forward into the machines along the wall. Before I could so much as turn around, another object struck me in the side of the head sending me crashing to the floor unconscious.*

******

*I do not know how long it took me to wake up after that last blow, but when I did, I felt as if someone had taken a club to every part of my body. The first thing that came to mind was ‘Why am I here? Where are my men?’ But then memories began rushing back. The plane crash somehow miraculously landing on water, being attacked by German U-boats, finding this Nazi base in Greenland and exploring it until…then nothing, until now.*

Groaning in pain, I slowly pushed myself up from the cold, hard floor. The room was now dimly lit, with the red lights on the machines casting an eerie glow. I could feel the weight of the silence pressing down on me, suffocating me with its intensity. There was an unsettling air about this place, as if it held secrets too dark to be spoken of.

I glanced around, searching for any sign of my men, but they were nowhere to be seen. Panic began to rise within me, threatening to consume my thoughts. I needed to find them, to make sure they were safe. But as I took a faltering step forward, a voice echoed in my head, cutting through the chaos swirling within.

"Stay where you are, Captain Rogers."

I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. The voice sounded familiar, but it was distorted, as if being transmitted from a great distance. I strained my ears, trying to listen for any other sound, any clue as to what was happening. But all I could hear was the sound of my own ragged breathing.

"Who are you?" I called out, my voice echoing through the empty room.

There was a moment of silence before the voice replied, filled with a chilling certainty. "You will know soon enough, Captain Rogers. But for now, you must comply. Your men are safe... for now."

A shiver ran down my spine, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched. Every corner of the room seemed to hold hidden eyes, peering at me from the shadows. I needed to find my men, to escape this place before it swallowed me whole.

With cautious steps, I made my way towards the exit of the room. The red lights continued to blink, a constant reminder of the countdown that was steadily ticking away. What was this place? And what could the machines possibly be counting down to?

As I reached the door, I noticed a small panel embedded in the wall. It seemed out of place amidst the cold, metal surroundings. Without thinking, I reached out and pressed it, hoping that it would reveal some answers.

To my surprise, the wall next to me slid open, revealing a hidden passageway. The darkness within was impenetrable, like swallowing ink. A surge of determination coursed through me, overshadowing my fear. If there was even the slightest chance of finding my men, I had to take it.

Bracing myself, I stepped into the abyss, the red lights and the voice fading into the distance. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to turn back, to retreat and find safety. But the fire in my bones refused to be extinguished. I would find my men, no matter the cost. And I would uncover the secrets this place held, even if they were more horrifying than I could ever imagine.

As I ventured further into the darkness, I couldn't help but wonder who was behind it all. Were they watching me from the shadows, laughing at my futile attempts to resist? Or were they just as desperate and terrified as I was? One thing was for certain—there was more to this Nazi base than met the eye. And I was determined to uncover its darkest depths, no matter the consequences.

The echo of my footsteps mingled with the haunting melody of the "And all I see is red" song, guiding me deeper into the heart of the unknown. Little did I know, this was just the beginning of a journey that would test my limits, challenge my beliefs, and force me to confront the demons within myself. And as I took each step forward, I couldn't help but wonder if I would ever make it out alive.