She blinked twice. Her head hurt. Wetness crept down her forehead. Katherine was horrified. No longer did Sterling listen to her. He denied her access to the Winter Soldier. He said she had grown too fond of him.
He hurt her. Sterling had busted her head open. He threw her on the ground. He wanted to beat her— punish her. Katherine apologized several times. Nothing had worked. He would not listen to her. She feared for what came next after the beating.
He held her down. He forced a needle into her arm. Katherine felt tired suddenly. She wanted to stop fighting against his strong grip. Her body sagged as her vision began to darken. Sterling dragged her unconscious self to a Hydra laboratory.
He informed the doctor of her condition, "Katherine is weak-minded. Her powers of mind manipulation do not equate to her own pitiful mental strength. She is weak. She needs to be stronger. Do it." The doctors began by examining her. They evaluated her physical form. They recognized her strengths and weaknesses, as they prepare her for the Super Soldier formula. The Winter Soldier was right. Katherine will never be able to escape Sterling— Hydra.
She awoke to him, Sterling. Katherine remembered him. He was the one that saved her. Her mind conjured several loving memories of him. He was the one that rescued her from her abusive household. It was where she received that cut on her forehead. She loved him.
He told her that.
Katherine, at last, had something to believe in— Hydra. She had a new family. She walked down the halls of her new home when she came across a young man with long black tresses, covering his face. She recognized him. His presence felt familiar. Katherine could not remember his name.
She reached for his metal arm, "What is your name?"
"It is of no importance. You know who I am. I am your savior. I made you stronger." She was confused. "I am the reason you were created. You fell for me— not Hydra. I am your sire." Katherine was nevertheless still unable to understand. "I am the man you fell in love with— not Hydra, not with this cause. Sterling was right. You were once weak. Now you are strong. Emotions are for the pitiful. Who are you? Who are you now?" He continued to aggressively question her.
"I am Hydra. We are Hydra." Her heart contradicted each word that came out of her mouth. Katherine? She did not understand. Who was she? Everything felt wrong. The image of white flakes of snow reverberated across her mind, as she thought of the young man that stood before her.
