The hospital room had plain white walls not peeling or dirty, no signs of blood. Just white. On the hospital bed laid a girl covered in bandages, her cuts were now closed up with stitches. She laid there with her eyes closed but she was fully conscious, listening to the beeping machine that surrounded her bed. Her heartbeat was the only indication of her existence. After a few minutes had gone past she slowly opened her eyes, taking in the bland hospital room, she was attached to multiple machines by her bedside with wires and cables.
In the corner of the room where there was a blue couch, laid a tall light-skinned male with curly dark hair, he seemed at least 6 foot. Although his features were breathtaking, the girl could only focus her attention on the gun lying on the table next to him.
She lifted the sheets off her body and carefully attempted to get out of the bed. Once on her feet, she fought off the drowsiness and nausea whilst pulling the plug out of the machines and taking out the cables that were attached to her skin.
The gun was now within arm's length, his eyes were still closed when she slowly reached for it. His hand like a snake shot up to grab the gun but he was too slow. The gun was in the hands of his opponent.
As if it was her instinct she cocked the gun back and pointed it right at him, exactly the way she was told to in training. However, the reaction she got was what took her by surprise. He had a smirk plastered on his face with an eyebrow raised. He showed no fear, not like her other victims.
"Hello love," His voice was raspy and low.
"You seem awfully calm for someone who's about to die," She states tightening her grip on the firearm.
He shrugged clearly amused by her lack of empathy, "I learnt from the best."
"You have 60 seconds to tell me why I'm here, why your people saved me and who that guy was."
"You're here because this is where you belong, we saved you because you were drowning and the guy," he paused, "that was Roman."
It took her a few minutes to process what he said, he looked at her like he could see the cogs turning in her head, "None of this makes any sense, I've never seen this place in my whole life. Are we even still in Russia?"
"No, we're not. Listen to me," he attempted to reach for her hand, noticing how she flinched at his touch. His hurt expression was all she saw when she moved away. "I can't answer all your questions right now...but you have to trust me on this, we're here to help you. I would never ever hurt you."
She wasn't the girl who trusted people, there wasn't a single person who she trusted. Trust was earned not only by words but by actions. In spite of that, the look in his eyes felt familiar to her somehow, that feeling of being home. That's what it felt like looking into his eyes.
"I can't promise my full cooperation." She admitted, "What's your name?"
He smiled, seeing her attempt to try and understand, "Theo Grey."
"Theo Grey," She tested the name on her lips, then offered her hand to him. "I'm Natasha Romanoff."
He took her hand and shook it, regardless of what her name was. "You should get some rest, you've got fractured ribs and internal bleeding."
"But I feel fine." She lied ignoring the shooting pain every time she moved, all she wanted was answers and lying in bed wasn't going to get her anywhere. "I need to get back to work."
"No darling. Not happening." He stated, "There's clothes in the bathroom, get changed and I'll take you for some food."
"Again. Don't tell me what to do." She pressed. "...and just a heads up, it's empty." She said throwing the gun at him.
***
Roman struggled to breathe as Natasha held him up against the wall by his throat. He really had underestimated her strength, she was smaller than him but nevertheless, she had no trouble holding him up by his throat.
"I'll ask you again," She uttered cocking her head to the side, "You saved me. What do you want from me?" Theo stood at the other side of the hallway with the base of his right foot against the wall, his arms were crossed over his chest and a smug look was on his face.
"I- I- I can't breath," he croaked, his face was turning pink as he pulled at her wrists.
She released her hand from his throat causing him to fall to the ground, "I'll explain everything in the office." He coughed, caressing his throat.
The two boys lead her towards a set of brown double doors, where they stood glancing at each other and the door. Natasha looked at the two boys as if to say 'what are you waiting for' and pushed the heavy doors open.
Behind it was a huge rectangular table with 6 seats around it, three were occupied. At the top sat an elderly man who had olive skin, and grey hair. To his right sat a boy, dirty blonde hair, hazel eyes and freckles. She knew this was Gabriel when she analysed him, you couldn't miss the resemblance between the two Italian boys. Next to him was a girl, a pretty girl with white wavy hair and big brown eyes. Theo and Roman sat opposite them leaving one last seat opposite the old man.
Natasha sat down and clasped her hands together on top of the table. "So I have questions, and you know the answers." They all shifted in their seats unsure of what to say.
"Sweetheart," The freckled boy spoke breaking the silence, "The Russians wiped your memory. They brainwashed you."
"Gabe!" Blondy shouted smacking him across the back of his head.
"First of all, OW! Second of all, She needs to know!"
Natasha's eyebrows creased at the centre as she looked between the two, "Brainwashed?"
This time the old man was the first to speak, "You're my granddaughter Natasha."
"Is this some kind of game to you all? Because if it is I don't find it funny, I don't have a family." She spoke her voice was firm but she was slowly starting to doubt herself.
"Natasha Romanoff was the girl who they trained you to be. An assassin, you were the Soviets greatest weapon." Robin said whilst Natasha shook her head refusing to think that this was true. "You were sold to the Russians - the KGB by someone called Sebastian Garcia. The Red Room is where they trained you, remember L, I met you there." The desperation in her voice was what made it all believable.
"I have a video footage of when they erased your memory." Roman spoke, "I took it during the rescue operation."
Theo carefully placed his hand over Natasha's gently rubbing his thumb over hers. "Hey, it might be hard to watch, just tell us if it's too much for you. Okay?"
For once Natasha didn't know what to expect, normally she would have a plan in her head but this time she couldn't predict what was going to happen. That's why all she did was nodded at Theo.
The tv screen placed above the fireplace lit up, on it was a CCTV footage of a room which looked so familiar yet Natasha couldn't remember where she had seen it. In the middle was a hospital chair, like the ones you see at the dentist. But who was sat in it was what surprised her. It was her. She didn't look scared though, it appeared she had been crying due to the redness of her eyes, but she wasn't scared. Then, a young girl walked into the frame, and she knew this girl...it was Dimitri's girlfriend.
"Maybe I'm doing you a favour..." the girl said connecting cables into the other girl's head. "I'm helping you forget about this miserable life of yours. You know with everyone trying to kill you?" She cackled.
You know what, you are doing me a favour. There's nothing I want more than to erase your ugly face from my head." The girl retorted.
"Enough talk." Came a man's voice although he couldn't be seen on the CCTV footage. "Switch it on." A piece of cloth was stuffed into the girl's mouth. Just as when the machine behind her came to life, electricity pulsed through the cables and into the girl's head.
...and that was when the screaming began.
"This goes on for about 5 hours," Roman stated refusing to make eye contact with anyone. "I can't watch it." He shook his head whilst pressing a button on the remote to fast forward the footage.
"What's your name?" Came the man's voice again.
The girl was still in the chair, her eyes drooped further than earlier, the bags under her eyes appeared darker. It was like there was a distance between her and the world.
"I- I don't know." She shook her head, "I can't.. remember."
"Your name is Natasha Romanoff, we found you on the streets and bought you here." Said the man. "You have no family, an orphan."
"My name is Natasha Romanoff. You found me on the streets. I have no family." She repeated like an automated robot.
The man chuckled, a fearsome chuckle that still sent chills down her spine, "My dad failed the first time...But this time, YOU will be my greatest creation."
"Keep her off the radar. She's not to be seen outside the Red Room until she's ready." He instructed.
The screen flashed black and the room was silent. All eyes were on Natasha but she too had no words. Instead, she was trying to understand all the emotions that she was feeling all at once. Gabe saw how her hands had started to tremble but before he could do anything she had abruptly stood up and left the room.