22

THE FALL

Monica heard about the Avengers taking down Hydra bases across the globe since they discovered the infiltration in SHIELD. The downfall of SHIELD freed the Wintersoldier, which that alone sent chills running down her spine, it took down Alexander Pierce's whole Hydra sector and SHIELD with it. A part of her prayed and knew it was only a matter of time before hers was next.

She was locked in my cell. It was cramped and dirty with only a lumpy mattress and the tiniest bathroom that most-likely couldn't fit two people. She was still mentally recovering from the last mission, her brain stung from the wiping and controlling. And she was waiting for the void of memories to be filled. All she could do was stare out the small, foggy window at all the commotion outside. The girl's fists were stuck in cuffs that covered the entirety of her hands and stopped her from using her powers, while a shock collar circled circled her neck which prevented her abilities from even working. They weren't going to bring Monica out, they couldn't risk losing their most valuable weapon.

With the Wintersoldier gone, Monica was their top soldier. They didn't have the broody, metal-armed scary man to clean up their messes; just an eighteen year old whom they'd stolen and illegally experimented on.

Monica watched as Captain America and Thor connected their weapons, sending the lines of soldiers flying in all directions. A few rolled onto their sides, hands clutching their ribs while others lay still. Captain America, the favourite golden Avenger. Monica had a small pang in her chest; a cross of anguish and rage. He liked to save people, she wished he was around when she needed saving. His flashy shield in his hand, stance strong and confident. Monica always wondered if she could match him in a fight. As for Thor, he intimidated her. Sure, she never met him or anything; but he was a god... from space. 

What really caught her eye was a light blue blur streaking past in only a second, one blink at the wrong time and she'd miss it, which left Captain Rogers on his ass. Monica tilted her head in utter confusion as he got up. Shaking her head as they both split up, she dropped onto the lumpy and dirty mattress, leaning her dark hair covered head on the stone wall.

After the attack, Monica had an epiphany; the Avengers left, the base was cleared by agents and no one found the girl who was restrained in the tiny dungeon. She was going to die there. She had no way of freeing herself, no way to contact anyone or ability to get out of the cuffs. She couldn't even use her powers because of the shock collar. This was it, her ending.

In the next few days, she swear she just about lost it. Her stomach was constantly getting mad at her for the lack of food. Monica couldn't bring herself to sleep, which wasn't out of the ordinary; sleep brought out her demons and staying awake kept them down. So when the bolts on the cell door were clicking on the other side and it swung open, Monica thought she'd finally drifted into psychosis.

In stepped a pretty brunette girl, curly hair, bright eyes. She was very familiar, something in the girl tugged in recognition. It was as if a memory should be there but wasn't. Like a missing puzzle piece that she knew was nearby but hidden. She looked as surprised to see Monica as she did her. She rose to her feet and backed further into the cell as the stranger approached, the cuff chains connected to the floor sliding with me with a screech. "I didn't know there was anyone left." Her Sokovian accent was thick, which made sense as they were in Sokovia.

"Who are you?" Monica demanded, eyes sharp and alert. She may be restrained, but she can still kick ass if need be. "What are you doing here?"
"My name is Wanda, Wanda Maximoff." She held her hands up as if to claim peace. "I'm not here to hurt you, I promise. Here, let me get you out of those." She motioned to the cuffs covering Monica's  hands. The name was so familiar, so close to being there. But it wasn't.

She shuffled out quickly, only to return with a set of keys that were set outside, strung up onto the door. She first took off the collar and then pushed the key into the lock and twisted, the click of the lock opening freeing her. Monica paused for a moment before swiftly tackling her to the ground and straddling her waist. "Who the fuck are you and what do you want?" She sent a telekinetic blast to the window, glass breaking and picked up a piece that fell near us and held it to her throat.

"I already told you!" She said, alarmed by the sudden attack. "My name is-"

"Yeah, I heard. Who sent you, Strucker? The Avengers?"

"Wanda!" Another voice, a males voice also Sokovian, called from down the hall as footsteps grew louder and louder. "What was the bang?!"

She opened her mouth but with a press of the glass, she paused. "Say one word and I'll slit your throat." the threat was empty, Monica didn't want to kill her. It turned out to be useless anyway when a platinum blonde boy ran into the room, taking in the scene before him. Again, a familiar tug struck her. But it still wasn't there.

"What the hell is this?!" He looked at the girl who was pinned on the dirty ground. "You said you were going exploring."

"I found her, in here, restrained."

"I can see why." He grumbled and in a streak of blue Monica was pushed off her and into a wall. Now, the tables were turned as the wind was knocked from her as her body made contact with that wall. "Who are you?"

The two were only inches apart, too close for the agent to jump up and kick him away. She knew there was only one way to get out of this. A) piss them off to the point they'd either kill me, or let me wither away in the cell or B) I run my mouth.

Sighing in fake defeat, Monica rolled her. "I'm agent 22, from sector B."

"Sector B?" The girl, who was now standing, asked, walking over to where the boy held Monica in place. "We spent time in Sector B, what's your name?"

The agent let out a dry laugh. "Does that really matter?"

"Just answer the question." The boy spoke through gritted teeth.

"Monica. My name is Monica." This, for whatever reason, made his contact falter slightly and Monica was able to bring her legs between their bodies and push kick him away. She wasted no time jumping over him and bolting out the door, into the hall where she began running like her life depended on it.

     They were from the same Sector as her and somehow, they knew her; it made no sense, shouldn't she remember them? She took a quick, stupid glance back before colliding with something cold and stumbled back, gasping for air, hitting her head off the cold stone ground.