Lost Memories

Chapter XIII

« Alright, ladies! » Tony claps his hands, « ready for the show? »

Natasha rolls her eyes at the man's antics. His childish manners have always managed to annoy her to no end.

« Remember, » she growls in his direction, « if she has something even as small as a scratch, only your dentist will be able to recognize you tomorrow. »

Tony loses his smile and visibly gulps. « I promise nothing will happen to her. »

The redhead throws a dark look at him before softening her features and turning towards Carol.

« One word and I am getting you out, love, » she hugs the blonde.

« Don't worry, » Carol whispers softly to her, « You're here. I am safe. »

They pull away and Natasha's knees go weak in front of Carol's determined look. Her brown orbs are filled with pure trust, something Natasha finds both irresistible and terrifying.

With one last smile, Carol walks inside the very same room Natasha was in yesterday and looks around. The blonde breathes deeply while Tony initiates the simulation. Natasha joins him.

« What did you prepare for her? We both know she isn't able to fight as I do. I am teaching her but her skills are nothing against what you sent to me yesterday. »

« Don't worry, I am well aware of this, » Tony replies, his eyes fixed on the screen, « for her, I'll more into mind games. »

« Mind games? »

« She isn't a fighter and we both know many of your memories have been falsified or deleted. I will try to trigger something by using scans of the old facilities you and Rogers brought back during your missions. »

Natasha tenses up, not found at all of this idea. « Tony, are you sure about this? Wanda said that if we go too fast, it could break our minds. »

« Experiences ARE experiences, Red. I am never sure until the test is over. »

« Wait, so you're testing Carol on a « let's see what happens » thing?! »

« It is too late to go back now, » Tony clears his throat, looking at the room.

Following his look, Natasha notices that the simulation has already started. Scoffing, she walks toward it, ready to interfere if necessary. The billionaire better be sure of himself, or Natasha will absolutely destroy him if a single hair is missing on Carol's head.

***

Carol is not so sure it is a good idea anymore. The simulation has just begun and she already feels overwhelmed. Sure, she knows rationally that nothing can happen to her here, especially with Natasha outside, but facing the place where she has been kept captive for so long isn't something that a lot of people would appreciate.

She wanders randomly around the corridors, tensed. Rooms she passes by are filled with tubs and machines she knows by heart, each one of them engraved with a red-hot iron in her soul and flesh. Passing by the guards' rooms, she finds herself in the basement and freezes when she hears a sound. She tries to calm her erratic heartbeat by breathing deeply. Sticking her body to the wall, she looks furtively down the corridor to where the voices are coming from and frowns as they reach her ears more clearly.

Natasha.

Or more precisely, Natasha's muffled voice.

Why is it muffled?

Carol quickly glances around and steps forward when she is sure nobody is around. She walks quicker as Natasha's cries become more vivid, only stopping when she catches a glimpse of a uniform she knows too well. Guards. There are guards in the cell they were held. The problem is: Natasha's voice comes from there too. Her cries are still muffled but Carol can clearly hear the pain coming from them. Why is she in pain? Now that she is closer, other sounds also reach her ears. Groans and more importantly, boots slamming on the ground and hands clapping together.