𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗗 𝗛𝗔𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗗 : bucky barnes

TWO

Determination to stay alive keeps me from panic. Panic is a character flaw, and that alone could get me killed. A perfect widow stays calm and calculated, constantly evaluating the situation at hand and how to overcome it.

I dart my eyes around the room, looking at my classmates. However they chose to eliminate the useless extra widow, I need to be ready. The girls I grew up with go from my friends to targets almost instantly.

If we're going to fight each other, Eve is going down first. She's exceptional on her feet, but she's easily disoriented. It wouldn't be hard to snap her neck.

However, if it's a test of physical strength, Marina or I will fall. I'm short compared to the other girls, and I've never been able to build muscle easily. I am strong, but not strong enough. Maybe thats why I'm here.

My mind runs through the endless possibilities of tests until we're told to line shoulder to shoulder. We aren't in first or third position, so it's unlikely we'll be doing any dancing.

"None of you gathered here have a place in the world." Madame B scolds. "And because I believe you're all equally worthless, I won't be doing the elimination."

The energy in the room immediately shifts. Ever since she began teaching us, Madame has always been the one to choose who suffers. She finds satisfaction in hitting us with her hickory cane, or calling in the Black-Coats to haul us away.

"Выбери одного и убей, солдат." Choose one and kill, soldier.

The Superior with the metal arm steps closer. He pulls at his holster and removes his gun, pacing in front of us.

I have never seen his face, or even heard his name. However, every time I see him my head screams to run away. His eyes are a lifeless blue, and his black mask contrasts their color. He towers over most of us. His features never show any form of emotion, it's almost like he's a walking corpse.

He scans each one of us with his unforgiving eyes, looking to see something he doesn't like. Every widow seemingly shrinks under his gaze; like small animals looking up at their prey before they're ultimately ripped apart.

When he finally reaches me, I hold my posture, looking straight ahead. I don't dare blink as he stares. The air is still, and its so quiet I'm convinced you could hear a pin drop. His eyes dart over every corner of my face, then body, and I wonder what it is he's looking for.

After what feels like hours, he finally steps back. Relief rushes over my body. I am going to make it to graduation. I think of Anastasia, how her eyes will light up when she sees me again. How happy we'll be for each other.

My celebration is short lived. Suddenly, he moves so fast I barely have time to register whats happening. He grabs the front of my belt and pulls me forward, pressing the barrel of the gun to my temple.

My stomach drops. He chose me.

I break my eyes from the wall in front of me and look him in the eyes. Some part of me hopes that he'll see life in my eyes. Maybe potential. Anything to stop him from shooting.

And as we hold eye contact, I see nothing but an animal inches away from my face. No matter how hard I try, I can't find a speck of humanity in him. His eyes stare me down with unwavering malice. And I realize this is the first and last time he has ever looked at me.

From the corner of my eye, I see Marina's lips curl into a menacing smile. Madame B matches the same expression, and I realize they want a show. They want to see me beg for my life.

I refuse to give them their entertainment. I don't cry, I just stare straight at him, matching his unwavering expression. I am no longer pleading for my life with my eyes, I just glare.

The gun shoots. I feel no pain, and my heart is pounding out of my chest. The soldier's arm is extended to my right, and as I follow it with my eyes, I see Marina's smirk has been wiped off her face. She lays crumpled on the floor at her feet, blood pooling out of her head, lifeless.

I look back the Superior, and he's already looking me dead in the eyes. After a moment he releases my belt and steps back to his place behind Madame B,

The Black-Coats rush in and begin cleaning Marina's body away. Eve has blood splattered on the bottom half of her suit, but she doesn't react. She stays solid as a statue.

"Now." Madame clears her throat, "You all are going to be escorted by a Superior. He will take you to the medical wing, and separate all four of you. Once you are finished with your graduation, we will return back and rest." She smiles, indicating we can too. I look over and see Eve and Samaia smiling at each other - despite the red mess across the floor.

I give a shaky smile, looking back at Madame B. If the situation was different, I truly would be smiling. Seeing others fail only makes me look better, and I don't have the slightest empathy for Marina. However, knowing that it was going to be me leaving the room in a body bag, I can't help but feel nauseous.

My eyes drift from Madame to the Superior behind her. He continues to stare at me over his mask. I tilt my back slightly, sending a glare so sharp it could cut, just to show him he does not scare me.

⧗

I stare up at the ceiling. The room is pitch black, so there's no real reason to be staring, but I can't manage to close my eyes. I usually sleep on my left side. But my stomach hurts, so I stay on my back. The doctors gave us shots that speed the healing process, however, they said it would take a nights rest before we'd begin feel better.

They haven't told us what they did to us, but most of us assume it was a hysterectomy. I don't mind if it is, the uterus is a useless organ and will never be anything more than an inconvenience. If anything, I am glad it was removed.

Anastasia pretends to be fine with it, but I can see in her eyes she isn't. I'm not sure why, though. We will never have kids. Or boyfriends. They're also a worthless waste of time, and nothing is more important than our missions - than the Red Room.

I haven't told her about my encounter earlier today. She seemed tired and upset, and I didn't want to worry her further. Especially since we're being assigned our first missions tomorrow. I haven't been able to stop thinking about what I might be sent to do. All I know is I want to prove myself again, show them I am not worth killing. That I belong at the top of the class.