𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗗 𝗛𝗔𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗗 : bucky barnes

THREE

The air in the room puts an odd taste in my mouth. I try to breathe as little as possible to avoid smelling it continuously, though nothing about this place is appealing. I have never been in this area of the Red Room, and the unfamiliarity is unsettling. It's like the waiting rooms we've seen in the very few moving pictures we were permitted to watch. There is no color to any aspect, beige and grays scattered around in a mediocre attempt to make the concrete walls less harsh.

I have been sitting here for an hour, I think. From what I can tell they've been calling in Widows every ten minutes. There are nine others sitting around me in the uncomfortable chairs, nervously waiting to hear their name echo throughout the unkept room. No one has spoken a word despite the Superiors telling us we are allowed to speak amongst ourselves quietly. The anticipation has kept us silent - everyone lost in thought, trying to guess what their starter mission will be.

There's a loud clicking noise, and I notice the door securing us here swings open. One of the three Superiors that stands at the doorframe looks at her paper then up again.

"Widow 77-7, Harper." Her voice echos through the room, and I take in a shaky breath. My turn.

Anastasia and I make eye contact for a brief moment before I go. Her eyes are filled with melancholy, almost begging me not to go. For the first time in years, I see a child sitting in front of me, rather than the amazing Widow she's become. There's an unspoken understanding that this may be the last time we see each other. I try not to care, knowing we aren't to make friends, but I can't help when the dread begins to pool in my stomach. All I can do is hope they won't send her on an impossible mission. She's outshined every one of us.

I raise from my seat and walk over to the Superiors. I am pushed through the large metal door as it slams behind me. In front of me is a long hallway, and the dread previously running through my body turns to excitement. The Superiors push my shoulders and force me forward, making our way down the silent hallway. As I continue forward, I realize how perfectly kept the area around me is. The floors creak here and there, but they're spotless, and not a single tile is chipped or scratched. I admire the Red Room's precision and attention to detail, not only when it comes to instructing, but also cleanliness.

We reach the door at the end of the hall and I realize the pressure of what's about to happen. Despite the millions of thoughts running through my head, I hold my composure as the Superior opens the door. I enter the room and realize it's an office. Sitting at the desk is Madame B, scribbling on a stack of papers. I stand at the doorway waiting for her to acknowledge me. She doesn't look up from her writing until her pen appears to run out of ink. She sighs then presses her lips together, bringing her attention to me, and I feel the need to apologize for disturbing her, though this was clearly a scheduled meeting.

"Sit." She beckons, and I hurriedly follow her demand. "You are lucky to be sitting here in front of me this morning, 77.You should be thankful."

I nod slowly, unsure if I am permitted to speak or not. The Red Room has a strict rule for only speaking when you are spoken to, but it can be difficult to tell if a Superior is going to tolerate your voice or not. However, she stares at me expectantly, and I get the hint she's waiting for me to speak. "I am forever grateful to the Red Room for giving me a second chance."

She looks satisfied with the answer, and continues her speech. "I have assigned you to a mission, though I have my doubts about you. You are falling behind the rest of your class, and I refuse to be liable for a failed mission because a Widow I trained was incompetent. Because of this, I am pairing you with another agent."

This catches me off guard, and my heart rate quickens again. I have thought of a million possibilities, but being paired with another agent wasn't one of them. What type of mission only calls for two?