The White Widow

Chapter 4

Both girls stood frozen. Kate was left speechless. How did they know Yelena's name? She still didn't know much about being a widow or the Red Room, but Kate couldn't help but think, was this them?

Kate was feeding off Yelena's fear. Kate studied the shorter woman closely, and she saw Yelena's rigid composure start to crack. Whether it was the slight quiver of Yelena's lips or the growing layer of sweat on the blondes face. It could've been the way her breath hitched in her throat or the way the gun was slowly being lowered to point at the floor. It could've been all those cues, but what really showed Yelena's facade cracking was her eyes. The look they held was chilling. It left Kate feeling ill.

Kate was alarmed, to say the least. She had never seen Yelena so broken, so afraid. The girls shared one more fleeting glance at one another, both overcome with a sense of dread and torment. In that moment, Kate had a front row seat to Yelena's downfall. The gun in her hands clattered to the living room floor, and not even seconds later, the front door was busted off its hinges. Yelena flinched violently, hands back in front of her defensively as she took several unsteady steps backward until her back was firmly against the same wall as earlier.

Kate watched as three women in black leather suits marched into the house. The women began searching and clearing any and all rooms in the house. Entering last was a middle-aged man with grey slicked back hair and thick glasses. He was dressed formally in an expensive black suit. Kate didn't dare move or speak. As of now, these people paid no attention to her it was as if she wasn't even there. They were here for Yelena.

"Hello, my beautiful little girl."  The man spoke in Russian. Kate had no idea as to what was being said, but judging by Yelena's reaction, it wasn't anything good.
"You are in trouble, my little Yelena." God, Kate really wished she knew Russian.

Yelena squirmed each time he spoke. Her body language did nothing to help reassure Kate. Instead, it frightened her more. The man approached Yelena, who in turn cowarded on the floor. She buried face in her knees and began pleading in English and Russian. Yelena was shaking uncontrollably and was inconsolable. Yelena sobbed loudly and started rocking back and forth. Kate stood by motionless, just watching the scene unfold in front of her. Should she do something? Could she do anything? Kate was pulled from her thoughts as Yelena let out a heartbreaking yelp. Kate focused on the man who was now kneeling in front of Yelena. Without thinking, Kate reached out to stop him from touching Yelena, but she was quickly held still by two of the women.

The man stood back up straight and finally directed his attention to Kate. Her heart skipped, and she heId her breath as she made eye contact.

"Where are my manners?" He chuckled and reached an open palm towards Kate. A quiet invitation to shake.

Kate hesitated. She glanced briefly at Yelena, who still held her gaze firmly on the floor. Too afraid to move. Kate looked back at the open hand and dubiously shook his hand.

"Dreykov. Pleasure to meet you, Kate Bishop." His accent was thick and scratchy.

Upon hearing her name, Kate flintched and tore her hand from his dry and aggressive hands. Her puzzled look told Dreykov, she truly was shocked to hear him speak her name.

"How-"

"I am General Dreykov. I know everything and everyone." He paused, looking at his surroundings before continuing. "I have been studying you. Following you."

"What? Why?" Kate asked, afraid of the answer.

"For her." He stated simply. "I spent years searching for her. I must say, thank you."

"For what?"

"For leading me to her." Dreykov looked down at Yelena and smiled. "I finally have you back. I will never let you go again."

Yelena's teary eyes promptly looked up at Kate, who could easily see the panic in her eyes.  It was then did Kate realise that she royally fucked up.

"Wait! NO!" Again, Kate attempted to reach out, but was swiftly restrained by the women that remaind at her sides.

"Kate Bishop." Dreykov started, "l am not big on chances. The women you see here are Widows. My widows. They can kill you without breaking a sweat. Now, I will be taking Yelena with me. Do you understand?"

Without waiting for a reply, Dreykov kneeled down once more. He attempted to grab Yelena's arms, but she recoiled as if she had been burned and instintively put her hands up, fully expecting to be slapped for pulling away from Dreykov, but the slap never came. What happened instead was Yelena began pleading for her life in Russian. Begging for mercy.

Kate couldn't keep her emotions in check anymore. Yelena's intense distress and full on breakdown tore Kate's heart apart and she too began crying.

Dreykov sighed. "Do not worry, Yelena. I will restore you to your full potential. Come, little one. We have work to do."

Losing his patience, Dreykov raised his hand and roughly gripped the back of Yelena's neck, rendering her immediately submissive. Kate was horrified as she watched Dreykov manhandle Yelena and berate her in Russian. He spoke harshly, mere inches from Yelena's face before relinquishing his grasp on Yelena's neck and abruptly standing up

Dreykov motioned a Widow to approach. The only widow, not currently restraining Kate, moved towards Dreykov. The widow nodded and handed him a syringe of red liquid. Yelena glanced at the vial and began violently thrashing around. Desperate to escape, Yelena began fighting. She looked like a wild animal. Her eyes held raw and unfiltered fear.

Kate watched helplessly as Yelena kicked and punched anyone nearby. Dreykov backed up quietly, unfazed at Yelena's explosive behavior, as if it were expected. He simply waved the other widows to join. All three women, unemotionally, turned to the now frantic Yelena, who had been backed into a corner.

Yelena was being viciously held down by the three widows,  but Yelena was the greatest Child assassin for a reason. It would take much more than a few widows to overpower her.

The first widow throws two quick punches, which Yelena deflects easily and swiftly kicks the widows jaw. As she stumbles backwards, another widow promptly takes her place. The second widow puts up more of a fight than her predecessor, but she too is quickly dispatched off and the final widow takes her place. Yelena has barely broken a sweat. Kate and Dreykov are just watching with a mixture of awe and pride. Yelena speedily takes down the final widow and her eyes glance between Kate and Dreykov. Kate's eyes hold pity while Dreykov stares in admiration.

As the widows recover one by one. Yelena's eyes frantically scanned the room, looking for an escape? a weapon? or both? Kate wasn't so sure. Yelena's eyes zeroed in on something on the floor. Within a split second, Yelena dove to the floor, grabbed the gun she discarded earlier and was back in the corner. This time, gun in hand.

Yelena didn't dare point the gun at Dreykov, so she turned the gun to the next best thing. Herself. Dreykov's eyes widened and he called off the widows, who retreated instantly. Kate's eyes widened in horror. Seeing Yelena, the woman she loved, aim a gun at her own head, made her sick. Would Yelena really shoot herself?

For several tense moments, nobody spoke and nobody dared to move. Yelena looked into Kate's eyes and mouthed an apology. Before Kate could even react, Yelena closed her eyes. Kate could see Yelena relax, like all her troubles vanished. Yelena's shoulders dropped in relief and she pulled the trigger with a slight smile.

It was all over.