Chapter IX

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Warnings: none

I split the revised version of the chapter in two, here is the first part

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Nina Egorov
  "When will she wake up?"
  "I don't know, it might take a while."
The voices sounded muffled, as if she was underwater. She wanted to open her eyes, to see what was happening around her, but all attempts failed. None of her muscles responded to her brain's commands. She had felt like this before, several times, if truth be told. But the one time, she could remember exactly. It had been several years ago. The anaesthetic had only been intended to immobilise her, but had not affected her consciousness in whatsoever way. So, she heard and felt everything that happened, everything that was done to her. Even now, years later, these memories haunted her. Sometimes they mingled with the other images that haunted her dreams. Sometimes they were all alone.

Three sets of footsteps moved in the room. Footsteps were easy to count. They moved away, a door was opened, six feet moved further away and the door was closed. Once again, she focussed all her willpower on moving her fingers, maybe something small would work. No success. She might as well have been encased in concrete. But then she wouldn't be able to breathe; something positive for once.
When she gave up, simply surrendering to the silence, it took less than two minutes for the darkness to catch her and pull her into a world of sleep.

Nina awoke slowly. In a cold sweat, she lay on the mattress, which was not particularly soft, more like one that would be recommended by orthopaedists. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest, as it did every time after one of the nightmares woke her from sleep. Very slowly, millimetre by millimetre, she began to try the movement again. Starting with her fingers, just a little bit; it worked. She let out a relieved breath. Much of the drug had lost its effect and was now slowly being broken down by her body.
  She started at her feet, moving them minimally, travelling up her body. Everything seemed normal, though the slight rustling of the blanket over her body did not escape her notice, nor did the sharp pain in her side as she tensed her abdominal muscles. When she reached her hands, lifting them slightly, she held back a little. Her right hand was tied and the faint metallic sound indicated something similar to a handcuff. Of course she was restrained. Even with the strong anaesthetic, they probably wanted to make sure she didn't just jump up. She was probably with the people who had taken her; the Avengers. She had seen the logo shortly after she had woken up in the cell. But if she was still with them, then they had misplaced it, because in no cell in the world would you wake up so softly. Nina sucked in the air, an almost acrid smell of disinfectant hung in the air. Just like in a hospital, she thought.

 For 4 minutes she had just been lying there, eyes closed, listening for every little sound; nothing. It was now or never. Eyes still closed, she slowly began to sit up, expecting to be knocked down again any second. But that didn't happen. And so, she dared to open her eyes, closing them again immediately as cold white light stung her pupils. She looked around, her eyes had become accustomed to the brightness and were now able to visualise her surroundings. It was probably the most luxurious hospital room she had ever seen. Even if she had to admit that she had hardly seen any real ones from the inside. It was large but only contained one bed, the bed she was lying in. The walls were a light colour, white, perhaps a subtle blue tinge; or beige? A single chair stood next to her bed. Instinctively, she reached out and placed her hand briefly on the seat; it was still warm, it couldn't have been long since someone had sat there. She had probably woken up shortly after the person had left the room. A lucky coincidence.
  Her eyes travelled around the room. The windows had no bars and this large pane gave a view of a corridor on one side. The other wall also had a window without bars, much larger than the one inside. She must have been on an upper floor, because even sitting down, she could see no more through the window than the grey-blue sky outside. But something else caught her eye and immediately got her undivided attention; cameras. Small surveillance cameras were embedded in the ceiling and really easy to miss.

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