When The Skyfall.. || Black Widow (English Version)

Chapter 09: Masks

Finally, she reached her floor and approached the door of her apartment with a growing sense of apprehension in her chest. The air was thick with tension as she noticed that something was off. The door seemed slightly ajar, as if it had been forced open. Instinctively, her hands moved behind her back to her waistband, searching for her pistol. She swiftly drew it, feeling its familiar weight in her hands as she held it steady in front of her, ready for any eventuality.

Carefully, Natasha approached the door, staying alert for any sign of danger. She lightly kicked the door, causing it to open slowly, giving her a controlled view of the interior while keeping some cover.

Upon quickly surveying the space, she realized it appeared empty. However, her intuition remained sharp, and she cautiously continued into the apartment, her senses heightened as she searched every corner.

Then, a subtle sound echoed from the door behind her. In a quick and instinctive move, Natasha spun around, her gun aimed at any threat that might appear. Her eyes narrowed, her breath heavy at what... whom her eyes had just encountered.

She took a few seconds to analyze the figure right in front of her. It was human, completely covered in some sort of tactical espionage suit in shades and variations of black. Moreover, their face and head were completely obscured by an unusual mask. The mask featured some kind of visor with multiple "eyes," giving it an almost alien and unsettling appearance.

What caught Natasha's attention and concern at that moment, however, was the fact that this mysterious figure was pointing a Glock G19 at her, in the same manner and position Natasha held her own gun. Both were in mirrored positions, facing each other, locked in a deadly chess match where each player patiently awaited the opponent's next move. The tension was palpable, each heavy breath, each heartbeat echoing like a drum in their chests. Natasha's alert eyes scrutinized every detail of her opponent, searching for any weakness, any advantage. The enigmatic figure, motionless and silent, seemed to be doing the same. It was a clash of wills where the slightest mistake could mean defeat and possibly death. The dim lights of the apartment cast dancing shadows around them. Natasha didn't blink, her muscles tense and ready to react at the slightest sign of danger. The figure, equally still, held the Glock steady, the electronic eyes of the mask glowing with an intensity that suggested unwavering vigilance.

Amidst her wait for the right moment, a honking sound echoed throughout the apartment from the street. For Natasha, this seemed like the perfect moment to act. In a swift and precise movement, she lunged forward, raising the hand holding her gun toward the Glock of the masked figure. In a split second, she managed to disarm her opponent and wrest the gun from their hand.

However, as she returned to her position and aimed the gun at her adversary, Natasha noticed something strange: the pistol that had been in her hand moments before was no longer there. Her eyes narrowed in confusion as she scanned the surroundings, trying to understand what had happened.

That's when she saw her own gun in the hands of her opponent. In an instant, she understood the situation. Both had performed the exact same move simultaneously. This was... unexpected, to say the least. Natasha had never faced someone who could match her speed and precision in this way. The standoff now was even more tense, both staring at each other, each holding the gun that had previously belonged to the other. Natasha studied the figure in front of her, trying to understand more about this enigmatic opponent. Heavy breaths and fixed eyes, assessing every detail. The silence in the apartment was absolute, only interrupted by the distant sound of traffic outside. The scene was frozen in time, the two combatants in a delicate and dangerous balance. Each knew that the next move could be decisive, and the tension in the air was almost palpable.

Amidst all this silence, the unexpected happened. One of the opponents took the initiative. And unfortunately, it wasn't Natasha. The redhead only had the chance to feel her gun being taken away from her when a well-aimed kick was delivered to her belly. The impact sent her flying towards the entrance door, which, because it was open at that moment, caused her to collide with the door frame. Before she could recover from the impact, Natasha glimpsed a shadow - the hooded figure - approaching and grabbing her body, slamming her against the other side of the door frame. Pain shot through her back, but the determination in her eyes didn't waver.