The Mind of a Soldier [1]

3

The mission went well. They got in, they got out and the targets were eliminated. Most importantly no one had found the hidden shield in Alena's cell. She had hid it underneath her mattress, in between the bars that supported it. She never took it out just in case they were watching, but knowing that it was there somehow made her feel safer. Especially when she dreamed about the mysterious yet familiar Pietro and Wanda.

Now, at thirteen years old, Alena could still feel the plastic shield underneath her bed, and the memories of that mission haunted her forever more. Sure, they had sent her on other missions but nothing that included children. Maybe it's because she got so distracted by it, or maybe it was just the way the cards were laid out. Either way she didn't complain, she had her own visions to worry about. Although Pietro and Wanda hadn't appeared in her brain within years, she still thought about them way too much, with one night in particular...

They all sat down at the dinner table. Pietro and Wanda on either side of Alena arguing over who gets to feed her the baby food. (She felt much smaller and chubbier in this dream for some reason). Two adults sat at the other end of the table. The male trying to calm the two teens while the woman only smirked whispering words directly to her "Those two can get like that sometimes, but don't worry, they'll be there for you if you need them"  She felt like this woman could see into her soul, like she was actually there. Alena felt compelled to say the word "Mom" before there was a loud crashing sound outside. Pietro immediately leapt to his feet alert and aware. There was another crashing noise, this time right above their heads.

Alena jerked awake almost screaming at the top of her lungs. It had all felt so real, and the people she saw, she knew them, she had a connection to them. Somehow.

Knowing she couldn't write or draw the dreams in her notebook anymore, (Pierce was sure to find out) she kept them deep within her mind. Memorizing each facial expression and voice that went along with them. They were hidden and unnoticeable, which is why she was so terrified when Pierce himself strutted into her cell that morning.

"Sleep well?" he asked not giving a damn about the answer, so she didn't reply. "I was looking over your first mission report from a few years ago, it seems it went well, except for the odd distractions" She still saw the young boy and all his toys  vividly in her head. Legos, action figures and finally the mother's kiss on his forehead. Before she hadn't had the slightest idea what that felt like, but after that dream she could now remember two lips gently touching her forehead. They belonged to someone called Mom. 

"Do I have a family?" Without thinking the young girl blurted the words out not realizing how random it really was. Pierce, feeling highly offended as he was just interrupted by a child, narrowed his eyes at her. She immediately tried to pull back placing her hands in her lap and giving full attention to him, as if nothing ever happened. But something did.

"No, you do not have a family. That is why you are here with us. We are as close to family as you will ever get. Nothing more." She felt a pang in her stomach as Peirce's words hit.  

"But my mother sh-"

"Your mother was a whore and a criminal. She had sex with way too many men and abandoned you at our doorstep" His words boomed and echoed around the room, furious bur he wasn't the only one frustrated. A flame sparked inside Alena and grew within seconds, why should she listen to this man? why should she trust a word he said to her? why was she even here in the first place? why wasn't she normal? With so much negative energy Alena seethed with anger ready to pounce and punch him right in the gut. She could do it, right there and then, but with one stone cold glare Pierce locked the door of opportunity shut. Noticing his hand reach for the tazer conveniently placed on his side Alena was shot back  with fear, remembering the pain of that thing, remembering why she didn't talk back, because no matter what her little mind came up with Pierce always had a counter attack locked and loaded.  "End of discussion" he said and with that he walked out of the room, taking his clunky business shoes with him.

Alena bolted towards the wall tracing all of the painted letters one by one  with her heart racing and the world spinning. It was like some religious ritual. over and over again her finger curved and skidded against the concrete. She continued for half an hour straight.  Exhausted  and completely burnt out she rested her head against the wall making her ear listen to the tracing. In a world of silence this was the only noise she could make. Her finger stopped and slipped to the ground as the tears she had shed led her to sleep.

Later, the door to her cell opened. This time she was lying in the fetal position on the floor when it creaked and groaned open. Startled and terrified she cowered into the corner of her cell hiding her face "not again" she thought "I can't do this anymore". She heard footsteps coming towards her, but they weren't business shoes, they were combat boots. The soldier's combat boots. suddenly her heart started to settle and the shaking came to a halt. Slowly the girl lowered her hands to reveal the man standing in front of her. With a sigh of relief she held out her forearm for him to take and drag her to the training room. He took her hand gently instead, helping her up and almost giving a smirk as he did.

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