Inside Voices ▷ Bruce Banner | ✓

4 - DETOXING

"YOU NEED TO EAT."

She glared at the curly haired man standing in front of the glass, his brow furrowed as he looked at her, his arms crossed and glasses slipping from the bridge of his nose, looking just barely frustrated at the entire situation, glancing over at the food she still hadn't eaten and the chair that was bolted to the floor, which she was unable to use to fight back.

She had searched for a way out for the rest of the first day, futilely trying to break the glass, gritting her teeth and ignoring the food that rested on the floor, coming through an opening that, when she tried to break through, seemed to be completely solid.

The man had stopped by every so often to check up on her, and she tried to remain as calculating as ever, but she had never once been prepared in the event that she was captured, as there was always some way to get out. But this time, there was nothing.

It was the second day, and she tried to think of an escape route, pacing around her box to take in her surroundings. This was the second day, and she could feel herself start to separate, her serum focused on escaping and the part of her mind that had lain dormant and asleep for her own protection now awake and alert, as this was the first time that there was no immediate plan.

She sighed, more aware of all her surroundings, which was strange; this only happened on the last days before she had to be called back in to get another dose before being sent out into the field. But she had also never been trapped before.

But her serum was still in affect and her training still ingrained, so she simply sat at her chair and searched for a new perspective. When she found nothing of use, like she had hours before, she simply stared down the man who was standing in front of her, his hands now clasped together, glasses now hanging from his shirt.

"What's your name?" he asked, soft and kind, though she didn't quite understand the second part, as kindness was a concept not worth anyone's time.

She set her jaw, refusing to respond. The first rule, should she ever get captured—a concept long since forgotten when it came to her masters—was to never answer any questions, even if it cost her life. There was a small part of her mind, however, that reminded her that she didn't have a name, so a response would be nonexistent to begin with.

The man sighed, and she watched as he began to breathe in a certain way, his muscles beginning to relax and his shoulders moving away from his ears, down to their resting position. It was intriguing.

"Would you like to know my name?" he offered, and she clenched her jaw, because responding wasn't in her training, and she already knew his name.

But he could tell her more.

So she simply sat there, but loosened her jaw enough for him to notice and, as expected, he took the bait, moving to sit on one of the tables within the room, starting to speak. "My name is Bruce Banner, I'm a scientist and I live here. Can I ask where you're from?"

Clearly, he presented no new information that could be of any use. 

She barely shifted at his next question, keeping her expression blank. This was the genius of her masters, they made sure knew nothing, so there was no chance for them to be compromised. She was both expendable and indispensable all at once.

But how long until she was fully expendable? The part of her that had lain dormant rose to the surface for the briefest of moments, reminding her of the other member that was training alongside her. If they were training others, she wasn't completely indispensable.

She entertained the thought for half a moment, the serum forcing her back to focus on the present, staring blankly at Bruce Banner who seemed to be struggling to keep himself calm and collected.