The Wolf and the Widow | Winterwidow

Chapter 2: Anticipation That Stings

"Get up! All of you, now!"

My eyes slowly open to the annoying loud shouting. Here we go, another day in hell. I grab the key from under my bed and unlock the cuffs. All of the girls, including myself, start getting out of bed and changing. We all change into our regular everyday clothes. A black tank, tight black pants, and black combat boots. As should be expected, the Black Widow agents in training wear all black. We all start heading up for breakfast.

All of the girls start taking their seats next to each other. Everyone starts eating and talking. We only get an apple and a granola bar, but that's all we really need. The chattering starts, but I sit off to the side. Alone and secluded from the bunch. I don't have any friends. In fact, most of the girls here hate me. I'm not entirely sure why. Maybe because they think I can't fight, so they decide to pick on me? Maybe because I'm he only red head? Because I don't talk? I don't know, but they like to corner me and beat me up when nobody's watching. I don't fight back, because that only makes it worse. I could tear them apart, but I keep my power secret. You can't show  them your last defense. That's just dumb.

"Girls! Throw your trash away, training starts now! Go to the sparring room!" We hear a loud voice call to us from behind.

 We all simultaneously get up and start throwing our trash in the garbage cans, and heading out.

As we walk down the hall and to the sparring room, the talking doesn't stop. All of the girls are still talking. Mostly about the soldier that's coming tomorrow. Some of the girls are scared, some other excited.

"I wonder what his name is."

"Think he compares to the Red Guardian?"

"I wonder if he's pretty..."

"Is he really as scary as they're saying he is?"

"What if he kills some of us?"

"How old do you think he is?"

To be honest, they mentioned a lot of questions that I had. Some of them, not so much. Why are they caring if he's attractive? What matters is if I can beat him or not. Hell, what matters is will we all make it out alive?

We enter the sparring room and stand in a line, just like yesterday.

"Sit." I van orders.

We all step back and sit on the bench against the wall.

"Today, training will be tough. I was hoping that all of you would survive your spar with the soldier tomorrow, but after hearing about his capabilities, I'm not so sure that will happen. He's the best of the best. Better than all of you. Stronger, faster, smarter, meaner...I just don't think that all of you will make it through the first fight with him. If he's as good as they say...Then we aren't good enough yet."

All of the girls glance at each other fearfully. We all know what's coming.

"You will all be going to bed early tonight. I'm hoping all of you make it to see next week, so you must all be well rested and thoroughly prepared...Guardian, you may take over now."

I feel the tensity raise in the room. We were not prepared to deal with the Red Guardian today.

"Of course. Yelena, and...Tatiana." The red head orders.

Yelena and Tatiana stand up and head over to the sparring mat. They take fighting stances and put up their fists. Yelena is a blonde haired blue eyed girl, while Tatiana is a brunette with light brown eyes. Tatiana is a little taller, but Yelena has a little more muscle. The odds of this fight are fairly even, leaving it up to skill to decide the winner.

"Fight!" The Guardian snaps.

Tatiana springs into action, leaving Yelena on the defensive side. She throws a punch at the blonde, who easily dodges and sends a punch back her way. Tatiana isn't so lucky, and get the fist to the face. She stumbles back, but quickly rejuvenates herself and kicks Yelena to the floor. Yelena flips back up with ease and rockets her fist into Tatiana's gut. Tatiana falls back on the floor, but rolls out of the way just before Yelena stomps on her chest. The fight quickly becomes a back and forth battle of puching, kicking, and flipping. Mostly classic widow moves, and a couple on the spot decisions.

The battle finishes in a few minutes when Alexi calls them off. Yelena came out victorious, as expected. If there was anyone better than me, it would be her.

"Next. Nikita, and... Natalia."

Uh oh.

Me and Nikita stand and head over to the mat. She takes a defensive stance and puts her fists up, while I copy her moves.

Here we go. I'm about to get my ass handed to me again

"Fight!"

She lunges at me, and I dodge. She throws her fist at me again, but I decide not to dodge. She hits me in the chest and I stumble back. I lunge for her and crack her across the face. She goes low and knocks me off my feet. I roll out of the way before she kicks me and hop back up. I rocket my fist for her, but she dodges. She hits me in the face and I stumble back.

Once the Red Guardian called us off, I was a little bloody, but nothing too bad. I lost again. Good.

By the end of the day, I was exhausted. Good thing Ivan said we were going to bed early tonight. I need the sleep. I may have a few minor bruises tomorrow, but nothing too bad. We are all in pretty good shape to meet the soldier tomorrow. I honestly think that everyone will survive. I feel like they're good enough.

I crawl under the thin sheet and lock myself to the bed. I close my eyes and fall asleep without hesitation.