The Wolf and the Widow | Winterwidow

Chapter 4: Holding Back

Yelena throws a punch at me, but I dodge it. She throws another punch, which I let hit me. She kicks my legs out from under me, and I fall to the ground. I roll out of the way before she kicks me. I flip up and crack her across the face. She sends her fist into my gut and I double over in pain. She kicks me to the floor, but I quickly hop back up. I jab her in the side and she roundhouse kicks me.

We both stop out fighting when the soldier approaches. He stops when he's standing before us. Me and Yelena are left scared, because we both know what he does to us when we perform poorly in combat. We get punished. His punishments hurt. We found out when Marie thew a punch the wrong way earlier today. I'm in for one bad day...

He shoves Yelena away from me and grabs me firmly by the shoulder. He drags me outside and to the hall. I feel the girls eyes on me as I'm being dragged away.

As soon as we're out in the hall, he slams me into the wall and pins me there by the neck. I keep my face blank to hide my fear. He bores holes into my skull through the goggles. He holds me there for a second, just to scare me.

"Why are you holding back?" His voice is emotionless and a little husky.

This is the first time he's spoken since he's arrived. I'm the first Widow to hear his voice.

I simple shrug my shoulders in response.

"Don't fucking lie to me. Answer me." He tightens his grip on my neck slightly.

"...I'm not holding back." I say reluctantly.

He stares at me for a moment.

"...I said, don't lie to me...I'll ask you one more time..." He slows his voice down.

"What makes you think I'm scared of you?" I cross my arms.

"...If you're not, I'll give you a reason to. Now, why are you holding back?"

"Because showing your true potential is stupid."

"...Stop holding back."

"No. I'm not stupid."

"You're better than them. It's time to dominate."

 He releases me and steps back. He grabs me by the shoulder again and drags me back into the room. He shoves me in front of Yelena again and stands off on the sidelines. His eyes are on me.

"He wants us to fight again..." Yelena whispers.

I nod to her and take a battle stance. I glance back at the soldier one more time, and see him standing there, arms crossed, watching me fight. I give him a mean glare, and then catch Yelena's punch. I look back at Yelena, who looks mildly surprised that I caught her. I yank her to me and hook her in the face. She tries to roundhouse me again, but I dodge. I kick her in the gut and she stumbles back. She lunges at me and I dodge, sending her to the ground. I look back at the soldier for approval, but he does nothing, only watches my moves. I look back at Yelena and crack her across the face. She lunges at me again, and I kick her in the shin. When she stumbles back I hook her in the face again, getting more blood on my knuckles. She lunges at me one last time, and I get her in a choke hold. I look to the soldier again for approval. He holds up his bionic arm and signals me for to stop. I promptly release Yelena and back up. All of the girls are looking at me like I'm a god. Well, Yelena is one of the better Black Widows.

Yelena is a bruised bloody pile on the ground. For such a sort amount of time, I fucked her up. I take a step towards Yelena and crouch down next to her. I put my hands under her to pick her up bridal style, but something stops me. I feel a stiff cold hand on my shoulder. I look up at the soldier, looming over us. He simply shakes his head at me. I stand and meet his masked gaze with my emotionless stare. He points to the bench, as an order to sit down. Hesitantly, I glance back down at Yelena who is crying on the floor. I hear his metal arm start whirring as a last warning, before he drags me to the bench himself. I turn around and walk over to the bench. I sit down and watching the soldier kick Yelena in attempts to make her stand. She shakily stands up and looks at the soldier with terror subtly showing on her face. He shoves her in my direction, and she stumbles over to me. She plops down next to me, and stares down at her lap with an unreadable expression.

He points at two more of the girls, and then to the open area. They exchange scared glances, then stand.

Here we go again.