HEROES ─ fallen warriors series one shots

12| Predator And Prey

(takes place before "Brainwashed")

Soroya

February 11th, 2003

The sound of my door opening abruptly wakes me up. I feel my eyes peel open just as a hand grabs onto my arm. I jolt at the touch, thinking it's some guard coming to take me away. But it's not. It's Julian.

He smiles down at me, nodding towards the door. "He wants to see you."

Panic rises in me, making my voice shake as I ask him; "D-do you know why?"

Julian sighs, shaking his head. "No. But don't worry, I'll be there the whole time."

I nod to him, pushing myself out of bed. Julian steps aside while I pull my hair back into a pony tail and slip my shoes on. Once I'm ready, Julian walks me out of my cell, leading me down the hall.

I've never been summoned early in the morning like this. It can't mean anything good. One thing I've learned about my newest instructor is that he doesn't like to be flexible when it comes to the schedule he's put me on. Perhaps I've angered him somehow, perhaps Julian is now leading me to my death.

Julian swipes his keycard across the pad, opening the door to the training room. As the door swings open, I feel my stomach drop. Seeing the Winter Soldier never gets any less scary. I remember being back at the Lensk base and hearing stories about him. The other prisoners, the other children mostly, would talk about his missions and his skills. Some said he was an immortal being from a distant planet. Some said he's been killing for HYDRA for a hundred years. Some have even claimed he's the devil himself in human form. None of these rumors would shock me if they are true.

The Winter Soldier is the personification of death. Just one look from him could send the bravest men and women to their knees. I've seen it happen before. Some might say that his enormous build, metal arm, and combat skills are what makes me so scary. But it's his eyes. There is no soul, no light in those eyes. There's beauty in his features, I would even go as far to say he's handsome. But isn't that always how evil hides? It hides behind beauty and wealth in order to lure good people into it's cold embrace. That's what the Winter Soldier is; death and evil hiding behind a handsome face, just waiting to corrupt and kill the innocent.

I hold my shoulders back and hold my head high, making my way towards him. He's standing in the middle of the room waiting for me, his hands behind his back, his eyes glued to me the whole time. The Winter Soldier towers over me, making me feel even more small than I usually do. But I don't let him see how afraid he makes me feel. I lift my head to meet his gaze, trying to control my breathing.

"You are a skilled fighter, Roberts." He says, his voice cold and distant. "You have the capacity for greatness but your abilities cause you to fall short."

So I have angered him. Setherton sent me here to finally master marksmanship, or more precisely, the ability to kill other people. Coming here hasn't helped at all. I still shift whenever a person is brought to me for target practice. This is certainly a problem for HYDRA. I can't be their weapon if they can't control me.

"I understand that Remington has been working with you for nearly three years trying to hone your abilities, correct?"

I nod. "Yes."

"Then these lessons will be integrated into your marksmanship training. You can't control your powers fully yet, and you can't finish your training until you do."

I glance briefly at Julian, who looks just as shocked as I do. This is not what I was expecting this visit to be about.

The Winter Soldier looks me up and down, beginning to circle around me; like a predator stalking his prey. I feel like I'm shrinking as he stares me down, but I try to keep myself steady.

"I know your powers aren't controlled. But your shifting is not random. I thought it was at first, but after studying you it is clear your powers are instinctive. You are fine when you shoot targets, but when you are tasked with shooting a person, you shift," He says, stopping his circling once he's back in front of me. "When you have to kill a human being, your emotions get the best of you. They don't pose a threat to you so it isn't fear, and by your reactions to the task I don't think it's anger. What emotion do you feel during these tasks that sets off your shifting?"

I swallow, letting out a short breath before replying; "Pain, Sir."

The Winter Soldier stares at me in disgust, his eyes filled with superiority and dominance. "You shift because you can't handle shooting human beings. You're too weak, too soft to do your duties to HYDRA and get the job done. If you weren't so valuable, I might have you killed for your insolence."

I have to ball my hands into fists to keep them from shaking and bite my lip to keep my whimper of fear at bay.

He leans closer to me, his cold blue eyes looking straight into my soul. "When I'm done with you, you will be the perfect soldier for HYDRA. And for the sake of yourself and your family, I would suggest you do as I command and follow my teachings. Do I make myself clear?"

I nod, my voice shaking slightly as I say; "Yes, Sir."

He nods, standing straight again. "You're dismissed. I want you back here at eight."

I nod again, trying to not walk too fast as I make my way back towards Julian. He opens the door for me, letting me exit the room first. I hold myself together the entire trip back to my room. Once Julian and I enter into my room and shut the door behind us, I let out a sob. My knees buckle under me and I find myself falling. Julian catches me before I hit the ground though, bringing me close to his chest. He wraps his arms around me, holding me as I sob.

"Julian..." I begin, not being able to find the words I need to express how I feel.

Julian squeezes me tighter, planting a kiss on the top of my head. "I know. I'm so sorry."

His words don't comfort me but his presence does. Julian is the only thing that keeps me sane in my life. He's the only person I can trust. I hope for both of our sakes that one day we will get out of here, that we will one day be free of HYDRA, and free of the pain they cause us. And I really hope that there will come a day when I never have to see the Winter Soldier again.