Project Alpha

Ch. 2 - Lessons to Learn

Present

The familiar sound of footsteps could be heard from far down the hall. Click clack, click clack on the hard, metal ground. They left an eery echo on whatever floor the weapons were held on.

Bucky had been telling Peter a story about the army, when they heard it. He stopped and listened, realizing they were approaching the two cells fast.

They gave each other a look, a look that they both came to know far too well over the years.

If it's you, good luck and remember not to show fear, nor weakness.

The footsteps grew increasingly louder until they finally stopped and a short, stocky man became visible between the endless gray of the room.

He looked between Peter and Bucky before finally pulling out a bronze key with what appeared to be numbered engravements. With it, was another, very similar shaped key. In fact, they both looked the same except for the marking.

The man unlocked Peter's cell door, waiting for the click that would sound. It could be heard from several meters down the hall, as there was no other noise other than the silence they drowned in.

"Get up," the man commanded in a strong Russian accent. However he spoke in English like most people when talking to the small brunette. Peter was taught English at first, so that he couldn't understand what they said around him. He knew Russian now from Bucky, but the guards and trainers didn't need to know that about that.

Peter must've moved to slowly for the man's wishes, as he instead pulled him up and then yanked him over to the now open cell door. He had a hand on Peter's shoulder to lead him away from his usual place, away from his best friend.

They shared another knowing look before Peter was taken down the hallway. Either way you went down the hall was like a maze. Same plain, gray walls and ceiling. The white tiled floors with the occasional droplet of uncleaned blood that was never wiped off.

They walked fast down the corridor all the way to where there was a corner. Peter couldn't see what was beyond the other side, he was also told by Bucky that it was strictly off limits. He had also wondered about what was down there, and Peter had too.

This trip was like the many others before this, the guard accompanying Peter down the hall reached into his pocket and pulled out a syringe. It was filled with a frothy green liquid and had blue specks floating around the top.

He injected it directly into one of the boys veins before he could bat an eye, and was instantly down on the floor unconscious.

The man laughed; it never got old watching it crumple on the floor, ready for whatever the lab scientists wanted from him today.

***

Peter awoke in a dark room with the shadow of several people looking over him, at least according to his senses. They spoke in whispered voices, saying something in Russian that the boy couldn't make out.

He knew not to open his eyes, so he just trusted his spidey-sense. That's what he called his ability to feel a tingle and predict a threat coming at him. Peter lay there resting on the cold, metal excuse of a medical bed.

When he finally gathered the courage to open his eyes, he saw only one familiar face looking down on him. His name was unknown to Peter, but it struck fear in the others with the way he spoke and moved around.

Everyone wore the same plain, long white coats, so Peter knew they were in the lab again like usual.

The doctor nodded at the other people in the room and they slowly filed out of the room. Upon closer inspection, Peter saw he held a knife in one hand, a knife he'd come to know well over the years.

It had a black handle and a dark grey blade. The difference in colors was almost impossible to tell apart, but he knew better. Words were scratched on the tip of the sharp point:

Hail HYDRA!

He brought it up close to the boy's cheek, purposely so that he could read the words to remind him of who was in charge Then without warning, he slashed it violently leaving Peter with a gash on his right cheek, right below the eye.

He knew the routine by now, and said just loud enough to not mumble, "Rule two: No weaknesses or fear will be shown."

The man, who Peter decided to just call Meanie, seemed satisfied with the answer given and gave a curt nod. After all, it was just the same thing they had drilled into his head like the rest of their rules and silly propaganda.

"What is rule three, project?" Meanie asked while running the knife over in his hand, excited at the prospect of drawing more blood. He didn't let the emotion on his face show and Peter knew it was still a test.

"Rule three: No emotions, unless you wish to be punished severely," Peter said in a monotone voice, but his voice also slightly wavered. It wouldn't even be noticable to anyone else- except for the very man sitting in front of him.

"Very very good, alpha. You've learned well, but not well enough."

With that, he brought the knife to Peter's face, already knowing what he would do this time around.

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