Red Room, 1999
4 years later

Katerina laid in bed on her side with her eyes closed, but she wasn't asleep. She rarely ever slept well. The beds were so flat she could feel the metal of the bed frame. The pillows weren't any better either, but it was still something.

Her right arm was lifted above her head with her wrist locked in a handcuff that was connected to the bed frame.

The sound of the doors being swung open, and slamming into the walls made Katerina slowly open her eyes. She looked over her shoulder, and saw two women start unlocking the other girls from their cuffs, the same two women who came in every morning and night. Katerina turned back around waiting for them to come unlock hers. She brought her wrist into her hand, and rubbed the red mark.

"Up! Time for breakfast." Madame B said loudly from the doorway.

All the girls stood up from their beds, and formed a single-file line. They began walking behind Madame B to the cafeteria. Katerina held her hands behind her back, and stood up straight. She kept her eyes directed in front of her as she walked.

When they arrived to the cafeteria, all the girls sat down at the tables. One by one, each girl was given a ham and cheese sandwich with a cup of water which they all ate eagerly.

Katerina looked across the table as discreetly as possible, and she saw Yelena sitting a few seats away from her. The two stared at each other expressionless, but the two sisters knew the other was happy to them. Katerina was grateful for any moment she got to see Yelena even if they weren't often, and they weren't able to speak. She wished she could see Natasha just once, even if it was only for a split second. It had been four years. She just wanted to know she was alive. But Natasha wasn't with their groups. She was with the older girls. And Katerina didn't know if she would ever see her again.

⠉⠉⠉⠉

After breakfast was over, the girls were led back to their beds and were instructed to change out of their nightgowns, and into their regular clothes which consisted of a white tank top with the red hour glass stitched onto it where it lies in the middle of their chest, a pair of black shorts, socks and plain tennis shoes.

Katerina finished changing quicker than the other girls, so she sat down on her bed. She looked to the right of her, and saw the girl who slept in the bed next to her every night. Her skin was a deep sepia color. Her eyes were golden brown, and filled with uneasiness like all the other girls. She found Katerina's eyes, and gave her the best tight-lipped smile she could. Katerina gave her one back before looking away.

"Get up!" Madame B demanded.

All the girls quickly stood up again, and formed another line. Katerina straighten her posture, and held her head up. She took notice that they liked that. They liked the girls who did what they were told, and never fought back. If you fought back, you got punished.

When they reached sparring room, one of the guards held the door open as each girl walked through it. Katerina glanced at him through the side of her eye. His gun was strapped to his body like every other guard. She didn't understand why they needed to carrying them on them at all times. Were they worried one of the other girls would try to escape? Katerina wasn't sure there was even a way out of the Red Room.

The girls all stood around the edges of the big mat in the center of the room. Their hands behind their backs as they waited for Madame B to pick today's fighters. Katerina had only been chosen twice before, and luckily she had won both spars, clearly, otherwise she wouldn't be standing in her spot today. At times, she had thought about letting the other girl win. Then she wouldn't have to do this anymore. But she couldn't bring herself to do it. She couldn't. Not while she knew Yelena was alive, and that there was a possibility Natasha was too.

"Belsky." Madame B said using her cane to push the girl forward. The girl stumbled a bit, but caught herself.

Madame B walked around behind the girls watching each of them deciding who the other fighter would be. She came to a stop behind Katerina. Katerina held her breath trying not to let Madame B sense her nervousness.

"Petrov." Madame B said pushing her cane into Katerina's back making her move forward.

Katerina took a deep breath in as she walked to stand directly in front of Belsky. She immediately took notice of their height difference. Belsky was at least three inches taller than her. It scared Katerina a bit, but as long as she did what she was supposed to she could win the fight.

"Go!" Madame B shouted indicating the start to their spar.

Katerina almost gasped at the loud shout. She took a small step back trying to get space, so she could plan her next move.

Belsky moved forward towards her, and swung her fist at Katerina's face, but Katerina grabbed her wrist before it could hit her and swung her leg up kicking Belsky's stomach making her stumbled backwards.

Katerina didn't give her time to recover. She swung her fist at Belsky hitting her face, but then Belsky suddenly lunged her knee forward hitting Katerina's stomach. She groaned then Belsky kicked her again. She fell back on to her behind, and then Belsky jumped on top of her. Her hands went to Katerina's neck. Katerina gasped, and gripped Belsky's wrists trying to pry her hands off of her, but when it wasn't working she started kicking at her legs until she let go. Katerina quickly stood up, and punched Belsky's stomach knocking the wind out of her. Then she twisted her arm behind her back before wrapping her own arms around Belsky's neck.

"Please." Belsky's tried to plea, but almost nothing came out.

Katerina knew what she had to do next. She wanted to cry. She hated herself for what she about to do, but she knew she didn't have a choice.

The sound of Belsky's neck snapping echoed throughout the room.

Katerina unwrapped her arms from Belsky's next letting her body drop to the floor. She turned her head to Madame B who have her a nod before she slowly walked back over to her spot.

𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐗 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐊𝐒:
Act One is almost over! Only
two more chapters then we will
move onto Act Two: Black Widow!
I'm super excited!

I'm trying to make the Red Room
Program be as accurate as possible.
I have not read many of the comics
where they talk about what happened
in the Red Room, but I've done my
research, and I've seen all the Red Room
mentions from the MCU, so I hope it
close enough.

I hope you enjoyed this. Don't forget to
comment and vote please! Thank you
for reading 💜