I woke up to something the jolting of my body. The aircraft shook as it hovered closer over the city. I groaned and brought my hands to my temples. My head was throbbing from whatever they gave me. As I brought my arm up I noticed something tugging on it. I looked at the side of me to see an IV connected to my arm and coiling up the tube was a bag of fluids

"Glad you could finally join us," Svetlana mumbled as she adjusted the large gun in her hands.

Why the hell did she have an AK I thought I was only getting off.

"You drugged me," I complained as if it wasn't obvious.

"Ah yes but we also gave you yummy pain meds." She justified.

How was she talking so freely? Dreykov must've granted her permission or something.

"Thanks, I guess?" I replied, still confused as hell. "Wait what did you give me that kept me knocked out for whole damn ride?"

"Classified, but it didn't we have you multiple doses." She answered as she grabbed a parachute from under her seat.

"We'll be dropping you in 10 minutes so let us go over parachuting yes?" She said.

"I already know how to parachute," I answered, looking down suddenly ashamed for no reason.

"Well, I said it was a review for a reason." Svetlana countered with the rolling her eyes.

"Alright then."

" Okay, I've already strapped on your camera and put it in your earpiece so you're almost set." She informed me.

I didn't answer, just brought a hand up to my ear to confirm her words were true.

"Not a talker, got it." Svetlana made a note out loud. "So when you are in air hold onto the strap and then pull it when you're ready, if it doesn't go up then pull the backup one on your legs."

"If we dropping above city wouldn't the civilians see it?" I question as if it was obvious.

"The actual parachute isn't visible, you just got to be fast so no people look up and see floating girl in air." Her English was somewhat broken as many girls aswell as mine were.

"That is risky," I grumbled, clearly mad about their sloppiness.

"This whole mission is risky." She replied bitterly.

I looked at her for a moment before asking my question. " Svetlana, have you had your graduation ceremony?" I asked even though I knew the answer. She was well over the average age of graduation and was Dreykov's right-hand widow.

"Yes, I have." She replied looking down for a moment before refurbishing her stoic face.

"Grotov brosit!" The pilot yelled from the front of the plane. ( ready to drop!)

"That's your cue," Svetlana said, getting up.

I stopped breathing for a split second. I am not afraid, afraid is for the weak, being afraid makes you dead. I told myself before I unbuckled my seat belt and stepped into the harness.

"We are right above a building Irena Ivanakof so it will be an easy landing if you steer correctly." She informed me while she pressed the button to open the hatch on the ship.

I let out a deep breath as I approached the edge. I readied my hands on the steers and bent my knees. Svetlana put goggles on my head awkwardly and stepped to the side.

"Irena," She started, waiting for me to look at her. "Don't let us down."

I gave her a single small nod before I let out a large breath and jumped from the vessel.

ⴵ

The winds were harsh as I plummeted at rapid speed. I felt my neatly braided hair coming loose as the winds tugged and pulled on every part of my body.

My brows furrowed in focus and determination. Once I got through the layer of clouds and saw the city I grunted as I pulled the lever, engaging my parachute.

My body was flung upwards as it filled with air. I fell more calmly but was still being tugged harshly by the winds.

I grunted once more as I veered to the left to avoid missing the building. The winds were threading to  send me to the right as I struggled to maintain my ensured landing spot.

The roof of the building became apparent. I readied myself for landing, loosening my knees and stiffening my upper body in preparation to roll to avoid the impact of landing.

As soon as I felt my toe brush the concrete edge I pushed myself forward, ducking my head into my chest and rolling on my back.

I landed like a cat with one leg slightly out and my hands in front. I breathed in deeply as I got up.

I pressed my finger to my earpiece to start it. "Ruby widow has landed, over." I shared with the Red Room.

"Excellent Ivanakof, now find the targets. Sources say they were last scene on a bridge road." Someone on the other end voiced back to me.

"Who is this?" I questioned the voice that I don't seem to recognize.

"I am Anya, I will be talking to you through earpiece whenever you need. I have a view through your camera that you have permission to shut off while you go to restroom and only then." She greeted.

"Hello Anya, do I have to stay in these civilian clothes? Over." I asked, tugging the jeans down. These clothes were so unfamiliar to me that I wanted them off as soon as possible.

"Unfortunately yes Sir wants them kept on until further notice, over." She replied.

I groan before replying. "Alright, attempting to locate targets now," I told her as I walked to the stairwell of the building.

I look down the large staircase that seems to go on forever. "Oh hell no," I said to no one as I grabbed my grabbing hook from my belt.

I remember my training from yesterday on the double gun drop. It's basically like this but I'm not shooting at anyone. I secured my hook on the top of the stairs before leaning back on the railing.

I take a deep breath before letting myself fall back, flipping myself mid-air into an upright position and landing in the same way I landed earlier.

I tugged on the hook three times before it fell. I quickly wrapped it back into my belt and started for the exit.

I hear my earpiece beep on. "Irena, Svetlana says to flip earlier so you'd get a better chance to aim before firing if you were to shoot while doing the dgd." She told me.

I'm walking in the crowded crowds of Washington DC at this point. A look of confusion washes over my face.

"Anya, how many people have access to my camera footage?" I questioned.

"Just Sir Dreykov, Svetlana, and me, child." She assured me.

"Alright," I replied as I continued to walk.

I had absolutely no idea in hell where to go. There had to be a million bridge roads in this city.

"Try going to S.H.I.E.L.D's headquarters. Just wait outside to see if many black SUVs exit, the word is they're after the targets as well. Wherever they go you go, you must get to them first." She instructed.

"Copy that, where might that be exactly?" I questioned.

"Keep going straight and then turn right in 50 feet, climb a building to watch if any cars leave then follow them," Anya told me.

"Thanks, Anya," I replied.

I liked her, she seemed nice, unlike anyone in the Red Room.

I followed the instructions until sure enough, I came across a large building standing hall and proud in front of me. It was guarded by walls along with many other things.

I climbed onto a smaller building close by and waited. After almost 20 minutes I was surprised to see a calvary of black SUVS pouring out of the building.

I got up and quickly followed them, jumping from building to building, rolling, running, jumping over and over.

It was difficult to lose them in traffic considering the amount there was. I always had a good eye on them.

Eventually, they led me to a large building that teemed with people.

"Is this a mall Anya?" I questioned, out of breath.

"Yes, it is, wait at the top of the entrance if S.H.I.E.L.D is going in the targets will be coming out."

"Lord have fucking mercy more climbing?" I groaned to myself.

"Alright," I answered irritatedly as I took out my grappling hook again and went around to the mostly empty side of the mall to hoist myself up.

When I got to the top my earpiece clicked on again.

"I hacked into the cameras in mall and spotted Natalia wearing a striped shirt under a green sweater and jeans and Steven wearing a brown sweater and jeans over a gray shirt." She informed me.

I finished slipping out of civilian clothes and was not comfortable in my suit.

"Thanks that is actually very helpful," I replied as I perched myself at the entrance, moving my hook to attach to the sign.

"Anytime rebenok." She said. (Child)

I planned to drop down in front of them once they tried to exit. That would obviously stop them, and I would make it obvious I had a camera on me and then start to fight them for the camera where I'll whisper in their ears as I fight them and probably get my ass kicked in the process.

"Hey Anya, do me favor and hack into the entrance / exit whatever you call it, and watch for targets," I instructed her this time.

"Yes rebenok, I'll inform you if I spot them." She assured me.

I didn't reply this time, I was too busy patiently watching to reply. I felt anxious with excitement which was unusual for me.

" Rebenok now! They are approaching the exit ready your grapple." Anya said, her voice urgent.

I quickly got up and tugged on my hook for reassurance as I waited for Anya's word. I steadied my breathing, these short minutes felt like hours. I could practically feel Dreykov and Yelena on the edge of their chairs watching the footage.

"Now Irena!" Anya yelled into my ear.

I scrunched my face at her loudness as I kicked myself off the roof. I fell fast and landed in the pose I've been doing quite a bit.

The two figures stopped mid-run and stared at me as I got up. A red haired woman with a straight bob and a big blonde man.

I reached up to my earpiece as I unbuckled my grapple hook.

"Targets acquired," I say grimly while I stared right back at them.

───˖ ࣪ ˖ ࣪✦: * ˚ ✦ ───
1765 words ~ 4:15 am
November 14th 2023

Ellies words!! IMPORTANT PLEASE READ

kinda short chapter sry 😭

So after act I imma switch to writing in 3rd person. I'm not really a 1st person writer and I wanted to try it out and after writing 12 chapters (hi yes this is future me 12/03/23) I realized that I write so much better in 3rd person (you'll see in chapter 10). So I hope no one minds