CHAPTER THREE; BLACK WIDOW

❝ life is like the sea, one second everything is calm the next there is a storm threatening to wipe out everything in its path ❞

[ songs to listen to during this chapter ]
❝ playground, bae miller / unstoppable, sia / run boy run, woodkid / seven nation army, the white stripes ❞

･ ｡ﾟ☆

❝ budapest, widow safe house [ two days later ] ❞

"SHE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN IT BY NOW," Alina muttered disgruntledly as she sat in the safe house with Yelena. After getting out of the states they snuck onto a private flight out to Budapest. It was the only safe house all three of them had been in at one point or another. Turning to look at Yelena who flipped through the magazine she added, "If we don't hear from her that she gave it to Steve or something we'll have to just leave. Go to her and make sure she does something with it."

"You have a lot of faith in her, Natasha," Yelena remarked noting the entire time how she spoke of her.

"So do you, or else you wouldn't have tracked me down. Which I'm still annoyed about, you owe me a new window and a new couch considering your probably what lead them to me," she reminded the widow of her destroyed apartment waiting for her at home.

The blonde widow shrugged telling her, "Tony Stark will pay for a new window but I have to ask, what are you risking for her? If Ross finds out, you left the country and have known and never said anything about her location, what will happen to you?"

Alina didn't want to think about what she was asking. Swallowing her doubts she said, "I assume if he can prove it, I will be locked up again. Ross put Wanda in a stray jacket when he had her, he'll do worse to me. Wanda made mistakes, but she was in captivity until the Avengers came to the compound. Her mistakes happened while she thought she was helping shield. Mine happened while I thought I was with Hydra; our sins are different to him. We're both still horrible enough to merit isolation."

"You don't plan to let him catch you do you," Yelena pieced together knowing the look in her eyes. It was not the look of a girl who would let herself be captured and experimented on ever again. Alina didn't say anything, "Does your friend know you've accepted the fact that you may be on a suicide mission?"

"Peter didn't need to have that in his head, plus, not really planning on getting caught or dying," said the enhanced teen shifting in her seat. "Something that will be much more manageable once those stupid darts wear off." Her foot tapping endlessly Alina complained, "It's silly, I have the powers of gods but science, nature, whatever it is finds balance to make me weaker. Like it hasn't done that enough."

The slightly older widow leaned forward saying, "But you aren't weak even without it. You fought that freaky metal person without your little dramatic hand stuff and won."

"It's not that dramatic," corrected Alina fighting her laugh.

Yelena shifted her head from side to side saying, "It's kinda dramatic, but it's cool so I let it slide." The Dranganov teen chuckled as the assassin said, "Either way you survived what has killed other little girls like us, that's not nothing. And despite your fear and the risk to your freedom, you are attempting to come back for the rest. Dreykov underestimated you, now make him pay for it."

"I have to, because do you know what those chemicals do to me," Alina asked wondering if the file had been that detailed. By the blank look on her face, she knew it hadn't, "For you it removes your will to fight, it's like mind control. You can't fight it, it's bigger than you so you sink beneath it. It's painless physically at least, for me? They were apparently using my own DNA, so it makes sense my body tried to just fight it. But apparently even I am too weak to stop myself so it just burns my cells over and over because they're always healing. He created a monster in me, in us, so now I'm going to let him see just how much of a monster I am."

"And I for one am happy to help pave the way," she returned leaning back in her chair. As she did, she noticed Alina looking over her shoulder, "What is it?"

Slowly reaching for the gun on the table in front of her Alina said, "Someone's here."

Instantly Yelena grabbed her weapon and warned the young girl, "Get in the other room." The enhanced teen looked at her as if she had two heads growing between her shoulders. "I'm not joking, go now," Yelena ordered once again.

With a huff the teenager listened walking down the hall ducking into one of the bathrooms. She listened to the soft footsteps of Yelena and another, she could hear the blondes muffled voice say, "I know you're out there."

Before she even spoke Alina caught the familiar scent of cherries and rain. "I know you know I'm out here," Natasha said from the outside of the door.

Still remaining hidden Yelena asked, "Then why are you skulking about like it's a minefield?"

Alina could hear the sound Natasha clutching her gun as she answered, "'Cause I don't know if I can trust you, or how you knew where or how to find me."

Chuckling Yelena replied, "Funny, I was going to say the same thing."

"So, we gonna talk like grown-ups," Natasha asked giving Alina the idea it was best to stay hidden while they reunited. She could hear their footsteps stop as they stood on either side of the doorway to the kitchen.

Standing before her sister for the first time in years Yelena questioned, "Is that what we are? Put it down before I make you."

Keeping her gun trained on the widow, Natasha countered, "You put yours down." The red headed sister stepped forward making Yelena back up tripping on the piece of floorboard lining the room, "Watch your step."

The two women stood perfectly still measuring all the possible outcomes in their heads before they both acted. As of their training, they went to take their opponents weapons only to really only end up exchanging firearms. Acting just as swift as the first time the women switched guns again, only this time as they pulled apart Yelena kicked Natasha's arm using the moment to her advantage.

Yelena grabbed her sisters head spinning her around and slamming her into both side of the door frames. Her sister even quicker, Natasha grabbed her by her face slamming Yelena into the cabinets before forcing her on her back against the sink. Yelena grunts came out like childish whines as Natasha gripped her cheeks nearly fracturing bones as she warned, "Stay down. Stay down."

But the younger widow was not relenting, reaching around them she felt her hand go over a plate, so she grabbed it quickly slamming it into Natasha's face. In her stumble Natasha grabbed hold of a rag using it to wrap it around the blonde's hand coming at her. The force of being caught made Yelena stumble and allowed Natash to wrap the rag around her neck. However, Yelena managed to leverage their weight to flip Natasha over her shoulders and throwing her into the doors behind them.

Natasha rolled over groaning from the glass she'd fell into when she was thrown into the doors. Recovering quickly, Yelena eyed the knife on the sink and gripped it firmly in her hand. Natasha tilted her head backing away as if to tell her sister they'd gone far enough. Evidently it wasn't that easy for Yelena, she slashed her knife through the air only for her sister to doge it with ease.

Lunging for a weapon, Natasha grabbed hold of cleavers from the table swinging it at the same time her sister swung her blade. But them came at each other with equal force which pushed them all around the room as their arms locked. At this point Alina had come out into the kitchen to watch, they would stop, eventually.

She watched amused as Yelena gained the other hand nearly breaking Natasha's arm with the locked grip, they had on each other. Yelena leveraged her weight flipping Natasha forward only for the older widow to be faster and spin out of her grasp knocking Yelena's feet out from under her. Both women recovered to be on their knees right in front of each other still. Natasha sliced her knife through the air, Yelena used her hand to send her attack the opposite direction.

Natasha quickly grabbed hold of Yelena's head smothering her into her shoulder. Yelena yanks her hair to stop her while Natasha placed her hand under her chin forcing Yelena to look up unable to see. They struggled spinning each other in circles before Yelena forced her free arm between them using it to break Natasha's grip. In her stumble, Yelena rushed at her sister slamming her into the wall behind them.

Alina winced seeing the impact as Natasha reached up grabbing hold of the curtain near them ripping it off the metal rod. With quick ease she wrapped it around her sister's neck and face using her advantage to get back on the ground. Yelena managed to pull the rag down far enough for her to see, but only in time to see Natasha flip her onto the floor and bounce off it. Acting fast Yelena use her own falling momentum to bring Natasha down with her.

The two of them with equal force pulled at the curtain now wrapped around both their necks. However, it looked as if Natasha was pulling harder because Yelena's face began turning red. Instantly realizing they had gone too far Natasha caved telling her in Russian as she let go, "Truce." Gratefully Yelena instantly let go taking deep breaths to recover, the whole while Natasha finally took in the changes in her sister. Still speaking in Russian, she said, "You've grown up."

Matching her language Yelena sat up reasoning, "No shit."

Finally letting herself be known, Alina asked, "Is this normal fighting for siblings? Or is this just normal for you two?"

Having been so focused on Yelena, Natasha hadn't even noticed the young girl standing there. "Alina," she stated in shock coming to her feet, "What are you doing here," she asked walking across the room pulling the young girl into her arms.

Natasha didn't believe she was going to see the young girl again for at least a few years, but there she was. The whole time the two embraced each other, Yelena couldn't help but feel jealous pang through her heart. In an instant Alina had been greeted as a sister more than she ever had. When they finally pulled apart Natasha asked again, "Why are you here?"

Gesturing to Yelena she explained, "She needed help finding you."

Turning around the oldest woman confirmed, "You brought her here? Ross is looking for me if he finds her--"

Cutting her off Yelena reasoned as she straightened up entering the room, "She knew the risk, just because you're scared for her doesn't mean Alina can't decide for herself."

Stopping their argument before it could go further the shadow widow said, "We had to hide, and we needed to make sure you could find us if you needed to."

Yelena, wanting a drink she passed them entering the kitchen, "You had to come to Budapest, didn't you," remarked Natasha distatefully.

"I came here because I thought you or anyone else wouldn't, keep us all safe with distance between us all. But since you're here, what bullet does that," questioned the Belova woman pointing at the three close holes in the wall.

Remembering it well enough Natasha corrected, "Not bullets. Arrows."

Alina took a seat taking out of the glasses pouring herself some of the rum left behind. As soon as she did Natasha slipped the drink out of her grasp asking her sister, "If you didn't think I'd come here, why'd you send me this?"

"I've killed men but yes, let's draw the line at underage drinking," mumbled Alina while Natasha dug for something in her pocket. Once again, the younger girls were faced with the red vials they mailed to her, "You brought it back here," questioned Alina coming to her feet as did Yelena immediately as they went to grab their bags.

They walked into the room they found of gear each of them packing themselves their own bags of supplies. Speaking directly to Yelena, the red head said, "I'm not here trying to be your friend, but you need to tell me what that is and why you felt the need to bring her here? She was fine, safe and protected and you pulled her right back in for this, what is it?

Speaking up for Yelena, the brunette insisted, "She brought me because I was her only way to you, and I'm glad she did. I know you're afraid for me but let's be honest, what other life can I have outside of this continues."

Adding on to her explanation as she filled her bag Yelena said, "The counteragent to chemical subjugation. The gas immunizes the brain's neuropathways from external manipulation."

Moving towards her jackets on the hook to change Natasha replied, "Maybe in English next time?"

Sarcastically speaking in Russian, she replied, "It's an antidote to mind control."

"Real mature," replied her sister.

Still packing even while sneaking glances at her sisters bruised back, the blonde softly said, "Why don't you take it to one of your super-scientist friends? They can explain it to you. Tony Stark, maybe?"

"Oh, yeah. We're not really talking right now, so," Natasha trailed off, "Kinda the reason Alina was staying with him and not me."

Shaking her head Alina added, "This isn't for Tony to fix anyway, we have to."

Yelena wasn't so hopeful, "Great. Perfect timing. Where's an Avenger when you need one," she mocked not knowing the gravity of her own words.

Whipping her head around Natasha lost her cool slightly snapping, "I don't wanna be here. I'm on the run. You could've gotten me killed."

In a flash Natasha saw her little sister she knew all those years ago before her very eyes. With her small sad voice she defended, "Well, what was I supposed to do? You're the only superhero person that I know. That was the whole reason I sent it to you. Alina was my key to you and apparently, they were already using me to find her. They were never going to let her live in peace you just fooled yourself into believing she could."

As she finished speaking Yelena zipped up the bag continuing as she entered another room, "Unlike me though, who waited to see Captain America bringing down the Red Room she won't have to deal with crushed hope. Alina will just be able to do it herself."

Natasha looked to the youngest girl who wore a confirming look across her face. Unable to believe her the ginger followed after her sister into the next weapons room, "What? Taking down the Red Room? What are you talking about? It's been gone for years. Dreykov's dead. I killed him."

Standing between both girls they could see the light fade from Natsha's eyes, "You don't actually believe that, do you," Yelena asked but the look on her face was answer enough, "You really do believe that."

"Dreykov's dead. It took almost destroying the entire city just to get to him," she insisted her heart beat becoming faster.

Becoming more serious in a spilt second, Alina stepped towards her and asked, "If you're so sure, then tell me what happened. Tell us exactly what you did."

Almost disappointed in herself Natasha replied, "We rigged bombs."

Yelena spoke up asking, "Who's 'we'?"

Dismissively the red headed widow answered, "Clint Barton. Killing Dreykov was the final step in my defection to S.H.I.E.L.D."

"Simple as that," Alina inquired seeing the way she tried to avoid her eyes.

Exiting the room with the girls hot on her tail Natasha said, "Yeah, sure, 'simple.' That's what I'd call imploding a five-story building and then shooting it out with the Hungarian Special Forces. Took 10 days in hiding before we could even get out of Budapest."

Cutting her off in her path Alina desperate to know if it was over already, she asked, "And you checked the body? Confirmed the kill?"

Shaking her head her confidence wavering, "There was no body left to check."

Alina could see Natasha's stance harden, she didn't need her power to tell she was feeling guilty, and terrified her guilt was for nothing. "Nat," the brunette said grabbing her attention, "I saw the flies they have on me; you didn't see the body, but I saw their own words. Hydra had me temporarily, Dreykov, he's the one who ruined me. That was all after you escaped. If there's a chance you missed your shot, we have to make sure the monster is really dead. They came after me already and they had the same darts they used on me to take my powers, no one else but my captors had that capability. If it's not the red room, then it's hydra, either way someone is getting hurt because of me. My blood is being used to rob hundreds of little girls, young women of their freedom. I can't let that keep happening, I won't."

Unable to hear this Natasha began to pace out of the room, only for her sister's voice to stop her, "You're forgetting Dreykov's daughter." Alina looked between them puzzled as Yelena added, "Why? You don't want her to know what you did?"

Before anyone could even think of a response, the echoing boom over their heads made them all duck and cover. In a spilt second Yelena had grabbed the syringes, the keys to their bikes, and Alina and had followed Natasha out of the room. Or at least they had tried to, they only made it just behind the wall of the kitchen close to the door out before they saw widows sneaking in.

"Give me your bag," Alina demanded as Yelena stuffed the syringes inside her bag. As soon as she had she gave it to Alina stuffed inside her endless charmed crossbody. 

"Wh-where did it go," Yelena whisper almost forgetting where they were as she tried peaking inside it.

Alina swatted her hand, yanking her out from behind cover and through the rapid-fire bullets coming at them. As they passed through the bathroom on the other side of the hall, Natasha grabbed hold of them slamming them into the wall to stop them from going further.

Having prepared for the likelihood they were found, Alina reached for the dial she'd set to trigger explosions in the lights.  The second she turned the nob there was a loud explosion that shook the whole building. In the chaos offered the three of them ran from the room. On the way-out Alina ran straight into a widow pointing a large gun at her. Acting quickly, she grabbed the front part of it and shoved it back into their face causing them to fall backwards and into the widow behind them.

Alina leaped over them as did Yelena but before leaving Natasha made sure to stomp on one of their ankles shattering it to stop them from following.  They rushed out the door only to see two more widows on the ground below. Careful to use the building to block her from getting shot Natsha called out, "Alina, you don't happen to have your powers back, do you?"

Despite still felt that painful emptiness that came from the syringes Alina still tried to form a small spec of her power. But nothing would come, "I don't think we're that lucky," she said back reaching for her gun trying to shoot down at the widows shooting from below on the steps. Knowing gun fire attacked police she placed her mask over the bottom half of her face.

Seeing her shooting was doing very little, Yelena said, "I'm running out, do you have anything in that strange bag of yours."

Quickly Alina dug inside reaching her hand down hoping to feel something useful. "I gotta organize this thing," Alina muttered hurriedly.

Yelenas eyes went wide, "Organize? How big is that thing," she questioned waiting for her to find something.

"You don't want to know," Alina assured shaking her head when her hand finally made contact worry what she was looking for. "I got it! I got it," she announced pulling out the grenade. Yelena was stunned as Alina shouted her warning to Natasha, "Nat get ready!"

Pulling the pin, she threw it down below and the three were on the run once again, "Where are we trying to get," shouted Natasha from the back of them. 

Leading them down the halls Yelena shouted back, "Motorbikes! East side of the building." The followed her up the stairs towards on the highest windows which they quickly crawled out of. Not wasting a second, they sprinted across the roof going over the slanted edge sliding down the other side. They only stopped once they reached a giant reached a metal pipe that went all the way down to the ground below was their only way across.

Alina looked over their shoulders to see a widow hot on their tails so she bent down pulling out the metal spike keeping it up. While she did that Yelena broke off the second one on the other side. "Grab on tight," Alina warned trying to hold onto both Yelena and Natasha's arms as they wrapped themselves around it.

Just as it started to topple over, the widow jumped barely catching on. Natasha loosened her grip on Alina sliding to try and catch her before she fell, "I got you," Natasha said trying to pull her in closer. The tug on her arm from trying to hold up Natasha and Yelena made Alina shout.

But nothing they could do would make the widow stop trying to kill them, not even the risk of her own death. Just before they made impact, the widow was forced to let go and smack against the concrete below. "Natasha," Alina shouted feeling the red head completely let go while she and Yelena were sent crashing through a window.

Only, Alina didn't make it all the way in, she dangled above the 50-foot drop shouting, "YELENA!" Alina could feel the broken pieces of glass imbed themselves into her hands as she tried kept herself up. The brunette attempted hoisting herself up, but she didn't have a good enough grip to pull on. Not a second later, the blonde who was bleeding on the top of her head from the glass was in sight.

"I got you, just grip my arm tightly," she ordered, and Alina complied instantly. The brunette grunted being yanked her back inside across the glass. As soon as she was through the window Yelena kept her standing saying, "We have to catch up with Natasha."

Alina kept her hand on her bleeding stomach from being dragged across the glass, but she felt pieces of her body trying to heal itself. Even with her pain she didn't have a choice, they ran down the steps. By the time they reached Natasha and the widow outside, only Natasha was still breathing. Turning around to face them she was met with Yelena asking, "Do you believe us now?"

"How many others," Natasha probed.

Backing away towards the door Yelena answered, "Enough."

Natasha looked sadder than Alina had ever seen her before, but that didn't stop them from their present task of getting the hell out of there. The three of them ran towards the bikes at the end of the alley, "Which one's yours," Natasha asked her sister.

"Black. Brown seat," Yelena asked running up to her bike feeling her pockets for her keys, "Where are my keys?"

Without saying a word, Natasha dangled the keys in front of her while Alina got her own bike. "Ah, bitch," Yelena remarked in Russian.

As she stood there a car was flung past the opening of the alley by something incredibly strong. "Any day now," rushed Natasha as a giant almost tank looking vehicle came full speed at them.

In a flash Natasha and Alina pulled away with the tank destroying everything behind them. As they reached the end of the street, another van cut them off forcing them to take a hard right to avoid hitting them. The tank behind them didn't bother to miss it, "Do you think it's safe to say they're a little mad at us for leaving their employment," remarked Alina sarcastically and loudly as she noticed another motorbike come behind them once they made it to the streets.

"It's definitely safe to say that. Alina, go left," ordered Natasha and instantly Alina listened moving in the opposite direction of her. Unlike Natasha hoped, the widow followed behind Alina instead of her and Yelena, "Shit," she muttered turning the bike to follow.

Alina cast a look over her shoulder to see the widow too close for comfort. Looking ahead at the traffic Alina drove faster barely dodging two cars that nearly hit each other trying to avoid hitting her. Easily the widow simply used one of those cars as a ramp to stay behind her. "Oh come on," she snapped growing tired of the chase. Alina once again tried to ignite a hopeful spark of her powers, but all she did get was small sapphire sparks trying to become something.

Seeing the train coming down the tracks, Alina gripped both handles tightly speeding up again passing over leaving no time for her chasers to follow. However, the widow did have time to pull out her machine gun taking out Alina's tires and forcing her to smack into a wall. The force of it was so hard it sent her flying out of the seat and over the edge. Rolling over on her back Alina gasped for air feeling the wind knocked clean out of her.

Riding up behind her Yelena jumped off the bike holding the man who came out of his car for Alina at gun point. At the same time she did that, Natasha rushed to help the girl to stand, "I'm not gonna lie, that hurt a little," muttered Alina trying to take deep breaths.

Instantly the man stepped away from his car Yelena's gun being the only arguing point he needed. Despite helping Alina into the back seat, when Natasha got into the drivers seat she scolded Yelena, "You can't just steal a guy's car."

While crawling over the seats to the passengers Yelena questioned, "So you want me to chase him down and un-steal it?"

"Yeah, maybe we table the ethics of carjacking for later when all the people stop trying to kill us," argued Alina constantly looking behind them.

Natasha tried backing up only to hit the care behind her, "Okay. Any time now, please," said Yelena.

Angrily her sister snapped, "Shut up." Just before she pulled off, shots from over the wall came firing down on the roof of the car.

Natasha slammed her foot against the gas pedal speeding down the street. Still the widow persisted shooting at the side of their car breaking the window in the back. "Okay, you got a plan, or shall we just stay duck-and-cover," wondered Yelena.

Keeping her eyes on the road before them the older sibling admitted, "Yeah, my plan was to drive us away."

"That's a shit plan," replied Yelena as she suddenly reached for the wheel forcing it to spin the car, "Alina open your right door, now."

With great speed Alina pushed the door open just in time for it to be smacked off a pole and fly at the widow chasing them. She didn't have time to react before the door hit her and took her straight off the bike. "You're welcome," Yelena said happily thinking they had finally gotten away as they reached the main road.

Proving them horribly wrong, the tank from before made a rough, sharp turn onto the main road right behind them. Alina's eyes went wide as she shouted for the two of them, "Oh, shit. The tank is back." She watched as they took out everything in its way, her heart sank seeing the metal man came out the top of the tank pointing an arrow right at them. "I told you they were going to be pissed off when round two came Yelena," she warned them.

Looking back seeing them Yelena wondered, "What did you do to them?"

Having her own plan formulating Natasha warned, "Put your seat belt on."

Yelena couldn't resist groaning, "You're such a mom." But it was lucky they all listened just in time, not a second later their car was thrown into the air. Alina's arms flung around the air as glass floated around scratching her face. It felt like they were in air forever before she felt the car smack off the ground and went down the stairs of the subway.

The moment of pause she had Alina groaned, "You're never driving again Natasha. Never." But Natasha was the first one out of the car and didn't hear her, she pulled Yelena out then together they unbuckled Alina pulling her out. The second they were out Yelena realized she was bleeding from her arm and Alina now had a small piece of the metal lodged in her chest.

"Natasha, no. I think I'm bleeding. I'm--" Yelena tried to wrap her wound but Natasha grabbed her hand stopping her.

Alina yanked the metal from her chest while Natasha forced both younger girls to their feet. "No. Not now, trust me," she warned pulling them towards the escalator.

One by one they filed after the other sliding down on the middle pieces between the two escalators. Just as they began sliding down it, Alina watched as a shield flew right over their heads barely missing them. It lodged itself into the pillar in front of the escalators and in their seconds of lead Alina looked up from the ground at it to say, "I feel slightly offended they're using a shield like Steves."

Grabbing her arm along with Yelena's, Natasha said, "You can tell them all about it later, as for right now." The red head paused only to open up a compartment above the tracks and ordering them, "Get inside, now."

One by one they hoisted themselves up and inside, closing the door behind them just as taskmaster had grabbed his shield. Knowing everything around them was too loud to be heard, Natsha asked them both, "You okay?"

"Yeah. Great plan. I love the part where I almost bled to death," replied Yelena as she sat up from the ground gesturing to the area around them, "This is cozy."

Natasha looked around telling them, "Barton and I spent two days hiding out up here."

"That must have been fun," observed Alina as she leaned against one of the walls.

"Are you okay? You took the brunt of a lot of those hits," Yelena questioned the younger girl knowing her powers weren't fully back yet.

Playfully wincing at her own pain Alina replied, "I will be, I can feel it healing faster I think the dosage is starting to wear off."

Looking at where the man once was the Romanoff asked, "Who the hell is that guy?"

Being the only one with the answers, Yelena explained, "Dreykov's special project to help capture the next special project." Alina shifted knowing she was that project, "He can mimic anyone he's ever seen. It's like fighting a mirror. Dreykov only deploys him for top-priority missions."

Natasha shook her head refusing, "This doesn't make any sense."

"Well, the truth rarely makes sense when you omit key details," spat Yelena.

"Someone want to tell me what's going on," urged Alina sensing there was a piece everyone else knew but her.

Not giving Natasha the chance to deny it, Yelena answered, "You didn't say one word about Dreykov's daughter. You killed her." Alina knew she had no room to judge, but there was a very real difference between implied violence, and actually murder. Perhaps she had just forced herself to forget, she and Natasha were cut from the same cloth.

"I had to. I needed her to lead me to Dreykov. Dreykov's daughter was collateral damage. I needed her to be sure," Natasha repeated her mind wandering back to that very same day.

Seeing the look on her face Yelena almost mocked, "And here you are, not so sure."

Natasha sighed repeating, "I needed out."

Seeing the sadness on her face, Alina reached out for Natasha's hand admitting, "I probably would have done the same thing to get out, torture is torture for a reason. It warps who you are until you just will do anything to be free. Dreykov killed his daughter as surely as he was the one who took us from our families. He is the monster, he is."