Chapter 2 - Traitor

Harlow's eyes fluttered open, momentarily blinded by the harsh white glow emanating from the strip light above her. A throbbing pain pulsed through her head, jolting her eyes back into focus."Where am I?"Startled, she sat up abruptly, causing her head to spin. She found herself on the cold floor of a sterile white room, devoid of any furnishings except for a solitary door adorned with a small window housing a conspicuous security camera in one corner.Gradually regaining her balance, Harlow rose to her feet and approached the door, peering through the tiny window. All she saw was an empty hallway stretching out before her. Frustration welled up within her, and she pounded her fist against the door, signaling that she was awake.Why was Hydra subjecting her to this? She thought.Soon enough, a guard materialized on the other side of the glass, motioning for Harlow to back away and press against the far wall. She rolled her eyes, fully aware of the protocol since she had often been the one observing from the opposite side.Complying with the guard's instructions, she watched as he entered the room."Harlow Zakhaev, face the wall and put your hands on your head," he commanded."Yeah, yeah, I know," she snapped, frustration lacing her voice. "What the hell is happening here? I'm not an enemy of Hydra," she declared."We'll see about that," he retorted, yanking her roughly out of the cell and into the hallway.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dr. Venkov, one of Hydra's most skilled remaining doctors, was meticulously examining blood samples when Harlow was escorted into the laboratory."Ah, Harlow, good. Come in," he called, placing a vial back into its holder."I didn't exactly have a choice, did I?" she grumbled, her voice tinged with bitterness.He chuckled lightly."Mr. Fastner will be joining us shortly, but for now, I'll assess your vitals. I understand you were one of the individuals that disappeared during the blip, correct?" he inquired.Forced to sit on the examination table by the guard, Harlow replied, "Yeah, I found that out myself. My parents are missing too. Are they here? I'd like to see them."Dr. Venkov offered no response as he swiftly grasped a syringe, plunging the needle into her arm. Suddenly, the laboratory doors burst open, revealing Mr. Fastner. He was a high-ranking Hydra official, one of the few remaining, and Harlow despised him. Dr. Venkov promptly exited the room, clutching Harlow's blood sample.Harlow had always harbored fear towards Mr. Fastner, a sentiment that had haunted her since childhood. He exuded cruelty, and his presence made her feel uneasy."Miss Zakhaev, how good it is to have you back with us," he stated, unbuttoning his suit jacket before taking a seat."Thank you, Sir," she replied, her gaze barely able to meet his from her position on the table."I'll keep this brief, Miss Zakhaev. Your parents were traitors. When you disappeared, they were among those left behind. Consumed by grief over losing you, they lost their commitment to our cause. They attempted to flee Germany, seeking refuge in hiding, but we intercepted them before they could. During questioning, they renounced their affiliation with Hydra, and as a consequence, they were terminated," he said in a cold, measured tone.Harlow's breath caught in her throat, and her vision blurred. It felt as though the world had come to a standstill, and she had been thrust into a horrific nightmare."We have brought you here to determine where your loyalty lies, with Hydra or with your treacherous parents?" he inquired.Harlow wanted to scream at him, to exact a slow and torturous vengeance, but she knew she had to tread carefully with her next words. Her life depended on it."My loyalty has always been to Hydra. I am nothing like my traitorous parents," she asserted, staring straight into his eyes."Good. Our numbers have dwindled after years of battling the damned Avengers, so I'm relieved I won't have to put a bullet in you today," he remarked, a sickening grin spreading across his face as he produced a small gun from his pocket. "You'll have an opportunity to prove your loyalty. You'll be provided with living quarters here to resume your training, and then you'll embark on a mission. Do not fail us," he admonished sternly, rising from his seat to approach Harlow.He gently held her chin, pointing the gun at her head with a twisted smile. "It would be a shame to lose such..." His gaze traveled down her body before returning to meet her eyes. "...potential."Harlow swallowed hard but maintained unwavering eye contact. Just as Mr. Fastner exited, Dr. Venkov entered the room."Alright, you're good to go. The guards will show you to your room. Get some rest, and you should be fine," he said cheerfully.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Harlow numbed herself as she was escorted to her quarters. Once she closed the door behind her, she collapsed onto the floor, allowing herself to crumble. She had never experienced such overwhelming pain in her life.Her parents were dead.Traitors.Executed.For hours, she remained in the same spot, her tears eventually drying, leaving her mouth parched and her emotions exhausted.She had to remain strong. She had to keep moving.That's what her parents would expect of her.She was Hydra, even though Hydra had taken everything from her.Her training was set to resume the next morning. She needed to prove her loyalty to Hydra, or else she would meet the same fate as her parents.