-Russia 1991-
Dreykov sat in his chair facing the two young widows in the chairs one 8 years old and the other barely 5. The oldest was the most promising widow he had ever done the test on. His little Natalia Romanoff. Only 8 and already on top of everything in her classes. The youngest Ari Reznikov who was one of his newest additions beautiful little thing but unlike Natalia she was one of his weakest. The girl bare was able to kill her first man only a few weeks ago.
“You both understand the assignment,” Dreykov said and both girls nod. “Yes sir,” the youngest said and Natalia just stayed quiet. “Good Melina will come pick you both up and that you on your mission. You will be joined by a younger girl but you are not to tell her about us she has not been trained to keep her mouth shut yet,” Dreykov said and again both girls nod.
“You both know of the punishment if you let me down,” Dreykov said as there was a knock on the door. The youngest flinched but the oldest just stayed completely still like the trained assassin she will become. Melina Vostokoff walked in, “are they ready sir?” The man grinned and took in Melina’s appearance, “yes take them but when you get back I want that child to be able to shot without flinching.” He pointed to the youngest in the room who was terrified but said nothing.
“Yes Sir,” Melina said.
-Ohio 1991-
Ari was in what was now her room looking around never have had a room that wasn’t filled with girls. There were books in the bookcase. Clothes in the closet. This almost felt like a palace compared to the Red Room.
Ari sat on the bed looking out the window at the winter snow covering the ground. It was paradise. Until it wasn’t.
Yelena her new younger sister charged into the room just past the age of three and she was stumbling around and since our door had to remain open the child found her way into my room, “yous tall.” Ari frowned and looked behind but no one was with her then looked back down at the blonde, “yes.” Yelena stumbled over to her bed and looked up at her, “why yous tall?” Ari started to play with my fingers, “I’m older then you.”
Ari didn’t know a lot of children which was kind of funny since she was raised in the Red Room but were they really considered children.
Yelena tried crawling onto Ari’s bed but when she failed the blonde just sat beside it and started rambling about the snow outside the window.
-Ohio 1992-
It was Christmas Day and each girl got one present, Natasha got a book, Ari got a new drink bottle and Yelena got a doll. The 4 year old loved that doll and carried it around all day sawing that when she grew up and became a mummy she wanted to name her daughter something cool like Ollie after the little circle man on tv.
Christmas night was the first time Ari had been hit since coming to Ohio. She was getting Alexei a beer and when she got back the beer was not cold and he backhanded her causing the 6 year old to fall to the ground but she learnt never to cry in the Red Room or they would do worse. Natalia saw but Yelena was to busy watching Christmas cartoons that Alexei had put on the television. Ari stayed on the floor and Melina came in looked at the situation then walked over to the fallen 6 year old, “Alexei don’t hit them they have school soon and how the fuck do you think we will explain away a bruise.”
The Russian man growled, “well if she would do the simplest fucking task right I wouldn’t have to hit her.” Melina turned to Alexei, “no hitting them do you want SHIELD to question why our charge has a hand print on her cheek.” The man grumbled the started drinking the hot beer that child gave him.
Melina turned to Ari, “go upstairs.” The 6 year old didn’t need to be told twice and rushed upstairs. Natalia soon followed after the running child leaving her youngest in the living room.
When Natalia walked into Ari’s room she sat next to the younger girl, “you need to get used to the hitting. The people in the Red Room would not think twice about beating you half to death.” Ari looked up at the blue haired 9 year old, “I grew up there to I know what it’s like.” Natalia huffed, “yeah well you’ll never survive if just a slap can shake you.” Ari glared at the older girl, “just because I’m not Dreykov’s perfect soldier doesn’t mean I’m as useless as everything thinks.”
“You will never been Dreykov’s anything because if you keep going like this you’ll be dead before your graduation ceremony,” Natalia said. “Get out Natalia if you want to talk about the Red Room so badly go find Mama,” Ari spat and the blue haired girl got up. “I am just trying to tell you that you need to do better,” Natalia said and blue eyes met green, “and I am telling you that I’m not your sister and I don’t care what wisdom you want to tell me because I’d rather be dead then become you.”
“You’re right you aren’t my sister and if you and I cross paths we both know who would live that ring alive,” Natalia said then walked out of the room.
-Cuba 1993-
All three daughters were surrounding Melina as she was bleeding out. “Mama please,” Ari whispered as Yelena was crying and Natalia was holding onto the older woman’s hand. “Don’t let them take your hearts,” Melina whispered as she was taken away. Natalia held a crying Yelena but the 6 year old broke free and ran to Alexei, “DADDY!”
A soldier grabbed Yelena and Natalia ran over, “GET AWAY FROM HER!” Soon Natalia had a gun pointed threatening everyone in Russian. Ari made her way to a distracted soldier grabbed his gun and shot at Alexei and Dreykov not waiting for them to try anything but as the shot rang threw the air Ari was tackled and held on the tarmac.
Dreykov turned to the 7 year old that shot at him without hesitation then walked over to her smirking as her face was burnt by the hot tarmac, “I see you have worked on your shooting child even your aim but next time you try and shot me I will make you watch as I kill both your sisters then lock you in the hole for a few months. Understood.”
Ari nod her head and the older man that had to be in his 40’s cupped her face, “I except you to train hard and maybe you’ll be even better than your sister.” As the older man smirked the world went black for Ari her sisters already in the plane unconscious.