Kat struggled to keep her breathing low as she crouched under the table. All around her, HYDRA officers were fighting their SHIELD enemies. One moment, everything had been calm as she did her exercises with Officer Lutz; the next, enemy agents had burst into the heavily guarded conference room, yelling and brandishing weapons. Gunfire ricocheted through her head as blood freckled her arms. She tucked a strand of brown hair behind her head, struggling to stay calm. If she made a run for it, it was almost certain she would be caught and beaten, or worse. But, if she didn't try, she'd definitely be subject to more tests, more experiments. Her throat constricted as the familiar feeling of drowning in fear took over her mind.
Kat, just do it!
Kat, are you ready to die?
Kat, it's worth a try!
Are you willing to risk your life for a stupid escape attempt?
Do it!
Taking a deep breath, she counted to ten, then bolted out from the safety of her desk.
"Hey! Stop her!" someone shouted from behind her, "Stop the mutant!" She ran faster, ignoring the fighting around her as she sprinted towards the exit. All too soon, she heard the sharp crack of a gun, and immediately felt a sharp pain in her back. A scream tore out of her throat as she fell, sobbing and shrieking. Sharp tendrils clawed through her veins, ripping her skin as the bullet released the toxin into her bloodstream. She collapsed onto the hard floor and curled up into the fetal position, begging for the pain to go away. Officer Lutz began to stride towards her, deadly calm, gun aimed directly at her face. He wore the same expression as when he injected her with new serums, or flipped the trigger to start the electricity experiment. Kat closed her eyes and curled up even more tightly, feeling fear and anger overwhelm her senses as she lost control. The familiar sense of leaving her body overcame her as instinct took over. Detachedly, she felt the pent-up energy suddenly leave her body in a blue arc, ramming into the Hydra soldiers but leaving SHIELD forces unharmed.
She opened her eyes to the wreckage of the room. Bodies were splattered against the broken glass walls, blood seeping from their eyes, mouths, and noses. SHIELD agents lay unconscious on the ground, as if they were sleeping. She retched until nothing was left to regurgitate, leaving a sickly taste in her mouth. Broken glass cut into her face as she awkwardly shifted away from the vomit. The bullet in her back released more toxin, sending a surge of tiredness through her body. Kat used a tiny wave of energy to levitate herself up off the ground and towards the exit.
"You might actually want to follow me. More soldiers are coming through the hallway." She looked up into the emotionless face of Captain America, the super soldier who HYDRA was training her to kill. He stood up from his crouch behind his famous shield. "You should make up your mind," he added, offering her a red gloved hand. Kat pondered his offer. She could stay here, her home, and undergo more experiments, but at least she would be safe. Sort of. There would be people who looked after her, who fed her and protected her from the outside world. Or, she could go with the Captain and escape the tests, but possibly have to sacrifice her safety. Kat turned her head to look at Officer Lutz, her captor and doctor, who was lying in a puddle of his own blood. Her doing. She remembered the many experiments and needles, the pain. She remembered the beatings and long nights in the Tower. And anyway, did she even have a choice? The seriously buff super soldier stood between her and the only exit she knew of, and since he seemed to not be affected by her powers, she didn't stand a chance.
She looked back at the Captain's blue eyes, searching for signs of trickery and lies, but found only compassion. Take a chance, whispered her mother's voice in her head, Follow your instincts.
Her slender hand fit perfectly into his strong one.