Ch. 2 Alexandra

Nikita sat outside Alex's room, preparing herself for the encounter. It had been a while since she'd done this. She knew how it worked. A new recruit was brought in, sedated and then woke up in a foreign environment, with a total stranger giving him a scary speech. She herself was that recruit a long time ago and she remembered it like it was yesterday. And she also gave that speech so many times she could recite it in her sleep. She hated it, every word of it. She fought hard to rid herself of this job, but today she had to do it again. She had to be the stranger who will give a 19 year old girl the speech of her life and make her want to live again. She took in a heavy breath and entered the room.

….

Her head was pounding, her eyes war so heavy she had to fight hard to open them and when she finally did, everything was grey and spinning. She suddenly woke up, all sweaty and having no clue where she was. She had to open and close her eyes a few times so she could focus and figure out what was going on.

Am I….dead? she thought, panic rising in her chest. I can't be dead, my head wouldn't hurt so much if I were. Nothing would hurt anymore…..She decided to try to get up, but it was very painful. No, definitely not dead….. Suddenly she sensed something, she felt watched and with a quick side glance she saw she wasn't alone. She almost screamed in fear and she fully turned her head to see the intruder, while covering herself with the sheets as if they could protect her in any way. Her vision was still a bit blurry and her eyes were puffy. She tried hard to concentrate on the woman in front of her as her breath became heavier.

"Hello, Alex", the stranger said

The woman's voice, neutral and cold, was like a slap on her face. It broke the perfect silence and in that instant she made eye contact. It lasted just a few seconds, but it managed to calm her a bit.

"My name is Nik…."

"Alexandra…."

"What?", the stranger said in that perfectly plane voice, that made impossible for Alex to tell if she should feel safe or fear for her life.

"My name! It's Alexandra, not Alex", she said sternly. "Who are you? Whe…where am I? she asked looking around.

"Well, you're not in prison anymore. And you're not even in Michigan, although nobody else knows that…Your death was officially ruled a suicide by the prison's coroner on November 3rd, your ash is stored….right here", the woman said, sitting up and showing Alex a picture in a catalogue and her death certificate. "My name is Nikita and I work for the Government. We've decided to give you a second chance."

"Why? Why me", Alex asked through clenched teeth, anger rising within her. Who the hell was this woman? Fake her death? Was she in a parallel universe or something?

She couldn't finish her thought, when the woman responded again, standing like a statue in front of her bed. No movement….no emotion…..

"Because you're a white, young female with no personal ties or paper trail. Those do exist, but they're hard to come by. What really grabbed our attention though, was how you were able to kill a criminal we were about to take out"

Alex was in full panic mode by now and adrenaline took over. She shot from the bed and ran for the door. In one swift, almost effortless move, the woman grabbed her waist and threw her back on the bed.

"His name was Noah, by the way, he was a drug dealer. Move and I break your legs!" the woman menacingly said, sensing that Alex would try to run again. "Don't make me hurt you. It may not seem like it, but I don't want to!" she said, looking deep into Alex's eyes, as if to beg her not to do anything stupid again.

"I didn't kill anyone! It was Jonah!" Alex said angrily, looking desperately into the woman's eyes.

"Your boyfriend's body was found next to his apartment, dead from an overdose. No one showed up at his funeral either...", Nikita said, sitting back on the chair, back straight and crossing her legs.

Alex dropped her head dejectedly and began to cry.

This can't be happening. It can't be real. Please, let it be a dream, she thought desperately.

A few good seconds passed and then she heard it again. That cold, inexpressive voice. She slowly raised her head, tears streaming down her face and looked right into the stranger's eyes.

"Your life is over Alex….."

Alex flinched at those words, but tilted her head a little when she thought she saw a flicker of emotion in those piercing eyes. She blinked a few times to clear her vision and when she focused again, it was gone. Empty, dark, cold eyes were staring at her again. No emotion.

"I'm here to offer you a new one", the woman said in a slightly softer tone. "But you have to be willing to earn it"

"What do I got to do?" Alex asked, resigned by now that this was not just a dream, it was reality, as crazy as it seemed.

"Learn! How not to sound like an addict whore for starters"

Alex closed her eyes to stop the tears. This woman's words were hurting her deeply. All the pain of her past was coming back with a rage.

"Learn to stand up straight", the woman said standing up. "Learn how to walk right….learn how to talk right…learn how to serve your country, instead of just yourself", she said, heading for the door.

Hearing her footsteps, Alex opened her eyes. And then she really thought she was going crazy, because, in that moment, she really didn't want the woman to leave. The thought of being alone in that room, in that stone cold place was far scarier.

"Nikita…..", Alex said, using her name for the first time since they met.

Nikita stopped, still facing the door, waiting for Alex's question.

"Am I going to die?", Alex asked in a defiant voice

Nikita was taken by surprise. What should she respond? Should she give this girl false hope or throw her deeper into despair? Instead, she chose a different tactic. One she hoped it would make Alex want to fight for her life. One that once worked for her. So she turned around and faced Alex, looking her in the eyes, hoping her words would reach her.

"This is entirely up to you, Alexandra…."

Alex was shocked and lost for words. She could do nothing but stare.

"Now rest. We start tomorrow. 07.00 AM"

"Start what?" Alex tried to ask, but her question was met with silence. Nikita closed the heavy door and left her alone.