Chapter 4

Darla turned the shower on and shivered as the cool water touched her skin. There were no warm showers here, but at least the water wasn't freezing. She washed her hair and body carefully while trying to clear her thoughts. What had just happened? The Winter Soldier had actually lied for her. Why? She had no idea, but she was grateful either way.

Now it was up to her to make sure that her father wouldn't find out the truth. She didn't want to even imagine what would happen if he would. Well, she just needed to lie like her life would depend on it. Hopefully, he would be satisfied with this "experiment". Quickly she dried herself with a stiff white towel and wore clean clothes. Her father was already waiting for her as she stepped out of the small bathroom.

"There you are," he stated cheerfully. "How are you, princess?"

"Fine," she replied as calmly as she could. "I'm fine."

His pale blue eyes observed her bare arms curiously.

"Any bruises?" he inquired.

She gritted her teeth and shook her head.

"No, I'm fine."

He raised his eyebrows.

"Really? Well, I must say that I'm surprised, I didn't expect him to be able to control himself so well."

Bastard.

"Yeah, it was…fine. Everything went well."

"Hmm. Tell me everything."

Was he serious? Sadly yes.

"Well… I went into his room and I introduced myself. He didn't really speak much, he just said that we needed to complete our mission, so I asked would he like me to remove all my clothes and he said no, just my pants. I did that and I laid down on his bunk. He lowered his pants and placed his body on top of mine. The act lasted few minutes before he finished inside of me. After that he got up and zipped his pants."

"He didn't touch you with his hands?"

"No."

"Interesting…" her father stated thoughtfully.

Darla had to struggle in order to control herself. She was aware that she really wasn't anything more than a lab rat to him, but couldn't he honestly see how sick this was. Of course he couldn't.

"Are you feeling any pain?" he asked, giving her his fake sympathetic smile. "Soreness?"

"Yeah," she murmured and almost flinched when he placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Well, no need to worry, that's completely normal."

"Yeah, I know."

"Good girl," he hummed and patted her shoulder. "You did well, I'm very proud of you."

"Thank you, father."

Sick bastard…

"Now, I want you to rest and relax, we'll run some tests tomorrow."

"What tests?" she asked cautiously.

"Don't worry your pretty little head with that, sweetheart," he replied smiling. "You know I will take care of everything."

Drop dead, asshole.

"Yeah, I know," she replied, once again forcing a smile on her face. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, princess."

Feeling his lips touching her cheek made her want to throw up. She had never thought that she could hate anyone as much as she hated him. If only there would be a way to make him pay. Sadly, this was reality, not a fairytale. There were no heroes here.

1 week later

"Even broken in spirit as he is, no one can feel more deeply than he does the beauties of nature. The starry sky, the sea, and every sight afforded by these wonderful regions, seems still to have the power of elevating his soul from earth. Such a man has a double existence: he may suffer misery, and be overwhelmed by disappointments; yet, when he has retired into himself, he will be like a celestial spirit that has a halo around him, within whose circle no grief or folly ventures."

Darla smiled as she read the words, she had already read many times before. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Her favorite book. She enjoyed rereading it, especially here. It offered her some kind of comfort. Without books, she would have probably lost her mind already. There wasn't much to do here, mostly just waiting for the inevitable death.

Well, at least they allowed her to go running once a day. There was a huge training hall here and she could actually see the sky through the small windows. It was the favorite part of her day. Her least favorite part was the stupid lab. She had been taken there every day for the last week and they had pricked her with needles. It would have been useless to ask why, no one would have given her answers.

Her father had only told her that she had been selected to be a part of a project which had involved sex with the Winter Soldier. Thankfully that part was over, and it seemed that they had believed her lies. At least for now. She placed her book on the small bedside table and stretched her arms. Maybe she should take a nap or something… Her thoughts were cut off when the door suddenly opened. She got up as fast as she could.

"Hello, sweetheart," her father greeted her. "How are you?"

"Fine," she replied. "And you?"

He smiled.

"I have some news."

Oh great. This was never a good thing.

"Okay," she stated, trying her best to sound polite and interested. "What kind of news?"

Bad ones obviously.

"I need you to repeat the act with the Winter Soldier."

What? She was unable to hide her shock and obviously her father saw that.

"Today," he added smiling.

"Wh-why?" she muttered. "I mean… I thought that…It went well."

He raised his eyebrows.

"The project isn't finished."

Why the hell was he doing this to her? For fun?

"Get ready, dear," he stated smiling.

No. No. He couldn't make her do this.

"Father…" she started, but his ice-cold glare shut her up. He was reminding her who she was dealing with. Then his lips curved into a smile again.

"Yes dear?"

"I… I'll get ready," she murmured.

"That's my girl. Come out when you're ready."

No… This couldn't be happening. What was she supposed to do now?