Natalia stared as perci collapsed to the ground, her words echoing within my mind. "I will always protect you, Nat."

The guards rushed in, directing us to return to the dorm; as we shuffled out, I kept looking over at Perci and the burnt bodies of the guards. I was trying to comprehend what happened. First, I couldn't shoot the man as the gun I was given was not loaded. Next, the guard smacked me in the face; as I recovered, considerable weight was placed on my chest. I noticed a knife above me and said goodbye to Perci. Then everything happened so fast; there was the scream, which made me feel hope, and then the flash of flame and the weight on my chest was gone. Standing there was Perci, covered in black flame, holding the guard by the throat, slowly killing him. Then, something hit her in the neck. I looked over and saw Ivan with a dart gun pointed at Perci. I was happy they weren't killing her, but I was still worried about what they would do with her. Then her voice echoed in my head as she looked at me with a determination in her eye.

As I left the training room, I saw Madame B, Ivan, and the guards approach Perci's limp figure. I can only hope Perci will be alright, and she wouldn't be in this mess if she didn't have to protect me. I vowed to myself that I would get stronger so Perci would no longer need to protect me. Nevertheless, I will do what I must to survive for Perci.

Back with Madame B

As the group approached the unconscious Perci, Madame B and Ivan discussed the girl's hidden talents. Ivan turned to Madame B with a mad gleam. "She could be a fantastic asset". Madame B took on a thoughtful expression, "Yes, but she is not suitable for the black widow program". Looking back at the girl on the ground, Ivan spoke, "We can create a new program with the assistance of Hydra. We can try to replicate her abilities and make our group of soldiers work with our black widows as support and extraction". Madame B now had a wicked smile of her own. "Hmm, I see your point. What shall we call her?". Ivan could hardly contain his excitement. "Dark Phoenix, did you see when she screamed, it sounded like an unearthly type of bird, and when she ran at the guard, it almost looked like a blur of flaming wings?". Madame B firmly nodded in response. "So be it; we will contact Hydra so they can study and train her abilities before returning her to us to integrate with the black widows who are the most skilled. In the meantime, we will keep her sedated as they will need their asset to contain her if she goes out of control. Guards take her to the infirmary and tell the doctor to keep her sedated".

The guards dragged the unconscious Perci out of the training room and down the hall, where they passed the dorm room. Before arriving at the infirmary, they put the girl on the bed. They were strapping her down before informing the doctor of the instructions.

Nat's Pov

I waited in the dorm with the rest of the girls; I could hear the whispers about perci spreading throughout the group, hearing a commotion coming from the hallway. I looked over at the open doors and saw the guards dragging Perci. I covered my mouth to stop any sound from coming out. I cannot let them know this is affecting me. My only comfort was they were pulling her towards the infirmary, not the morgue. I tried over the next few days to contact Perci through our bond. I could tell she wasn't dead, but she would not respond. Then, after five days, I felt her getting further away. The connection was still there, but I could feel nothing from it. The only conclusion I could come up with was they moved her to another facility. As the days turned to weeks, the weeks to months, my only comfort was the bond was still there, even if very faint. "We will see each other again, Perci, I promise".

Time skip: Perci was transported to the Hydra facility in Sokovia.

I slowly emerged from the darkness, fighting the remaining feeling of the drugs. When my head cleared, I searched the bond to find it faint but still there. The only theory I could come up with was I was very far away. Taking in my surroundings as they are unfamiliar, I first notice it's freezing, and I'm only wearing a hospital gown while strapped down on a metal table, a covered tray next to me, with an IV rack on the other side. The rest of the room is shadowed in darkness, which I can see through only to see blank walls and a camera. Suddenly, the door opens, and in steps, two men, one wearing a lab coat, approaches the covered table while the other man approaches me. He pauses before addressing me in Russian. "Ahh, I see you awake good; you are with Hydra. You were sent here by Madame B; she wants us to train you with your powers, and we are going to find out how you have abilities and try to replicate them in other assets". Looking at him, I manage to croak out, "Who are you?". with a slight flourish of his hand ", I am Baron Von Strucker, now time to get started, doctor?"

I turned slightly to see the doctor approaching with a syringe; it had a clear liquid. He grabbed my head as I tried to turn away, pushing the needle into my neck. I grit my teeth so as not to scream. Then, as the drug started to take effect, my body relaxed. I could not move anything but my eyes. My hospital gown was removed, and I was left stark naked. Strucker was looking at all my scars and brands. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the doctor with some type of drill. Suddenly, excruciating pain flared from my right hip, realising they had paralysed me but had not numbed my body. Paralysed, I couldn't move or scream; the pain continued as my vision became blurry and dark. I refused to pass out. The pain shifted to my arm. The doctor rolled onto my stomach as pain flared through my back. I was moved back to my stomach, and then these needles were pushed into my chest and abdomen, drawing out fluids. It went on for hours, and I returned to my hospital gown. Two guards grabbed me from the table, dragged me to what looked like a cell room, and threw me on a cot, where I finally succumbed to the pain and welcomed the blackness.

Wanda Maximoff POV

I was reading this new book I was given called Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief when the door to the cellblock was thrown open, and two guards walked in dragging a girl who looked around 11 - 12 years of age. I turned to my brother once the Guards had left. "Pietro, hey Pietro", he grunted and sat up. "What, Wanda?. I just rolled my eyes at his attitude. "Did you see the girl they just brought in?" he sassily replied. "You mean the one in the hospital gown with blood all over it? There's only three of us here, of course, I saw". Sighing at my brother's antics, "What do you think they did to her?" he looked at me like, really. "I don't know. She doesn't look conscious, so we'll have to wait until she wakes up to ask her".

Timeskip: 1 hour later, Perci POV

Slowly, I felt myself returning to consciousness, with the pain also returning not as bad; slowly, I opened my eyes to find the room I was in dimly lit. I was face down on some sort of cot where I was dumped. Slowly, I managed to roll to my back. The drugs still wearing off, and my limbs were hard to move, but I managed to sit up and inspect my surroundings. It turns out I was in a cell with bars on the front and sides, and there was a bucket, sink and bed. Looking around, I noticed a girl in the cell next to me and a male in the one next to her. All other cells were empty. Just as I was about to ask them who they were, the main door opened. A guard came in with a cloth and form-fitting combat suit. Throwing them at me through the bars, he said to wash and dress, then walked out.

Slowly, I stood up, shuffling over to the sink. I put the cloth on the side, removed my hospital gown, and threw it on the floor. Suddenly, someone yells behind me; I see the girl scrambling to her bed, grabbing her blanket, and holding it up to the bars. Looking at her curiously, I asked. "What are you doing?". She looks at me, confused. "What do you mean, what am I doing? You're naked. My brother is right there". Now, it was my turn to be confused. "So?". Frowning, she looked at me. "It would be best if you covered yourself up while washing". I was looking here straight in the eyes. "Why?". she looked shocked. "To give yourself some privacy". I was looking at her sadly. "I've never had privacy before. Not when I lived with my step-father or was sold to the red room". It was her turn to look sad."Your step-father sold you, I'm sorry. What do you mean you've never had privacy?". Sighing heavily. "After my mother was murdered, my step-father would beat, whip, and cut me so often I was given a bedsheet and belt to wear, then every couple days he would hose me down, so I didn't smell or before his buddies would come round for poker. Then, when I was sold to the red room, we all lived in one room with showers with no curtains and toilets with no cubicles. The guards would watch us change every morning, making sure we went hiding anything." " She looked horrified. "If your step-father sold to the red room, then Why are you here?".

Giving my head a shake from the memories, I looked back up. "My only friend in the red room was about to be killed by a guard for not following orders, and I couldn't let that happen as we share a bond. I suddenly snapped at the prospect of her dying, and through my rage, I felt a heat start at my centre, which flared out in a burst of black flames, killing the guards. I raced over to my friend in a blur of fire. Ripping the guard off my friend, I held the guard by the throat. Then I noticed my arm was covered in black flames, and I was burning the guard to death. I was hit with a tranquiliser and woke up strapped to the surgical table with Strucker telling me I was there to train my powers and help them create more like me. I'll be sent back to the red room to complete my training." " She looked at me, shocked. "You killed some guards; your friend must mean a lot to you." " Without hesitation, I responded. "I would die for her" " She smiled at my response. "So you have fire powers. Can you show me?". Shaking my head, no. "I don't know how to use them. That's why I'm here". Nodding, she pointed to the clothing. "Well, you better finish washing. The guards will bring dinner soon".

I nodded to her and turned back to the sink. Grabbing the cloth, I ran it under the water and started wiping it down my body. The water was freezing but refreshing. As it passed over the fresh wounds, I saw them begin to close; this confused me at first until I realised it was the water making them close. I squeezed the water over the wounds, intrigued until they were nothing but a light pink scar. I donned the suit, nodding to the girl who took the blanket down and returned it to her bed just as the guards arrived with dinner, consisting of a paste tube and water. Grabbing it and returning to sit, I realised I didn't know the girl's name. Turning to her, I ask. "My name is Perci Jackson; what is yours?". she looked up as realisation crossed her face. "Wanda Maximoff, this is my brother Pietro". He waived, and I waived back, deciding to ask one more question before devouring my fabulous meal. "How did you come to be here?". Wanda looked at me sadly. "Our parents were killed a couple of years ago. So Pietro and I lived on the streets until Hydra came looking for test subjects. We volunteered; at least here, we have a roof over our heads and daily meals. We have to train every day; sometimes, they inject us with stuff. I was nodding my head in understanding. "You should sleep. You'll need it for training tomorrow". Pietro cut in.

I lay down as I drifted off to sleep. I reached out with the bond to be comforted by knowing Nat is still alive. "I will see you again, Nat, I promise".