"You're a special girl, you know? The first one to ever escape me," Vlad dragged Alex through the brothel. With a gun pressed to her side, she couldn't fight him. Maybe she could've if she thought enough about her actions, but the horror of where they were had her frozen. She was too gripped in fear to even breathe. She couldn't be back there. She couldn't be back in the brothels. She was supposed to have escaped. She was supposed to have never returned.
Since she was back in her worst nightmare, Alex fully believed she was going to die. She couldn't concentrate on anything else. The fire in her telling her to fight and find a way to escape was quickly dying. The tighter she held on, the more it disappeared. Each curtain she passed with an abused girl hidden behind tore at her resolve. It took everything in her just to stand. How she had managed to sass Vlad was even beyond her. There was more conviction in her words than Alex ever felt, "I'll be the first girl to do it twice, Vlad."
"Oh. So you do remember me?" Vlad shoved Alex forward, the gun pressed deeper into her back. There went her denial that she had ever been Sasha. She just desperately needed another way to escape. If she could even focus on one. Vlad's comments weren't making it any easier, "I fed her, gave her clothes, a place to stay. A scar is how she thanks me."
"I'd be happy to give you another one," Glancing at the scar across Vlad's eye actually made Alex smile. She had clawed at his eyes when she made her mad escape years earlier. She was glad that it had left its mark. It proved a girl could damage him in return. And, although he locked her in a secluded room, it meant she knew weaknesses she could exploit to escape again.
"Yashin used to live here. Remember Yashin, my pit bull?" Vlad shoved Alex into the empty dog cage and locked the door. She thanked God, or whoever else was listening, that she was locked in there instead of a room, full of girls. She wasn't going to be put back to work. She wouldn't be drugged up and forced to have sex. Other horrors were probably going to befall her, yet none were as horrifying as being a sex slave. She could survive anything but that.
After he locked up his captive, Vlad left the room to grab something. Alex didn't waste any time in trying to escape. She couldn't break the lock or the cage. And there wasn't anything in her reach she could use. All she had was Irina. And the brief thought that Division might be after her. She hadn't reported in, and they'd see on the cameras that she had been kidnapped. An Alpha team could be on their way to save her. She just needed to get out of the cage, "Irina, you have to unlock this. The people coming for me, if they see you out there and me in here… Look, I know you're afraid of Vlad. But these people are a hell of a lot more dangerous."
Irina just stared at her and shook her head. She kept her distance from Alex, trying not to be affected by her plea. Alex couldn't blame her. Irina was just as terrified as she was. The way she flinched when Vlad returned was just another piece of evidence attesting to that. Alex was on her own. Which was perfect for Vlad and the camera he had brought in, "Bought this for porno movies. Hopefully, this will be more lucrative. I've always wondered what was so special about you. If only I knew, huh. Sometimes, you don't appreciate what you had until you lost it."
"I'll try to remember that when I take your life. You have no idea who you're dealing with," Alex bared her teeth. She was acting far braver than she actually was. The back of her mind screamed that she was going to die in that hellhole. But she knew she had to fight. She had to use what Amanda taught her and what Nikita showed her by constantly battling Division. Alex needed to slip on a mask, lock her fear away, and be the formidable agent she knew she could be.
"Ever heard of Anastasia Romanov? Anastasia, she was a princess. A daughter of the last Tsar of Russia. A girl born into fabulous wealth, protected by the soldiers of her father. But then, one day when she was a teenager, the Tsar's enemies stormed the palace. Her father's soldiers were powerless. Some even betrayed him. He was captured, executed, his entire family perished with him in a fire," Although his beady eyes remained on Alex, Vlad ignored her and spoke to Irina. The abused girl might not have known what he was talking about, but his captive did.
Alex struggled to keep a neutral expression as Vlad spoke. She didn't mind a glare seeping through as she peered behind the bars. She hated Vlad with all her might, and she didn't care if he knew. But he couldn't know that his assumption was correct. He had figured out who Alex really was, "But Anastasia's body was never found. There were rumors she survived, and was hiding from her father's enemies who put a price on her head. You see, if word got out that Anastasia was alive, people loyal to her father would try to restore her to the throne."
How did Vlad guess that Alex was Alexandra Udinov. Sasha was a common Russian nickname for Alexandra, but her fake name couldn't have been that big of a clue- could it have been. Whether or not it was, Alex couldn't dwell on it. She had to dissuade Vlad. he couldn't know who she was; she'd be killed, or worse. She had to be stoic. She had to continue the lie, "The rumors were false. She died in that fire."
"No. She's here. Right here. We are in the presence of royalty. The daughter of one of the new tsars, the oligarchs. The heir to Zetrov, the billion dollar empire built by her father, Nikolai Udinov, until he was murdered. Her name is Alexandra Udinov. She's very much alive. I know exactly who I'm dealing with," Leaning towards Alex, Vlad threatened with a sneer. He had her pegged. She couldn't run or hide from the truth. He knew exactly who she was, and he wouldn't back off until she admitted it too.
Pressing record on the clunky camera, Vlad aimed the lens directly at Alex. She tried to hide her face, but it was pointless. Vlad was determined to get his shot, "Okay. This is very simple. Say for the camera, 'I am Alexandra Udinov, daughter of Nikolai Udinov'. Action."
"Get somebody else to say it. Like Irina," Mumbling, Alex slumped in the dog cage. She couldn't find a comfortable position, but she'd have to ignore that. There were worse things that required her attention. Hiding her identity was only one of them.
Division already knew who she was, and she had handled that threat by striking a deal. However, she couldn't save herself from Zetrov with just words. Semak wanted her dead, and he'd use Gogol to do it. If she wanted to kill him first, she needed to keep her identity a secret. She had to remain a ghost, especially since it'd also hurt Vlad if she did, "Look. These Zetrov guys looking for you, if they believe me, big money. Enough for me to quit this job and do something more worthwhile. Narcotics for example. But if they think I'm wasting their time…"
"You've got the wrong girl," Alex spat. She couldn't just claim that, however. She needed to tell a false story of who she was. Vlad was asking for it. Also, a fake story could buy her more time before she could escape. Fortunately, Amanda had helped her create one to tell the other recruits, and in case she was ever taken by Gogol on a mission, "My parents both died in a car accident. It was raining really hard and we skidded into a river. We were sinking fast and there was a lot of water. I thought I was gonna drown. But my father rolled down the window and shoved me through it. And that was the last time I ever saw him."
"That's a good story. Very entertaining. Golden Globe. I would believe it if I didn't know better," Mocking applause, Vlad scoff. Alex was ready to scream that she was telling the truth. Except, he drew something out of his pocket that made her pause. He wasn't supposed to have that. How did he get it. Why did Vlad have her father's watch, "You see. You gave Irina your father's watch before you ran away. Told her, 'sell it and escape'. Now, if your father drowned and you never saw his body again, how come you have his watch?"
Alex wanted to lunge at Irina and make her feel all the rage coursing through her body. Yet, she begrudgingly knew that it wouldn't have been fair. Irina was terrified of Vlad. Even with the opportunity to escape, she wouldn't do it. She'd hand an expensive watch to her abuser instead to receive praise instead of punishment. It wasn't Irina's fault that Vlad eventually discovered Sasha's true identity. It was Alex's for trusting her father's watch to someone else, "Last chance to tell the truth, Alexandra."
"I guess you'll have to shoot me," Acid dripped from Alex's tongue. She wasn't going to tell Vlad shit. He couldn't have the satisfaction of cashing in on her pain, not again. He was going to suffer, just like her. Though, Vlad appeared to have expected that. He reached for something in his desk. Alex believed it was his gun. What he pulled out was far worse, however. She flinched, trying so hard to run from the drugs in his hand.
"There was one thing that used to make you obey me. You would practically do anything for it. I mean, anything for a speedball. I doubt you lost your hunger," There was nowhere for her to run. Alex could recoil as much as she wanted, but Vlad could grab her easily in the cage. He took hold of her wrist, jerked her arm straight, and plunged the syringe into her veins. She tried to stop him; she really did try. But, like always, he overpowered her. Alex couldn't fight Vlad or the heroin. She was hopeless.
A call took Vlad away from the room. Alex wanted to use the pause in interrogation to once again beg Irina to let her go. Yet her mind became jumbled. The heroin wasn't enough to take her completely out of it. It was just the feeling of it running through her veins that made Alex pause. She had forgotten how good it felt- the instant relief that flowed through her and numbed her thoughts. Finally, nothing was screaming at her too loud to be silenced. The anxiety and guilt rotting her stomach was replaced by artificial bliss. She knew it wouldn't last long, yet how could she care when she felt so great. She was free for one infinitesimal moment.
It all came crashing down when Vlad returned to the room. Alex wasn't free; she was far from it. In fact, she was in more danger than she was in before. Vlad was still on the phone, screaming about a 'Wonder Woman' attacking mob members. Even in a drugged up haze, Alex knew he was talking about Nikita. Both the rogues and Division were coming after her. She was going to be saved. And that pissed Vlad off. He ended his call, crossed towards his captive, and shook her cage, "Still expect me to believe you're some Russian peasant girl?"
Honestly, it was too much for Alex to lie. She just closed her eyes and let the bliss of the drugs take over. Vlad seemed to be able to read her mind, however. He snapped for her attention and held another syringe of heroin in front of her. He smirked as she lunged for it, "It's here. It's right here. Give me the truth. Okay, Alexandra."
"I am not Alexandra," Alex fought the urge to reach for the heroin. She wanted it. She needed it. Yet she knew better than to fall for the bait. She couldn't give in. God, she wanted to. But she hadn't fought so hard to give up then.
"Whatever. Who are these people looking for you?" Vlad tossed aside the heroin and yelled. He was right when he had called her special. No other kidnapped girl received that intense of a rescue team. Hell, no other Division agent did either. Alex was different. As an Udinov, she always had been. And as herself, she always would be.
"You're not going to believe it. I am an agent of Division," Controlling her haggard breath, Alex admitted slowly. She wasn't lying anymore- she didn't have the energy to. Vlad would get his truth about who she was. It just wasn't exactly what he wanted, "It's a secret branch of the US government. So secret that it doesn't exist. We spy on enemies. We eliminate threats to national security. And by eliminating, we assassinate."
"You're a spy?" Vlad scoffed incredulously. It was absolutely ridiculous to hear- even to Alex, and she knew the truth. But Division was very real, and they were very dangerous. Vlad would learn that once they came crashing through his door.
"If you let me out of this cage, I'll prove it," Somehow, Alex managed to smirk as she threatened Vlad. Everything was so hazy and fuzzy- a feeling she wanted to dive into and never come back up from. Yet she held it together. Taunting Vlad was the least she could do after all the hell he had put her through.
He didn't believe her, however. Stalking closer to the cage, Vlad wasn't intimidated in the slightest by Alex. She might've been able to claw at his eyes before, but there was no way she could do it again. He didn't think she had the skillset, "Yeah? What would you do to me?"
"I'm trained in surveillance, weapons, hand-to-hand combat, infiltration, and exfiltration," The list fell off Alex's tongue. She rambled off just a few of the things she could do, hardly paying attention if they had an effect on Vlad or not. She was just faltering to the drugs influence. Nothing really seemed to matter besides that.
"You really expect me to believe the government trained an illegal Russian junkie to spy for them? Well, I doubt an American spy agency wants you to have this. But I do," Scoffing once more, Vlad gave up on trying to scare the truth from Alex. He was convinced that all he would hear was bullshit from her. The only way to convince her to do anything was heroin. Yet he wouldn't give it to her unless she earned it. So far, she was nowhere close to earning anything, "This spy crap is the biggest lie you've told me yet, Alexandra."
"I told you you wouldn't believe me," Muttering, Alex drew back as far as she could in the dog cage. She wanted the drugs so bad. It was starting to hurt how much she wanted the heroin. But she couldn't take it. She needed to rise above her addiction. She had done it before.
Unfortunately, Vlad didn't believe her. He didn't think she was above him or heroin. Alex was going to suffer through a relapse and then a withdrawal. Since she was never going to tell him anything, then he had no use for her, "I hope you feel as bad as you look. I'll let you go through withdrawal, and then I'll shoot you."
Vlad left the room again, that time for good. Irina stayed with Alex, though, like she always did. She had tried to apologize for what she had done, giving Alex water and expressing how much she had always needed her to be strong. But the young woman hardly paid attention to Irina. She was too distracted by the drugs, and by the commotion happening outside the room. Alex couldn't make sense of it at first. Something was occurring, but whatever it was, it couldn't penetrate her muddled thoughts. Then, she heard the gunshots. That was unmistakable. Division, and possibly the rogues, had raided the place. She was getting out of that hellhole.
If only she could escape the dog cage and the heroin.
"Remember who I was, Alexandra. Remember who you are," Alex could've sworn she saw her father. He came back to her. He spoke to her. He reminded her that fighting and being on top was in her blood. Gritting her teeth, clutching the cage door, and shaking her head, Alex attempted to clear the drug induced fog from her mind. It was time to focus. Gunshots were ringing around her, and she had to escape. She needed to be strong, like an Udinov.
"Irina, open the door now," Snapping for Irina's attention, Alex struggled not to slur her words. Her adrenaline and fear from the chaos erupting around her helped- as did sheer stubbornness. Yet, it was still so difficult. Being high again was amazing. She felt so relaxed, and her mind was quieted of most of its troubling thoughts. She could melt away in that bliss again.
"I want to help you. I want to, but Vlad…" Irina shook as she responded to Alex. She reminded her of how much danger they were still in. Alex couldn't succumb to the drugs. Never again. She had to be stronger than that. She was stronger than that. Neither the drugs nor the gunshots were going to kill her. She was going to come out on top. And everyone else would receive what they deserved.
"Irina, the next person who comes through that door will kill you. I am the only one who wants to help you. The only one who can," Alex became more urgent. She didn't know how long they had until either Vlad came back, or the gunshots caught up to them. She had to get out of that cage instantly. Thankfully, Irina finally overcame her fear. She unlocked Alex and helped her clamber out. The young agent barely expressed her gratitude. She simply grabbed a gun and hid.
Alex ducked out of sight just in time. Despite, or maybe because of, the gunshots outside, Vlad came running back to the room. He was frantic, but he was able to notice that the dog cage was empty and Irina was cowering in the corner. He rounded on the abused girl in a fury. How dare she ruin his one good thing that night, "Where is she? What did you do, падла?"
Before Vlad could attack Irina, Alex pulled the trigger. She didn't have the greatest shot lined up, yet she didn't need to. Vlad collapsed to the ground without a fight. Coldly, Alex approached him. The gun became more secure in her grasp. Her eyes cleared up. And she finally had her deadly shot. Getting revenge and securing her place on top was in her blood, after all, "There is one thing I want you to know. I am Alexandra Udinov, daughter of Nikolai Udinov. And this is your reward."
She shot Vlad until she was certain he was dead.
Irina whimpered somewhere beside Alex. She turned to her, yet she didn't raise the gun. The young agent didn't need it to threaten the abused girl. Her actions were enough to keep her quiet, "I need you to run now. I need you to get as far away from here as possible. And if you tell anyone what you heard, I will have to hunt you down and kill you."
Without a second thought, Irina sprinted out of the room. Alex didn't give her a second thought either. Her eyes had narrowed in on Vlad's dead body. Her father's watch was still on him. She needed to take it back. It was hers. It always should've been hers. As she crossed to Vlad, though, the strength that was holding her up crumbled. The heroin and waning adrenaline caused her to fall to her knees. She had to crawl just to be able to claim what was hers. After that, the world could disappear all it wanted.
Alex could've sworn she heard Nikita frantically calling for her. She tried to reach out to the rogue, but the lack of adrenaline and overindulgence of drugs left her swimming in mud. She couldn't move. She couldn't think. But she had to get to Nikita. She could help her.
The rogue finally entered the young woman's view. She was talking quietly, saying something urgent as she tenderly reached for her. But Alex couldn't understand. She just clung to Nikita, hoping to be taken out of that hellhole.
Nikita seemed like she was about to do just that when someone else stormed into the room. Alex barely registered that it was Kelly. Nikita did, though. Jumping away from the young woman, the rogue addressed the agent. Again, Alex couldn't understand what they were talking about, yet it seemed important. Kelly and Nikita stared at each other silently for a second. Then, Nikita nodded and ran off. Alex was left with Division.
A part of her guessed there was a logical explanation for that; Alex would be safer with Division than with Nikita. However, before the young woman could force herself to contemplate that- or anything else- unconsciousness caught up to her. She slipped away in her drug-filled haze, never knowing when she'd resurface.