-?Caught in her Web?- (black widow)

Natasha's POV

I stand up, ready to leave, but Melina's voice stops me.

"Where are you going?"

I let out a frustrated sigh, glancing over at Cleo, who's visibly shaken. "To do this myself."

Melina shakes her head. "Don't. You won't survive."

I can't help the bitterness in my voice as I reply. "I wish I could believe that you cared. But you're not even the first mother to abandon me."

Her gaze softens, but there's something unreadable in her expression. "No, you weren't abandoned. You were selected by a program that assessed the genetic potential in infants."

Now I'm even more confused. "I was taken?"

She shrugs, a shadow of sadness passing over her features. "I believe a bargain was struck. Your family paid off. But your mother—she never stopped looking for you. She was like you in that way. She was relentless."

I raise an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued. "What happened to her?"

Melina's eyes drop to the floor, the pain clear on her face. "Dreykov had her killed. Her existence threatened to uncover the Red Room. Normally, the actions of one curious civilian wouldn't warrant an execution, but as I said—she was relentless."

I feel a tightness in my chest, something I haven't felt in years. "I thought about her every day of my life. Whether or not I admitted it to myself, I did."

Melina remains silent for a moment, then she pulls out a photo album from a shelf. I watch her with suspicion as she flips it open.

I glance at the pictures, the memories rushing back. "I remember this day. We shot Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and summer vacation all in one day. Different backdrops."

She just shrugs, nonchalant.

I trace a finger over the photo of the tree, feeling the sting of nostalgia. "I knew all the presents under the tree were just empty boxes, but I didn't care. I wanted to open every single one... so just for a second, it would feel real."

I look over at Cleo. She's already up, heading out of the room, probably to get some air.

"Let's stop this." Melina's voice is quiet, almost as if she's trying to convince herself more than me.

"Why are you doing this?" I ask Melina, the confusion evident in my voice.

Melina sighs, her eyes distant. "Why does a mouse born in a cage run on that little wheel? Do you know I was cycled through the Red Room four times before you were even born? Those walls are all I know. I was never given a choice."

I shake my head, my voice firm. "But you're not a mouse, Melina. You were just born in a cage, but that's not your fault."

She scoffs at my words. "Tell me, how did you keep your heart?"

"Pain only makes us stronger. Didn't you teach us that?" I reply, the words slipping out more easily than I expected. "What you taught me kept me alive."

Melina looks down, regret creeping into her eyes. "I'm sorry, but I've already alerted the Red Room. They'll be here any minute."

I nod, accepting the inevitable. "Okay, then let's make the best of it, shall we?"

She nods and heads toward the weapon chamber. "You know, the girl you have with you has the chip you need to destroy the button before he uses it. And if not..."

I don't need her to finish the sentence. "She dies. I know. But I won't let it happen. She deserves to live."

Melina looks at me, her expression unreadable. "So, once we're inside, I'll activate my tracker, and Ross will come running."