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The chamber inside Hammer Industries was vast and metallic, its walls lined with cold steel that reflected the dim glow of overhead lights. The silence was heavy, broken only by the faint hum of hidden machinery. Every breath seemed louder than it should, every movement magnified in the eerie stillness. It was a place built for control, not comfort — a cage disguised as luxury.
The White Queen's gaze was sharp, her eyes glimmering with intelligence beyond human comprehension. She turned toward Natasha, her voice calm yet piercing, carrying the weight of someone who already knew the answer:
"Are you very unwilling?"
Natasha's lips curved into a bitter smile. Her heart was heavy, but her words carried the quiet dignity of someone who had endured too much.
"How could I not be unwilling? Without strength, unwillingness is meaningless. An ordinary person is like an ant, unable to resist the crushing weight of a boot. That scum said something right — words alone cannot kill, cannot save the world."
Her voice trembled slightly, but her spirit remained unbroken. She thought of the countless missions she had endured, the sacrifices made, the comrades lost. Yet here, stripped of power, she felt the fragility of humanity more keenly than ever.
Jack clapped his hands, his tone mocking yet oddly approving. "Good. That was well said. Unusual, even. You deserve praise for that." His grin was wide, but his eyes carried a dangerous gleam, as though he enjoyed watching defiance burn itself out.
Natasha's eyes hardened. "But even so, I will not give up a ray of hope. You may laugh at this 'mouth artillery,' but I do not care. Hope is mine to keep."
Ada's hands came together in applause, her expression thoughtful. "Suddenly calm, suddenly resolute. That is the quality an agent should possess."
Alice tilted her head, her voice teasing. "Remember yourself, Ada? After all, you once walked the path of an agent too."
Ada chuckled softly, her smile betraying no shame. "So you discovered me."
Hill's expression softened, her voice steady. "Natasha, you are right. We will not give up a ray of hope."
Jack leaned back, his grin widening. He tapped his chest with theatrical exaggeration. "Hope… such a happy word. But I prefer despair. Whenever I see people drowning in pain, my innermost feelings rise with joy. Desperation is my music."
Hill's eyes narrowed, her tone cutting. "People like you will never understand hope. You have no faith."
Jack's reply was immediate, his voice firm. "No. I have faith."
Hill's brows furrowed. "What faith?"
The White Queen's laughter was sharp, mocking. "His faith is killing, burning, stealing, and robbing beauties on the highway. You two are beauties, so unfortunately, you've been taken as the bandit chief's wives."
Hill's lips curled in disdain. "Hehe. Is that faith?"
Jack's eyes gleamed. "What's wrong with that faith? Why do you look down on it?"
Hill's voice dropped, heavy with contempt. "That is not faith. That is hooliganism, terror dressed up as belief. To call it faith is an insult to the word itself."
Jack's smile remained, but his tone sharpened. "You speak flamboyantly, Hill. Then tell me — what is your faith?"
Hill's voice was calm, resolute. "To protect national interests. To safeguard world peace. Even if it means sacrificing myself."
Jack laughed, his tone dripping with mockery. "Truly lofty words. They could bring tears to the eyes of fools. But they are useless. How can you believe such faith will achieve anything?"
Hill's eyes blazed. "You…" She glared coldly at Jack, her fists tightening though she knew resistance was futile.
Jack leaned forward, his voice relentless. "You say I have no faith, but I have my wish — to do whatever I desire. You have faith, but you've achieved nothing. What good is faith? Can it feed you? If I starve you for a few days, you'll become a dried corpse. Faith won't save you."
Hill inhaled deeply, her voice steady despite the fury within. "You will never understand the importance of faith to a person. Stop your quibbling."
Jack smirked. "Quibble? Even quibble has principle. Your faith is obsolete. National interest, world peace — nonsense. I'll correct your distorted faith myself."
Hill's eyes flashed with defiance. "You underestimate me. Your power may surpass mine, but in willpower, you will never compare."
Jack's grin widened. "I like your confidence. Let's wait and see." He reached out, grasping Hill's arm.
Hill stiffened. "What are you doing?"
Jack untied the string binding her wrist, shaking her hand mockingly. "Look at this red mark. It makes me feel pity."
Hill pulled back, her voice sharp. "Let go. Aren't you afraid I'll run?"
Jack chuckled. "Run? Compared to that, I worry more about your hand being hurt. I care too much, you see." His tone was false, dripping with arrogance.
Hill frowned. "You shouldn't be so false."
The White Queen interjected, her voice confident. "Because you cannot escape. Leaving here is harder than reaching the sky. That's why he untied you — a gesture of false kindness."
Jack raised his voice theatrically. "I worried the string hurt Hill's hand!"
Natasha's eyes burned with contempt. "Shameless. Truly shameless."
Jack turned to her, his face arrogant. "Natasha, since you clash with my words, I won't untie your string."
Natasha sneered. "Do you think I care?"
Hill stepped forward, untying Natasha's bonds herself.
Jack spread his arms, feigning magnanimity. "Since Hill untied you, so be it."
Natasha flexed her wrists, her voice sharp. "You and Hill pretend to have some bond, but between you two, there is nothing. Absolutely impossible."
Jack laughed loudly. "Ha ha ha! I remember on the Sky Aircraft Carrier, you didn't say that. You favored me then, encouraged me."
Natasha's voice rose, anger barely contained. "Because I was blind then. I didn't know you were scum."
Jack shrugged. "No matter. Say what you like. Now, you two should relax here. Don't think of escaping or revolting. Every action, every movement, is under the White Queen's surveillance."
The White Queen raised her hand, her tone smug. "Right. Whatever you do, I know."
Jack gestured around the chamber. "This place has everything — a gym, a swimming pool, plenty of space. You're restricted here, but treat it like a vacation."
Natasha and Hill glanced around. Fitness equipment lined the walls, and a modest swimming pool shimmered under the lights. The air smelled faintly of chlorine, a reminder that even luxury here was a prison.
Natasha's voice dripped with sarcasm. "You really enjoy yourself."
Jack reclined arrogantly, his tone smug. "Those who don't understand enjoyment are failures. A promising youth must savor life."
Alice's eyes turned to Jack. "True war begins in New York. Will they come?"
Hill's face paled, realization dawning. "War? They? You mean the Chitauri army will invade New York?" Her voice trembled, the weight of impending catastrophe pressing down on her.
The room fell silent, the mention of war hanging like a storm cloud. Natasha's fists clenched, Hill's breath quickened, and even the White Queen's smile flickered with anticipation. The world outside was on the brink, and inside this steel cage, hope and despair clashed like fire and ice.