"If you don't like something, change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it."
- Mary Engelbreit.
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The shock of the train and the long whistle sounded very deafening to Nadja's ears. With a stammer, she got up and looked around. The old man named Bruno was no longer with her.
Nadja looked around and there was no sign of Bruno. Still, in a state of wonder, Nadja tried to remember the last thing.
Bruno touched her forehead, and she couldn't remember anymore!
Her hand immediately felt the location of the gun and it was still on her waist.
'What a strange man!' Nadja thought with a confused heart.
She quickly tightens the laces of her boots. As soon as she got to her feet, her eyes caught the brown envelope lying on the side. Nadja took it and opened it in rush.
'A little provision for you. Good luck in all your purposes, if you are not in a hurry, come to my place.'
Some money is in the envelope with the inscription on it. Nadja gasped. Nadja's surprise grew even more when she felt her shoulders and stomach, which had completely healed!
Nadja felt the hairs on her neck stand up. Who is that man? The way he spoke to stop by at his house was as if Nadja knew Bruno's address and location. For Nadja, the man really left a mystery that she could not solve. The train stopped and Nadja kept everything in her astonishment to rush out of the carriage.
***
A kick hit Katya's body and the woman fell backward. The wound in her stomach was throbbing in pain.
"You! Act too slow and Nadja could run away in front of your eyes!" shrieked the man with the bald head and vicious face. The thick mustache that crossed his face added to his vile appearance.
"I want you to find that damn woman immediately and bring her to me, alive!" shouted the man named Kovac furiously.
Simultaneously they answered with 'Yes' and left the place. Kovac clenched his jaw and seemed to be at the peak of his anger.
Nadja, a girl who has always been rebellious since she was a child, ends up being his best assassin. Kovac knew very well that it would not be easy to apprehend and get hold of the woman. The only way is with as many troops as possible. Nadja will be outnumbered and without weapons, the rebellious woman will be utterly defeated.
***
The first decision Nadja made was to visit a clothing store to buy new clothes. The shoes she was wearing were also soaking wet and her feet were blistered from being wrapped up in the humidity for quite a while.
After getting new clothes and shoes, she cleaned herself in a public toilet. Nadja came out looking neater and cleaner. Their second goal was to visit a restaurant. The money from Bruno was still enough to last her a few days. The hotel is definitely not the safest place for Nadja to rest. After finishing eating her food, Nadja rushed away from the crowd.
The steps are fast and seem rushed. She managed to get the map she bought from the bookstore. After arriving at an empty shop that seemed to be starting to crumble from being abandoned, Nadja entered one of the buildings. Her eyes scanned the map and she had to visit the furthest continents to eliminate any traces.
Nadja reached into her pocket and the three gold coins she always carried with her for emergencies were still there. Maybe by selling the three golds, Nadja can get money to take care of her passport and tickets.
It was three in the afternoon, and she was getting sleepy. Even though the wound had healed, not eating regularly for several days really weakened her system.
Nadja looked for space in the unused building and saw that there was a dilapidated sofa that she could still sleep on. Before long, the woman rested in a deep sleep.
***
Her body jerked and she listened carefully. Her instincts trained from an early age told her that danger was approaching. From a subtle swish that was barely audible, Nadja calculated that there were more than ten people now surrounding the building.
It was getting dark, and the shopping complex she was currently in was very far from the crowds. She only had four bullets left. It was impossible for her to defeat them, who Nadja knew for sure, had full weapons.
Her mind was deep in thought. How to deal with all the chasers?
Before she could finish and come up with an idea, seven people appeared with black clothes and covered faces. They pointed their guns at. Nadja raised her hands up.
"You ran away in vain, Nadja Romanoff! We will chase you to the ends of the world!" cried a female voice.
Nadja recognized the voice. Joya, the girl who also grew up with her. She knew that Joya was a woman who had no mercy. From the way Joya spoke, Nadja guessed that Kovac wanted her alive so he could torture her to her heart's content. A sadistic way to avenge the traitor.
"I have the right to embrace my freedom!" Nadja said in a deep voice.
"Freedom? You are crazy! You have betrayed us and are now asking for freedom?!" Nadja defended. "If it weren't for orders, I would have skinned you alive!" the woman hissed with a savage smile.
"Betrayer? I only want my freedom and never spill out any information that harms you nor the community! Every human being has the right to live freely, Joya!" said Nadja, thinking about finding a way to escape.
"A person who is destined to die and then be saved, cannot possibly have the right to live and be free again!" Joya snapped with a hard face.
"Joya, we are all alive and still breathing! So far it's been enough for us to work without getting paid!" replied Nadja angrily.
"If you are allowed to be born and cast out of your mother's womb, then you are dead. Kovac picks up and gives life to all of us. Serving and fulfilling his orders is an obligation!" shouted Joya back.
Nadja just realized that the brainwashing they had received for a dozen years was very influential and had been ingrained in every member of the group, except for her.
"You know what, Nadja? I changed my decision! I think teaching you a little lesson will help remind you of the initial nature you have to accept." After saying those words, Joya fired a bullet at Nadja's thighs and suddenly the woman fell to the ground.
"Tie her up!" Joy's orders.
They tied up Nadja who didn't moan a bit as heat and pain started to pierce through her thighs. In a standing condition, Nadja was tied with both arms outstretched. It really hurts to tread the floor injured. But if she chose to fall, the ropes around her neck would choke and hang her. Nadja had no choice but to stand on her feet shaking in pain.
Joya took out a sharp iron serrated whip which was her main weapon. She whipped the weapon at Nadja's body. The sharp steel teeth tore the clothes and dragged the flesh and left grievous lacerations. For almost an hour, Nadja was tortured. Every now and then one of them would check and make sure that Nadja was still alive.
"We have to get her back to the base immediately before she bleeds out," whispered the man who had just checked Nadja's condition. Joya put back the iron whip and coldly agreed.
"Tell Kovac she's trying to escape, so we have to teach her a lesson!" she cried without sympathy.
Joya leaves the place with her henchmen. Two of her men stayed behind and began to untie the ropes that bound Nadja. The woman's condition was terrible. The condition of her back was full of gaping wounds, torn from the lashes. Her legs were full of razor cuts. All of her fingernails were ripped out. Only her face is still intact.
"Arrgh…!" A groan came from her mouth.
Nadja felt unbearable pain. Her vision was starting to blur, but she had to stay awake. Her desire to be free was so strong. If she had to perish, she would have chosen to die as a free woman.
With the remaining strength, as soon as the rope was released, the two people supported her body. Nadja drew two pistols from the waists of the two men and shot them in the head with fantastic speed. Two people died instantly!
The silenced gun did not arouse the suspicion of the other members who were outside, still waiting.
Nadja ran as fast as she could to the back door. Maybe her desire to be free is so high, that it seems like Nadja has got new energy to run fast.
Five minutes had passed, and they hadn't realized that the hostage had escaped.
Nadja no longer understands where to run. Her eyes looked up and saw a bright cross-shaped lamp in the distance. She kept walking on her feet. Blood was pouring profusely from all the wounds.
The churchyard looked deserted. Nadja entered and when she pushed the door it was not locked. The woman immediately closed the door again and put the bars in with difficulty. Her steps faltered as she passed the neat rows of benches arranged on the right and left.
Before reaching the altar, Nadja felt that she could no longer walk. Her breath started to hitch, it was time for her to give up. Die as a free soul!
Nadja looked at the gun in her hand and then pulled the trigger lock. Then she aimed at the head, but her energy had already reached its end. Nadja was no longer able to hold back her consciousness, suddenly everything went dark. Nadja fell between life and death.