Shatter: A Marvel Fanfiction

Natasha

I've been on the road for a day now. I'm in Nebraska. It feels so weird to be disconnected from everyone. I regret leaving Steve behind, but it's better than risking him and the other Avengers getting killed by Ashley and the rest of that assassin group. I hope the Avengers don't get involved.

After a few hours in Nebraska, I decide it's safe enough to stop in a motel for the night. I pull into the next exit and decide the stay in an old Days Inn. I plan to pay in all cash. Make sure I clean out the room to make myself untraceable until this thing dies down. Until I see on the news of any news.

I walk into the hotel with my sunglasses still on, duffel in hand.

"Good evening." An old lady sits at the front desk smiling.

"I would like to check in," I say.

"How long do you plan on staying?"

"Just one night. I'll be leaving in the morning."

The lady types on her computer. "Name?"

"N-Natalia. Natalia Roman."

"Okay Miss Roman, you're all set. Room 209. Have a pleasant stay!"

"Thank you," I say with a false smile. I proceed to the stairs towards the room. I open the door and look around. Two full beds sit against the left wall across from a television stand with a TV. A desk sits next to the TV stand with a large lamp and a chair. Two more chairs sit by the far wall next to the bed with a table. The bathroom is small, but clean. I can crash here.

As the night progresses, I can't get the problem with Ashley out of my head. I hope she hasn't touched any of the Avengers. I wonder if they have heard from her at all.

I think of my lunch with Steve a couple days ago. I couldn't ever admit it but he actually saw right through me. I actually cried. It's been so long since I cried. It might have been after the graduation ceremony. It might have been years before. I can't remember anymore. All I know is that memories of the Red Room are getting to me. I can't let that happen. The memories continue to swarm my head into the night.

I have another bad dream. I'm walking through the halls of the Red Room. Little girls look at me in bewilderment. My body is sore. I just finished the graduation ceremony and I will know for sure that it worked soon. Out of the corner of my eye I see ten year olds training in hand to hand combat. A blonde girl and a brunette sit in the corner out of sight. They have something in their hands. Food. They eat greedily. The instructor turns around and sees them eating. She turns purple and grabs them by the wrists. The girls start screaming and crying as the instructor drags them across the grounds. She takes them into a small room. I hear screaming and bumping. A few minutes later they exit bloody and bruised and silent. They see me dragging my sore body through the hallways and walk to me.

"Did you do something wrong?" the blonde asks.

"No. I have graduated." I say coldly.

"Then why are you hurt?" the brunette asks.

I shouldn't feel a twinge, but I do. "You'll see when you're older."

The scene flashes forward. I am now outside the sterilization room. I watch them wheel the blonde in. now older. Colder. I hear her screaming from inside the room. The same happens with the brunette.

I'm in the sterilization room again. I'm lying on the table. They are performing the operation. He is making sure it works. I scream.

I wake up hyperventilating again. What is wrong with me? I've never been so worked up for any mission. Why all of the sudden all the emotion and panic? I shake my head and rid my body of any remnants of panic. I need to be on top of my game now.

I get up, get ready for the day, clean up the room, and gather my stuff. I can't stay here for too long.