One of many stories

Chapter 24

Natasha opened her eyes. She wasn't tired. Neither was she alert. In fact, she didn't feel a thing. It was dark around her and she had to bring her hands to her eyes to see if they really were open, which they were. She soon realised that she could move her body. That was a good sign, right? She slowly sat up and looked around her. All she saw was darkness. Everything was dark. She didn't mind the darkness, it had always been a part of her life. But right now, it didn't feel so inviting. The fact that nothing around her made a single sound, not even a little wind, sacred her. She suddenly realised that she wasn't even breathing. There was no air to inhale nor exhale. Was she dead? Is this where people like her gets trapped? She knew she shouldn't have gotten her hopes up because of the red in her ledger, but this was ridiculous. She slowly stood up, not so intimidated by the darkness around her. If she was already dead, she couldn't get killed another time. She was about to take a step when she felt something squeeze her left hand. Fear spread in her body and she looked around her, not seeing a single soul.
"Who's there?!" She asked loudly but nothing came out from her mouth. She tensed. Something light touched her left hand again and she dragged it to her body. She couldn't stay here. Panic spread through her body and out to her fingertips. It didn't take long until she ran through the darkness towards even more darkness. Nothing was heard. Not her footsteps. Not her breaths. Nothing.

It had been long since Natasha had been this scared. There was nothing surrounding her, and it terrified her to the bones. She had always been on her own, but she had hated it. Now, she wasn't just alone. Everything that made her feel human was wiped away from her. Her ability to breath, talk, see and hear. She ran so fast and so long she was surprised that she didn't need to stop for a breath or because her feet hurt. She just kept on running.
"Natasha, Natasha please." A voice was suddenly heard which made Natasha stop running. It sounded so loud and clear in the quiet darkness. The voice brought tears to her eyes and she let her hand rest on her chest, above her heart. Steve. Was he here to? No, he couldn't. He couldn't be dead.
"Natasha." His voice left her name hanging in the non existing air again. And again. And again. His voice calmed her and she wiped away the tears from her cheeks. He said her name over and over again and she tried following his voice but it didn't get her anywhere. It always came from different directions and she ended up on the ground with her head in her hands.
"Steve!" She screamed, but nothing was heard. "Steve!" She screamed once again and was surprised to hear her own voice echo in the darkness. But as she heard her own voice, Steve's disappeared and she was left alone again. She sobbed a bit as she brought her arms around her knees.
"Steve!"

• • •

Steve woke up with his head on Natasha's bedside. He immediately looked up at her face only to realise that her eyes were still shut. She hadn't even moved.
"Steve.."
His eyes grew wide as he looked at Natasha's moving lips.
"Natasha?!" He said as he put his hand on her cheek. "Natasha!" She didn't react at her own name but Steve's name was spoken from her lips three times before her lips closed again.
"Nurse!!" Steve screamed and a nurse came running into the room only a few seconds later.
"She spoke! She said my name!" Steve said to the nurse who looked at the machines next to Natasha's bed.
"There's no sign of any.." The nurse began and looked over at Steve. "You should get home and get some sleep." She said as she observed the dark circles around Steve's eyes. "Sometimes, you can want something is bad.."
"I know what I heard. She said my name." Steve said and the nurse pressed her lips together before quietly leaving the room. Steve turned to Natasha again.
"Natasha. You have to wake up." He begged. "Listen to me, I love you. Please, wake up." He kissed her lips, hoping for a reaction but none was given. "Please Natasha, please."

• • •

Natasha looked up into the darkness as she finally heard Steve's voice again. "Natasha, wake up." Was she asleep? She wasn't dead? "Please Natasha." His voice again. Natasha stood up, determined to not give up on him. She started running again and after what felt like at least one hour of running, she fell. As her body hit the ground, she felt pain on her knees and elbows. It hurt, but she was relived to feel it. She slowly stood up only to realise she was in a hospital. She looked around her. Nurses and doctors walked around the room. She walked over to a desk to talk to one of the nurses but as she opened her mouth, nothing came out. She started to feel frustrated but the feeling quickly disappeared as she heard his name.
"Steve and Natasha Rogers, room 203." A doctor said to a nurse who began walking with firm steps. Natasha raised her eyebrows at his words but quickly followed the nurse. They walked through a hallway and Natasha could see the number 203 above one door. The nurse knocked three times before opening it. Natasha slipped inside as well. As soon as Natasha entered, she saw Steve's face. He stood by a hospital bed, dressed in an ordinary shirt and a pair of jeans. He smiled brightly. Natasha ran up to him but just as she was about to hug him tightly, he walked right through her and shook hands with the nurse behind her. Natasha turned around to look at him but her eyes was caught up by something else. She looked at the hospital bed only to realise that she was the one lying in it, holding a baby boy. Steve walked over to the second her and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
Natasha felt ill. How could she lay in that bed when she stood right next to it? A small cry was heard and Natasha's eyes grew wide as the baby started to cry. She, her other self, held the baby tightly in her arms, rocking it back and forth. Natasha slowly took a few steps closer to the bed and peeked down on.. on her child? As she put her hand on the child's forehead, the baby started to scream even more. He started to cough up blood from his little mouth and his eyes turned black. Natasha screamed and took a step back, only to fall into the darkness.