AVENGERS: My Imaginary Friend

2. NATALIA ROMANOVA POV

THE FINAL TEST:
From time to time I'd still help Natalie, her father would take his anger out on her, I never realised my imagination could be so violent. But now it's my turn for some help, I don't want to go through the 'graduation ceremony' so I'm holding back, I hear her voice behind me "Don't hold back, they'll know. You have to give them all you've got Natalia. You know they won't give you a choice so push on." A stricter voice approaches "Sloppy. Pretending to fail." I turn to see Madame B looking stern, beside her is Natalie, her hair turned from light brown to dark brown as she grew older, now it's still darkening, it currently reaches down to the bottom of her ribcage, she speaks "Did she notice yet?" Over time I've learned that people here can't see Natalie and Natalie can only see me, not anything or anyone around me.

Madame B continues speaking "The ceremony is necessary for you to take your place in the world."

But I don't want it.

"I have no place in the world." "Exactly."

AN OPPORTUNITY:
Agent Clint Barton of S.H.I.E.L.D, the enemy, has given me a chance. I have an opportunity, but I don't know what to do.

Do I take it? Do I go with him and change my life?

I tell him I need a minute, he walks away a little, I think about Natalie, really needing her right now. She appears in front of me, her dark brown hair is just below her shoulders, she's wearing a pair of black skinny jeans, a crop top and a pair of sneakers. It's been a while since I last spoke to her, it was back when I had graduated, I had decided having an imaginary friend was too much of a childish thing to have, especially if I was to be an assassin, so I closed my mind to her.

What am I contacting her now for? Why can't I just make the big decisions on my own?

She smiles a little "Do you need me?" "I'm sorry I've been blocking you, an imaginary friend shouldn't be around this long." She crosses her arms over her chest and drops her smile "Then, why are you here? I didn't call for you." "I've been given an opportunity to switch sides." "Sides of what?" "I could work for the people who are actually making a difference in the world, I could-" She cuts me off "Do it." "What?" "You wanted my opinion so there it is, do it. Be the hero you've always wanted to be. Now, if you'll excuse me Natalia." She disappears, leaving me alone, I look to the Agent who's hovering a bit away, I take a deep breath and make my way over to him.