THE DARK RAVEN

WHEN I MET YOU

Slam! My dagger plunges itself into the target, sticking to the outskirts of the centre as I exhale, breathless from training.

"Pathetic!" My trainer spits, venom lacing his voice as he yanks my head back, fingers knotting painfully through my hair. I hold back an agonized cry, knowing all too well what punishments that kind of weakness will produce. But I cannot hold back the hiss that escapes my mouth.
"That dagger better hit the centre by tomorrow or you'll be getting the shock collar. I'm sure you don't want that, darling. Do you?" He continues, pulling my hair harder.
"DO YOU?!"

"No, sir!" I yell,trying not to flinch as the foul stench of his breath hits my nostrils.

"Try again" he demands, letting go of me and pressing another dagger into my palm.

I stand up straight, stone-faced and shoulders back as I slowly raise the dagger, carefully analysing its position. Just then, the door to the training room opens and a guard accompanied by a young boy who looks to be around my age steps into the room. That doesn't make any sense. I always have private sessions. What is this boy doing here?
I look him up and down, making note of his dark curls and bronze skin and light build until my eyes finally come to rest upon his golden, caramel brown ones. He stares back at me, apparently not intimidated by the eye-contact. Hmm, that's a first.

"Boss requests that these two train together. This one's top of his class apparently. Looks like he could be snapped in half if you ask me" the guard says to my trainer who grunts "great" in response.
"His name is Leo Juliani, aged 7, been here since he was 5 apparently"  the guard continues as I take slight amusement in the fact that that was how old I was when I came here, when mom and dad got left behind . . .
Now I'm 7 too and completely sure I know too much for my age.

"Tell the boss I hope he's well" my trainer nods and the guard nods back and leaves.

"Well don't just stand there, you scrawny little shit! Show me what you can do!" Leo nods obediently, hurrying to take my place on the mat as I stand aside, watching him curiously. Our trainer slams the dagger in his hand and I watch in fascination as Leo's long fingers close around the handle in a perfect hold, his arm raised and pulled back, ready to throw.

Whoosh!

The dagger flies through the air, escaping from Leo's hold as he lunges forward and releases it with the grace and control of a deer. I gasp softly as the blade sticks dead centre. Even the cruel, intimidating man beside me looks impressed.

"You" he says, turning his cold, hate-filled eyes on my stiff figure. "Come here" he beckons.
I am quick to oblige. Last time I was too slow walking to him, I had 5 gashes sliced across my left hip. I still have the scars.
"You" he repeats, this time looking at Leo. "You're going to teach this useless brat how to aim a dagger. If she can't hit centre by tomorrow morning, she knows what will happen. You, you'll get a punishment just as painful."

I notice Leo gulp slightly, eyes widening as he nods "Yes, Sir."

"Good. I'll leave you to it." With that, the trainer leaves the room and we both let out a relieved sigh.

"So" Leo says. "What's your name?"

"It doesn't matter what my name is. You don't even need to be here. I can fix my aim on my own" I snap.
Sure, this guy is good. But I can't let him get too friendly. If there's one thing I've learned from this place, It's that people come and go, or rather die and go to hell. If I make friends, they'll only be taken away. Like my parents.

"I don't doubt you can" Leo replies. "But I don't fancy getting punished. Do you?"

I sigh

"Fine but I'm not telling you my name."

"Okay" Leo shrugs. "It's okay to be afraid."

"Excuse you?" I snap. "I'm not afraid."

"Yes you are. You're afraid of being close to someone only to lose them. But with a trainer like that in a place like this, It's good to have friends rather than enemies. Plus, we're in this together now."

Shock jolts through my veins at his words, each one showing deeper and deeper understanding and if he really wants to be friends, stupidity.

"My parents died when I was 4. I get what it's like to have someone you love taken away from you and not understand why" he explains, softly.

"Then you understand why we can't be friends" I say, though after hearing about his parents I want to throw my arms around him because yes, he does understand. And he shouldn't.

"I do. But please, if we have to work together at least tell me your name."

I don't know what it is. Perhaps it's the genuine, trusting look in his bright eyes or the way his voice softens as he takes on a pleading tone but I reply,

"Adaline. Adaline Elizabeth Nightrose."

"Nice to meet you, Adaline. You already know this but my name's Leo. Leo Juliani."

It's not one of them dreams where I wake with a start, though it was worse than any nightmare I've had and I'd gladly take a hundred night terrors over re-living the day I met my bestfriend.
Instead, my eyes remain closed as the feeling of bundled up covers in my fisted hand and sweat coating my skin brings me back to reality. Only reality isn't the same as it once was and I suddenly remember where I am.
I open my eyes to the darkness of my room in the Avengers tower and wipe away the loose tears that escaped to just beneath my lashes.

"Well that was riveting" I mumble to myself as I sit up in this strange new bed. Too soft, too new, too fresh, nothing like my own that I yearn for with every ounce of my being.
As much as I hate to admit it, I'm afraid to go back to sleep, not just because of the dream, but because there's absolutely no way I feel comfortable sleeping too long under the watchful eye of Stark's A.I. system and surrounded by a group of people I met yesterday. Allies, yes. But these are the same people I've been running from almost my whole life. Who knows if and when they'll turn on me?

With a tired sigh I flip off the covers and pad over to the balcony doors, but they're locked.

"Really?" I say, going to flip the light on before pausing at the switch.

"Hey, F.R.I.D.A.Y.?" I say, hesitantly.

"Yes, Miss Nightrose?" The A.I. system replies loudly.

"Shhhhh!" I shush, jumping at the volume of the voice that fills the room.

"These walls are soundproof, Miss Nightrose."

"Yeah, but my heart isn't shock proof" I reply. And it's Adaline."

Is there anything I can do for you, Adaline?" F.R.I.D.A.Y. asks.

"Can you open the balcony doors, please?" I ask.

"Of course."

I try the doors again and they open, letting in a cool, early morning breeze. I have no idea what time it is and I don't want to. I simply dangle my feet over the edge of the balcony rail and watch as the sky turns from blue to purple, purple to pink and pink to orange and gold and rose, not a single thought passing through my usually frenzied brain. Hmm, maybe it's finally reached breaking point.
Either way, despite the unfamiliar surroundings, alliance with my life long enemies and the unsettling feeling that a war is brewing, this is the most relaxed I've felt in ages. Maybe, just maybe, I've finally made the right decision.