Rogue Shadow

Chapter 6 - Saving Grace

Chapter 6 – Saving Grace

14:20 Saturday, 7th October 2017

Following the man up the winding staircase, Nat made sure to keep more than an arm's reach away from the man, just in case. The distance giving her the chance to run if it were made necessary. She hadn't thought about where she would run to, but that was beside the point. It was about the feeling of momentary security from knowing she was out of immediate harm's way.

Slade led Natasha down the hall and into the split kitchen and dining room. Getting out two plates, Slade gave one to Natasha and left his on the bench. He went to the fridge and pulled out a plastic red container, a pre-cooked meal inside. When Slade turned around the child was frozen solid. Leaning against the counter she stared off into oblivion. 

There was no response or sign that she had heard Slade calling to her. She was out of it. Slade approached cautiously, ready to defend himself if the kid was to strike out again. He had observed that tendency of Natasha's. Whenever she was startled, or even asleep, and someone approached her that she wasn't prepared for, she would instinctively fight back. She had attacked Slade multiple times whilst she was teetering on the edge of consciousness and completely comatose the past couple hours. 

Slade reached out to bring her back to reality, fully expecting to be attacked by the girl. Natasha nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt a hand on her back, dropping the glass plate in her panic. Her breathing hitched as the glass shattered on the floor before her. Shards pierced her skin as she stumbled backwards, away from Slade.  

"Hey," Slade went to grab her, but Natasha jolted out of his grasp, falling onto the broken shards of glass.

"No!"

"Kid-"

Slade reached out to lift her up, he would have succeeded too, if she hadn't started thrashing around, kicking and punching anywhere she could reach. He knew this could happen, but he hadn't counted on her being so violent and self-destructive.

"Nu. Nein. Net!" her screams got louder and more incoherent the closer Slade came. The language that she shouted in changed with every few words as if her mind was moving too fast and couldn't keep up. It was almost impossible to understand what she was saying.

"Пожалуйста остановись. मुझे माफ कर दो, non ego melior tibi, 約束します. Bitte! Συγγνώμη! Vă rog. Por favor..."

"Natasha, enough," ordered Slade. But it was like she didn't even hear him. She was so absorbed in panic and fear that she had blocked everything else out. 

When Slade bent down to restrain her, everything went to hell. The screaming grew louder, attacks wilder and more desperate. It was like nothing existed anymore. The rest of the world melted away as the panic-stricken child writhed in agony on the glass-covered floor. Glass shards piercing her skin and painting her hands red with blood.

Slade finally managed to keep hold of her arms, pulling one behind her back in an arm lock, restricting her movement. Slade felt the attacks against him double in strength, however this time, he was ready for it. Slade covered her mouth with one hand in an attempt to stifle the yelling. He knew that he could not to twist her arm any further without rebreaking it. 

Nat managed to use her free arm to elbow his jaw, simultaneously, she dug her heel into his shin, effectively making the man drop her. More out of shock than anything else. The kid had good self-defence instincts, that was for certain. Slade stared in surprise at the child, eyes blood red and unfocused.