In Different Worlds (MCU/PJO) COMPLETED

XXIV - Shipping Off To Space

Bronya

I can only think about Calvin throughout the entire ride on the jet. I couldn't figure out why, but I have faint ideas. I think of when we had kissed the night I was drunk at the party. Why he kissed someone that had told him she was sent to turn him in for torture, was beyond me. But I remember that we had kissed for longer than that. And it smelled like alcohol.

I think of him more, and when I sleep I feel as if I am holding a conversation with him. He asks me how I am, and what I'm doing. I tell him everything. And I tell him of the graduation ceremony. I also admit to him that I love him. Which when I say it in the dream, I realize that it's true. He says it back to me. He tells me he'll find a way for us to be together soon. I only tell him I'll be waiting. I wake up and feel like it wasn't just a dream.

Upon arriving back in Russia, we are rushed to the training room by Madame.

"You will dance the piece," Madame orders after we change into our leotards, tutus, and pointe shoes.

The piano starts to play, and I start dancing as I have danced all my life. With grace, and purpose. I lose count of how many times Annushka and I do the piece, but I dance with the same amount of energy as I did the first time. Breathe, rise, fall.

Madame finally tells us to stop by the time my toes are bleeding. I pay no attention to them since I have learned to not care. And I do not.

We change out of our ballet clothes into our gray uniforms and move to the target room. Madame hands me a handgun and tells me a place to shoot the target. I do as she commands, and switch to the other hand. The results are the same. Then it's Annushka's turn.

Annushka does the same as I did, and Madame hands the gun back to me. Now there is a real, living, breathing, person. I take the gun in my right hand, and Madame tells me the first place to shoot. I pull the trigger as if it were the target. Again, again, again, and again. I switch hands and switch to another person. The results are the same. Annushka does it with less hesitation. But only slightly.

We make it to the final test. Battle. I go first. I am fighting a man, who seems to be a bit stronger than me. I attack first, using a kick to the face as a distraction while I punch his manhood with everything I've got. I use this as a time to wrap my leg around his neck and swing around once grabbing his arm and throwing him off balance. He falls to the ground on his face with me sitting on his back. I keep him in a hold dislocating his arm. His screams of pain mean nothing to me. I force him to move his face to the side and punch his temple. I keep punching long after he went into unconsciousness. My punches get harder, and finally, I feel no ride and fall beneath me. But I do not stop.

Madame tells me to stop after his skull shatters, and part of his brain starts to fall out of his head. I let my knuckles bleed. Not caring. Annushka goes after me, but I don't focus on what she is doing. I think of Calvin. He knows about what I did, and what I do. He knows everything and could lead an attack on the Red Room at any time. But I couldn't think of that now. Especially on hopeful thinking that he told me he loves me, and I him. Even if it can never happen. I decide to just focus on what Annushka is doing but it keeps reminding me of Calvin.

I push away my thoughts when I hear Madame tell Annushka to stop. Madame whispers something to a man who I didn't notice was in the room, and he runs off. "It is time for the graduation ceremony." And with that, I am strapped to a hospital cart and am rushed down halls. I look up and see the nurse's eyes boring into me. I also glimpse girls without mouths. I ignore it and keep a blank face. I can finally take my place in the world. But I can't return to Calvin.