《Isolation》 Chapter One Following the sound of a shutting door, Natasha gave a hard tug at her restraints. She did the same every time she was put in the interview room, and it never worked. A force of habit, perhaps. Her eyes trailed down to the IV that stuck out of her wrist behind the restraint, keeping her tied to the table and unable to cause trouble. As much as she didn¡¯t like to use her power, the guards at the institution insisted on keeping her drugged so that she couldn¡¯t use it. A part of her knew it was unfair, but she knew better than to resist. The advocate for her case was supposedly here, and Natasha could only hope that she had good news. Though, from the months of little progress, it was getting difficult to remain optimistic. As if on cue, the door across from her opened and her caseworker stepped in. Addison Smith. She was a tall woman with long brown hair, casually dressed but she had an air of seriousness that had Natasha knowing better than to expect idle chit-chat from her. In a way, she was grateful for that. She wanted out of this place, away from the cold doctors and wardens and, most importantly, away from the drugs. Addison was the only bit of hope she had in this whole mess. However, she usually came in with an exhausted sigh, saying that she couldn¡¯t appeal the charges and she was going to have to wait some more. It was the same conversation, over and over again. This time, Natasha couldn¡¯t tell if something was different, but the file Addison carried under her arm caught her interest. When the other woman arrived empty-handed, Natasha knew she would be sent back to her room with little hope. ¡°How are you doing today, Natasha?¡± Addison asked, placing said file down on the table as she sat down across from her. ¡°Fine,¡± Natasha answered, feeling the strain of the restraints against her wrists and ankles as she tried to shift into a more comfortable position. ¡°Just fine?¡± ¡°As long as they keep pumping me with this stuff, I can¡¯t be any other way,¡± Natasha replied, lightly lifting her hand that had the IV in it. Addison didn¡¯t say anything for a few moments, a look of sympathy crossing her face as she stared at her. Natasha knew she was quite the sight; they barely let her use the bathroom without an escort, she had to wear the hospital gown they gave her, and the stress kept her up for multiple nights. Naturally, she let her looks go a bit over the last couple of months. ¡°Well,¡± Addison said around a small sigh, the same tone she used when she was moving on from the small talk and more onto ¡®business.¡¯ ¡°There have been some developments. I can¡¯t promise anything too good, but it¡¯s something. You have been given an ultimatum.¡± With that, she flipped open the folder. It had everything from the last couple months¨Cthe letters and addresses, Natasha¡¯s government profile, her health records. The photos. A knot forming in her stomach, she glanced away for a moment, looking into the camera mounted on the far wall. She pressed her lips together, working her jaw side to side for a moment before looking back at the other woman. ¡°Please tell me you¡¯re getting me out of here at least.¡± ¡°That¡¯s your decision. As you know, your case has been made public. I tried to avoid it for as long as possible, but¡­well, it¡¯s hard to ignore something like this. However¨Ca silver lining. You¡¯ve caught the attention of an advocacy group with some guardians trained to handle high-risk charges.¡± ¡°I am not going to willingly accept another guardian,¡± Natasha snapped, the anger in her voice hard to miss but she could feel her heart beating hard in her chest. Despite them being bound, she could also feel her hands shaking. There was a light surge in her, making her arms tingle but it fizzled out as the IV continued to drip into her. Still, the anxiety flared hard, Natasha holding a hard stare with Addison until the other woman leaned forward, clasping her hands in front of her. ¡°...What happened to you,¡± Addison started after a brief pause, her tone taking on a softer quality, ¡°what happened with your old guardian; that was completely against regulations and never should have happened. Most of the people in the enhanced human community agree that you never should have been charged for what you did, but¨C¡± ¡°Spare me, please,¡± Natasha snapped, ¡°I know what the community thinks and it¡¯s done shit for me.¡± If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Natasha¡­¡± ¡°You said I have an ultimatum?¡± She just wanted to get off this topic. The silence that followed her question was heavy, Natasha staring down at the overly clean table in front of her as she tried to push aside the memories of her old guardian, her old house. There was a faint pain in her arm, sharp like a¨C It¡¯s phantom pain. She¡¯s not here anymore, I made sure of that. ¡°The courts have decided on two options,¡± Addison continued, pulling Natasha¡¯s gaze back to her as she spoke, ¡°The first is that you stay here until they find a prison for you that is willing to admit you. With you having your powers and your case...I¡¯ve told you a couple times about how long it can take to find you a place. It¡¯s a risk to have you off the medication.¡± Natasha knew. She was constantly being drugged here to keep her as safe and docile around the non-enhanced humans. ¡°The second option,¡± her caseworker said, shifting up a little straighter, ¡°is that you agree to take on this high-risk guardian and the court has assured that you won¡¯t see jail time if you go under their care. Also¡­you can¡¯t remain on American soil. The Canadian government has agreed to take you across the border, but you will be living in isolation with the chance for reassessment if you work with this guardian for a couple years.¡± ¡°Isolation?¡± ¡°Your guardian would take care of everything, you¡¯ll be allowed in the community but not without them present and you can¡¯t be out for longer than 24 hours.¡± ¡°I might as well just stay here! I can¡¯t even make a phone call without supervision.¡± ¡°Perhaps, but they would allow you off the drugs you are on,¡± Addison said, ¡°Not off medication completely, but you won¡¯t be as heavily medicated.¡± ¡­That was a little appealing. Natasha could function with the IV, but it certainly put a damper on her emotions and it kept her weak. It felt like she was dragging herself along some days, her legs wobbly and she couldn¡¯t get up from her bed to the bathroom without getting winded. She knew with a criminal record now, nobody was going to let her not take some sort of medication to put some restraints on her powers but she hated this. As much as the idea of having another guardian made her skin crawl, the idea of being allowed some freedom was tempting. ¡°Where in Canada am I getting shipped off to?¡± ¡°That¡¯ll be something your new guardian will have to discuss with you. That decision is out of my hands.¡± ¡°Will they meet me here?¡± Natasha asked, ¡°With the cameras?¡± ¡°Yes, in this room. I can be present if you want me to be,¡± Addison said with a nod, ¡°I have met him. I would not have agreed to appeal to this course of action if I felt like he would harm you.¡± Natasha held the other woman¡¯s gaze for a few moments, turning that over in her head. The idea of being under the care of a guardian again made her stomach twist, she had wanted to avoid that at all costs. Yet, she knew going to a prison would be worse. There were few special prisons that took in people like her, yet they were overcrowded and, often, unregulated. She knew what might await her there. Plus, she didn¡¯t know how much longer she could take being in her current institution. Months? Years? Addison wasn¡¯t lying when she said she had no time estimates on when she would be transferred. The lesser of two evils seemed pretty clear. ¡°I want to meet this guardian before I agree to anything,¡± Natasha said after letting out a breath, ¡°I won¡¯t blindly agree to go with him. I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t force you to do that,¡± Addison said, reaching across the table to place a hand on Natasha¡¯s bound ones. ¡°Okay,¡± Natasha said with a small nod, resigned. ¡°I will call him as soon as I have signed out from here,¡± Addison said, digging through her file a moment before placing a piece of paper down on the table, ¡°That¡¯s his name and experience. He is familiar with your case and wanted me to pass that information on.¡± Natasha leaned forward somewhat as Addison pushed the paper closer to her so she could read it better. ¡°Andrei Cojocaru¡­¡± she read off the paper with some difficulty, ¡°That¡¯s a mouthful.¡± ¡°He¡¯s from Romania,¡± Addison explained, causing Natasha to glance up at her with a quick huff of a chuckle. ¡°Why are they sending me to Canada? Romania is much further away.¡± ¡°It was an option, but considering you can¡¯t speak Romanian¡­¡± Despite the exhaustion and dread that sat in her about the current situation, Natasha couldn¡¯t help a small smile at the light teasing. She looked over the information some more. He seemed experienced, combat training and previous charges¡­ ¡°I guess I¡¯ll meet him,¡± Natasha said around a sigh, leaning back in her seat again, ¡°I¡¯d like you to be there, though.¡± She was the only person she had been able to trust over the last couple of months. ¡°Of course,¡± Addison said, ¡°I will arrange a visit with him at the end of the week. Is there anything else you need me to do?¡± ¡°Not that I can think of,¡± Natasha replied, ready to get back to her room and try not to overthink everything. Addison stood from her chair, giving an affirmative nod toward the camera in the room before she turned to leave. Natasha sat back in her chair¨Cor as far back as the restraints would let her. She heard the door to her left open, an orderly walking in to release her from the table. Looking at his dead-eyed stare and the overly sterile hallway behind him, she already knew that getting out of the institution was something she needed to do. No matter the method. Chapter Two The days usually blurred together for Natasha, likely due to no small help from the medication. This week, however, it was especially fast. Despite the strong front she tried to put on in front of Addison earlier in the week, Natasha couldn¡¯t help how her breath hitched and her heart raced when she thought about meeting this new guardian. As much as her caseworker had tried to assure her that he wasn¡¯t going to hurt her, the voices in the back of her head whispered otherwise. He probably hides it well. We¡¯ll go to Canada and it¡¯ll be the same thing over again. It made it hard to concentrate with the way the different variations of that thought circled and picked away at her resolve like crows on some roadkill. The continued isolation didn¡¯t help, the doctors and warden kept her confined to her room outside of meals and visitations. So, naturally, when Friday morning came around and a man appeared in her doorway, Natasha knew he wasn¡¯t bringing breakfast. For the most part, she had stopped fighting back after the first couple of days and the effects of what they were injecting her with had hit. The walk down the bare hallway toward the familiar interview room was quiet. From time to time, she wondered if the people in this place took a vow of silence or if they just didn¡¯t want to talk to her specifically. This time, however, she didn¡¯t mind. Natasha didn¡¯t know what words she could work up over the tension she felt once they reached the door. ¡°Give me your wrists,¡± her escort demanded, Natasha doing as he told as he set about putting the familiar restraints on her. It only took a few minutes before she sat at that familiar table, wrists and ankles bound so she couldn¡¯t run or attack anybody. Most times, she would give a tug against the restraints, hoping on some miracle that they hadn¡¯t secured them properly and she could get out of them. Though, they never did. Natasha sat still this time, however. No pulling or twisting, her hands resting on the tabletop and tied uncomfortably at the wrists to the table. We might be leaving today, a hopeful voice muttered at the back of her mind. Even if we don¡¯t like this guy, there¡¯s probably plenty of chances on the way out of the country to run¡­ Yet, she couldn¡¯t count on that. It was a hopeful idea, though. To be off the medication and free to go about her life like the average person. She could get that university degree she had wanted, maybe get married or adopt a bunch of dogs. Maybe start a rescue for animals out in some rural town in Canada. You murdered someone, another voice spoke up, exhausted and bitter. There¡¯s no way anybody is going to let you live such a free life; if that was even possible. With that depressing thought, her attention was brought back to reality when she heard someone approach the visitor¡¯s door. Natasha sat up a little more, though it was difficult with how she had been restrained. Though, instead of Addison stepping through like she had been expecting, a stranger was the first to enter with her caseworker slipping in behind him to shut the door behind them. He was a good head taller than Addison, yet he was also somewhat shorter than Natasha had been expecting. He had short, dark hair with eyes as equally as dark. He regarded her with a somewhat impassive look, not exactly indifferent or judgmental. Unreadable, but professional. At least he wasn¡¯t regarding her with a hateful look or carrying on like he had better things to do. In Natasha¡¯s first impression of him, she caught sight of the familiar emblem that hung around his neck. A black card with the white outline of a circle in the middle, somewhat obscured by the edge of the heavy coat he wore. The symbol was somewhat familiar, it reminded her of the one her previous guardian wore as a patch on her jacket. Though, it had been worn down over time, hard to miss at first glance. He bared his like a pendant. Still, it was the universal signal that he was the guardian of an enhanced human. However, over time, Natasha started to see those as a warning for people to avoid her, not to watch out for the person with her. ¡°Hello, Natasha,¡± he greeted after a few moments, his voice somewhat softer than she had been expecting and had an unfamiliar accent to it, ¡°My name is Andrei Cojocaru, though your caseworker told me you have already looked over my information.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Natasha said with a nod as he moved to sit down in Addison¡¯s usual seat across from her. She was surprised by the evenness of her voice. ¡°I have to be honest, when I heard your story I was interested in seeing if I could help,¡± he continued, regarding her with a steady stare, ¡°I have had similar experience back in my home country, unfortunately it does not seem to be different here.¡± ¡°The¡­courts have been pretty stubborn,¡± Natasha replied, still trying to keep her distance and guard up, but it was somewhat reassuring to hear that she wasn¡¯t alone in a case like this. She didn¡¯t know what it was like in Romania, but it wasn¡¯t too hard to guess that people like her were given a similar treatment. A part of her wondered if there was any country that wasn¡¯t as hostile toward people with powers, but it was hard to say. Something to look into at a later point, maybe. ¡°I am aware,¡± Andrei said with a small sigh, ¡°your caseworker and I have been working hard to get you at least the options you have now.¡± ¡°The Canadians were a little easier to work with,¡± Addison added on from where she stood with her back against the door, ¡°I can¡¯t promise the general public will be more open but¡­well, they seemed more open to Andrei¡¯s rehabilitation methods.¡± ¡°Rehabilitation?¡± Natasha asked, dropping her gaze from the other woman to Andrei again, ¡°What does that entail?¡± Stolen novel; please report. ¡°You still have to be punished for the crimes you committed,¡± Andrei started, shifting to sit back in his chair a little more, ¡°The time to argue self-defence has passed, but I want to avoid having you in jail. Spend enough time with me, on the new medication, and the Canadian government is willing to reevaluate your case.¡± That was a little promising, as much as Natasha hated this situation. She wanted more than anything to avoid opening herself up to the same abuse she suffered at the hands of her old guardian, and, as agreeable as Andrei was acting at the moment, she knew better than to think that couldn¡¯t change once the cameras and Addison were gone. She could still run, though. Disappear once they got to this town in Canada or wait until he was distracted enough to make a break for it on the road. It would be easier than trying to get away from where she currently was, constantly being observed and weakened. The idea of a new medication wasn¡¯t great, either. Addison had said that it wouldn¡¯t be as intense as the stuff they were injecting into her now, but not being able to use her powers wasn¡¯t great. Natasha had always been a little skinny, but that was especially true these days with the stress and situation robbing her of her appetite. Her powers were the only defence and offence she had. That is, if Andrei turned out to be decent and she could rely on him. As it stood, however, that was far from where she stood with him currently. ¡°I have to be honest,¡± she said after a moment, ¡°I feel like I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. It feels like my hands are tied, metaphorically and literally.¡± ¡°The idea of being free to live your own life after a few years is worse than being here?¡± Andrei asked. It wasn¡¯t a pointed question by his tone, but Natasha felt put on the spot regardless. ¡°If you are familiar with my case, then you know what my previous guardian put me through,¡± Natasha replied, clenching her hands. ¡°Yes,¡± he said with a nod, ¡°It is unfortunate, and I am not expecting you to be close to me or even trust me fully. Yet, both Addison and I want to offer you a better deal than being kept here and getting locked away.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a little more than unfortunate,¡± Natasha stated, tone icy, ¡°but I agree with you, I am not expecting to trust you either.¡± ¡°I can accept that,¡± Andrei replied, his tone even. Perhaps even a little sympathetic, but Natasha couldn¡¯t be sure. He was hard to shake. Natasha didn¡¯t set off to upset her, but she wanted to make her intentions clear. She was done cowering in front of people who were supposed to be on her side. Who were supposed to protect her. As much as that fear boiled in her gut, she didn¡¯t want to show that in front of him. ¡°Have you set everything up in Canada?¡± Addison asked, breaking the silence after a few moments. ¡°Yes, I just need to make the confirmation call,¡± Andrei said, glancing back toward her over his shoulder. ¡°Where in Canada?¡± Natasha asked. ¡°British Columbia,¡± Andrei replied, ¡°A town in the mountains. The population is small and it is remote, it could be a good place for you.¡± The mountains held a lot of opportunities, too. Chances to disappear, there was plenty of forest around. Natasha didn¡¯t know much about survival in the wilderness, but if things went bad it was at least an option she could take. As much as she hated to admit it, the place did sound nice in theory, too. Scenic. ¡°We can get you out of here today, too,¡± Addison said, finally approaching the table herself as she stood beside her. The look on her face was sympathetic, and at least Natasha had known her long enough to trust that it was genuine. She wouldn¡¯t have bent over backwards to put all of this together. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t make the decision for you,¡± Addison continued, ¡°but the outcome after a couple years could be way better than what you will get here and at the prison they could find for you.¡± ¡°As long as it does not breach the protocol put on me, I will respect what boundaries you put in place too,¡± Andrei stated as well, ¡°As I have mentioned, I am not unfamiliar with situations like this.¡± Natasha sat in silence as she turned over this situation in her head. A part of her, likely fuelled by the fear that was making her a little sick to her stomach at the moment, wanted to deny the offer and just remain here. It was horrible, she hated it at the institution, but she knew at least she wouldn¡¯t be willingly opening herself up to the past repeating itself. I would be shooting myself in the foot, she thought. She knew it was a better offer, but the uncertainty was scaring her. Andrei was distant and professional, but she didn¡¯t know if that was just an act. Yet, she knew she had a better chance of escaping in Canada should he turn on her. Trying to escape from here would result in heavier tranquillizers and added time to her sentence. God, I don¡¯t want to but¡­ ¡°I¡­¡± Natasha started, pausing to take in a breath before shaking her head, ¡°everything in me is screaming at me about this, but this option is better.¡± ¡°We can wait another couple days, if you want to think it over,¡± Addison said, causing Natasha to raise her eyebrows at her. ¡°You can get me out today and you think I¡¯ll want to stay here longer?¡± she asked. Judging from the questioning look Andrei tossed Addison¡¯s way, Natasha thought he might be thinking along the same lines as her. ¡°Just an option,¡± Addison said, raising her hands somewhat, ¡°I know this isn¡¯t an easy decision.¡± It wasn¡¯t. Natasha could feel her frustration and fear clawing away at her gut, wanting to crawl out of her throat and tell them both to let her die in here. Yet, she knew she didn¡¯t want that deep down. She wanted a chance at a normal life, to do things she enjoyed without having to glance over her shoulder and watch her guardian¡¯s reaction in order to tell if she would fly off the handle later or not. She could set boundaries, too. Andrei said he would respect them, as much as she didn¡¯t want to take him at his word thus far. She wasn¡¯t some terrified thirteen-year-old anymore, ripped from her normal life to become some captive to a woman who hated her guts. Someone the government turned its head away from, despite the reports and claims she submitted. ¡°I¡¯ll take it,¡± Natasha said, her voice softer but resigned, ¡°it has to be better than this.¡± ¡°It will be,¡± Addison assured, giving her a smile, ¡°Andrei and I will talk to the warden and we should be able to discharge you in a couple hours. Just hang in there.¡± What other choice did she have? Natasha knew it was the better choice, but that didn¡¯t mean she had to feel great about it. She watched as Addison turned to leave the room, Andrei rising from his chair but didn¡¯t move to leave just yet. He placed his hand on the back of his chair, Natasha watching him for a few moments as he seemed to weigh his words before glancing toward her. ¡°For what it is worth,¡± he said, his voice almost a mutter but in the room''s silence, Natasha could hear it. ¡°I saw the evidence, the reports you submitted over the years. I am working to get them so we can use them in your case. I wish you did not have to go to these lengths, but I know you did what you felt you had to.¡± With that, he turned and followed Addison out of the room. Natasha watched him leave, turning over the previous events and his words in her head before she heard someone enter the room to release her from the restraints. His words gave her some hope, admittedly, but it didn¡¯t help the heaviness in her. Chapter Three ¡°Open your mouth.¡± The rather grim expression on the nurse¡¯s face didn¡¯t faze Natasha much, swallowing down the pills with the water she had been given. She was so close to freedom. With a small sigh, she opened her mouth, trying not to flinch when she felt the nurse¡¯s gloves grip her chin as she inspected that she had actually taken the pills. Admittedly, she had thought about tucking them into her cheeks and spitting them out once she was outside, but she had second thoughts about that. Cooperation would get her out of there quicker, she knew that. With a tight nod, the nurse stepped aside and opened the door to the hallway outside of the examination room. Outside, she met Addison, who gave her a small smile and nodded as she led her toward a set of doors. It was hard to shove down the pit of hope that cropped up in Natasha at the idea of being let out, but she was quick to shut that down with the reminder that it wasn¡¯t freedom. Not completely. ¡°Hey,¡± Addison started once they were close enough to the doors, gently grabbing Natasha¡¯s arm to get her attention, ¡°Listen, once you¡¯re across the Canadian border, you are out of my jurisdiction. However, I will be working here to appeal for letting you back into the country after the rehabilitation process.¡± ¡°Honestly, Addison,¡± Natasha started with a sigh, ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯ll be returning or not, Canada is no less my home than the States are.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± she replied with a small nod, ¡°Still, I will try to keep the option open. Perhaps with the appeal of the Canadian government after a couple years, it could sway some opinions around here.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t hold my breath, but¡­thank you. I appreciate that.¡± ¡°Just¡­¡± Addison trailed off, as if choosing her next words carefully, ¡°I know it¡¯s a lot to ask, but work with Andrei. Give him some faith. He wasn¡¯t lying when he said he¡¯s had experience in cases like yours. You don¡¯t have to trust him, but he could be a valuable asset.¡± Natasha thought back to the words he had shared with her a couple hours ago in the interview room. He had told her he sympathized with her case, which certainly sounded genuine. Yet, that voice in the back of her head told her that she knew better than to trust a sad look and some supportive words. Still, she knew her situation didn¡¯t leave her many options. ¡°I¡¯ll try,¡± Natasha said, trying not to sound as uncertain as she felt about doing so. ¡°Okay,¡± Addison said with another nod and sigh, ¡°Good luck. I will try to keep you updated with any news.¡± Once Natasha was allowed to change into a set of clothes that her mother had brought over a couple of months ago, the uncertainty of her future hit her square in the chest for a few moments. A part of her wanted to fight, to refuse the medication and flee, while another wanted to justify her actions until she was blue in the face. Yet, regardless of the part that won out, she knew she was scared. She hated to admit it, but she had only met Andrei a while ago. That was the cost of her wanting to get out more over getting to know him a little more. She just couldn¡¯t be certain of his intentions so far. As objectively nice as he seemed, she remembered how her old guardian was able to flip a switch in front of other people. Dutiful and professional during one moment, violent and hateful in another. Absent-mindedly, Natasha played somewhat with the cotton ball that was taped over the spot where the IV used to be. Doing so seemed to pull her back to the current reality. Whatever was coming had to be better than carrying on like she had been. She still had her plans to escape, too. They still kept her on a lower dose of medication as demanded by the courts, but it wasn¡¯t as strong as what she had been injected with. She could create a window to run while they were on the road if she felt the need to. If not, she could always try to run once they got to British Columbia. You made your choice, she thought to herself with a small shake of her head. It¡¯s time to go face it. The weather outside was gray and overcast, yet it was bright enough to make Natasha squint her eyes as they throbbed against the light. It was lightly raining, feeling the cold spray against her head and skin. Still, as much as she wished it could have been nice out, she was out. In a better circumstance, too. Though, she allowed herself to be led to the car as Andrei spoke quietly to Addison. She sat in the passenger seat, looking at the two of them. She couldn¡¯t read lips, so trying to figure out what they were saying was useless, but she was watching for any change in body language. Addison seemed nervous but resolved, and Andrei was¡­unreadable. Controlled and as professional as he had been when she first saw him. With a sigh, Natasha pulled off the tape on her wrist once it didn¡¯t seem like the injection site was going to bleed. At least she was finally free of that terrible drug, even if it had been substituted with another one. Natasha tried not to jump when Andrei opened the driver¡¯s door, slipping into the seat as he cast her a glance. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just get out of here,¡± Natasha replied around a small sigh, not wanting to tell him how scared she actually was. Thankfully, Andrei didn¡¯t press any further and finally they were on their way to the Canadian border. Natasha was a little surprised at the amount of relief that settled in her once she was away from that place, as much as she wished she could truly be free to live her own life. Maybe¡­well, she didn¡¯t know how all of this would play out, but she knew the option to be without a guardian could be offered when she finished her work with Andrei. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. That was still a long time away, though. Natasha was comfortable letting the drive pass in silence, but Andrei seemed the type of person who drove without music. Just the hum of the engine and the wipers against the windshield. As much as the drugs still in her system were making her a little sleepy, Natasha found the quiet suffocating in light of everything on her mind. ¡°How long will it take to get to this town?¡± she asked after a few more moments. Andrei seemed mildly surprised to hear her talk, his eyebrows twitching upwards as he took a glance at her before looking back out at the road. ¡°It is early, but it still may take us a day,¡± he replied, ¡°I would not expect to not get there before midnight if we do not stop for long.¡± ¡°Will we be stopping?¡± ¡°That is up to you,¡± Andrei said, ¡°I was told that you might go through some withdrawal, so it will depend on how you are feeling.¡± ¡°Oh, great,¡± Natasha snapped, leaning her head back against the headrest for a few moments, ¡°Nobody felt inclined to let me know about that.¡± ¡°If it is a comfort, you probably will not feel much until tomorrow.¡± ¡°There¡¯s that, at least¡­¡± Natasha trailed off, glancing out the window for a few moments before another question popped into her head. ¡°Will there be people like me in this town?¡± ¡°Not that I am aware of,¡± he said, looking thoughtful for a few moments, ¡°I can not promise that you will be the only one, not everybody is registered as an enhanced human. Still, it will be a surprise to me as much to you.¡± Satisfied with that, Natasha let the small conversation drop. She wasn¡¯t sure why she was hoping that there would be other people like her in that town, but it made sense. Why would they let her stay with other enhanced humans if she had a murder charge on her record? It would be too much of a risk. Still, with the silence that settled again, that restlessness kicked up again. ¡°Can you at least turn the radio on so I don¡¯t think myself to death?¡± ¡°Take your pick,¡± Andrei replied, gesturing indifferently toward the radio, ¡°you do not need to ask me to do everything for you.¡± ¡°Force of habit,¡± Natasha replied, flipping the radio on as she fiddled to find a station, ¡°I used to have to ask to do¡­a lot of things.¡± ¡°I am not your old guardian,¡± Andrei said after a rather pregnant pause, ¡°You have some regulations, but I do want you to do what you want.¡± ¡°Even if I ruin your ears with the worst music I can find?¡± She didn¡¯t mean to cover that with a joke, but Natasha didn¡¯t want to address that whole statement just yet. She was surprised that she managed to get it out like she did, considering her heart was sitting in her throat. Really, the sudden mention of her previous guardian made her stomach twist uncomfortably. Outside of anger, making light of her feelings was a bit of a knee-jerk reaction. Natasha let out a small breath, switching to what sounded like another talk radio station. ¡°Yes, even then,¡± Andrei said with a small, amused huff. His reaction and stepping away from the topic relaxed her somewhat. So he does have a personality outside of ¡®stiff,¡¯ Natasha thought in mild amusement. The small grin that tugged at her mouth surprised her a little, but it disappeared once she had noticed it enough. Settling on a mixed-genre station, she leaned back in her seat again for the long drive.
The gas station was silent outside of the soft beep upon her opening the door, a tired-looking employee glancing up from his spot at the cash register before glancing back down at his phone. Disinterest was good, though she knew that Andrei would cause attention more than she did with the symbol he wore around his neck. She figured she could get by on her own if she managed to get out from under his watch, but considering how bare the highways were it was hard to find a place to run. He¡¯d probably see her running for a couple of miles if she decided to make a break for it. With a small sigh out of her nose, Natasha turned to head toward what she was looking for. The bathroom was tucked away in the back of the station, a little dirty and dim but the sign assured her it was fine for public use. The inside wasn¡¯t much better, her shoulders dropping somewhat as the door closed behind her. She was exhausted, wondering if it was the late hour, the driving, or the withdrawal Andrei had mentioned. The cramped and somewhat dirty bathroom didn¡¯t help her feel better. Still, she went about her business and was washing her hands in the sink when she worked up the nerve to look at herself in the mirror. Her gazes caught the dark bags under her eyes first, her dull blue eyes staring back at her lifelessly. Her hair was longer than she remembered it, almost coming to her shoulders in messy blonde locks. After that, she couldn¡¯t stomach looking at it anymore, turning away from the sink. She had been off the IV for a couple of hours. That realization sat with her for a few moments, her eyes resting on the roll of toilet paper on the edge of the sink. With a slow breath out, Natasha stared hard at it. She felt the familiar tingle in her arms and across her shoulders, willing her mind to just knock it over. The small bit of power was building, just about to be released when something in her head snapped. It was like watching old film burn, darkness blotting away at her vision as a sharp stabbing pain shot across her skull. She could feel it settle behind her eyes and in her teeth, Natasha staggering back with a short, pained yell. She gripped her head, shutting her eyes. Oh, God. Stop, stop¡­ As the build-up of her power subsided, eventually did the pain after a few moments. ¡°Damn it,¡± she hissed, tears pricking at her eyes. Partly out of despair and the pain she had been in a few moments ago. The IV just dulled it, making her power fizzle out like throwing water on a campfire. This? This felt like someone shoving an ice pick into her head. The intention was clear. She still had her powers, but she would suffer for using them. With a small sniffle, she turned and headed to exit the bathroom. Andrei was standing near the door, eyeing her with an expression that Natasha couldn¡¯t place. It wasn¡¯t exactly disapproving, but it felt kind of similar to the ones she used to see her teachers give her when she¡¯d be seen not paying attention. She grabbed a bag of chips without so much as looking at it, moving to go pay for it with a sense of hopelessness sitting over her. They weren¡¯t far from the border and what happened in the bathroom told her that using her powers was out of the question. ¡­She couldn¡¯t give up. The situation wasn¡¯t ideal, but Canada was a big country to get lost in if she needed to. There was also a small voice in the back of her head that was telling her to just ride this out. If it meant freedom at some point, it could be worth it. Natasha figured she would just have to wait. Chapter Four Regretfully, she didn¡¯t get to see the mountains while coming in the previous night. Arriving well after midnight left the small town dark and isolated, the roads somewhat slick with ice after the sun had gone down. Natasha had been sleepy and sore from the drive out there, she doubted that she would have cared to check out the new place she was going to be secluded away in. A slight shakiness and nausea started shortly after arriving, Natasha shaking it off as exhaustion and the fact that she had no appetite all day. Upon waking up, she knew she didn¡¯t feel all that better. The house was small, a cabin really. She had wandered into the first bedroom she came across the previous night and promptly passed out on the bed. A part of her knew that she shouldn¡¯t have fallen asleep so quickly, but she was still resting in the same position on top of a slightly itchy throw blanket when she woke up. So, that paranoia was a little unwarranted. When Natasha tried to sit on the bed, she found her limbs heavy and her head swimming slightly. She hadn¡¯t slept all that long, had she? The light coming in from the window beside the bed told her that it wasn¡¯t too early or too late in the day. Still, that feeling subsided somewhat once she got herself standing and moving around, but the weakness wasn¡¯t too hard to miss when she went about getting herself ready for the day. Still, she supposed the shower and fresh clothes were a silver lining. Natasha hadn¡¯t been expecting to find anything in the drawers in her room, but apparently, Andrei hadn¡¯t been lying when he said everything was prepared. She slipped on some jeans and a plain white t-shirt with a light, flowing gray sweater over it. It wasn¡¯t much, but she didn¡¯t have the energy to do more than just put the clothes on and brush her hair. She recalled Andrei mentioning something about a withdrawal from the drugs she had been on, but she supposed she could deal with it if it were this mild. Andrei was speaking on the phone in his native language when Natasha wandered out into the main part of the house, a small living room moving into a somewhat open kitchen with a dining table taking up the last of the room. Natasha hadn¡¯t been expecting a resort but noticed it was particularly cramped. Better than a room with a single bed in it, she reminded herself as she approached the table. Her new guardian didn¡¯t turn around to face her as he continued to talk and look blankly out toward the trees near the front of the house. Natasha obviously couldn¡¯t understand Romanian, so she promptly tuned him out for a bit as she sat herself down. Her gaze landed on the bottle of pills placed on the table from the night before. Natasha knew she should take them; she had been through this procedure before. Andrei had the right to count the pills in the bottle or watch her take them to confirm she was still on the medication. Which wasn¡¯t all that fair in her mind, but she had fought back enough times through her teenage years with her old guardian about it to know it was a pretty pointless endeavour. Just waiting for him to finish up and let him watch her take them would do it, she settled on. With a small sigh, Natasha placed a hand under her chin and glanced out toward the trees outside the window. They really were out there in the bushes, at least somewhat. The morning light reflected off the pine tree''s needles, melting snow from the night before dropping off in steady drips. At least it wasn¡¯t the dead of winter. ¡°Good morning,¡± Andrei greeted once he hung up, moving to sit across from her at the table. ¡°Hey,¡± Natasha returned, her voice sounding a little tired in her ears, ¡°Was that you on the phone with the Romanian embassy so you can beg to go back home?¡± ¡°No,¡± he said with a small huff, ¡°Considering the silence after we stopped last night, you have not given me anything to change my mind. It was just family.¡± Natasha hummed, accepting that. It must be hard to have your family have to call you from across the world. Though she supposed her mother was now going to have to worry about her in another country, at least the distance wasn¡¯t that extreme. She wondered if she could call her soon, but figured she would wait until things had settled a bit. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Andrei asked. ¡°...A little off, I guess,¡± Natasha replied, deciding to let him know that much, ¡°I don¡¯t usually feel like I just climbed some stairs by putting some pants on.¡± ¡°That should last for only a couple days and I imagine they did not let you get much exercise in that place.¡± ¡°No, they definitely didn¡¯t. I guess there¡¯s plenty of trails to hike around here, though.¡± ¡°If that is what you want to do. I have to accompany you, anyway.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Natasha muttered, furrowing her brow, ¡°Everywhere? Do you have to watch me brush my teeth?¡± ¡°Only if you are going to harm me or yourself with a toothbrush. I have to accompany you out publicly, but I do not need to¡­hover when we are in the house.¡± Well, that was a little better than she had been expecting. Her old guardian didn¡¯t even let her have her own room, she slept on a cot near the door so Natasha couldn¡¯t sneak by her. She had never gotten used to the feeling of her listening to every toss and turn, which made it all the stranger to know Andrei had slept in his own room. The fact that she never left me alone, even when I was barely a teenager, was never normal¡­ This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Your new caseworker,¡± Andrei started, pulling Natasha out of her head again, ¡°she left Vancouver this morning. She will meet with us tomorrow.¡± The fact that Addison wasn¡¯t there to be an extra layer of assurance became pretty apparent. Natasha had been working with her for months, she had gotten to trust her and now she had to rely on Andrei¡¯s judgment. He seemed to know what he was doing, but the shift was still jarring. ¡°How long do you think it will take before I can appeal my case to the government?¡± she asked after a couple of moments. ¡°I do not have a timeline for that just yet. It will depend on your progress, that you won¡¯t harm yourself or others.¡± ¡°You say that like I¡¯m going to flip cars and throw people around.¡± ¡°That is the government¡¯s concern toward you, not mine.¡± Natasha could feel the question sitting right in her next breath¨Cwhat is your opinion of me, then? Yet, she could almost feel the awkwardness of the question before it even left her mouth. She had only been with him a day, he didn¡¯t need to have an opinion of her just as much as she didn¡¯t need to have an opinion of him. So, she let the question die with an exhale, Natasha rising to make her way toward the kitchen to find a glass to fill with water. ¡°So, how did you want to do this?¡± she asked, picking up a glass and filling it with water. She tried to ignore how her hand tremored slightly under the weight of the full glass cup. ¡°The pills? Just let me see you take them, I do not have a strict protocol for that,¡± Andrei replied, glancing toward her as Natasha made her way toward the table again. Sliding back into her seat, she placed the glass back down and reached for the pills with a small sigh out of her nose. She was sure she was still feeling off from stopping the medication they had been feeding her through the IV and now there was this new one. Still, she shook out a tablet from the bottle, tossed it toward the back of her mouth and gulped down some water. She held Andrei¡¯s gaze over the top of the glass as she did so, looking unflinchingly into his dark eyes until she placed the glass back down. ¡°Good?¡± she asked. ¡°Yes.¡± However, whatever comment she wanted to make on top of that was cut off by knocking at the front door. Immediately, she shot Andrei a confused look, watching as his brow tightened and he got up from his seat. He leaned toward the kitchen for a moment to look outside the window, but Natasha couldn¡¯t see what he was seeing. ¡°Were you expecting anybody?¡± she asked after a few moments. ¡°No,¡± Andrei said, ¡°I will answer, you stay back. I do not know what they are here for.¡± As much as Natasha wished she could disregard that and hold her own against people who wanted to do her harm, the medication had clipped her wings and made that a reckless belief. At the moment, at least. So, Natasha hung back, arms crossed as she watched Andrei open the door. There were two people standing there, a man and a woman. They didn¡¯t appear to be police or any some sort of government officials. The woman had dark brown hair pulled up in a bun on her head, the hood of the faux-fur coat she wore framing the bottom of her face. The man beside her stood at about the same height as Andrei, hands tucked into the pockets of his wool coat, his long black hair pulled back as he met Andrei¡¯s gaze with a controlled smile. ¡°Hey,¡± he greeted, ¡°I am Matthew, this is my wife, Yvette. We knew you two were arriving in town and thought we would come to welcome you to town.¡± ¡°Maybe get some breakfast with us?¡± Yvette suggested, her tone bright as her gaze shifted from Andrei toward Natasha with a smile. Natasha wasn¡¯t sure what to make of this. There was no doubt that some of the town¡¯s folk had been informed that she was an enhanced human, and Andrei was a further giveaway as he certainly didn¡¯t hide the emblem around his neck. Andrei stood still for a moment before he glanced back toward her, Natasha catching the question in his gaze. Natasha was used to her old guardian just shoving away curious and genuinely kind people who wanted to get to know them. She was expecting him to make the decision for him, as that was always how it had been. Yet, he didn¡¯t make any move to do anything without her input, three sets of eyes on her. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she replied after a moment, taking a couple of steps closer to the door, ¡°I would like to see the town a bit, but I am concerned about causing some, uh¡­¡± ¡°Tension?¡± Matthew offered, ¡°I can understand that. We¡¯re not oblivious as to what¡¯s happening here, but¡­well, I guess it feels wrong not to offer a branch at least to join the community.¡± ¡°Might just be the Canadian in us,¡± Yvette commented with a small chuckle. They seemed a little awkward but Natasha wasn¡¯t completely thrown off. Plus, Andrei was there. Even if she didn¡¯t know how she felt about him, she knew that most people didn¡¯t bother her too much when she had a guardian with her. Plus, all they had was bread and butter until they could go grocery shopping. ¡°We haven¡¯t eaten yet,¡± Natasha said, glancing toward Andrei, ¡°I guess it couldn¡¯t hurt.¡± ¡°Whatever you want to do,¡± he replied. He didn¡¯t seem too worked up, maybe he saw what she saw in them. ¡°The inn¡¯s not too far,¡± Yvette continued, ¡°We can walk there, it¡¯s a nice morning.¡± ¡°Sure, give us a couple minutes,¡± Natasha said with a nod, the couple stepping away down the steps as Andrei closed the door behind them somewhat. ¡°What do you think? You¡¯re the guardian here.¡± ¡°Nosey neighbors,¡± Andrei replied, not seeming too bothered by them. Natasha turned that over in her head, though so far they just seemed like two outgoing people who wanted to show them a bit of hospitality. Natasha had been expecting some rocks thrown through windows or something, but she figured she might as well make as many friends as she can. Andrei was passive, wanted to act like a background figure and let her do what she wished. Unless he felt like he needed to step in, she supposed. It was odd, Natasha was used to not having any say in what her guardian did. ¡°I guess it¡¯s a free meal,¡± Natasha said after a few moments, catching a slightly amused look that crossed Andrei¡¯s face at her words. ¡°I do not think they offered to pay, but I suppose so. If you want to do this, I will go with you. Do not let me slow you down.¡± ¡°Unless you get a bad vibe from them or something, right?¡± ¡°Yes. I am to both monitor and protect, but I don¡¯t know¡­they just seem friendly.¡± ¡°I think so, too,¡± Natasha said with a nod, ¡°I feel like they¡¯ll make terrible small talk, but I guess it¡¯ll look good on the report if I¡¯m active in the community, right?¡± ¡°It would not hurt your case.¡± What would hurt worse than murder? They had already gotten her on that, as much as Natasha would argue for self-defence in that case. Still, with that, she started to dig out a jacket and her boots from yesterday. As much as she still felt shaky on her legs, she was also starving. If she could get some food and make a good impression at the same time, she figured she could work through the fatigue and rest later. Chapter Five Thankfully, it was late enough in the morning that it seemed like they missed the breakfast rush. From the walk into town and the general feel of the town, Natasha was left with the impression that this was a town that only a number of people actually stayed in. There were a lot of semi-trucks carrying lumber, which made sense given the number of trees around. It was a strange shift from the city she grew up in, skyscrapers and exhaust. The air even felt cleaner out here, it was strange. Yet, she found herself not minding it too much as time went on. However, Natasha mostly kept to herself, hands in her pockets as Matthew and Yvette made idle chit-chat with Andrei and amongst the two of them. Matthew was a retired doctor, which was a little surprising to hear considering he didn¡¯t look like he was too far into his thirties. His wife was a novelist, self-published, but she had seen some mild success from that. Naturally, Natasha and Andrei were offered copies of her newest novel when she would see them next. Natasha didn¡¯t mind, if anything she figured she might like to have some reading material. She had never been a big television person and found herself wanting to be outdoors more often than not. Which explained why she was warming to the town so quickly, despite the unfortunate situation. Yet, even with the momentary distraction, Natasha couldn¡¯t help but feel awkward being inside the diner. Matthew and Yvette were greeted with some familiarity, and with her and Andrei being so new, it made sense that they were singled out. With Andrei¡¯s status as her guardian, the looks were guaranteed. The waitress was a young woman, maybe only somewhat younger than Natasha herself, yet she caught how she looked her up and down for a moment as they were introduced. Still, if she had opinions, at least the waitress didn¡¯t voice them as she led the four of them to a booth. Naturally, Andrei sat on the outside with Natasha near the window. She knew the drill, though the menu at least allowed her to put her mind elsewhere. ¡°With you two from out of the country,¡± Yvette started, ¡°I wonder if we should suggest something special. This place has a great plate of steak, eggs and pancakes.¡± ¡°I do not eat meat,¡± Andrei replied, not quite looking up from his menu but Natasha could hear the catch in his voice. Embarrassment, maybe? ¡°Vegan, or¡­?¡± Natasha asked, causing him to glance toward her. ¡°No, I just cut them out,¡± he replied simply, ¡°I am not that hungry, but thank you for the suggestion.¡± ¡°...Well, I¡¯ll get it,¡± Natasha said, feeling somewhat awkward that Yvette¡¯s hospitality was backfiring a bit. ¡°You¡¯ll like it,¡± Yvette said with a small grin. She sure was¡­positive. Natasha hadn¡¯t heard her say anything all that negative since they had shown up at the cabin, some sort of smile on the other woman¡¯s face. Despite stepping forward with the introductions, Matthew was a little quieter than she had been expecting. He talked when spoken to, but there was something in his eyes. It felt like he was watching her very closely sometimes. Natasha wasn¡¯t unfamiliar with the sensation while out in public, yet it didn¡¯t make her feel all that great. If this is some ploy to get me somewhere alone and¡­well, Andrei is here. I guess if he¡¯s willing to move from Romania to Canada for this job, I figure he would catch onto something like that. Still, despite the thoughts, Natasha still felt a little tense. In light of that, she wasn¡¯t too irritated that Andrei was sitting between her and whoever felt like making her day shittier. She knew she wasn¡¯t exactly welcome in most places. Most people wouldn¡¯t notice if she were alone, but with Andrei there, it made it pretty obvious that she was an enhanced human. The thoughts were starting to circle, despite Natasha¡¯s best efforts to pull her mind from it. Even after they had ordered their breakfasts and Matthew talked some more with Andrei, Natasha couldn¡¯t pay attention. She tried to keep her gaze on things outside the window, watching the vehicles pass and people walking around. Yet, she could feel a strange sensation building up in her. It felt a bit like a tension in her gut, which she tried to breathe through. That is until it bloomed into full-blown nausea. She could feel that headache from last night come back, aching behind her eyes as she felt a cold sweat break out across her face and neck. ¡°I need some air,¡± she stated, cutting into the middle of the conversation. At least, that was what she gathered from the somewhat surprised looks she got. Andrei stood promptly¨Cat least she didn¡¯t have to ask him to move. She heard him say that they would be right back, which almost made Natasha want to snap at him. Of course, she was aware of his protocol, but at the moment she couldn¡¯t help but wish he would break it for a couple of minutes. It didn¡¯t matter, she just wanted outside for a bit. Thankfully, the movement and the fresh air knocked some of the nausea out of her, but Natasha still felt unsteady on her feet. If her body was crying out for food or the medications she was both starting and coming off of, she didn¡¯t know. It could have been both. Regardless, it was miserable. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Andrei asked, a part of her almost forgetting he was there. Natasha could catch the concern in his tone, his dark gaze looking over her face somewhat. Yet, with how uncomfortable she was feeling, Natasha spoke without thinking. ¡°No. I¡¯m a long way from home and a damn prisoner sitting in a diner like I¡¯m not one. I can¡¯t even have a minute to myself¨Ccan¡¯t you just go for a bit?¡± ¡°You know my answer,¡± Andrei stated, that professional distance back in place. ¡°You can¡¯t just stand in the doorway?¡± Natasha asked, gesturing toward the door to the diner, ¡°What trouble can I get into out here?¡± As much as she was expecting the same rejection, that she would have to just accept his presence there while she fought off a breakdown, Andrei actually seemed to reconsider. There was some conflict in his gaze, probably trying to reason if doing so would be out of line. At least, Natasha figured that was what it was. Her old guardian would have told her to shut up. To suck it up. ¡°Only a couple minutes,¡± he settled on, ¡°Stay here. If you don¡¯t, I will have to follow you.¡± If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Okay, sure.¡± She wasn¡¯t going to. Natasha knew she wasn¡¯t before the words even left her mouth. She just wanted a place to be on her own, to take in her situation while she wasn¡¯t stuck between Andrei in a diner booth or in a car with him. Yet, Andrei seemed to take her agreement, turning to head toward the door. Natasha took in a curious onlooker, an older man in a black cap with the name of some sort of company on it. She dismissed him easily enough, but his presence only seemed to solidify her decision to disappear for a bit. Once she was sure Andrei was inside, Natasha took her chance to turn around the corner of the building and start walking. There wasn¡¯t too much behind the town''s main strip, but the trees made a nice cover. Harder for her to find, too. At least, for a while. She knew there was no ending to this where she didn¡¯t get some sort of lecture or report written up about her, and she would accept that. Natasha just wanted to deal with the damn headache and nausea without having to hold a conversation with their neighbours. The sound of rushing water pulled Natasha from going down that line of thought too far. She walked through some more trees until she found a small stream. The morning sun lit up the area nicely, though she could feel some of the bite to the air around her. A small, scenic bridge a little further down led toward a hiking trail. As much as she did want to go hiking at some point, she didn¡¯t want to push her luck any more than she had. She just wasn¡¯t feeling good, mentally or physically. The events of the last twenty-four hours and all of this might have been too much. Natasha knew she usually didn¡¯t flip a switch like that usually, she had developed that over the last couple of years. Pent up anger, abuse¨Cshe didn¡¯t want to think about it. There was something moving around behind her. Natasha let out a slow sigh before turning around, her tone firm. ¡°Look, I know you¡­¡± The words died in her throat when she saw that man in the black cap standing not too far from her, hands tucked into his jacket pockets. With him much closer than before, she could make out his brow''s tightness and the gray touch to his facial hair. The hard expression and slight curl to his lip told her a lot about why he was there before he even said anything. She turned to face him fully, raising her head as she prepared to back off or make a run for it. All too familiar with that look on his face, she knew this wasn¡¯t going to go well. ¡°So, I guess you¡¯re the one I¡¯ve been hearing about,¡± he started, his voice gruff as he stepped toward her a little more, ¡°the criminal the States shipped up here with that sympathizer.¡± Sympathizer. Ah, he had issues with guardians, too. ¡°I am just getting some fresh air.¡± ¡°Off leash?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a damn dog.¡± ¡°No, but you¡¯re a danger to me and my family,¡± the stranger snapped, that anger hidden behind his gaze slipping out in the bite his words had, ¡°If had any say, you wouldn¡¯t be out anywhere.¡± ¡°Well, you can take that up with my guardian. I just want to get back.¡± Despite the stranger¡¯s body language, Natasha tried to make a move to slip by him and get out of the current situation. Yet, his hand shot out and grabbed at her forearm, his grip tight. He spun her back around, the force of the movement making her shoulder and arm burn. There was a rushing in Natasha¡¯s ears, for a moment she wasn¡¯t standing by a stream with a stranger. Instead, she was staring into hard, green eyes, the scent of lilac hitting her nostrils and she could see the rage on her old guardian¡¯s face. Her hatred and vitriol were the same as this stranger''s toward her. She could feel her arms tingling, the memory of the push that sent her old guardian into the living room wall playing out in her mind for a few moments. That had been a powerful surge, it had almost knocked Natasha over in return. The impact had killed her guardian, blood on the wall behind her head as she slid down it, the look in her eyes dull. ¡°Let go of me,¡± Natasha grit out, the effects of the memory lingering as she could feel that familiar build up in her. ¡°No, you¡¯re gonna listen to me¨C¡± Natasha couldn¡¯t, the rushing in her ears and the pounding in her heart robbing her of a retort until her head exploded in pain. That headache from the bathroom in that gas station returned with a vengeance. Immediately, she started to struggle, panic gripping her tightly as she could still feel that power building up. Her skull felt like it was being torn in half. Yet, suddenly the man¡¯s grip was gone. Natasha fell almost blindly to the ground, shutting her eyes against the pain in her head before she managed to open her eyes in a squint. The man stumbled back, Natasha thinking for a few moments that she had sent out a push from her mind to get him back off. Yet, the slow feeling of her power build-up ebbing out told her that wasn¡¯t the case. It took her a few moments to register the person with his back to her, his posture tense. ¡°Back away.¡± Andrei¡¯s voice was hard as he stressed each word. He wasn¡¯t playing around. ¡°You fine with letting her wander around? Just kill whoever she wants?¡± the stranger snapped, taking a couple of threatening steps toward Andrei. ¡°I see no bodies.¡± ¡°Well, then maybe we should keep it that way. If I see her around town again¨C¡± ¡°Threaten her again. I only warn once. Walk away, she is my care and you have no reason to be here.¡± ¡°Great job you¡¯re doing here, comra¨C¡± The stranger moved to step around Andrei, Natasha instinctively backing up when she realized he wanted to pass her. Yet, Andrei grabbed his arm and shoved him back. Apparently it was done with some force, considering the stumble that almost knocked the other man on his ass. ¡°You walk around,¡± Andrei instructed, pointing toward the path behind him, ¡°I can not let you near her. Try to fight me on that, and I will have to retaliate.¡± ¡°Oh, there¡¯ll be retaliation,¡± the man said before he finally took a couple of steps back. His gaze landed on Natasha for a few moments, the anger there keeping her from raising up from where she sat in the dirt. Eventually, even if the moments felt like an eternity, the guy walked off and Andrei seemed to back off his defensive position. Natasha let out a sigh, bowing her head as she rubbed at her eyes. The sunlight was making them throb, that headache persisting but at least it wasn¡¯t as horrible as before. ¡°I told you¨C¡± Andrei started, but Natasha raised her head back up. ¡°I know what you told me,¡± she snapped, ¡°I just¡­I just wanted to be alone. I found that nice stream. I didn¡¯t think some stranger from across the street would follow me out. Wouldn¡¯t have happened if he didn¡¯t see you talking with me at the diner, you wear that damn badge like you¡¯re proud of the attention it brings me.¡± ¡°I need to abide by my codes,¡± Andrei stated, ¡°it has to be visible so people know what my job is. It allows me to act in a way that protects you.¡± ¡°Great job you¡¯ve done,¡± Natasha stated, still not getting up from the ground. She could feel that burning behind her eyes. She knew she should have just left it with the snarky retort, but the words started coming up and she couldn¡¯t help herself. ¡°I thought¡­¡± she continued, trying to fight back the tears, ¡°I thought when we would arrive here, maybe it was remote enough that people wouldn¡¯t treat me like I was some animal to be chased off or gawked at. I guess I was stupid for thinking that.¡± ¡°Matthew and Yvette like you,¡± Andrei stated, finally stepping closer to her, ¡°That man is the third person you have met here. You know¡­you know how some people will treat you. We can not back out of this situation now.¡± ¡°I know¡­I just wanted to gather myself. Y¡¯know, get some air. Like a normal person.¡± ¡°I know you did,¡± Andrei said, the sternness in his tone dropping somewhat, ¡°I am sorry I was not here quicker.¡± Natasha waved her hand, ¡°I¡­I walked off when I said I wouldn¡¯t. I should have expected something like this.¡± ¡°Come on,¡± Andrei stated, extending his hand down to help her up, ¡°I know the withdrawal from the drugs is hitting you. We can take the breakfast back to the cabin.¡±