Author Note: I wasn't quite sure how to go about this chapter, it was more of a stepping stone that I had to take. We will be seeing a little more progression in their relationship soon though.
November 22nd. It was Natalia's sixteenth birthday. Nothing special would be done, nothing special was ever done for any of the girls' birthdays. It was just a regular day of training, ballet lessons, practicing a language, learning how to better use a weapon. Nothing to celebrate. So it was no wonder why she was surprised to find that James had told her he got her something. Their relationship had grown somewhat into a interesting friendship. They didn't talk about personal things nor did they have real in depth conversations, everything was on the topic of training and other things pertaining to the Red Room.
"Now, I know you won't be able to keep this in your dorm so I will hold onto it." He went on. "When we practice shooting this will be yours specifically. It's a Makarov, it's a favorite of mine and I think you will take quite a liking to it." He explained and handed the pistol to her. Natalia examined the pistol in her hand and felt quite surprised and flattered that he had gotten something for her. No one had ever gotten her something for her birthday since she came here and her memories before she came to the Red Room are so blurred that she can't rely on them.
"I don't know what to say, thank you James." She responded still in somewhat disbelief. "No one has ever given me anything before." She remarked as she admired the pistol in her hands. She didn't notice James smile subtly at her surprised reaction to her gift.
"Well you deserve it Natalia." He assured her. "You have overcome a few challenges and have some impressive skills with guns." She felt so awkward receiving this and didn't really know the appropriate way to respond.
"How did you know it was my birthday?" She asked looking up from the fire arm in her hand to the man in front of her.
"As an instructor I know a lot of things about you all and since I am giving you exclusive lessons I know just about everything about you specifically."
"Oh yeah, like what?" She challenged him.
"Well for one," He began, taking the challenge, "your birthday and that you are sixteen today. You came here when you were only six years old after your parents were killed in a house fire, early on you have always been quite a great deal better than your peers at the challenges they have thrown at you and that you have ambitions to be the greatest spy the Red Room has ever seen." He remarked with a sly smile. "Happy?"
"Well, that is quite a bit more than I know about you." She quipped, crossing her arms across her arms across her chest, mainly due to her feeling uncomfortable with the attention and partly due to her feeling somewhat cold wearing a sports bra as top in the cold basement. "Why don't we even the field?" She suggested to him as he rubbed the back of his neck and let out a sigh.
"Now that's a little complicated." He stated. Natalia raised a brow at his response.
"Complicated how?" She pressed. James looked as if he was struggling with his response, debating how to answer her. Or if he should answer her.
"Complicated as in I don't know much about myself. I know it sounds weird...but before all of this," He motioned to the general space they were standing in. "I don't have any recollection of a past. Sometimes I get fragments here and their like enough to make me believe that I am American and that I might have been in the army..." He trailed off and Natalia was trying to read his emotions. He was clenching his fist in frustration, at his memory or lack there of was hard to tell. "I think I was in the army in World War II but..."
"You're too young to have been in that war." Natalia interjected.
"I know, that why it's confusing." He agreed, his eyes looking into hers. "But that's what those memories lead me to, if they are factual I don't think I will ever know."
They stood there in silence for a few moments, taking in what he had shared. "I'm sorry." She whispered just loud enough for him to hear.
"It's okay. It isn't your fault I can't remember." He assured her. Let's make the best of this lesson, I won't be around for a couple days so we have to get as much done as we can for now."
"Where are you going?" She wondered out loud. He ran his non-metal hand over his face and placed his hands on his hips.
"I have some business to tend to." He said vaguely. She only became more curious.
"What kind of business and where?" She continued on, not caring if she was being out of line or not.
He let out a long exasperated sigh, "Just some business. I can't really say much more for now. I'll be back soon though, don't worry."
"I wasn't worried." She said slyly. James let out a small laugh. "Sure you weren't."
Later on that night, Madame B. came to the dormitory where Natalia and the other girls slept. They were just getting ready to be handcuffed to their beds for the night when she came in with Ivan at by her side. "Natalia, come with us." Madame B. instructed, Natalia was curious with what they want with her this late in the night but she did as she was told and stood from her bed and walked towards the door to join them.
"We have something special for you, come now." They led her out of the dormitory and down the staircase, her nightgown flowing as she glided down the stairs. They were heading down towards the basement and Natalia felt herself growing nervous at what they had in store for her. Were they upset that James had given her a present? How could they know? They couldn't have known. The concrete floor felt like ice under her bare feet as they passed the door that led to the shooting range, her heart rate seemed to relax on the other hand that it wasn't about the gun. Only momentarily did she feel at ease, she realized they were leading her towards the lab where they create all sorts of things be it serums for interrogations, different kinds of medicines to help aid their sickness or injuries. Natalia had not been sick or injured enough to require any kind of aid. Were they going to interrogate her? She was about to find out as they opened the door and led her in.
"Lev, do you have it ready?" Ivan asked the Kudrin, who was somewhat of a doctor and scientist. "We have her here now." Natalia looked over to Kudrin who was busy with something in a vile. He was examining it and grabbed a syringe off the metal counter and began drawing up the contents. The needle looked thick and long and she suddenly felt faint. She didn't have a good feeling about what was to come her way. She looked over to Madame B. who didn't seem phased by anything going and was watching Kudrin as he flicked the syringe to clear any bubbles from it. There were beakers and flasks cluttering the counters as well as drawings of different compounds and formulations on the chalk boards.
"It is ready my friend, why don't you secure her. I won't be but a minute." Kudrin replied as he pushed out the extra air out of the syringe. Natalia got a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach and all of her instincts told her to get out of there. Before she knew it Ivan grabbed her by her arm and began leading her towards an exam table that had restraints attached to it. As soon as she put the pieces together she began trying to free her arm from Ivan's tight hold.
"Let me go!" She exclaimed as he dragged her towards the table.
"Hush Natalia, this is necessary. Now stop this." He demanded, she tried to plant her legs firmly to the ground but her feet just slid. Her adrenaline kicked in and she went into fight mode. Natalia stopped resisting and yanked her arm back from Ivan pulling him to face her as she headbutted him and brought her knee into his groin twice causing him to let go of her arm and crumple to the ground.
"Natalia come back here!" She heard Madame B. yell after her as she made it to the door. She only made it a few feet into the dimly lit hall when she felt someone pick her up from behind and throw her over their shoulder. Natalia kicked, hit, and even tried to bite to be let go until her fist hit what felt like a metal limb. She seized all fighting, shocked at the person who was carrying her back to only God knows what.
"James?" She asked, shocked that he was here. She thought he was supposed to be gone for a few days. "James let me go!" She pleaded to no avail. He didn't say a word as he brought her back to the lab and secured her to the exam table.
As he fastened the restraints to her wrist and ankles she could see something was different with him. His expression was blank and cold, like he had been replaced with someone else. Someone she didn't know.
"Thank you Barnes, you may go now." Kudrin thanked James and he promptly left the room. Natalia felt betrayed by what had happened, it was a cold reminder to herself to not let herself get comfortable around anyone.
"Natalia, we aren't going to hurt you my child." Madame B. suddenly appeared beside her. "We are going to better you, enhance you." Natalia didn't know what she meant by enhancing her, but she stopped fussing and laid still and quiet. This was out of her control and she didn't have a choice in the matter. Kudrin walked up the cold metal slab she was laying on, syringe in hand. He adjusted the lamp above her to his liking and cleared his throat.
"This is a serum that is going to benefit you in the long run." He explained. "Your body will be able to heal itself faster, leaving you immune to diseases that could potentially slow you down or harm you. You will be resistant to the effect of time and look younger for a much longer period of time." He talked about the serum like it was sent here by God himself.
"Your strength will increase and your agility will be even sharper!" He exclaimed, his eyes looking eager as he went on. "When I inject you with this, you will feel like every vein in your body is on fire and like your heart is going to explode." He warned. "I assure you it will not and you will be just fine."
Natalia just closed her eyes and nodded. She didn't want to see him inject her with this serum that sounded like it could kill her. She didn't want to think about what was to come after he inject her with it. She just tried to tell herself it was all just a bad dream. But she could feel the needle penetrate her skin as he pushed the syringe. It felt like pure fire had filled her veins and was spreading all over body. Her breathes became heavy and fast and her hear felt like it was going to overtime pumping. I'm going to die of a heart attack. She thought to herself. She could feel her limbs twitch with pain and she thought she could hear herself screaming. Then, it all went black
