Oct 21 1987 6:13pm age 13
I can do this.
That was Natalia Alianova Romanova's main thought as she tied her ballet flats getting ready to go out on stage to do her performance as the other Widows rigged the building to explode. She knew that much. Drakov had kept a lot from her on this mission for reasons unknown to her. She figured this was just an important mission and she shouldn't know too much intell.
I can do this.
She heard the audience clapping for the contestant before her.
I can do this.
"По вашему сигналу," One of the other Widows said through her earpiece. ("On your signal.")
I can do this.
She pressed her earpiece. "Теперь." ("Now.")
I can do this.
The signal was for them to start placing the explosives. She had just enough time to do her piece, be convincing, then run out of the building as fast as she could to get out of the bomb zone.
I can do this.
She walked out on stage and started to dance.
I can do this.
I can do this.
I can do this.
I can do this.
I.
Can.
Do.
This.
She tried to calm down as she danced, but she was struggling because she knew one of her best friends from when she was part of her 'fake' family still went here. She knew she did. So she was sad to have to kill her. But she thought of what Drakov might say…
'You're stronger than this Natalia, they're just pawns in our game. You want to be strong don't you? Well then suck it up and do it!'
She inhaled, finished her dance, and waited for her score (she got a perfect 10) then walked off stage. She grabbed her clothes and started bolting out the back door but stopped when she saw her old friend. She didn't recognize her, but she stopped for a moment with tears welling in her eyes and said…
"I'm so sorry"
Then she ran as fast as she could across the parking lot and into the nearby forest to change into more normal clothes. She had her catsuit in her duffle-bag. As she changed into her clothes, she felt tears running down her face. she bit her cheek to make the pain override the hurt.
I can't believe I did that.
She heard and saw the building explode coupled with the faint sounds of screams as she turned around. It was a beautiful war of reds and golds. She felt the tears running more now and wiped them from her face so there was no emotion for Drakov to taunt her for.
She started to run for the other Widows once she recovered.
"Наталья, где ты была?" One of the older Widows asked in Russian as they walked to the pick-up point which was about a mile away. ("Natalia where were you?")
"Почему тебя это волнует?" Natalia asked since this Widow was normally pretty cold to her. ("Why do you care?")
"Нет. Я не знаю. Я просто знаю, что Драков сойдет с ума. Честно говоря, я думаю, что ты этого заслуживаешь." She said as she bumped her shoulder intentionally. ("I don't. I just know Drakov's going to be mad. To be honest I think you deserve this.
Ah… there it is.
"Опоздал на пять минут? Я так не думаю." Natalia responded even though she knew her emotions were getting the best of her. ("By being five minutes late? I don't think so.")
"Твой блефs." The girl said as they got on the plane. ("Your bluffing.")
"Так что, если я?" Natalia deflected with a straight face as they all sat in their seats. ("So what if I am?")
She got no answer.
So she settled into her seat for the two hour long journey back to the Red Room while trying her hardest not to think of one thing.
Natalia Alianova Romanova had felt bad for killing someone…
