Fleeting Moments

[Natalia Mullova]

Natalia stared intensely at the target that stood thirty yards away. A glance down at her gloves, watching as the ebony electricity began to encircle her gloved hands. Her focus shifted back to the target, lifting one of her charged hands towards the target, a palm held open towards the target. With a deep breath, Natalia allowed herself to release the energy at the target. With a dull flash of jet black energy, the target was struck down.

Natalia began to breathe heavily, showing signs of exertion as beads of sweat had formed on her brow. The sound of applause could be heard from behind her as her father walked out from behind a bunker, a smile on his face.

“Замечательно! Вы сделали большое, Наталья!“ (“Wonderful! You did great, Natalia!”)

Natalia could hear the jubilation in her father’s voice, but she did not understand why he had asked her to do this.

“Спасибо, папа …“ (“Thank you, Papa…”)

Petr noticed that there was something wrong with his daughter.

“What is wrong, my daughter?”

Natalia reached up and wiped the sweat from her brow before brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Her azure eyes looked towards the ground as she walked towards her father.

“I…am confused why you would have me do this, Papa…”

Petr waved a dismissive hand as he tried to assure his daughter of the reason behind her target practice.

“It is as I told you, Natalia…I have been trying to find a cure, but…in the event that I don’t…I want you to be able to defend yourself.”
“…But, Papa…this is why I am at Westbrook, Da?”

Petr was quick to nod his head and respond.

“Of course, Of course…I just mean, I would like to have a little hand in helping you is all…that is not wrong, Da?”

It was Natalia this time who was quick to respond.

“Nyet, Papa! I just…I wish for us to spend time like before…before my powers… Anymore…that is all we do… I have so much to tell you…”

Petr sighed as he placed a hand on his daughter’s shoulder, a smile on his face.

“You are right, my little swan. Come, tell Papa all about what has been going on.”

Natalia began to smile as they soon began to walk into the lab.

“Well, Papa…much has happened in my first week…”
“It has not been too overwhelming for you?”

Natalia smiled warmly, thinking of all the experiences she has had within her first week. The most fun she has ever had in her sixteen years of life.

“Nyet…My classes…they are fun. My classmates…they are kind. I have learned to dance…to shop. I…have even joined the Cheer Squad, Papa…I have always wanted to do this…”

Petr smiled, pleased that his daughter seemed so much happier.

“This is good, Natalia. I am happy to hear you are enjoying yourself.”

Natalia nodded as she began to look sheepish.

“I am, Papa…and…a boy…He asked me to dinner…”

Petr’s brow quirked in response to this.

“Is this so?”

Natalia could see her father was displaying the over protectiveness she had witnessed on television shows.

“Please, Papa…he is nice…do not look that way…”

Petr’s expression remained before beginning to relax.

“…You are becoming a young woman…I will trust you on this, Natalia, but…if he hurts you…Hurts My little swan, then you will understand what I will do, Da?”

Natalia knew the only way to make her father happy was to go along with this.

“Da, Papa, but please…relax…”

Petr sighed with a nod as he wrapped his arms around Natalia.

“Oh, Natalia, you are growing up so fast…your Momma would be proud of how you have grown.”

Natalia smiled softly. She had never known her mother, but from what her father had told her, Natalia knew that her mother was a good woman. She was often told that she looked just like her mother. After a few moments, Natalia pulled away as she looked at her father with a smile.

“I need to go now, Papa…”
“I know…be careful…I will see you next weekend, Da?”

Natalia walked over for her coat and turned to her father with a smile.

“Да. Я люблю тебя, папа …“ (“Yes, I love you, papa…”)

She turned to walk out of the lab as he waved.

“Я люблю тебя, мой маленький лебедь.“ (“I love you, My little swan.”)

Petr sighed as he began to walk back to the bunker. He began to gather up the notes he had taken, when a voice spoke from a nearby monitor.

“An Impressive display, Petr.”

The voice caught Petr off guard as he had forgotten about the other observer of the Natalia’s session.

“Da…”
“You sound saddened. You should be proud. Your research has proven to be a success.”
“Stop…”
“When will she be ready?”

Petr slammed his fist down on the table.

“NYET! She will not be a part of this!”

The voice began to chuckle as it responded.

“It’s a bit late for that, Petr. You have failed to reproduce the accident that imbued your daughter with those powers we have worked so hard on.”

Petr’s voice had an edge to it as he spoke.

“She will not be part of this! I will do this for you!”

A hint of a threatening tone could be heard in the response he received.

“You had better, Petr. We do not appreciate failure. Our patience can only last so long before we will take action. Recreate the experiment exactly as you did before or we will take your daughter…which I don’t think you want, right?”

Grief overcame Petr, his fight had been knocked from him with the thought of losing his daughter.

“N-Nyet…”
“Good, then we look forward to hearing results, but until then…we will be watching…both of you.”

With that, the voice went silent as Petr slumped to the floor. He placed a hand over his face in shame and sorrow.

“Anastasija…what have I done…”

[Natalia Mullova]

Chapter 2

Natalia stared up at the ceiling of her bedroom. Her second week at Westbrook has been better than the one before it, but not without its confusions. She began Cheer practice, finding that she was a quick learner. Being a part of the Cheer Squad lit a flame within Natalia. A newfound confidence was beginning to blossom.

Natalia had noticed that her head was held up a little higher, her voice a little more certain, and her smile…so much wider. Then her mind trailed to Juan…not in a bad way. A calm was inside her heart where confusion and anguish once had taken hold. They had that talk…where Natalia understood what her and Juan were…Just friends. She was sure any other girl would be devastated by something like this, but she just felt relief. The relief of knowing that she at least had a friend…and she could live with that.

She gained a new roommate, The new girl: Kaley Matthews. She found that they got along real well and Kaley even offered advice to Kaley. She didn’t forget the advice when it came to guys or “douche bags” as she called them:

"All they really care about is how many throats they can stick their tongues inside of. My mom said when they get older, nothing really changes except what they're sticking where. I kinda think she means sex."

This bit of advice caught Natalia off guard, but appreciated Kaley even offering advice. Kaley even helped expand Natalia’s musical pallet with such artists as: Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, and Kelly Clarkson. She liked Kelly Clarkson and Lady Gaga, but Ke$ha was hit and miss. All of this on top of the ice cream and mutual homework help…it was almost like having a sister.

However, coming home was becoming more and more difficult. Natalia had noticed how much her father was focused on using her as some…some sort of lab rat. Making her feel that she did not matter…not how she felt, what she thought… Natalia turned over in her bed as she listened to her iPod. “Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson began to play as a knock came at her door.

Natalia noticed the knock as she sat up in bed. Her father peaked his head inside as he opened the door.

“Natalia! I have been calling you now for five minutes!”

The tone in her father’s voice had caught her by surprise. She had never heard him call for her. Natalia threw her legs over the side of the bed as she looked at him confused.

“Papa, I never heard you call.”

Petr walked over and ripped the earbuds out of Natalia’s ears.

“If you weren’t too busy listening to this mess, then you would have.”
“Papa! What has gotten into you!? You are never like this.”

Petr could feel himself shaking with anger? Was it anger or fear? Regardless, his daughter was right, he took a seat at the edge of her bed, placing his head in his hands.

“I am sorry, my little swan…I have been under a lot of pressure lately.”

Natalia scooted over to him, rubbing his back.

“Anything you wish to speak of, Papa?”

Petr shook his head.

“Nyet…I am just trying to produce results…”

Natalia could tell that it was something more than what her father was willing to admit. She wished that she could learn what was wrong, but as Natalia was lost in her thoughts, Petr spoke.

“Any new developments with your powers?”

Natalia shook her head.

“Nyet, Papa, but I have been doing good with the Cheer Squad and…”

Petr slammed his fist against the wall.

“I am not sending you there to be a cheerleader, Natalia! You are there for your powers!”

Natalia’s eyes went wide in fear, tears beginning to form in her azure eyes.

“I-I-I…”

That was all she could stammer out as Petr could see what he had done.

“Natalia, I’m…”

He reached out for her, but an electrical field had formed around Natalia, frying her iPod in the process.

“N-Nyet!”

Petr was jolted by the field as he retracted back. Natalia realized that she was using her powers…causing pain to her father. The electrical field that had been snapping and crackling around her began to fade. Natalia wanted to reach out for her father, but soon became afraid that she would do something again. She quickly gathered her packed bag and rushed past him, rushing from the home as she made her way to the station. Petr looked on in surprise. He had never seen Natalia react in such a way.

She was always so quiet. Always kept her emotions in check, but…it was his fault. He had caused her to lash out in such a way. An applause could be heard coming from around the corner. Petr once more hid his face in his hands.

“Congratulations, Petr, you’ve managed to buy your daughter another week of freedom with this little development.”

He looked up at the feminine voice that belonged to the clapping individual.

“What are you talking about?”
“It seems that emotions, mainly fear and anger allow your daughter to control her powers. It is a good development. You should be proud.”

He wasn’t. He felt sick to his stomach. He never wanted to be involved in such business, but…he needed to support his daughter…it was the only way, especially after it was them that had taken his wife’s life and not child birth…

“I do not care. I will get this done and when I do, I want you out of my life. No more threats against my daughter.”

There was an amused chuckle as the woman’s voice sounded almost playful, challenging.

“Is this so? Tell me, Petr, what will you do to stop us?”

Petr’s eyes narrowed as he brushed past the woman.

“I will find a way, even if it costs me my life.”

He continued to walk out of the room as the woman walked to the window, watching Natalia growing further and further away. Her gaze then fixed on a black car parked across the street. A nod from her head signaled the car to begin following Natalia to the station. Only to follow…for now.