Previously on "Enlightenment"

   It's best for Natalya to push her feelings deep down. Hopeful to forget about them and not become heartbroken when she finds out Mick will never come back. She already knows it's highly unlikely he will show up. Even with the odds not in her favor, a sliver of her still hopes he will show up one day.

   To conclude, Natalya Roman is hopelessly in love with a man named Mick Rory. A man that brings danger and excitement into her boring life. A man, that she hopes she will never see again.

________________

   THE COOL CRISP AIR nips as Natalya's bare skin. A few cars rushing past her here and there. The morning traffic rush coming closer. She taps her foot on the ground, her combat boots clicking slightly. Her leather jacket pulled tightly around her. Black ripped skinny jeans and round sunglasses to match.

   This isn't Natalya's normal attire, but a dress and heels is impractical. Besides, her leather jacket is one of her warmest jackets, a gift from Jenny. To sum up her outfit, she simply felt daring today. She also didn't want to wear anything to revealing, the entire day she feels as if she's being watched.

   With a few more minutes of being impatient, the cars finally stop. In a rush, Natalya speed walks across the street, getting to the other side safely. Slightly regretting her decision on not driving her car. Driving in late winter -turning spring- isn't fun though, so she is also glad she doesn't drive in the insufferable couple of months.

   A feeling of despair washes over Natalya like a hurricane. Her breath quickens and her strides become larger. Her arms tightening around her body. The thought of being watched breaking her down on the inside. What's happening to her? What's the weird feeling that suddenly appeared?

   Trying to ignore it, she continues to trek to the orphanage. Wanting to get her horrible experience of walking to work off of her mind, even if it was currently happening. Why did all the bad stuff happen to her?

   She stops, looking down the alleyway. It wasn't dark, but it also wasn't well lit in the early morning. Natalya contemplates her options. Take the longer route to the orphanage and be late, or go through the alleyway and be on time to work. She cusses under her breath, cursing herself in Russian for oversleeping.

   With hesitation, she picks the alleyway route. Jogging through the alleyway, staying aware of her surroundings. Unfortunately, she doesn't notice that there is another set of eyes watching her. Natalya is a few feet from the exit, and she slows down with a breath of relief. Moments before she will be able to leave the alleyway, she feels a large hand on her shoulder pulling her back.

   Natalya goes to scream, but a hand covers to her mouth. A soothing, rough voice growling at her attempts, "Stop moving shortie, you're not helping anything!"

   Natalya's eyes widen, she knows that voice... Still, she trys and get out of his grip, and in the struggle, she stomps on his foot, sadly, to no avail. With that, he growls and slams her against the brick wall. Natalya cries out in agony, now seething from the pain emanating from her back.

   "Mick..." she mutters, staring into his eyes. He's annoyed, that's definitely not a good sign.

   "Watch your back, shortie," Mick warns, pushing himself off of the wall. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a lighter. Lighting it in front of Natalya's face. Making sure her attention stayed on the flame as he snuck a note in her pocket.

   She watches the flame dance in the wind, gulping loudly. Her eyes than trail back up to meet his eyes. "W-What do you mean?" she manages to choke out. Tears welling up in her brown orbs.

   "They're pissed," he hisses with little emotion, closing his lighter and walking off. Leaving a very confused Natalya behind. Her back still aching and her mind racing.

   What did he mean by, 'they're pissed,'?  she thinks to herself.

   Once he is out of view, Natalya finally pushes herself off of the wall. In a daze, she walks to rest of the way to the orphanage. Rubbing her arms, comforting herself to keep the unwanted memories from springing to the surface of her mind.

   Natalya stops and looks up at the orphanage towering above her. She walks up the steps and into the orphanage, taking deep breaths as she goes. She is late, but is ultimately feeling better than before. Her mind still jumbled and emotions wild, but better.

   The moment she enters the orphanage, she starts to get chewed out. "Natalya Roman, you're late! Never in the years you have worked here, have you ever been late-" Mrs. Brooke wants to go on, but Nate runs into the room.

   "Natty! One of the kids are gone!" Without another word, Natalya runs to the playroom.

   Her mind went blank when she saw the window open and some toys strewn everywhere. The warning Mick gave her earlier forcing itself back into her mind. Tears weld up in her eyes for the second time that day. It's all his fault, that one if the kids are missing. It's his fault, everything is his fault. At least, that's what Natalya thinks because she doesn't want to blame herself.

   Suddenly, she felt movement in her pocket. She pulled out a note... Natalya unfolded it and read the words carefully. All it said was, 'they're using someone close to you.'

¥                     ¥                     ¥

   Natalya once again sat in her bed, rocking herself as tears ran down her face. Turns out that Sally had gone missing. Now, instead if being in a state of denial and blaming Mick, she's blaming herself. Upset that she let this ever happen. That she let Mick coexists with herself and the orphanage. If she hadn't slept in, she could of stopped it. She should have stopped it.

   Instead of suffering by herself in her own misery, Natalya decides to call someone. Well, attempt to anyway. She stares at the silver I-Phone, the electronic device laying on the bed next to her leg. Doubt scratching at her thoughts. The night growing darker and darker the longer she waits.

   'You are Natalya Roman! Goddamn it, pick up the phone!' her mind screams at her, her guilt telling her other things. Saying she isn't good enough, that being in love is a mistake.

   With a shaky breath, Natalya finally pushes all doubt out of her head. Picking up the phone and unlocking it. Within moments, she hears the welcoming voice of her Mother.

   "Natalya?"

   "Mother... I'm in, I'm in-" Natalya stutters, more tears threatening to fall. A loud sob escaping her lips.

   "Darling, calm yourself. What happened?" Natalya's mothers words were sickly sweet. Fortunately, the tears pouring down from Natalyas face distracted her from her mother's words.

   "I fell love, mama, and he's gone... f-from my life... T-Today, one of the kids w-was pronounced missing... I, I-" She let's out another sob.

   "Наталья. Вы возвращаетесь домой прямо сейчас, без вопросов. мы поговорим об этом, когда вы приедете,"

   "Мне нужно остаться здесь, мама," Natalya tries to make her mother reconsider. Not wanting to go to Central City just because her mother tells her to.

   "Now, дорогой, now."

   Natalya hangs up the phone, and cried herself to sleep that night. Letting all the stress and worry from the past year out. Finally, she lets spring overrun the horrible winter she had.

__________

PLEASE EXCUSE/IGNORE ALL SPELLING AND GRAMMAR MISTAKES, THANK YOU

Наталья. Вы возвращаетесь домой прямо сейчас, без вопросов. мы поговорим об этом, когда вы приедете = Natalya. You are returning home right now, without question. we will talk about this when you arrive

Мне нужно остаться здесь, мама = I need to stay here, mother

дорогой = Darling

WARNING: TRANSLATIONS MAY NOT BE 100% CORRECT

Hey guys! How are all of you? Enjoying the book so far? Well, let's just hope this actually gets published. My publishing schedule is all out of whack!

Also, the person who will be the face for Natalya from here on out is... EMMA WATSON.

Some of you can tell that I have replaced some of the old pictures out with Emma Watson already. Still, it's a work in progress and...

HAPPY EARLY EASTER!!!

AGAIN, PLEASE EXCUSE/IGNORE ALL SPELLING AND GRAMMAR MISTAKES, THANK YOU