Chapter 2, Part 3
1683 Words
“Number Five had visions of the future.” Valeria explained. “She had a vision of… you know… before it happened. She told us that one of us would survive.”
She let out a shaky breath.
“I hoped and prayed that it wouldn’t be me.” She whimpered. “Five said that it was better this way, that the world was better off without us. She had a vision of what the world would be with our powers in it, and she started to think that we were too dangerous to be left alive.”
She turned her head and looked at me.
“Do you think that I’m dangerous?” She asked.
I was stunned by her question and I didn’t know what to tell her.
“Well… Yes.” I replied. “I think that if you wanted to, you could use your powers to hurt a lot of people.”
Valeria nodded quietly, but I held up a finger when I saw the small glimmer of hope in her eyes starting to dim.
“Could, being the operative word.” I continued. “But the most important question is: Do you want to hurt people?”
Valeria shook her head.
“No.” She replied.
“Exactly.” I said. “Think of it this way: Inside of every person are an angel and a devil. They are constantly in a fight with each other. Whoever wins the fight is the one to decide if you become a good or a bad person.”
“So who wins the fight?” Valeria asked.
I shrugged.
“The one you cheer for.”
Valeria looked deep in thought.
“But how do I know that I’m using my powers for good?” She asked after a while. “What if I decide to use my powers, and I hurt people?”
“I can’t answer that.” I replied. “Sometimes the fine line between good and evil blurs for me too, but I have something to guide me whenever I feel lost.”
“What’s that?” Valeria asked.
I got up from the ground and held out my hand.
“I’ll show you.”
Valera took my hand and after glancing at the graves one last time, we walked out of there.
“My name is on the gravestone too.” Valeria said.
“Yeah, we’re gonna have to change that.” I chuckled.
I led her back to the car and we dropped Sam back at the office before I took her to the London Eye.
After showing my ID to the staff, I led Valeria onto the capsule and we took off. Valeria’s eyes widened and she pressed her nose to the window as we slowly started going up.
“Tell me what you see.” I said.
“Umm… beautiful buildings.” Valeria replied. “A river. Bridges.”
She turned to me.
“It’s amazing.” She whispered.
I leaned closer to her.
“Do you want me to tell you what I see?” I asked.
Valeria nodded.
“I see normal people.” I replied. “People that have never seen the horrors of war. They never have had to hear their loved ones scream in pain or watch as their home is burned to the ground. They go to work and go home to their families. They meet their friends at the local pub and have a drink while watching a football game.
Sure, they have other problems. Some struggle to make ends meet. Some have problems in their relationships with partners, parents or friends and some feel lonely even when they are in a room full of people.
But I will give my life if it means that they never have to face problems bigger than the ones they already have. I’ll carry the weight of the world if that means that they can live a peaceful life with normal problems.”
“That’s what’s guiding me in my work.” I concluded. “And if you ever question if you are a good person, ask yourself: Are my actions hurting innocent people? There you have your answer.”
Valeria stared out the window.
“I understand.” She mumbled.
“So when it comes to your powers, the ball is in your court.” I said. “You can choose to use them for what you think is right, or you can hide them away. No one can force you to make that decision.”
“What do you want me to do with my powers?” Valeria asked and narrowed her eyes at me in suspicion. “Are you telling me this to encourage me to use my powers and help you?”
I chuckled.
“I want you to do what makes you happy.” I replied. “Yes, it would be an honor to have you come work for me one day, but you are nowhere near ready for that. If, and I mean if, you are ever ready to work for me, I want you to do it because you want to and not because you feel forced into something you don’t want. In the meantime, I will watch your back and make sure that you are safe and happy.”
Valeria nodded absentmindedly and she stared out the window during the rest of the ride.
*
Valeria POV
I was woken up by little footsteps running up the stairs and my bedroom door opening.
“Valeria, wake up!” Aidan squealed and jumped on the bed, making me groan.
“What’s happening, Aidan?” I asked groggily.
“It’s Christmas!” Aidan giggled. “Mum and dad are already up, come on.”
He took my hand and I reluctantly got out of bed and followed him downstairs. My eyes widened when I saw the presents stacked up underneath the tree.
“Merry Christmas.” Annie grinned as she walked in the room.
“Merry Christmas.” I replied.
“Can I open a present before breakfast?” Aidan asked.
Annie chuckled.
“Actually, that’s a great idea.” She said and rummaged through the pile.
She took out a box wrapped in paper and gave it to Aidan.
“Merry Christmas, my beautiful boy.” She said softly and kissed him on the cheek.
Aidan squealed and turned to me.
“You should open a present too.” He said.
I frowned in confusion and glanced at the pile of presents. There was no way that they had bought presents for me, I had only lived here a month.
Annie chuckled.
“You thought that all those presents were just for Aidan?” She giggled.
“Umm…” I replied. “No?”
It came out more like a question and Annie picked up another present.
“You didn’t have to get me anything.” I protested. “You’ve already done so much for me.”
“Stop that.” Lucas said and wrapped his arm around Annie’s shoulders. “You are part of the family now.”
Annie handed me the box and I carefully removed the wrapping. I saw Aidan look at me excitedly as I lifted the wrapping paper and discovered a file inside.
I briefly looked up at Annie and Lucas in confusion and opened the file.
Tears welled up in my eyes when I saw adoption papers inside.
“We want you to stay with us.” Annie said. "Permanently."
“All we need is for you to say yes.” Lucas added. “And then we’ll start the process.”
The papers trembled in my hands.
“Is this for real?” I whispered as the tears started trickling down my cheeks. “Adoption?”
“It’s real, sweetheart.” Annie replied and pulled me into a hug.
“Why is she crying?” Aidan asked. “I thought that she was going to be happy?”
I chuckled and pulled away from Annie and pulled Aidan into a hug instead, lifting his feet off the ground.
“I am happy.” I whimpered.
“I hope so.” Aidan huffed. “You’re my sister now.”
I burst out laughing and hugged him tighter.
“I’m your sister now.” I repeated.
It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I assumed that my stay with the Hamiltons was a temporary arrangement and I would have to move sooner or later. The fact that I didn’t have to worry about that anymore made me feel incredibly relieved.
I carefully put Aidan down on his feet again and turned to Annie and Lucas while I wiped my tears.
“Thank you.” I whispered.
My first Christmas with the Hamiltons went by in a haze of joy, and I couldn’t remember the last time I felt so happy.
When I went to bed that night, I thought about my biological family. What would they think about all of this?
My family would want me to be safe.
Or at least, I hoped so.
I heard Annie snore softly beside me, and I snuggled up beside her. I felt safe here, so this was probably the best thing that could ever happen.
But something was still nagging at me, a voice telling me not to trust them. My mind drifted off to my conversation with Mr Sampson a few days ago, and I wondered if this was his way of gaining my trust so that he could use my powers.
I decided to take one day at a time. Next step was focusing on getting through my first day of school without anyone labeling me a freak.
Even though the thought terrified me, I was still looking forward to getting some normal elements in my life.
Not that I could ever become normal, but you know what they say?
Fake it ‘til you make it, right?
Yeah, I’ll do that.
With that thought, I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
- Writer
