CHAPTER SEVEN: THE MANNEQUIN

"Live every moment like it's your last" 

---

You and Five were 12 years old and you were both in the training room, training together.

Reginald put the kids up against each other so they could test their powers and for some reason, he often put you and Five up against each other and he kept telling you not to hold back.

You threw a punch at Five who dodged it before he threw a punch at you but you moved to the side dodging the punch.

Five threw a punch at you who dodged before you kicked him in the waist, causing him to stumbled back "Good" he said before he threw a punch at you, but you grabbed his wrist and kicked him in the stomach but he dodged it by stepping back.

You threw a few punches at him, hitting him in the face a few times, but as you threw another punch, he grabbed your arm and turned it around, before he went behind you and wrapped his arm around your throat.

You turned your head so you two were looking into each other's eyes and your lips was few inches apart.

But then you headbutted him cause him to stumble back, before you swung your legs under his, causing him to fall.

He then got up and threw a punch at you, but you grabbed his arm and turned it around, before you went behind him and wrapped your arm around his throat.

But he leaned forwards, lifting you up in the air before throwing you down on the floor making you hit the floor with a grunt.

You got up and swung your legs under his causing him to fall but as you was about to threw a kick at him, he blink away.

He appeared behind you before he swung his legs under yours causing you to fall on the ground and as he was about to kick you, you wrapped your legs around his neck and with your strength, you pulled him down on the floor, but as you threw a kick at him, he kicked you in the waist causing you to fell down.

He jumped up and landed on his feet before he threw a punch at you, but you block it, before you swung your legs under his, causing him to fell down on the floor, but then he kicked you in the stomach making you stumble back.

You then threw a punch at him, but he dodged it before he grabbed your arm and punched you in the face before he kicked you in the waist.

He threw a punch at you but you quickly dodged it before you grabbed his arm, jumped up and spin around, swinging a kick towards him, hitting him in the stomach causing him to stumble back.

You then jumped up in the air and swung a kick at him, hitting him one time before he reach to dodged the other kick.

He then threw a punch at you, hitting you in the face and as you was about to threw a fist at him, he blink away.

Five then appeared behind you, causing you to turn around and he threw a punch at you who block it with your arms.

Five blink before he appeared next to her and punch her in the face.

"Okay, let's play" you said and threw an energy ball towards him making him flew back.

Five got up and burst some dust off his clothes and sent you a smile before you started training again.

Both you and Five was smiling as you kept training.

Five threw a punch at you but you block it with your arms.

He blinked again before he appeared next to you and punched you in the face.

You tried to hit him with her red energy balls but every time you hit him, he would blink again.

But then a thought came to your mind, so when Five disappeared again, you stayed put before you closed your eyes.

Then you got a feeling in your body and you opened your eyes and as Five appeared on your left, you turned around and block his punch with your arms before you swept his legs, causing him to fell to the floor, you then put her foot on his throat.

But Five grabbed your foot before he push you off, causing you to fell to the floor.

You both got up and Five threw a kick at you, hitting you on the face causing you to fell on the floor with a grunt. "Ouch" you said "Oh my god. I'm so sorry, I got carry away" Five said before he stretched his hand towards you to help you up "You okay?" he asked.

You grabbed his hand, but then you smiled and flipped him over, making him hit the floor with a grunt while you were standing up "Ouch" he said "Now, I am" you said with a smile as he was laying on the floor.

"First rule of battle strategy: Don't ever let your opponent distract you and never be distracted or lose focus" you said before you stretched your hand towards him to help him up "Yeah, gotta remember that" he said before he grabbed your hand, standing up.

"Who taught you that?" he asked "My mom" you said and before he could even get the chance to blink you threw a kick at him.

Five winced as he rubbed his stomach until he dodged another one of your punch and blink right behind you before kicking you in the back, but he never hit you too hard, he was holding back cause he didn't want to hurt you.

"You don't need to hold back" you said "I just don't want you to get hurt" he said as he looked at you "And I also don't want you to cry after I kicked your ass" he said and you raised a brow.

You let out a sarcastically smile before you shot out an energy blast towards him, hitting him, making him get thrown backward into a wall causing him to winced in pain.

"Reginald said to not hold back" you said and he blinked before he appeared in front of you and flicked your forehead before he blink away.

"Okay, now you're just being annoying" you said before you look around, trying to see where he was coming from.

Then you felt something and your eyes glowed red as you used your powers and lifted him up with your mind. You then brought him in front of you before you crossed your arms.

"How the hell did you figured out I was there?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I got a feeling telling that told me where you were. And also like you said, we will always find each other" you said before you dropped him on the floor making his face hit the floor "Ouch" he said and you smiled.

"You're not holding back right?" he asked "Now where's the fun if I hold back?" you asked "Are you saying that you'll never hold back in fighting me if it becomes seriously? Like if one of us turned evil and we really had to fight each other. You wouldn't hold back?" he asked.

"Will that ever happen? That if one of us turned evil we have to fight each other for real?" you asked and he nodded.

"That will never happen" you said "But if it does?" he asked "If it does, then the other will not hold back" you said and he nodded before he blinked behind you and kick you in the back.

"Okay that was not fair, I was not ready" you said "Dad said always to be ready" he said "And who is daddy's boy now" you said and he chuckled "Still Luther" he said.

---

You pulled up your keys before you opened the door to your mom's house.

"Hey mom, it's just me" you said as you enter the house "Natty, Sweetheart, what a surprise" Ella said "Yeah, I'm just here to see how you are?" you asked "I'm fine" Ella said as she put down the newspaper.

"How are you? Find a job, get settle in?" she asked "I'm fine. I have not find a job yet and I'm settle in slowly" you said as you walked into the kitchen.

"Did you hear that there was a shootout in Griddy's Doughnuts?" Ella asked "Yeah, I heard it in the news" you said "Poor Agnes" Ella said "Yeah. I hope she is okay" you said.

"You were not there, were you?" Ella asked "No, I was busy unpacking that I forgot about the time" you said and Ella nodded.

"Can I ask you about something?" you asked as you opened the refrigerator and you took out some milk before you poured it into an empty glass.

"Of course" Ella said as you put the milk back into the refrigerator again.

"Why is it that you hate Reginald and The Umbrella Academy?" you asked as you took a sip of your glass and you could see the expression on your mom's face changed.

"Why would you want to know that?" she asked "No reason" you said as you had your back rested against the wall.

"You have not run into one of them, have you?" Ella asked "No. No" you lied as you shook your head slightly "Good, 'cause I don't want you near them" Ella said "Can I ask why?" you asked "They will have a bad influence on you" Ella said "Why?" you asked "They are just not good people and neither is their dad Reginald. He is an evil man" she said "What have he done?" you asked "Something bad, something not good. I can't explain it. I used to work for him and I realized that he wasn't the man I thought he was. So I quit" Ella said before she looked at her daughter.

"Stay away from The Umbrella Academy members, from any Hargreeves, they might seems like nice and kind people, but everything they touch will get destroyed and people around them will get hurt. They bring destruction wherever they go and I don't want you to be one of those people" Ella said as you took the finally sip of your glass before putting it in the sink.

"Mom" you said "Hmm" Ella said "Have you ever met someone and you feel drawn to them, you feel your connected to them and even so you have just met them, you have this feeling saying that you have know them longer?" you asked and your mom looked at you.

"You feel like you can't breathe when you are not with them. You can't focus until you know they are safe and you just want to protect them even so you have just met them" you said "No. Why do you ask?" Ella asked "No reason" you said and Ella could see the expression on your face.

"Have you met someone?" Ella asked "Maybe" you said with a shy smile "Oh my god, you have met someone" Ella said and your face turned a bit red.

"Come on, sit. Tell me all about it" Ella said as she clapped her hand on the chair next to her.

You walked over and sat down next to your mom "Come, tell me everything. Who he is? When did you guys meet?" Ella asked.

"Okay, we met yesterday in a diner. I put my hand on the handle the same he did causing our hands to touch and it was like an electric feeling went through my entire body. I felt like an electric feeling ran through my body at the contact of his skin. It was like static electricity, but in a good way. A way that it made my neck heat up and a blush arrive on my cheek" you explain.

"Then he might be the one" Ella said "I don't know, he is not really kind, but it's like I had this feeling telling me that he can be kind and soft and I can see it but only when he is around me" you said "Then maybe it's because you are making him soft and then it's because he had feelings for you" Ella said "But what if what happen to Toby and Sabrina repeat itself, what if I hurt him too" you said "Maybe that wouldn't happen if you're near him. Maybe he is your anchor" Ella said "Anchor?" you asked "An anchor is someone or something you care about, maybe even love, it's something or someone you want to protect, someone or something you want to fight for" she said and you looked at her "Yeah, I remember Toby once told me about that" you said.

"So who he is, what does he look like?" Ella asked "Well, he have short dark brown hair that almost look black and green eyes. There is just something about him and even so I have just met him, I feel like I have know him longer and I can't get him out of my head. I feel connected and drawn to him" you said "That sound you are in love" Ella said "'In love' no" you shook your head "I have just met him" you said "You can still fall in love with someone that you have just met, if you spend enough time with them" she said with a smile.

"Does he know about your powers?" she asked "Yeah, bu it does not seem to scare him" you said "Then you have found the one and you don't give up on them" she said "It's just, he is working on something" you said "Then you help him with that. Stay near him, get to know him more, get to know his family more" she said "Well, his brother and sister already like me" you said "Then you're soon half in" Ella said and you smiled "Where is he now?" she asked.

"I don't know. He left" you said "Find him. Maybe he needs you just as much as you need him" Ella said "Okay" you said before getting up "The problem is that I have no idea where he went" you said "If you're really feel connected and drawn to him, your heart and mind will guide you" Ella said and you nodded before going towards the door.

"I can't wait to meet him" Ella said with a smile "Well, maybe you will in a few days. I just hope you will like him" you said "I already do, 'cause I can see that he's making you happy and that is enough" she said and you smiled as you walk out the door.

---

It was night and it was raining and thunder was rumbling when Five arrived at the mall named 'Gimble Brothers'.

He blinked into the mall and put his hands in his pocket before he walked farther into the mall.

He grabbed a flashlight and turned it on, before he shined his way through the mall.

He was walking around before he stopped in front of different displays, all of them had mannequins on them. He shined the light on each of them before moving to the next display to do the same.

Five then let out a small smile as he was shining his flashlight forward before he stepped closer to a display with three mannequins on it. He held the light on the one in the middle, keeping his focus on that one as he walked closer with a smile.

When he was closed enough he let out a sigh before letting out a smile "Delores" he said quietly, while looking at the mannequin in front of him.

"It's good to see you. I've missed you...obviously" Five said with a small smile.

"Well, I...It's been a rough couple of days" he said as he was looking at the mannequin.

---

You arrived at the mall before looked up at the building.

You didn't really know how you were able to track down Five, but it was like your mind and heart lead you to the building. You think it was weird that you could feel that he was here.

You tried to open the door but it was lock "Okay" you said before you used your powers to open it quietly before entering the mall.

You grabbed a flashlight before shining around and your eyes landed on a person that was standing still while staring up at a mannequin.

You smiled as you could recognize that it was Five.

"Five" you said which made Five turn around and it was almost like he smiled when he saw you.

"How did you find me?" he asked "I don't know" you said as you walked closer to him "What's up with the mannequins? Why are you staring at them?" you asked.

"It's Delores" Five said before he looked back at the mannequin "Delores?" you asked and he nodded.

"Natalie, this is Delores, Delores this is Natalie" Five smiled.

"Oh my fucking gosh, you're in love with a mannequin?" you asked and Five rolled his eyes before he smiled to the mannequin. "She was with me in the apocalypse" he said. 

You think it was weird, but why are you feeling jealous?

Then suddenly you heard something behind you and you turned around to see a man and a woman wearing huge cartoon marks. The woman had a pink huge puppy mask over her head and the man had a huge blue and yellow bear mask over his head.

"What the hell?" you asked as you furrowed your brow.

They lifted up their guns and pointed at you and Five "NO!" Five shouted before he grabbed you and brought you down to the floor with him to dodge the bullets.

The bullets hit Delores and her upper body felled down on the floor.

"What the hell?" you shouted as you and Five were taking cover behind some display. You both turned off your flashlight so the two people wouldn't spot you. 

The men and the woman continued shooting "Oh, shit. It's them" Five said as he could recognize who it was, that was shooting at you two.

"Who are they and why are they trying to kill us?" you asked.

"Just me" he said "Why?" you asked but he didn't answer as he looked over at Delores' upper body on the floor.

"No Five, don't risk your life for a mannequin" you said but he just got up before he ran over to the next display and took cover there.

He grabbed Delores as the woman and the man kept shooting at him.

Five took cover behind some other mannequin "I'll be right back for you" he said to Delores before he put her down next to you "Take care of her while I distract them" he said "What? No. No way in hell am I gonna babysit a mannequin" you said.

"Just trust me" he said before he got up "Five!" you shouted as he ran down the mall while the woman and the man kept shooting at him and Five disappeared as they kept shooting.

"I hate him" you said as you looked back at the mannequin "Don't give me that look. I can't believe that he want me to babysit you. You must be important to him. Lucky you" you said before you peek up to see the man coming closer to where you were hiding.

"Why is it that I'm always in danger when I'm with that cute Jumpy Guy" you said to yourself.

"Okay, I can do this" you said before you got up and the man turned to you before he started shooting, but you created a red energy shield in front yourself making the bullets hit the shield.

You then then threw an energy ball towards the man knocking him to the floor.

The man grabbed the gun before he pointed the gun at you but you lifted up your arms before throwing the gun off his hand with your mind.

You then grabbed the mannequin before you started running while the woman shot at Five but he disappeared.

"You see that?" the woman asked "You said he was special, but there is also a girl who are also special. So now what?" the man asked "You start over there. I'll go to the other end. Meet in the middle. Shoot anything that moves. Kill them both" the woman said as the two kept walking passed the displays.

The woman pointed her gun at you and started shooting but you reach to dodged.

You put down the mannequin before a bright red mist-like shapes energy whisps around your hands as your eyes glowed red.

"Let's me show them not to mess with me" you said.

The woman started shooing at you again and you raised your arm and with your mind, you controlled the bullets making them move in different directions.

As you did that it was like a short memory suddenly came to your mind causing you to by accident moving a bullet in Five's direction but he reach to quickly dodged a bullet.

"Sorry" you said "Hey! Focus where you are moving those bullets, you almost hit me!" Five shouted.

The woman started shooting at you but you made a red force field around you.

"Witch" the woman said before she ran towards you to fight you hand to hand

"Yeah, you're not the first to call me that and you're not gonna be the last" you said before you used your powers, pushing the woman backwards, sending her flying back.

When you saw her flying it was like the same memory appeared again but it was only for a second.

You were in a mall with Five and five other kids and they were inside a red force shield that you had created, protecting them as you were surrounded by robbers with guns.

An explosion then went off killing the men and Five was banging on the shield, crying out your name.

The memory was cut off when you felt some pain in your waist causing you to groan before you dodged down while wondering why that memory appeared, you don't remember being in a mall robbery at all.

Five appeared behind a shelf where gardening tools was and he grabbed a small shovel, unpacked it before swinging with it to see if it was good and he then peek from behind the shelf.

The man walked over to a shelf before he took out something from the rack "'Elastic wrist splint'" he read "Yes" he said.

Five appeared behind the woman slashing her in the left shoulder with the shovel causing her to groan in pain.

The man shot at Five but he reach to blink away.

You were looking around when suddenly Five appeared next to you "You okay?" he asked and you nodded "Fine. Let's just get out of here" you said and Five grabbed a green bag before he put Delores in the bag.

"Come, let's go" he said before he grabbed your hand and the two of you started running.

"Shit. Shit. Shit!" you shouted as you and Five was running through the store.

Five tried to blink away but it didn't work and he tried to blink again, making a loud whooshing sound but it didn't work "Shit. Come on!" he said as he tried again but it didn't work and more gunfire was heard as the two of you jumped over a display before you started running forwards.

But then you trip over something making you fall with a grunt.

When you fell Five immediately stop before he turned "Natalie" he said "Run Five" you said.

"Shit" he rushed back to you before he help you up without even hesitate.

"You okay?" he asked and you nodded. "Why were you helping me?" he asked "I was trying to save your ass" you replied.

"Got them" the woman said and you and Five stopped turned around to see the man and the woman looking over the shelf with their guns pointed at the both of you.

You both started breathing heavily as the light on the guns blinded you and the two stepped closer to the you and Five as they pointed their guns at you both.

But the sound of sirens wailing was heard which caused the man and the woman to turn their heads to the main glass door to see cop cars pulling up right outside the mall.

While the two looked towards the glass door, Five grabbed you before the two of you hide behind the counter at the register.

The man and woman looked back to see that you and Five were gone "The bastard jumped again" the man said "Come on, let's go" the woman said before the two left.

You were hiding behind the counter at the register with Five sitting next to you, holding Delores close to him.

"Who the hell were these people?" you asked "Cha-Cha and Hazel. People sent to kill me" Five said "Why?" you asked "They are trying to stop me from stopping the end of the world" Five answered "Why?" you asked again "It's a long story" he said before looking around.

"Why didn't you run? Why did you run back to get me?" you asked "Because you mattered, is that simple" he said.

The honesty in his voice sent a shiver down your spine. You felt a connection to him, something that went beyond your current situation.

"Also I would have being carried around the gulit" he said.

Then suddenly your head started feeling dizzy as your vision started becoming fuzzy and you let out a grunt in pain.

"Remind me...to punch....you....later for....putting me...in...danger" you rested your head on Five's shoulder who blush for a bit while he looked at you confused.

"Hey, we don't have time for a nap" Five said but you didn't say anything as you closed your eyes.

"Are you drunk? Did my idiot brother Klaus give you something or...." he stopped himself when he spotted blood spilling on your left waist "Shit" he said before he quickly let go of the bag where Delores was in before he grabbed you.

"Shit. Fuck! Natalie! Wake up! Come on. Hey!" he said as he shook you but you didn't respond.

He put two fingers on your neck to feel a pulse.

There was one, but it was weak just like your breathing.

Five wrapped his arms around you while small tears formed at the corner of his eyes.

"Don't you dare die on me Natalie. Please" he said.

Why did he suddenly care so much. He just met you yesterday but he had a strong instinct saying that he want to protect you and keep you safe and he knew that he will feel guilty if you died.

He grabbed the bag's strap with one hand before he wrapped his free arm around you and he tried to blink "Come on" he said but nothing happen.

"Shit. Come on" he said as he tried again and it finally worked.

Five appeared in entrance of the Academy "HELP! ANYONE! MOM. HELP! SOMEBODY" he shouted as he was carrying you in his arms.

His brother and his sister, Luther and Allison heard him and they quickly ran down the stairs.

They both froze and Allison's eyes widened when she saw who it was that Five was carrying in his arms.

"Natalie" she whispered in shock over seeing you again after over 16 years.

"What happen? Who is she?" Luther asked "No time for questions. This is Natalie Eversun, she is one of us and I need help, she got shot. So get mom, hurry" Five said "What happen?" Luther asked "NO TIME FOR FUCKING QUESTIONS. JUST GET MOM!" Five shouted aggressive and worried and the two nodded before they turned and ran up the stairs to find their mom Grace.

Five was you in his arms, his expression a mix of concern and determination. He wasn't the type to show his emotions. When he was at the Commission he took every humanity, every tear, he had left in him and twisted it around so he had nothing left for him to feel anything.

---

They quickly found Grace and Five carried you his room "Get her on the bed" Grace said and Five put you on his bed.

"What happened? How did she got hurt?" Luther asked "It was an accident. We were trying to escape, and she got shot" Five explain "Shot? By who? Escaps? From what?" Luther asked "Long stroy" Five said.

"This needs stitches" Grace said and started stitching you up. 

As Grace was working on your wound, Five remained close to you. "You two seem to have a thing going on" Luther said "It's not like that" Five said.

"Who is she, Five?" Luther asked Five who was standing by the bed "And how did you met her?" Allison asked, still surprise to see you again.

"She is just a girl I met. She's like us. She also have powers" Five said "But what happen?" Luther asked but Five didn't answer.

"Are you okay? Can we help?" Luther asked and reach out his arm towards Five but he grabbed Luther's wrist harshly, moving his arm upwards "There's nothing you can do" Five said quietly "There's nothing any of you can do" he said as he think back to the time in the apocalypse where he found the fake eye in Luther's dead body's hand as he also found the rest of his family, all laying dead in the rubbles of the Academy that was in ruins as it was completely destroyed.

---

The wind was howling as a 13-year-old Five was walking through the apocalypse.

He arrived at the Academy again and he spotted an arm out of the rubble. It look like it's was holding something.

Don't ask me
What you know is true

Five walked closer to the arm, he sat down on his knees and he saw it was a prosthetic eye, he grabbed it to look closer at it.

Don't have to tell you
I love your precious heart

He then lifted his head and saw that it was Luther that was holding the eye.

I
I was standing
You were there
Two worlds collided
And they could never tear us apart

Five looked to the left and he got up before running into the rubbles.

We could live
For a thousand years

But then he stopped when he saw Allison laying dead under the rubbles.

But if I hurt you
I'd make wine from your tears

Five then ran over to Diego's dead body before he started shaking it, trying to get him to open his eyes but he was dead too and Five felled backwards on the ground, broken, in shock and in pain.

I told you
That we could fly
'Cause we all have wings
But some of us don't know why

Five got up before he walked farther through the rubbles but only to find Klaus' dead body causing Five's face to fall.

I was standing
You were there
Two worlds collided
And they could never, ever tear us apart

His whole family was dead.

He was only 13 when he saw his family's dead body. Far too young to experience any of this, to have trauma for life.

And since that day, Five couldn't get the image of his siblings skeletons out of his head and it keeps him up at night.

---

After Grace stitching you up, Five walked over before he sat down and grabbed your hand. 

He didn't know what was going on with him but he felt like he couldn't think or focus before you were awake.

"Allison" Luther whispered to Allison who was just staring at you in shock.

"Allison" Luther asked again as he put his hand on her shoulder causing her to snap back to reality "Yeah" she said as she looked at him "You okay?" he asked "Yeah, I'm fine. Let's just go" she said before she turned around, leaving the room with Luther behind her.

Allison wipe a tear away from her eyes, as she was still carrying the guilt from something she did 16 years ago. Something she had regretted the second she did it. 

---

"No dad, I can't do that. It will crush them, especially Five and Talie" Allison said "What they don't remember, they wouldn't be crush by" Reginald said "I can't do it. Not to Natalie" Allison said "You had rumored Natalie before, what's the different this time?" Reginald asked "The different is that I rumored her before because it was for her own good" Allison said "This is for Natalie's and your sibling's own good" Reginald said and Allison looked down.

"If you really care about your siblings and Natalie, you will do this to protect them. Number Five wouldn't focus or do anything I say as long as that girl is on his mind and then something will go wrong on a mission and one of your siblings will die. Natalie will be so upset that she will lose control and die. Do you want them to die?" Reginald asked "No" Allison shook her head.

"Then you have to do this" he said "I don't like this" she said "Sometimes we have to made some hard decisions to protect the people we love and keep them safe" Reginald said and Allison nodded.

"Alright, let's go" Reginald said "Where are we going?" Allison asked "We will start with Natalie first" Reginald said before him and Allison left the Academy.

"An arrow can only be short by pulling backward, so when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it's going to launch you into something great" 

A/N: Vote or comment