Chapter Fifteen:

"I am going to sleep here?" Ekka asked, a bit awestruck. The room was huge, bigger than anything she's ever seen.

The walls were white, the only room she hadn't seen with wallpaper, and there was a huge window along the side of the room. It was blocked by heavy curtains, but a bit of moonlight streamed through anyway. Along the other side of the room was a huge bed that was probably two times as big as her bed back at school. There was a bookshelf that had been completely full and a few boxes of books on the ground as well. Both of them had been collecting heavy dust.

Across the bed was a closet that was empty, but was a few feet deep and very wide. Ekka knew she would never have enough clothes to fit a closet as big as that.

"Yep!" Lucas grinned, "Adrian will be back in a few hours, but you'll see him tomorrow morning, alright?" Ekka was still at a loss for words. "You can get ready for bed, is there anything else you need?"

"I..." She suddenly frowned, the bedroom feeling as if it were too much to take in for one person. Her panic for even sleeping for a few hours by herself returned and she twisted her fingers. "Could... Brownie come up here with me?"

Lucas pursed his lips, but sighed and nodded, "It looks like it'll be chilly tonight anyway. I'll bring them both up here, if you want." Ekka beamed, excitedly, clapping her hands together.

"Thank you!" She smiled, appreciation dancing in her voice.

Lucas smiled and shooed her to the bed. "Adrian and I are just down the hall --- if anything happens, you can come get us, alright?"

Ekka nodded and went to the bed, but it was taller than her. She flailed, her small legs trying desperately to climb, but only managing to slip on the side.

Lucas laughed loudly, coming over to help her. He lifted her under the shoulders and set her in the bed. Immediately, Ekka felt as it her entire body was sinking into the mattress. She let out a noise of alarm, and Lucas helped her out just as quickly.

Ekka breathed for a minute, slightly scared. "Ca--Can I sleep on the floor?" She asked after a minute. Lucas nodded, and turned out the room for a minute. He came back with a rolled up bundle in his arms.

"Here's a sleeping bag," he presented to her, helping her unclip the sides. It was dark blue and reflexive, but when Ekka touched it, she didn't feel as if she were about to fall through.

"Thank you," Ekka said, and Lucas smiled at her.

"C'mon, let's go bring Brownie and Blanca inside," he said, and Ekka followed him out of the room.

~.•*•.~

Ekka was fast asleep when she heard her door open. Her eyes peeked open, she had always been a light sleeper. Adrian stepped in, he was wearing a weird blue uniform and matching pants. He glanced at the bed, noticing that it was empty. Then, he saw her on the floor and smiled.

"You awake?" He asked softly. Ekka nodded and rubbed at her eyes. Brownie and Blanca were sleeping soundly beside her. A day of playing wildly in the sun finally got to them.

"... Yes," Ekka said after a yawn.

Adrian smiled and bent down, "I just wanted to wish you good night," he said. Then, he kissed her forehead. Ekka was still, her eyes wide with shock. She vaguely remembered Xavier doing that when he wanted to take her memories. However, when Adrian did it, she didn't feel as though she's forgot something. Nothing happened.

When Adrian moved away, she looked at him, confused. "Wh--Why did you do that?" Ekka asked.

"Do what?"

"Kiss my head," Ekka said, and pointed to her head.

Adrian let out a chuckle, "Where I'm from, people always kiss each other on their heads and cheeks. It means we care." Ekka didn't say anything at first. She didn't understand how he could care for her, she's only been in their house for a day.

Ekka didn't say this. Instead, she nodded and asked, "Where are you from?"

"I am from Florida, but my family moved to New York when I was younger," he explained. "My grandparents are from Mexico, though."

"What is that?" Ekka asked. Adrian watched her, raising an eyebrow.

"I'll tell you about it in the morning," he said, and then kissed her again. "Buenas noches, chula (Good night, cutie)."

Ekka just looked at him a bit weird, but he didn't seem deterred. He laughed a little, and stood, leaving the door open as he went to his own room.

It took Ekka a few minutes to fall back asleep, but she did. Her eyes slipped back closed and she was out.

~.•*•.~

Ekka woke up again later. She heard footsteps. They were soft and at first she dismissed it. Then, she felt something cold run over her body, as if she were dipped ice water.

Ekka sat up, her eyes wide, but a hand covered her mouth. "Don't make a sound," a voice said above her. Ekka's heart best wildly, she didn't recognize that voice at all. She heard Brownie and Blanca stir, but they were quickly silenced as well. Someone was standing beside them, a hand to both of their heads.

"You're going to come with us, do you understand?"

Ekka began to cry, "W--Wh--Where are we g--going?" She asked, her voice small so she didn't anger the man.

"Back to school. The Professor wants you returned immediately." This did it. Ekka began to struggle, her limbs flailing and her movements wild. She couldn't go back! She couldn't go back!

"No!!" She cried, but her words were muffled by the man's hand. "No! Please! Noo!!" The icy cold seemed to surround her body. Ekka screamed, but no words came out. She felt as if she couldn't breathe. As if she were drowning in the bottom of the ocean.

Everywhere was black. Everywhere was a void. It was as if someone stuck her in space, but took out all the stars. Ekka was alone again. She was in her cell, on the ground and cold. Xavier hadn't came to her in weeks and she had no one to talk to. She was alone, all alone. Someone kill her. She didn't want to live like this. She couldn't live like this.

Ekka began to scream madly, her hands clutching her hair as she fell to her knees. The darkness was too much, she was going to die alone and cold and desperate. Nobody would help her. Nobody would love her. Ekka was going to die afraid. Alone and afraid.

Ekka couldn't breathe, she gasped, but nothing filled her lungs. Ekka sobbed, her head feeling light. Is this what it was like to die? Or, was this hell instead? Just, cold and alone. Unable to breath, unable to function.

What did Ekka do to deserve this? Was she bad? Ekka didn't know. She couldn't know. She was tired of this. She didn't want to be here.

Ekka clawed at the ground, as she screamed. She writhed in pain, tears leaking from her eyes.

Then, the icy-coldness disappeared. Ekka could breathe again. She didn't realize she was screaming too. She heard people hiss words she didn't understand at the moment. She was too busy screaming. She couldn't stop. She couldn't stop. If she stopped, the darkness would come back. If she stopped, she would be alone again.

Brownie and Blanca woke up, and began to make noise. They growled loudly at the people in the room as Ekka was screaming. Blanca barked and tried to attack the man behind her, but he vanished and reappered across the room.

The people in her room disappeared just as Lucas and Adrian came bursting in the room. Ekka was on the floor screaming, and holding her head. Her throat was beginning to hurt, but she didn't care. She couldn't let that darkness take her again. She couldn't do that again. Ekka was going to die if she did that again.

"Hey, hey, hey," Lucas said, taking Ekka in his arms. He was sitting on the floor and drew her to him. His hands were warm, drastically different from the icy coldness.

Ekka inhaled, and the feeling of oxygen receding back in her lungs made her take more gulps of air. She was still sobbing loudly, and shaking. "It's okay, shh, it's okay," he hushed her.

Adrian was fussing at Blanca and Brownie, "Shh! Stop it!" He snapped, and slowly they stepped away and came to Ekka. Brownie was pawing her back, moaning and Blanca licking her arm. Adrian came over too, sitting on the other side of Ekka, running his hand over her head.

"What happened?" Lucas asked gently. Ekka was sniffing loudly, trembling.

"I--I--It... I--It was s--so da--dark," Ekka said, trying to breath. "H--He--He ma--made it... I..." Ekka swallowed and breathed again. "T--They... H--He... The--They w--we--were here... I... T--Th--They wa--wanted t--to t--take m--me... T--Ta--Take me b--ba--back..."

"Back where?" Adrian asked.

"Sc--Sch--School... C--Ce--C--Cell... M--Mi--Mister... X--Xav--Xavier... I... I d--do n--n--not wa--want to g--go ba--back." Ekka began to cry again, "P--Pl--Please... T--Th--The c--ce--cell... I--I ca--c--can--cannot... I... Ca--Cannot... I---"

"Shh, it's okay," Lucas said gently, rubbing her back. Ekka held tight, wailing loudly into his shirt. Lucas turned to his husband, his eyes wide as he mouthed, "Xavier? School?!" Adrian shook his head, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Lucas knew what that meant. It was far too early for that, and all five of them were tired.

Lucas gently stood with Ekka in his arms. Adrian, Brownie, and Blanca followed him to their bedroom. He laid her in their bed before getting in beside her. Adrian did too, on the other side, and Blanca and Brownie jumped up to sleep on the bottom.

Ekka still clung to Lucas's arm. She didn't want the darkness to come back. She stayed close to Lucas' warmth, with Adrian behind her. Ekka fell asleep holding tight to the both of them.

~.•*•.~

The next morning, Ekka was alone in Adrian and Lucas' bed. Not even Brownie or Blanca were there.

Ekka sat up and rubbed at her eyes. They were heavy with bags and felt sore. Ekka tried to move, but sank deeper into the mattress. She tried not to panic --- for once --- and crawled off the bed. She slipped on her face a few times, but she made it to the edge.

Ekka slowly walked to the door. It was already opened a bit and she could hear Adrian and Lucas talking in the kitchen.

"... Her say school, Adrian? And, Xavier? She has to be talking about that Mutant school!" Ekka stepped down the steps, not making a sound. "If the professor of that school had her locked in a cage for nearly six months, what the hell do you think he's doing to all of the other students that go there!?"

"Luc, I... I don't think it's that simple," Adrian started to say. "He's running a school of mutants, they all can't be locked up like she was. That doesn't make any sense."

"It doesn't matter! I'm calling the police on them! That man kept her caged like an animal---!"

"You know you can't call the police," Adrian said. "Her father, Luc. Look, if he finds out that she's here... He would kill her. I mean, you saw her hands!"

Ekka squirmed, frowning at her hands. Her missing fingers seemed to burn with their awareness.

Lucas sighed deeply, "I want to find the people who did this to her," He said. "The men who hurt her."

"I know you do," Adrian's voice was soft, but serious. "But, you have to act rationally. A school full of mutants, Lucas, you can't just run into that."

"I know..." Lucas sighed again.

"Look, Ekka had been faring pretty well with us," Adrian began. "Maybe, we can convince him to let us adopt her."

"I'm not objecting," Lucas said. Ekka wondered what 'adopt' meant. "I'm going to see if she's up yet." Ekka heard his footsteps and gasped, trying to run up the stairs. Instead, she tripped on her oversized shirt, falling on her hands and knees. She hardly managed to catch herself before she turned around.

Lucas was chuckling at the bottom of the steps. "I guess you were listening in then, huh?" He asked teasingly.

Ekka looked down, ashamed. "I am sorry. I was being nosy."

Lucas stepped up to where she was, "You don't have to apologize --- we were talking about you." Ekka didn't know how to respond to that. She nodded and stood, Lucas helping her up.

Adrian was by the bottom of the stairs, smiling. "Oye, chula! Buenos días (Hey, cutie! Good morning)!"

Ekka frowned as she got to the bottom of the steps. "What does that mean?" She asked.

"It means 'Good morning'," Lucas translated.

"Then, what does 'chula' mean?"

"That one means cutie," Adrian smiled and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Because you're a cutie."

Ekka felt her ears grow hot and She looked down, embarrassed. Lucas and Adrian laughed loudly, Lucas leading her to the counter so she could sit. "That's a good thing, Ekka," Lucas told her, pulling out her chair for her. Ekka climbed up and scratched her head.

"Nobody has called me 'cutie' before," Ekka admitted sheepishly.

"Well, you are one," Adrian promised. "I'm making pancakes before I have to go to work ― what do you want in yours? I think we have food colouring and chocolate chips."

Ekka blinked, ". . . What?"

"What's your favourite colour?" Lucas asked, slipping in the barstool counter beside Ekka.

"I. . . I do not―" Ekka paused, remembering Flutter's beautiful greenish-blue feathers that shimmered in the sun when she flew. "Green-blue," She told him, a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Green-blue it is," Adrian said, smiling and went to the cabinets to look for the food colouring.

"Why green-blue?" Lucas asked curiously.

"It is the colour of my friend's feathers," Ekka said, and then paused for a second. "It. . . was."

"Your friend's. . . feathers?" Lucas asked, slightly put off.

"Her name was Flutter. She was a hummingbird," Ekka explained.

"Did she die?" Lucas asked carefully. Ekka nodded, a knot growing in her throat. She heard something sizzle on the stove and Ekka glanced up, curiously, but Adrian was too big for her to see what he was cooking.

"Ekka, are you a mutant?" Adrian asked, his back to her.

"Yes," Ekka replied easily, but she frowned when she saw both Lucas and Adrian tense. Almost, as if the sudden confirmation had hurt them. "I apologize," Ekka said, frowning.

"No, no, it's not your fault," Lucas said, but then froze. "Wait, no, I meant that, you being a mutant wasn't a bad thing. Not all mutants are bad."

"I do not understand," Ekka frowned.

"Think of it like this, Ekka," Adrian spoke up, his back still to her as he flipped something on the stove. "Not all people are good, right? Your father wasn't a good person," Ekka nodded slowly, curious to see where this was going. "Just like there are good people and bad people, there's good mutants and bad mutants."

"How do you know if you are a good person or a bad person?" Ekka asked him, and Adrian was quiet for a minute.

"That's a good question," Lucas said, and turned to his husband, smirking. "How do you know if you're a good person or a bad person, Adrian?"

"Well. . ." He said, frowning. He slipped the food on a plate and set it on the counter in front of Ekka. She glanced down at it, confused at what it was, but didn't go to eat it yet. "It changes for everyone," Adrian began, leaning against the counter next to the stove. "I think that a bad person is someone who doesn't treat people like they are people. Good people do." Then, he tipped his head to Lucas, who was nodding, "What about you, Lucas?"

"Hmm?" He looked at him, realizing that he was being put on the spot. Adrian stepped over and leaned on the counter across from him, grinning teasingly. "Oh, uhm. . . I think a bad person is someone who kills people, and a good person helps people." He shrugged and Adrian lightly slapped his arm. "What?" He laughed, and Adrian shook his head.

"Then. . . I am a bad person?" Ekka spoke up, and the two men turned to her, confused.

"What do you mean?" Lucas asked, confused.

"You said that bad people kill people," Ekka looked down, ashamed.

"Have you. . . killed someone, Ekka?" Adrian asked, hesitantly. Ekka closed her eyes, grief sweeping through her, and she nodded. "Why?"

"I--It was an accident," Ekka explained, her voice shaking. "I. . . He was going to send me back to Father, and I--I was scared. Then. . . Vera. . ." Ekka felt her lip tremble, tears growing in her eyes.

"Hey, hey," Adrian came to her side, shushing her. "It's okay. Just tell us, it's alright."

Ekka sniffed loudly, rubbing her nose. "She came in, and I was scared and my mutation wa--was already acting up. Mr. George attacked her, and I could not stop it!" Ekka could hear her screaming as the man ate Vera alive.

"Ekka, that wasn't your fault," Adrian assured. "You didn't―"

"I was controlling him!" Ekka blurted out. Adrian and Lucas blinked at her, confused, and Ekka felt her heart race and her face heat up as she tried to desperately explain herself. "I did not mean to, but. . . I. . . He said he was going to give me back to Father, and. . ." Ekka tried to breathe steadily, closing her eyes. "I--I did not know I could do that. I did not know I could. . . It is usually animals, but I saw him and he--he was a monster."

"I'm changing my definition," Lucas announced and the two looked at him. "A bad person is someone who intentionally hurts someone else. A good person intentionally helps someone." He looked at Ekka, his crystal blue eyes fierce. "Did you intentionally hurt that girl, Ekka?"

"No!" Ekka said immediately. "I did not mean to hurt Vera! It was an accident."

"Exactly. Accidents happen, and sometimes, really bad accidents happen." Lucas said sitting up straight. "But, that's what they are ― accidents. You didn't mean to hurt her, and you didn't want to. You said it yourself, you couldn't control it. So, it wasn't your fault. Sometimes, things happen that are out of our control, and the only thing we can do about it is accept it." Ekka didn't say anything for a few seconds, then she nodded and gave a small smile.

"I miss her," She whispered gently.

"I'm sure you do," Lucas smiled. "We all miss people we've lost." He inhaled and motioned to her plate. "You can tell us all about he before your pancakes get cold." Ekka looked down at her plate.

"Pancakes?" She repeated, and Adrian grinned, ready to show his hard work.

"Pancakes!" He affirmed happily, and then grabbed the plate and the fork and knife beside it. He began to cut the pancakes into triangles, and then drizzled it in something thick and brown. When he finished, he pushed it back to her. "Try them ― it's good."

Ekka was hesitant, but picked one up with her fork. She bit into the slightly soggy piece of wheat. It was greenish-blue and had small chunks in it, but it was still warm and smelled good.

She ate it, and her eyes widened, surprised. "See?" Adrian grinned, gently nudging her shoulder. "It's good, isn't it?"

"It is!" Ekka admitted after she finished her piece. She tasted the chocolate inside of the pancake, that seemed to make the entire thing ten times sweeter. "How did you get chocolate inside of it?"

Adrian grinned mischievously, his brown eyes gleaming with humour as he wiggled his fingers and said, "Magic."