☭ POST WORLD WAR II, the world was a confusing place. Between the United States and Russia, the threat of nuclear war plagued the minds of everyone. The former allies fought with shady, backhanded trade agreements, showing off which nation had...
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* chapter six — three in the morning; 2348 words ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
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AFTER ANASTASIA'S STORY, CHARLES AND ERIK STAYED IN THE KITCHEN FOR AN ADDITIONAL HOUR. Both of their stomach twisted and churned. Neither one could really go to sleep after listening to Anastasia.
"What if it did work, and she doesn't know it?" Charles suggested, pouring a glass of Scotch for him and Erik. "If she was able to take part of Ivan's healing abilities, then she could've taken other powers to."
"Wouldn't she be able to feel it?" Erik asked, though neither one really knew the answer. "I mean, I can feel metal even when I'm not using my mutation."
"I don't know," Charles sighed. He took a sip from his glass and sat it back down on the counter. "Ivan told us she felt different."
"What does that even mean?"
"He can sense what keeps living things alive," Charles explained. "He can feel photosynthesis in plants and blood pumping in people. He said that after he saw Anastasia again, before she rushed off to take a shower, she felt different. Her blood was pumping different or something like that."
Erik pinched the bridge of his nose. Clearly, neither one was understanding this. How could someone wrap their minds around experiments on a child? That's what Anastasia was, 8 years younger than Charles and 10 years younger than Erik. At this point, she was only 22 years old and has already been through more than people would in an entire lifetime.
She didn't ask for their pity, but that's what they gave her. Deep in their hearts, she burned her initials like a brand. They cared about her so deeply that nothing could change that. They failed her once — not saving her before Dallarosa took her — but they won't fail her again.
Around seven in the morning, after they had went off to their separate bedroom, a savory aroma wafted through the ginormous house. Erik peaked his head out his door just as Raven was.
"I thought Charles sent all the staff home," Raven said aloud, mostly to herself.
"I did," Charles said, stepping out his own room.
"Well, I know damn well Alex isn't making breakfast," Raven said. She stepped out of her room and closed the door behind her. Leading the way to the kitchen, Raven cracked more jokes that Charles and Erik ignored.
From inside the kitchen, boisterous laughter filled the entire wing of the house. The three heard Sean Cassidy squeal while Alex Summer made a joke about him. Raven pushed open the door and the smell of pancakes, sausage, and maple syrup filled their senses.
Anastasia whipped her head around, showing off the white streak of flour slashed across her face. She smiled broadly. "Hey, there sugars," she greeted in a Southern accent. "Y'all want some breakfast."
