Bloodguilty // FIVE HARGREEVES

9. The Family Rises

When the sun rises again, the family does, too. The Commission is always awake, but at this moment there aren't many agents inside. Maybe they've changed the patrol system in a day, but Elisa doubts it.

She glances at Vanya and Klaus who are lazily leaning against each other, and smiles softly. None of the siblings and Elisa have gotten much sleep, but at least they've gotten the time to close their eyes for at least an hour. They all look like they need tons of hours more.

When they arrived back at the Umbrella Academy, Five was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he knew they were coming, or he just didn't feel like staying at the house anymore. Elisa doesn't know the reason, but she doesn't allow herself to think any longer about him. She has to concentrate and brooding about Five and her relationship is the least of her worries now.

The world's fate is in their hands, and if Five doesn't care about earth and its people, then he's showing it. Even though Klaus called him as he withdrew himself to his bedroom, Five didn't even come to wish them good luck. But Elisa didn't expect him to. He doesn't care about the Commission, anyway. Maybe he wanted Elisa to lose it, so they could spend more time together again. Maybe he finally got what he wanted: the commission isn't hers anymore.

Through the night, Elisa thought about who could be the leader, but she came up with no one. In the short hour she did sleep, nightmares came, and in them her friends didn't look like they fit in the big office. She imagined them throwing the gargoyles out. Anne would never allow such vicious creatures watching her the whole time. Plus, she doesn't seem like a decent handler. Elisa doesn't think Anne would even want the job. Maybe a promotion, yes, but not Elisa's position.

Herb never showed Elisa a sign of true displeasure of her being the leader. He was kind and helping. Elisa wondered if he might've been too helping, but she shrugged it off.

Hazel—Elisa thought about him, too. He was always kind, always ready to help Elisa. While she grew up, he was always pleasant to her—whether it was out of fear that the handler or Elisa herself would do something to him if he wasn't or not. She shook those thought: out of her head, too.

She reminded herself they're her friends. They wouldn't stab her in the back like that.

So she started thinking of everyone who would be out for her position. Cha Cha would obviously like to take everything Elisa possesses. She hates the girl with a passion. Elisa decided it could very well be Cha Cha in the office right now. But wouldn't Hazel have noticed Cha Cha's behaviour? Wouldn't he have told Elisa?

All the other agents are suspects, too. Every single one is probably out for a higher salary and more power. Well, the one who got the job most certainly has gotten that. They've reached their damn goal.

"We can't wait much longer, Elisa," Luther speaks up as he takes a step toward her while she's still watching Vanya and Klaus who are half asleep, still leaning against each other. "We've got to strike right now."

"You're right," she agrees, nodding. "Just like we've planned yesterday: we're going to split up again. We cannot go all in one. We'd be too noticeable. But I want you all to know that this place—this place is full of vipers. Deadly vipers. Be careful of everyone. Don't trust a single person—whether it is Herb or an unknown agent. It does not matter. No one can be trusted anymore."

Everyone nods, shifting uneasily. Vanya and Klaus have woken up completely.

"Vanya and Diego are with me again." Elisa her eyes shift from Vanya to Diego, who's leaning against one of the threes again. He nods and puts his thumb up. "Klaus, Allison and Luther, you are going to use another entrance: there's a door at the back of the building. It leads to the prison part of the Commission. It'll be guarded, and you'll have to get an agent on the inside to open it."

"We can't just say that we've come to break in and take back what's yours," Allison says as she raises an eyebrow. Klaus snorts.

"Prisoners go in that way—normally." Elisa turns to look at Vanya again. "Did you enter through the door?"

"I didn't," Vanya says quietly, remembering being locked up in this place all too well. "They took me through the main entrance."

"All right," Elisa whispers softly, not telling that she made sure Vanya wouldn't have to go through the main entrance or the door leading to the prison ever again. She'd make sure of it. "Now."—She turns to the others again.—"You'll get in by telling them you've got a prisoner. They'll believe you, I think. Once inside, it'll be a fight. Luther seems fit enough to take the two agents by himself, but I'm sure Klaus and Vanya can do great themselves. But watch out. It is the prison part, and the guards are good and well-trained. It won't be an easy fight."

"Don't worry." Allison smirks. "No man has ever won with me. It won't start now."

"Plus," Klaus says, stretching out his hand in front of his face. "I've got their backs. Everything will be all right."

"Like he can put on a good fight," Diego murmurs under his breath. Klaus, luckily, doesn't hear what his brother said. Elisa rolls her eyes in response since she did hear what he murmured.

"Once the guards are taken care of, it should be simple in the start. You can follow the hallway through the many, many cells. It leads to a huge door. When you're through it, Klaus knows where to go. He knows his way through the Commission."

The office. Both groups are headed to the office to see who's behind it. What happens then, Elisa is not sure yet. It'll depend on which group arrives first.

"And you're sure you can get inside through your old room?" Allison asks Elisa.

"Only the handler knew of my escapes at night," Elisa explains as she takes another look at the Commission. It looks the same—just the posters show a difference. But there are many other differences—ones that aren't visible yet. Almost every agents inside wants Elisa her head. Elisa says, "The others are oblivious of that entrance, and I made sure the window is unlocked while I was still the head of the Commission, so I'd always have a way in and out. We'll get in just fine."

After a short silence, Vanya says, "If some of don't make it—"

"We will," Elisa cuts her off, not even wanting to think about it. "I don't want to hear it again . . . please."

"I want to say it, Elisa," Vanya tells her, a sad twinkle appearing in her eyes. Elisa notices it immediately and nods. "I love everyone of you. You're my family, and we've gotten through so much—individual and together. We can get through this, too. This is nothing compared to what our father put us all through. I believe in every single one of you."

Vanya's eyes go from Elisa to Klaus, from Klaus to Luther, from Luther to Diego, from Diego to Allison. Then they go right back to Elisa. "Elisa," she starts again, "I want you to know that I've never met someone stronger than you. I've never met someone who'd I'd do so much for when I've only known you for such a short time. And if something happens to me, I want you to know I'd do it all over again. For you." Then she turns her head to all her siblings. "For any of you."

Then Klaus forces everyone closer and hugs them all closely. No one refuses. They hug as hard as they can. Their family.

-

Just got the best news ever! Shadow and Bone is renewed for season two! I'm not lying when I tell you I started crying—for real!! My babies are returning to me! I'm so excited to see Jessie again. I swear I'm going to marry them!

Alsoooooo . . . My exams are starting on Thursday and honestly, I think I'll be so offline because of them. They'll kill me. I'm 100% sure of that. Buuuuut when they're done, I'll be back on track!