I look up at the pouring rain, holding onto a small stack of papers, Why the fuck does it rain when I don't have my umbrella?! Like what the hell! I dart across the parking lot and quickly pull my door open, placing the papers on the passenger seat.
"At least they aren't too badly damaged... And Dr. Frost won't be too mad if I tell him what happened..." I mutter, glancing out my window, "Why'd he need the papers again?"
Dr. Frost was a scientist I worked for, not the greatest man but I need the job, I'm pretty sure he needed the papers for a new experiment... I'm not sure but I wasn't given permission to look at the papers... I start up my car and begin my drive back to work. About halfway back I spot a group of children, all looking between the ages of five and seven... I stop on the side of the road, the children huddling together, the three smallest of them were pushed into the center of their little defense circle.
"Are you kids lost? You'll catch a cold out here in the rain," I call, hopping out of my car and standing a respectful distance from them, "If you want I can get you guys some shelter, dry clothes, and call your parents or something..."
One of them stepped forward, "How do we know we can trust you? How do we know you aren't with them?"
I frown, glancing up at the still pouring rain, "I don't know who this 'them' is but I can promise I won't let them hurt you."
The boy who had stepped forward looked back at the small group, "Jan?"
Another boy glances up, the street light catching in his mismatched eyes, "Truth."
The boy nods, "We'll come, but we stay together..."
I smile, opening my car door, "Deal."
My car had barely enough room to fit all eight of the kids plus myself... didn't realize how many of them their were... I shoot a quick text to one of my friends at Dr. Frost's lab before changing my route to head home.
"What's your name?" A little boy with bright blue eyes asked, he was one of the three in the center of the circle, "I'm Patton!"
I smile fondly, "Jay... She/They pronouns..."
"You seem hesitant on your answer," Patton pointed out, leaning his head on the closest boy to him, who looked very anxious.
"We'll I have two names, plus most of my friends call me Mom... My birth name is something I don't really use anymore..." I try to explain.
"That seems reasonable. I'm Logan," the boy who had originally spoken for the group said, "The one with heterocromia is Janus, the one Patton is leaning on is Virgil-"
"I'm Roman! And the rat on the other side of Janus is my twin Remus!" Roman shouted, hitting his brother over the head.
"No hitting," I scold lightly.
"I'm Thomas," he was curled aginst another boy, both slowly falling asleep and had also been in the center of the circle, "And this is Emile..."
"Sup, I'm Remy," Remy pulled down his sunglasses to reveal unusually ice blue eyes before putting them back up, "Do you have coffee by chance?"
I giggle, "Not at the moment, and it's too late for you to have any. You can have some in the morning though." Remy pumps a fist and stares out the window again.
We arrive at my house just as the clock strikes ten, I glance in the back seat to see that half the kids are asleep, Remy, Virgil, Logan, and Remus being the only ones still awake. I hop out of the car, running to unlock the door before running back and picking up one of the sleeping kids.
"You boys can head in while I get these four and then I'll set up a bed for you and get you some warm clothes," I smile.
I carry the kid in my arms up to my room, laying him on my king-sized mattress before running to grab another. Somehow all of the kids managed to fit... Sleeping on the couch is fine, I normally slept there anyway.
"Jay... Could you leave a light on..?" Virgil mumbles just before I leave the room.
I nod, "I'll leave the hallway light on and leave the door cracked open for ya. Sound good?" Virgil smiles and nods before curling up against Remy.
I glance down at my phone as it vibrates with a notification, I sigh and make my way to the couch before opening the notification.
Kiddo 🖤: Got your text, need me to stop by?
I've got it for now... I got their names, they're sleeping now: Jay
Kiddo 🖤: Any hurt or sick?
No, they seemed to be running away from home tho, run away orphans?: Jay
Kiddo 🖤: Hm... Dr. Frost called a code red... from what I know some experiments got out...
So he was experimenting on kids? If that's so, I won't hesitate to fight him if he finds out they're here: Jay
Kiddo 🖤: What if they aren't kids tho? Mom are you okay? Do I need to come get you? I can wake Michael up and we'd be there in seconds
I'm fine, no need to worry... if something happens I'll call you: Jay
Kiddo 🖤: Okay... What if the files Dr. Frost wanted you to get were files on them?
Possibly... I'll look in the morning, I'm too tired rn: Jay
Kiddo 🖤: Okay. I'm up all night so if ya need me-
I'll call, the kids seem to exhausted to do anything. Good night kiddo, I love you:Jay
Kiddo 🖤: Night, Love ya too Mom
I place my phone on a night stand, taking of my glasses and putting them next to it. I locked the doors... right?
"Fuck me gently with a chain saw..." I grumble and check the door and windows before passing out on the couch.
