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"Will I d-do that again?" She asked quietly as he grabbed a new wipe.
"Yes." He nodded, wiping down her forehead.
"A lot?" She questioned, swallowing thickly.
"Yes." He repeated. "What are you thinking?"
"W-whether to do it or not." She sniffle...
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☆*:.｡. o(▽)o .｡.:*☆
Nova sat on her bed, cross legged as she read the mission orders. A bottle of untouched squash was beside her, leaning on her leg as condensation ran down the side of it onto her leggings. Her teeth nibbled at her bottom lip, a slight tang of metallic in her mouth as she read the file with difficulty. It was hard concentrating on things she wasn't all that interested in.
Her mission was just to collect information from Kerry. Apparently she wasn't just a doctor, she was also a scientist who seemed to be on the list of enemies for the Red Room and a man called Carlton Drake. As far as she knew, Nova didn't have to kill any of them, just get the information. But it could change further along.
Knock knock
Nova panicked, eyes widening as she looked down at the sheet to find words highlighted reading, If they see this paperwork, say it's homework and go to the next page. It is a set of maths questions that they can help with. She relaxed, doing as said.
"Nova? Are you alright in there?" George asked worriedly when she didn't open the door, smiling when she did not two seconds later. "Wondered if you needed help with anything at all."
"I'm just doing some homework the academy gave me." Nova signed and he hummed.
"Do you need help with it? What lesson?" George questioned.
"Maths." Nova answered.
"Perfect. I'm a maths teacher. Would you like some help?" George asked warmly.
Children need help with homework, it's a normal thing, Nova thought.
"Yes, please." Nova nodded, pulling open the door further.
"What are you doing, then?" George mumbled, sitting down beside her on her bed. "Algebra? You're 10. This is way beyond your age range."
"That's what we were taught." Nova shrugged. "Fractions and algebra."
"Wow. Shocking, really. Anyway, if this is what you have to do, I'll help." George smiled, grabbing her pen.
He started to talk her through the methods, Nova easily becoming bored by the subject because who actually likes algebra? George noticed her becoming unfocused and put the paper down on the bedside table, shaking her shoulder gently and she turned to him.
"You have trouble concentrating?" George quizzed and she nodded. "Okay, what helps you?"
"If I like it and music." Nova signed.
"Well, we can do this tomorrow because I think tea's ready. Just relax for now, yeah? I'm sure it's been a long day." George said softly and she nodded, the pair getting off the bed and going downstairs, Nova behind him.
"Do you like chilli, Nova?" Kerry asked, stirring a pot as rice cooked in a pan.
"Never had it." She replied.
"There's a first time for everything." Kerry smiled as the cooker beeped as she turned the stove off. "Sit down, James should be home about now. Sophie's having a sleepover, it's someone's birthday."
"Who are they?" Nova signed to George.
"Our children. James is 16 and Sophie is 14." George answered, laying out the cutlery as the front door slammed shut. "That'll be James."
"Hello, darling." Kerry called.
"Hi, Mum!" James yelled back, his bag thunking on the floor as he kicked his shoes off. "Hey, Dad."
"Hi, James." George smiled as Nova awkwardly shuffled in her chair when James walked in, blue eyes immediately zeroed on her. "This is Nova."
"Hello." James greeted formally with a nod as equally as awkward as Nova's small wave. "Uh, how are you?"
"Does he speak sign language?" Nova asked George and he nodded. "I'm okay, thank you. What about you?"
"Yeah, good." James nodded as Kerry set down the bowls of chilli. "Thanks, Mum."
"No problem, sweetheart." Kerry responded and Nova felt it was weird how they showed affection to one another.
Small conversation flittered between the family as Nova ate her dinner. It was probably the most flavourful and delicious meal she had ever eaten. The Red Room's food was nothing compared to this. There was even cheese on top, which mate not seem like a lot, but it was to Nova who wasn't allowed to eat anything that risked her putting on more than pound of weight.
"We were going to have a film night, Nova, what's your favourite?" Kerry asked and Nova out down her fork.
"American Psycho." Nova answered before going back to her meal as though it was a normal answer for a 10 year old to give.
"Where did you watch that?" George questioned, concerned as everyone looked at her.
"The academy. It's on a lot." Nova responded.
It was always played for her more specifically because she seemed to watch it more. It was useful for the Red Room, too. The blood, the psychological aspect of the film and the sexual aspects all fit into what they needed her to be. Which would include using her body later on in life like the prostitutes.
"That's not..." James trailed off with a chuckle of what sounded like disbelief watching as Nova happily ate.
"What's your second favourite?" Kerry quizzed, hoping to get a normal answer like Shrek or something.
"The Shining." Nova signed with a small smile, again, not something they wanted to hear.
"What about a box set, instead." George suggested, breaking the silence that followed her answer. "Maybe F.R.I.E.N.D.S. or Only Fools and Horses."
"I think that's a good idea." James agreed, eyeing Nova warily as the child wiped chilli sauce from her cheek.
