Number Zero- The Umbrella Academy (Book 1)

☂26☂

"No sign of Vanya." Five stated as the four siblings met at the top of the stairs after searching the entire academy for their missing sister.

"She's not in any of the rooms," Diego added.

"She's not downstairs either." Klaus spoke up, fidgeting with his dog tags.

"She does have an apartment, too, you know. So we could check there." Zero told them, looking around just in case he caught a glimpse of her.

With a sigh, Diego patted Klaus' shoulder, "Well, I'm out."

"Where are you going? Hazel and Cha-Cha are still out there." Five asked, but Diego kept walking.

"Well, that's a dick move." Zero muttered.

Once Diego was out of sight, Five rounded on Klaus, "Hey, did Dad say anything about the apocalypse when you spoke to him?"

Moving to stand beside Five, Zero looked up at Klaus, "Yeah, did he give you any clues about why it happens or how?"

"Nope. No clues. Truly terrific shave. But no clues." The man said, rubbing his chin while the two boys stared up at him for a second before Five let out a disappointed sigh and walked down the stairs.

Klaus quickly jumped after the brunette wanting to give Five a helpful answer. "You know, come to think of it, he did mention something about my potential and how I've barely scratched the surface of my-" He said as he raced down the stairs. Zero followed behind the two running his own theories through his head, one even including their father being an alien of some sort, but he quickly scrapped it, knowing it was absurd.

"How did he know about the apocalypse?" Five asked, cutting him off, getting irritated.

"I don't know, but listen, this whole jumping through time thing of yours and Zero's going through things, how did you... how did you know to do that?!" Klaus asked as he raced in front of Five to look at them.

"We didn't," Five slightly snapped, reaching his boiling point.

"It was mor-" Zero tried to say but was quickly cut off by Five.

"You'd realize that if you were actually sober." Five shot at the man as he began to walk away.

"Hey, I'm sober! I've been sober for two- almost two days now." Klaus announced a hint of pride. Zero smiled at his brother, glad the man was finally a step closer to leaving drugs behind, even if the man still had a long way to go.

Klaus' words caused Five to spin around, "Who are you kidding, Klaus? I've seen you fidgeting all day."

Klaus walked up to Five with a laugh, "Well, I guess we're both fighting our addictions then."

Five looked at him in disbelief, "I'm not an addict."

"Yeah, you are. You're addicted to a drug called the apocalypse." Klaus stated matter-of-factly, causing Zero to smirk.

"You're wrong." Five told him.

"First sign. Denial." Klaus said as Zero counted it off on his finger, nodding behind Klaus, causing Five to give the boy a threatening glare.

Klaus spun around to Zero, but Five appeared before him, pointing a finger in his face. "You and I, we're not the same."

Klaus laughed, "I've seen that look in the eye of someone who doesn't know who they are without their high anymore. Trust me. You just gotta let go."

Without a hint of hesitation, Five chucked the glass eye he had been carrying for years to the floor, causing it to shatter into a million pieces. Limping angrily out of the room, Klaus and Zero watched after the boy in silence.