Family of Secrets (Rewrite)

Moving

When Percy woke up, she saw a man in the room. He was tall and had black hair with blue eyes.

She had seen him before, or at least pictures of him. Pictures her mother showed her in secret when she asked about her father and other relatives the kids at the kindergarten talked about.

He was her uncle mommy always said, but never mentioned a name, she only ever referred to him as 'my brother' or 'your uncle'.

She had told her daughter stories about the shenanigans they would get into as kids and how their mother thought it would be a good punishment to let them try and make their own cookies, one time when they stole 'Alfie's' cookies before dinner, to see how much work gets into those small things, and how the kitchen looked like the batter exploded when they were finished.

It was everywhere, on the ceiling, on the walls, on top of many shelves, even in their ears, but the siblings somehow still had enough for a few partially burned cookies.

While the children helped their mother and 'A' cleaning, they had to recount every step they took to find the point it went wrong.

She couldn't remember what exactly it was that went wrong but she knew it was her brother's fault.

Percy had laughed so much when her mother had told her that and asked for more stories in private, but now she couldn't help but tear up as she thought about it.

She would never see her mommy again.

Never talk to her again, never hug her again.

The man noticed her sniffling and turned around to greet her with a soft smile. She could see some tears in the corner of his eyes as he reached out to gently rub her shoulder, but she flinched, as he pulled his arm back be decided to just talk in a soft, soothing, voice.

Trying his best not to get angry at what her stepfather clearly put her through.

"Hello Percy, I'm Bruce, your uncle. Sally left a few papers, one of them asked me to take care of you, and I would like to, but only if you want to."

Percy looked at him with suspicion in her eyes. Bruce could clearly see the fear within them.

"Mommy talked about you. Will mommy wake up?" The girl asked shyly, she knew the answer but couldn't help but hope she was wrong.

Her mother had told her so many stories about the Greek mythology and how they imagined the life after death. If it was real, Percy was sure her mother would get into Elysium, there was no way that the judges would take away her memories and send her to the Asphodel or fields of punishment.

Gently, Bruce put a hand on her shoulder, making sure to show her that she could push it away if she wanted. "I'm sorry Percy. She is gone."

Her eyes lost all hope but still seemed to hold some curiosity. She thought about what he had said earlier about her living with him, that her mommy asked him to take care of him.

Logically she knew she could trust him. Her mother had told her enough stories about him and even how they coped when their own parents died before their eyes, but a small part of her couldn't help but be afraid.

"I know you. You were the one on mommy's pictures. She talked about you. You blew up Alfie's Kitchen while making cookies." He chuckled softly at the memory but stopped when he saw the hesitance in her posture. "I-if I come with you, you won't hurt me? You're not like smelly-Gabe?"

Bruce didn't really know her yet, but it already broke his heart to hear what she feared.

That monster of a man had killed her mother and most likely abused the two.