Given An Unwanted Second Chance

Chapter 21

It was a long day after that brief moment of respite.

Nothing horrible happened, but there was an air of sadness that permeated the atmosphere.  Be it from Dust's death, or Killer's terrible temper, I wasn't sure.  Either way, it was sad.

Gradient did his level best to keep the tension away, chatting happily about all the techniques he knew about drawing and painting.  It made me smile to see him trying to stay positive.

Eventually, the time came to sleep.  Well, my body was saying it was time for sleep, anyway.  I really didn't want to...not with how the dreams were lately.  Alas, if I wanted to function, I'd need sleep.

Gradient wanted to stay with me as I slept, just in case I had another panic.  I reluctantly agreed, and now we were just in the bed.  Gradient fell asleep pretty easily, though from natural tiredness or my weak aura, I didn't know.

It took me a while to sleep, but it came eventually.

~~~~~

"#&*@(!&, look!  You can see the big dipper!"

I opened my eyes, looking up at the stars.  I saw a small hand pointing up in my peripheral.  I followed the pointing finger up into the sky.  There was the big dipper.

I smiled, the next words flowing easily from my mouth.  "Indeed, Ethan.  Can you show me the little dipper?"

Ethan?  Who's Ethan?

A small voice giggled.  I looked down to my right, seeing my arm wrapped around a young boy.  "Yeah!  It's...uh...there!"

His hand moved a little, and I looked up again, seeing the little dipper now.

There were footsteps behind us, but Ethan seemed to take no notice of it.

"A child?  Hmm..."

I tried not to flinch at Nightmare's voice, not wanting to startle the child.  I opted to just ignore him, humming slightly.  "Good job!  Say, how's your family life going?"

"Oh, they're just the best!  We had pancakes this morning!"

What I wouldn't give for a peaceful breakfast...or breakfast at all...

I blinked slightly at the voice in the back of my head that spoke.  It was definitely my voice, but it had a strange resonance to it.  Kinda like it wasn't exactly...me that thought it, if that makes sense.

Ethan snuggled closer to me, kicking his feet over the edge.

Edge?

I glanced down now, realizing we were sitting on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean.  I subconsciously stiffened, breaking the facade that I was fully engrossed in the memories.  Ethan looked up at me, confusion dancing in his features.  "Are you okay?  You usually like this view..."

I relaxed, smiling at the child.  "O-Of course I'm okay, Ethan.  Just wasn't paying attention to my surroundings, is all."

"You always ask me about my adoptive family, but what about yours?  You never tell me about yours!"

...hmm.  I guess Ethan did not know that I was in the foster system rather than actually being adopted...

My mouth moved on its own again.  "Oh, we had a nice breakfast, too.  Not as grand as pancakes, but it was...something."

Ethan frowned.  "!&*($^, you're hiding something again..."

I smiled softly.  "Perceptive one, huh?  Okay, okay, I haven't...actually eaten today."