Shattered Tears

Chapter 3: Learning about Hell

Even after a bath and a good nights rest my mind is scattered, and it's hard to fit the pieces together to make a complete picture. I don't know why I'm here of all places, who I am, or what I am here for. I've learned that I remember generic things like countries, cities, restaurants, clothing brands, etc. but I have no specific memories of my past, including people, specific places, names... I don't even remember my own name. I'll have to figure something out for now, but to me, it doesn't seem very important.
I'm back in the tan room, sitting on my bed with a notepad, writing things down that I know, and things that I think could happen.
I know that mind communication isn't normal.
I know that escaping a hospital where the doctors have guns isn't normal.
I know that it's winter, wherever I am.
I know the English language, and I don't think I know any others.
I know that I am probably around sixteen years old.
I think these people who rescued me, are good.
I think I can trust Rowen, her son, and Roman.
I think they will take care of me.
I don't think I can stay here forever. I don't want to be a burden.
I sigh thinking about everything I might be missing, but I can't keep my mind focused on any of it. I'm not tired... If anything I'm anxious. Roman walks into the room, a concerned smile playing at the edges of his lips. I sigh and scribble something down onto the paper in front of me.
What do I look like? I pick up the notepad and show it to him.
He looks up and smiles at me playfully, quirking an eyebrow at me. He takes the notebook, Haven't you looked in the mirror yet?
I take the notebook back and shake my head, writing quickly, I think I'm scared.
When roman sees the note he nods in understanding, You are very pretty. Blue eyes, short-ish white hair, light skin, some freckles, you're very small.
I twirl a strand of my hair around my finger, still afraid to look in the mirror, but very tempted. I look back up to Roman, "Can you show me?"
He points to the mirror on the wall and looks at me questioningly. I nod, and he immediately stands up, moving toward the mirror. He gently lifts it off the wall, and turns it toward me. When I see my reflection, I see what he meant by saying I'm small. I feel tiny. My hair is pure white cut at an angle, longer in the front, short in the back. my cheeks are pink, and very lightly freckled. If you don't look closely you can't even see the small angel-kisses. My eyelashes are surprisingly dark compared to the hair on my head and eyebrows. My eyes are blue, but Roman didn't even hint at how blue they are. They're like the ocean, and they stand out in comparison to everything else. My lips are pink, and slightly chapped. I can't help but smile, I'm actually kind of pretty... I think. Roman is smiling when I look at him, I smile back and politely nod at him to put the mirror back. He does, and comes to sit with me again. I pick up the notepad again, and begin to write.
Thank you, Roman. I say.
It's not a problem. Why were you afraid? He writes in reply.
I think for a moment before writing back, I think I'm just insecure about everything right now.  I turn the notebook around, and he nods in understanding. I think of a question to ask, and only one comes to mind, Do you know sign-language?
A smile spreads across his face and he lifts his hand to sign "yes." Suddenly, like a freight train, my numbers fill up my vision completely and symbols, sign-language hand movements, the entire language fills my mind, bombarding me, and catching me entirely off guard. I bring my hands up to grasp my head, which I feel like is about to explode. For a moment I can't breathe. My head is pounding, and then as suddenly as my numbers appeared, they disappear, but the knowledge remains. I blink away the pain, and look to Roman, who has put his hand on my arm to make sure I'm okay.
I nod at him, giving him a light smile of reassurance, letting him know I'm fine. At the moment I'm too wary to let him know what just happened. My mind just downloaded an entire language, stemming from one sign. For now, until I feel as if I can trust these people without a doubt, I'm going to keep these developments to myself.
After a few more notes back and forth with Roman, I hear a knock at the door. "Come in!" I say, my voice still hoarse.
I'm shocked to see who walks through the door. I see familiar blonde hair and gold eyes...It's the man from the hospital, with Rowen standing at his side. Roman stands and exits the room without a sound, and the Blonde man takes a seat in the chair beside the bed.
"You." I say, "You helped me escape."
He nods, "Good, you remember." His hand moves to his head and he scratches it awkwardly, "I'm glad you're ok." I can't help but stare at him for a moment... He's very handsome.
"Me too." I reply, "I'm happy to see you're doing well after all that. How did you get out?"
"I have my ways," he chuckles, dropping his hand to his lap. "We have a lot to explain to you."
I nod, "I think I'm ready."
"I got a look at your file at the hospital before all the craziness started." He says, "I don't know your first name, but your last name is Monroe, although it won't be in any records in the world. Every prisoner in that facility has been wiped of their memories and erased from every database on the planet."
They wiped my memory? Why? I think to myself.
I'm getting to that. The man replies in my mind, and it surprises me, but I don't react.
"So my last name is Monroe..." I muse out loud, "but other than on that piece of paper, I don't exist anywhere else in the world."
"That's correct," he says, "Rowen let me know that she told you a bit about Others Corp., and I'd like to fill you in on that a little more." He pauses, "but you need to understand that the more you know, the more danger you'll be in if they find you."
I nod, "I'm willing to take that risk."
"Good." He says, "then I'll start. You are a part of a group of very rare people, born without a blood type. The term used for these people is Zero-Type. Each person in this group is born with innate special abilities. Others Corp. is a company that hunts, brainwashes, and uses Zero-Types like yourself to gather more and more of your own kind. We believe they are building an army." He breathes, "You, however, are a special case. Every zero type is born with one ability, but you are different. None of the doctors know the extent of your gifts, and there is no telling how much potential you have, but to them, you are a definite risk to their entire operation. This is the reason I was sent to retrieve you. It is entirely your decision on whether or not you are involved in the process of taking them down. If you'd like, you'd be safe here in this town if you decided not to be a part of it."
"I..." I stutter, "I think I need some time to recover, and learn more about myself..." I pause, "but after I learn more about myself and my gifts, I want in.... I want to help." But even more, anger spurs inside of me, I want revenge.
He nods. Smiling, "Ah, I forgot!" He chuckles lightly, "My name is Liam Pain. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"You too." I say, smiling lightly, "So, where do we go from here?"
"Well," he says, "seeing that you're around sixteen or seventeen, we can enroll you in a school for kids like you, to help you learn about your abilities and how to keep them under control, in addition to regular school curriculum." On of his eyebrows quirks up as he waits for my response.
It's exactly what I need, I think to myself, a safe place to learn about myself and this place... The thought spurs a question, "where am I anyways?"
"You're in a town called Howl's Grove, we are on an island just off the coast of California. Although, this island isn't found on most maps." Rowen chimes in. "That's why you're so safe here. Roman and Liam went to retrieve you yesterday, and I'm glad Roman found you out there.... They brought you back here by biplane."
"Oh, ok" my voice cracks, still healing, and I clear my throat.
"Do you want me to get you some tea?" Rowen asks.
"Yes please," I whisper, not wanting to hurt my voice any further.
She smiles, "Liam, do you want anything?"
"Some coffee would be amazing, Rowe." He scratches the back of his head and a light laugh escapes him.
She rubs his arm in a quick friendly gesture, then smiles at me before leaving the room. I look at Liam, then look down. I don't know what to say, not for loss of words, but the opposite. I have so many questions and I don't know where to start...
"If you're wondering, Rowen knows about the mental speaking between you and me." He speaks suddenly  breaking the silence.
My eyes go wide, "she knows?"
Nodding his head, he looks me in the eyes, "If it's any comfort to you, I also attend the school you'll be sent to. I am a student, but I double as a councillor every other day to make some extra money." 
"Ah," I say, "are there a lot of people?" Why am I getting nervous?
"Yes, this city is massive. However, we have a very tight-knit community. Everybody knows everybody."
And I don't even know myself... I think harshly.
"Soon enough you will," Liam answers out loud, "I'll help you. Hell, even now you have some great connections. Rowen is the owner of all of the medical facilities on the island, and multiple others around the world. Not many people have close ties with her at all, but she seems to really like you... You have me, as your first friend I'll make sure you're protected at all times, and I promise you'll have everything you need."
I can't help but smile, "thank you."
Rowen walks back into the room with two steaming mugs in her hands. She hands Liam and me our respective cups and sits on the edge of the bed, "I heard a little bit of your conversation as I got closer to the room, and I agree with Liam's promise. You won't have anything to worry about as long as you're with us, but if at some point you want to leave, we won't hold you here unless there is an imminent threat on your life." She pauses, "you are my responsibility now."
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"Well," Rowen says, "Because you are under the age of 18, in the government here, you have to have a legal guardian. For now, and for the foreseeable future, I am your foster parent." She says, "unless, one day you want that to change."
"Ah, okay!" I say, "good to know... And I was wondering... What's your last name, Rowen?"
"It's Noble." She replies with a smile, "and I'm glad to know you're alright with all of this stuff."
I nod, "of course... And I never got to say..." I look to Rowen, then to Liam, "Thank you; both of you, for rescuing me."
Rowen leans in, and gently wraps her small arms around me in a hug. I hug her back, a warm happiness spreading through me. This feels right. In all this madness, I'm glad to have some sort of refuge. Even though I just met all these people, I feel close to them. Am I just desperate to know someone, because I don't know anything else? Even if those things are the case, I think this is a good thing. I let my thoughts wander.
I'm positive that it is, Liam speaks in an answer to my thoughts, it's always good to make relationships.
Rowen releases me from the hug just as Ash bursts into the room, "Mom!" He tries to catch his breath, "Can I share a plate of pie with... With..." He looks at me, "I don't know your name."
Liam chuckles, "yeah we will have to fix that..." He pauses, "Ash, help me brainstorm names for our guest."
"Ah! Ok! But let me go grab pie first!" He looks to me quickly, "do you want some?"
I nod, pie sounds really nice right now.
After about two minutes, Ash comes back with a plate holding two slices of chocolate, peanut-butter pie. He sets the plate on the bed, and climbs up to sit next to me. After handing me a fork, he looks at Liam, "got any ideas yet?"
Liam just laughs, "Missy?"
Ash crinkles his nose and giggles, shoving a huge bite of pie into his mouth, "no... Too girly..."
"She's a girl though!" Liam laughs.
"Yeah but she's cooler than that," Ash speaks after swallowing his pie, "Rogue?"
Rowen chimes in then, "No comic book names, Ash." She giggles, "What about Carmen?"
I shake my head, it doesn't sound like a name I could get used to.
"Well," Ash says, "what about Ace?!"
I look at him, and smile, "I like that."
He smiles back with chocolate and crumbs on his face, and I can't help but giggle. He's too cute.
Liam laughs, "I guess it's decided then! Your name is Ace Monroe, for now."
I smile, accepting it, and look at Rowen, who grabs my hand. I then look at the pie on the plate next to me, and Ash hands me a fork. My stomach growls quietly and I pick up the plate, quickly taking a bite of the pie. The flavors spread through my mouth, and it's almost magical. It's so sweet, and the bitterness of the chocolate balances it so well. I finish quickly while the others talk, Roman has come back into the room, and he writes notes and gets involved with everyone. They look like they're having a great time.
Eventually, Rowen shoo's all the men out of the room, "it's time to change your bandages," she says, "I wanted to ask you, if you're feeling well enough, tomorrow, I have something I'd like to show you."
I tilt my head a bit after lifting my shirt over my shoulders, "yeah, sure."
She smiles and gently starts unwrapping the binding on my feet. They honestly don't hurt much at all anymore, and it's only been one day. When she pulls off the bandage, it's even better than before.
"If only all people could heal as quickly," she muses, "you're lucky."
I shrug, "is it because of my gifts?"
"Just one of the many, that still lie hidden." She smiles.
My mind flashes back to the woods suddenly, and I remember the electric blue eyes of the wolf I saw. I look at the paintings of wolves that hang on the walls, missing the beautiful black wolf that followed me in the woods.
"Rowen?" I say, and she looks up at me with a smile.
"Yes?" She says, wrapping my feet in new bandages.
"Do you like wolves?" I ask.
She nods her head "yes, very much."
"Why?" I question further.
"They symbolize tight bonds, family, protection, and most importantly, trust." She replies, securing the bandages.
She and I talk for a while, until she finishes changing the bandages on my shoulder. After she's done, she leaves me to go to bed. So I lay in the dark, thinking about all I've learned today. My clock reads 10:00 p.m. And suddenly I feel overwhelmingly tired. Honestly I am ready to sleep, to dream about the eyes of the wolf that was going to be the last thing I saw before death. I imagine his eyes... They comfort me for some reason.
I let myself breathe, and think, and it's not long before my mind settles and allows me to sleep.
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Heyoooooo! This chapter is purely informational, sorry about the lack of action, I know I suck. But anywayyyssss I'll update as often as possible, and the next chapter should be way more interesting. ;) I've got so much work to do, so I think I'll take a nap. . . . . . Not really, I'm definitely a responsible adult. *sips coffee from a sippy-cup*
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