Freedom is Learning to Let Go

Chapter 1

"Your life happens in the blink of an eye." It is a common saying among people, often brought up by those who are aging and feeling the youth sweat out of their bodies with each passing day.

The memories of their younger years is the only thing to hold as time drifts further down into the abyss, creeping closer to death as it continues down it's path. Even youthful generations find themselves clinging to a period of ignorance, bliss and simplicity.

Ironically, it is these same children who rush to adulthood, and soon find that growing up only increases these melancholy feelings.

There are of course, exceptions to this deduction. These people do not have a tie to the past, often due to their own desire to lose this connection.

Why measure the time after years of pain?

Adulthood did not come to them as a punishment, but rather a blessing. A child cannot withstand higher degrees of pain, and the need to survive drove them into the land of maturity.

One such exception is Klaus Hargreeves. Or as Reginald would call him, Number Four.

It was no secret that this man's seven children were emotionally stunted.

However, they eventually learned to find comfort in each other. A team of extraordinary children with extraordinary abilities. None of them would ever admit that they are stronger together, but deep down in the depths of their souls it was an undeniable fact.

It just so happened this fact was only true for six of Mr. Hargreeves' children.

In an Academy based on surreal physical abilities and unexplainable gifts, there is no need for a child without a gift.

"There is just nothing special about you, Number Four."

The statement became branded into the boy's brain.

Klaus's lack of special abilities sent him down a completely different life than his siblings.

While Ben and Diego played on their gameboys, Allison and Luther snuck moments with each other, and Five and Vanya discussed a variety of philosophical ideas, Number Four was burdened by solitude.

In his lonely world, a dull ache was constantly burning in his chest. The pain of being excluded and forgotten.

The air he breathed grew closer and closer to water as years went by, suffocating him in silence.

At age 12, his childhood came to an end. Instead of blissful ignorance, play times, study times and a set schedule, his mind dwelled on the idea of being numb.

The glorious feeling of nothing. The amazing knowledge of knowing your heart beats, but fails to feel. The relief of not caring.

Of course, shutting out pain was not as easy as flipping a switch.

Klaus was well aware of this, his concealed envy for Grace only growing stronger as he saw her fail to understand basic emotions.

God, what he would pay to live like that!

By 13, the boy had come to find that everything in this world had a price, that anything was possible with a will.

So he used the only thing he had: his beauty.

He never knew his birth mother, so he could only guess where he inherited his attractive qualities from.

People found different things about him attractive.