Different // an Umbrella Academy fan fic

Prologue

On October 1st 1999 something unexpected happened to a young British woman who was about 20 years of age and worked as a waitress between her university classes.

The young woman, who's name was Clara Baker, was on her way to the local library to finish her university work when it happened.

Clara was just one street away from her destination when she doubled over in pain. Her hands immediately clutched hold of her stomach as she stopped in her tracks. She screamed out in pain, causing passers by to stare at the young girl, although none of them stopped to help her. As she clutched her stomach, Clara felt it begin to swell in size causing her to scream even more, she didn't know what was going on. Through her pain and confusion, she realised that she was standing in the middle of the pavement still, and managed to slowly move out of the way where she leaned against a wall and collapsed onto the floor. The tears rolled down her face as she called out for someone to help her. Most of the strangers ignored the young girl, however there was a couple who knelt next to her and tried to help.

The man declared that he was a doctor and that he could help so as he took a moment to figure out what was going on with the young woman, his girlfriend or fiancé, Clara wasn't sure, reassured her that everything was going to be fine.

Clara didn't believe her but before she could voice her thoughts, another surge of pain coursed through her body. It was then that the Doctor announced that the young girl was about to give birth.

Clara screamed out in shock, and pain, and gripped tightly onto the lady's hand.

Between thirty to forty-five minutes later Clara held a small baby girl in her arms. The two strangers who had helped her give birth to her daughter had introduced themselves as Rory and Amy and offered Clara a space in their house until she could sort out her own living situation, to which she gratefully accepted. Glad to be able to live somewhere away from her abusive boyfriend.

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A few weeks later, Clara and her daughter, who she had named Eleanor, were still living with Rory and Amy when she received an out of the blue visit from a strange man. It was just Clara at home with her baby that day as both Amy and Rory were at work and so she was hesitant to open the door when she heard a loud knocking on the front door.

Slowly, Clara stood from her seat on the sofa, her daughter in her arms, and walked over to door, hesitantly opening it. As the door swung open, Clara found herself face-to-face with an old man. She furrowed her eyebrows, confused as to who he was and what he was doing at her current place of residence.

Before she could even ask any of the questions that were whirling around in her head, the man stepped forward and entered the house. He finally spoke as he entered the living room, taking a seat on one of the sofas. "My name is Reginald Hargreeves," he told her as Clara sat down on the sofa opposite, cradling her daughter. "I'm here to collect your daughter." He noticed the look of horror and confusion on the young woman's face and elected to ignore it. "I will pay you, of course. In fact, you will receive a very high amount of money in exchange for your child." He pulled out a check book from his pocket as Clara's face fell, she held her daughter closer to her body not wanting to ever let her go. "How much is it you need? Hmm?" The man continued, writing out a check. "Five-hundred thousand sound like enough?" He ripped the check out of the book and placed it on the coffee table in front of Clara who shook her head.

"No. No. I will not give you my child."

"Oh, but she is a special one. She has powers that have yet to be discovered and when they are discovered she'll be able to learn how to control them by living with me. I'm sure you won't know how to help her."