W H Y?《Umbrella Academy》

No. 6

((Tw; Runaway and Eating disorder))

-17 years ago-

"During extreme weather conditions, a climber must possess the wisdom to determine"

Grace rang her bell and caught the children's attention.

"When evacuation is inevitable."

All eight children rushed to their places at the dinner table, Number Zero walked to try and delay getting to his spot and dealing with another dreaded meal. He knew some of his siblings have caught on but he didn't want to say anything.

"A controlled Alpine descent begins with the girding of one's lions and the anchoring rope to one's enemy the mountain."

All the children stood behind their chairs and waited for their father to let them sit and eat.

"The Dulfersitz rappel is the preferred method for decent when a rope is the only available tool but must be regarded as a last resort."

Reginald stood behind his chair and pulled it out before moving to sit in it.

"Begin by looping the rope..."

"Sit," Reginald said, all the children rushed to sit in their spots and began eating.

"A screen anchor must be used if the rope is successfully retrieved, from the face of the mountain."

Number One and Number Three shot each other glances across the table to each other.

"Tightly knot the ends of the rope. Once anchored, thread the double-ended rope through the legs, front to back,"

Number Two was scratching something onto the arm of his chair.

"And around the buttocks."

Number Four was rolling a joint under the table.

"It is of utmost importance,"

Number Six was reading a book and eating, Number Seven was eating.

"That the rope is drawn under the gluteal muscles, not through the crevice between the glutes."

Number Five was staring at his father and Number Zero pushed his plate away from him, causing everyone to look up at him, and look at his untouched plate of food. Reginald raised an eyebrow but continued eating.

"Proceed by holding the rope diagonally..."

Five grabbed his knife and stabbed it into the table. The silverware clattered on the table. Everyone looked at him, "Number Five." Reginald said. "I have a question." Five said, clasping his hands. "Knowledge is an admirable goal, but you know the rules. No talking during mealtime. You are interrupting Herr Carlson" Reginald said.

Five shoved his plate away from him, and everyone looked at him. "I want to time travel." Reginald looked at him, "No." he said simply. "But I'm ready. I've been practicing my spatial jumps, just like you said." Five said pushing himself out of his chair and standing up. He jumped from his chair to next to his father. "See?" Five said.

"A spatial jump is trivial when compared with the unknowns of time travel. One is like sliding along the ice, the other is akin to descending blindly into the depths of the freezing water and reappearing as an acorn." Reginald said. "Well, I don't get it." Five said.

"Hence why you're not ready." Number Seven shook her head and Number Zero stood up ready to stop Five. "I'm not afraid." Zero walked closer to Five, now standing behind the empty chair next to Alison. "Fear isn't the issue. The effects it might have on your body, even on your mind are far too unpredictable. Now I forbid you to talk about this anymore."

Five smirked and shook his head. Zero was now standing next to Five ready to stop him from doing anything stupid. Five turned and went to leave the room, Zero followed. "Number Five! Number Zero! You haven't been excused!" Reginald called after the two. Five ran around the corner, and Zero ran after him.

"Come back here!" Reginald said but he was too late, the two had already left the house and the door slammed shut. Five pushed the gate open and Zero was right behind him.

Run, boy, run! The sun will be guiding you. Run, boy, run. They're trying to stop you.

Five started to speed up, and Zero grabbed his blazer, traveling with him.

They're dying to stop you

They appeared not that far ahead of when they left.

Run, boy, run! The sun will be guiding you. Run, boy, run. They're dying to stop you.

 They jumped again and landed in the summer. "Not ready my ass." Five looked at Zero, then at the headline of the newspaper, June 7, 2003. They were seven months in the future. "You have to go home." He said looking at Zero. "No."

"Go." Five said pushing Zero back towards the direction of their house. 

"Fine." Zero hugged Five and stood by the gate.

Run, boy, run! Run, boy, run!

Five took a few steps before jumping again.

Break out from society.

Five appeared in again in the winter and Zero looked at him in complete wonder as he walked by from the shop.

Five walked some more and jumped for the last time.

Tomorrow is another day, and you won't have to hide away. You'll be a man, boy. But for now, it's time to run, time to run

Five appeared again and when he got there everything was destroyed and on fire. He turned around and ran back to the academy, or rather, where the academy once stood. Five stood in front of what was left of the gate to the academy. 

Run, boy, run! This ride is a journey to...

"Vanya!"

Run, boy, run!

"Ben! Dad!"

Run, boy, run! This race is a prophecy...

"James!"

"Anyone!"

Run, boy, run! And disappear in the trees...

Five clenched his fists and tried to jump back. When it didn't work, Five tried again. It failed once again. He tried again. "Come on!" He shouted over the winds. When it didn't work, Five looked at his hands. "Shit." Five dropped his hands and looked in front of him before turning around and looking all around.

Five kept looking around, everything was gone. He fell to his knees in front of the rubble of the academy.
-Now-

"I survived on scraps. Canned food, cockroaches. Anything I could find." Five chuckled

Vanya looked at him astonished. 17 years on scraps. "You know that rumor that twinkies have an endless shelf life?" Vanya nodded. "Well, it's total bull shit." James giggled and whispered 'knew it.' "I can't even imagine," Vanya said. "You do whatever it takes to survive, or you die," Five said. "So we adapted. Whatever the world thew at us, we found a way to overcome it." Vanya sat up, "We?" she asked. "Delores," James said.

"You got anything stronger?" Five asked holding up his cup.