03 | Three

Promise meant very little to me, especially from people I didn't particularly invest trust in yet. Promises from my friends - or old friends as I didn't even know if they were alive anymore - meant the world to me. If they told me they would do something, it was a guarantee on their life that they would. We - as Children - had so little, so we could promise so much and nothing would change. But yet, it meant everything to us to just promise one simple thing. But when Jasper Silas promised his assistance and resources to me in my quest to find my friends, I found herself trusting him. Maybe it was because at this point I truly had nothing to lose - even more so than before. Or maybe it was because his promise was a gift that was granted to me in such a hard time that it was the only thing I could honestly harbor and cherish.

There was no answer for why I accepted his promise and held him to it. All I knew was that he was fully devoting himself to do anything and everything for a girl he literally knew nothing about, and since it was so easy for him to do - to sacrifice his life and his time - I would willingly give him the benefit of the doubt in exchange for his services. That was the very little but very generous thing I could offer him - after all I had been through in life.

The promise Jasper gave to me echoed constantly through my mind as I laid in a real bed with a soft mattress that night after our encounter. I had showered with hot water, with soap and shampoo. I was able to stand in the water for twenty minutes without an automatic timer going off that shut down all the water pipes so that Shower Station was over. I was able to slide into a pair of warm pajamas and bury myself underneath freshly washed sheets that quite frankly smelled of a wonderful soothing lavender. I was able to be enriched in all these strange materialistic items that I had never seen or used before in my life. It was all so foreign to me, and when I turned on my side that night to talk to my friends that would normally be across from me, I found myself alone.

I wanted someone to talk to, perhaps tell of my new discoveries that I saw in the bathroom or bedroom. Someone to rant with about the exquisite dinner Jasper had made that night. For others, it was oddly simple, nothing to gawk at. But for me, the spaghetti and meatballs were heavenly.

I didn't expect Jasper to be so caring and let me into his home, and then give me these things to use and have. I wasn't looking for a caretaker, really. I was looking for a Saviour, someone like the person Luca believed so strongly in. If there really was one, all I needed was a sign. Something small, but big. I think now I understand everything Luca was saying about his God. He always talked highly of the man, always giving him praise and bowing on his knees with his head in his hands just to hold a conversation with Him. And though I don't think I was there yet, to do all Luca did, I believe I was given a sign. I went looking for help from a man that potentially saved my life as a child, and I had no relative idea that he was even going to help me, or that he was even alive. But he gave me a home, clothes, food, water, and everything else a person could need. That was my sign.

I asked for a sign and I was given one.

Jasper Silas was my sign.

This realization hit me like a rock and I found myself jerking up in the bed I was given, the sheets tangled in my fists. There was a sick feeling in my stomach as I repeated the words aloud: "Jasper Silas was my sign." It wasn't that I hated knowing that I needed to rely on Mr. Silas. It was more so the fact that Luca had been right all along and I had been foolish enough not to believe what he did. Perhaps if I listened then he would be with me, but because he wasn't, the only thing I could do was blame myself and use it as fuel to find him.

I sighed as I realized that even with it being my third day living in this house, I still wasn't going to get any sleep. I clumsily threw the covers off of my legs and swung them over the bedside, allowing them to make contact with the carpeted flooring. My feet - snuggled in socks - began moving to the door where I could see a faint line of light from underneath.

I opened the door and stepped into the hallway, seeing the light very much on. I peaked my head outside to see if Mr. Silas was anywhere in sight, and when I found that he was in fact not, I ventured farther into the hall. I wasn't worried to run into Mr. Silas, but he knew I had trouble sleeping and wanted me to be resting whenever I could.

It was eight in the morning, but between the blackout curtains and all the lights - aside from the hall lights - were off it seemed as if it were extremely late in the night or early in the morning. I found myself wandering down the stairs at the sound of a voice conversing and as I came down the stairs, I noticed Mr. Silas sitting on the couch with his phone to his ear as he talked to someone.

I didn't know who it was, but I entered the room anyway - deciding against using my invisibility ability to listen in. Mr. Silas looked up upon my entrance and he gave me a small smile before leaning against the cushions to continue his conversation. I didn't want to intrude, so I instead continued on with my observations and studying of the home I had been so kindly welcomed into.

I noticed a gorgeous table sitting between the staircase and the front door and immediately I was attracted to it. I don't know what it was, maybe the simplicity, or maybe the elegance. But I wasn't attracted to the new technology or the materialistic items that defined society. I was interested in the things that had a story, and this table certainly looked like it did.

The table was small, but not too small. It was a smooth mahogany with designs etched into the legs all the way down. There was a small drawer in the front with a brass handle and a small keyhole, yet as I tugged it open a bit, the key was sitting inside all alone. I smiled faintly at the thought of something having the ability to be locked yet it defies all rules and offers others the opportunity to lock it.

On the table sat a vase with some flowers in it. They were such a beautiful purple, but I hadn't the faintest clue what kind of flower they were. I had never seen them before, but to be fair, the only flowers I had seen before were sunflowers and roses because we were taught spelling and reading with pictures of colorful things back at Forefront.

"It's from my Great-Great-Grandfather. He built it with his own hands during the Civil War. Union," Mr. Silas's voice sounded from behind me. I turned around and noticed him leaning against the doorframe to the kitchen, his arms folded across his chest. "You heard of it?"

I nodded slowly and glanced back to the table, running my hand over the designs that were so carefully carved. "They thought us history, and basic things that children may learn. We are all very smart, you know," I told him. "We know chemistry, and we are very good at reading, and all it entails."

"I didn't know that," he admitted. "The others never mentioned it."

I shrugged and stepped away from the table, my eyes being drawn to the picture of us ten Lost Children that hung on the wall. "There were tests," I told him, his eyes narrowing in confusion. "Tests? Like, out of a textbook?"

"Textbook?"

He shook his head and waved his hand, "Nevermind. Please, continue on. I'm truly intrigued."

I sighed, "We took these tests, Forefront called them Formatives. These tests were based on our knowledge of material we were taught, you know, like school subjects. Or other times, they were based on our training. If you failed a Formative ... you were sent to Rehabilitation," I trailed off.

"They didn't directly tell us this, but after watching five of our friends disappear after our Formatives, we were able to put the pieces together. But if you would care to get technical, I am very intelligent, and if you add superpowers to the mix, I am a weapon."

Mr. Silas nodded, a solemn look resting on his face. "I learn something new every day."

I pursed my lips, not really knowing what to say in this particularly awkward situation. Luckily, it was not me to break the silence. "Uhm, you couldn't sleep?"

I shook my head, noticing him going to sit back down on the couch. "I need to find my friends," I told him, looking at his eyes as he lifted his head to glance at me.

"Actually, someone is calling me in about ..." he stopped to glance at his watch and nodded, "One minute."

"Someone as in -- "

"Someone who can help us," he interrupted, a smile on his face. He glanced down to the shirt I was wearing a chuckled, "You know, Cassie probably wore that shirt once," he said while shaking his head lightly. I smiled and held the shirt in my hands, "It's ... cute," I said, taking a moment to settle on that specific word.

It was a shirt with a band on it, though I wasn't familiar with it. It was called "The Band Perry." Mr. Silas grinned, "Yeah, she sure loved that band. 'If I Die Young' was her favorite," he replied while smiling to himself. "You speak of it as if I would understand," I told him. He laughed, "Yeah, I got a lot to teach you, kid."

Just as the words left his mouth, the phone in his hand began to make a ridiculous beeping noise and he picked it up, "Alright, um, this is important, it's about this entire situation. So ... well, just give me a sec," he told me before putting the phone to his ear. "Yes, yes, thank you," he said into the device.

He began talking with the person, saying things like "Are you sure?" and "Alright, I'll tell her." I didn't understand what else was going on in the conversation, but he was discussing me and the other Lost Children so I assumed he was filling the mystery person in on what was happening.

During the entire phone call, I found myself pacing around the room, my fingers tugging and toying with the hem of my shirt.

It must have been twenty minutes of my ridicule pacing and his hums and nods before he said 'thank you' and ended the call. I looked up and hopped over the ridge in the carpet before I stopped in front of him with the slightest bit of hope in my eyes. "Um, we need to sit for this," he said, motioning to the couch.

"That isn't good, sitting is not good," I rambled, worry overtaking my body and the worst possible thoughts flooding into my head. "No, no, Aniya. This is just a lot of information, okay?"

I hestitantly nodded and slumped onto the couch, him settling beside me. "You know, I used to be an officer manager for Tony Stark," he began, his foot rapidly tapping against the hardwood. "Do you know who that is?" I shook my head in reply to his question, not recalling ever hearing the name Tony Stark, but the last name still rang a bell in my mind. "Well, Tony Stark is a billionaire whose father helped Captain America in World War Two, you know who that is?" I closed my eyes briefly and tried to remember where I heard the Stark name. Captain America sounded strange, and I didn't remember ever learning about him, but I knew I heard the name Stark, I just couldn't place it. "Which one? His father or Mr. America?" I wondered, referencing the question Mr. Silas had asked me.

"Either," he replied. I shook my head, and he sighed. "I'll catch you up on your Avengers and superheroes later, but basically, Tony Stark is a superhero in the world and has a lot of connections," he explained. It clicked in my head as he told me this. Forefront never let us learn about superheroes or anything of the sorts because they feared it would instill competition or insecurities in our minds, so Captain America did not sound familiar, but perhaps I would learn about him and other superheroes in the future, maybe even these Avengers Mr. Silas mentioned.

"Stark and the Avengers were in the Battle of New York with you, so he knows well that you aren't a myth like most people believe. He was excited but confused when I told him about you, but he's offered to help," he said. I had to think a moment. I was in the Battle of New York, and so were these superheroes. I do remember seeing someone flying with a large hammer, and then someone made of iron, so I had seen these Avengers before, but I never asked questions about them because I was never supposed to.

"Really? He's offered to help?"

"Yes, he actually gave me a name of someone who can help. Stark said he'll do whatever you need, but he wants you to keep the Lost Children thing to a minimum because there's this thing going around that puts limitations on people with special abilities like you and the others. It's called the Sokovian Accords, but that's not important. But it's a reason the others are in hiding with families we can trust," he elaborated, watching me carefully for a reaction. But I couldn't react, I had to process all this new information. "If the world finds out about you, there will be a big problem. Do you understand?"

"Yes, yes, of course," I said quickly, not meaning to be rude but trying to get more information. "Alright, well, he gave me the name Peter Parker. Apparently, he's Spider-Man, another superhero I will tell you all about soon, and he gave me an address."

"A man of spiders? And one more, you said 'apparently' as in you didn't know this. Is his identity secret and Mr. Stark just tells people his secret?"

Mr. Silas chuckled, "Kind of, but he trusts me so ... " he trailed off, then exaggerating his next word. "Anyway, the address is the kid's school. If you go there today at three you will catch him walking out from class. Sound easy?"

I nodded. "Okay, that's the plan. The first part of the plan. We'll start simple, alright? You tell him your name, then tell him Tony Stark sent you and that you know he's Spider-Man. He'll probably deny it, but just keep talking and don't let him interrupt you. Tell him you're one of the Lost Children, and when he tries to deny that, tell him they aren't a myth and that you can prove it, but you know, not in the schoolyard. You need him to trust you, Aniya."

"What next?"

"Tell him you need his help to find the other Lost Children. If he's still doubting you, ask him to call Tony Stark. He'll explain everything from there on. Okay?"

"Yes, fine, whatever. I just want my friends back," I rushed out. Mr. Silas nodded in complete understanding. "You will get them back, Peter will help you. And when you find them, come back here."

"Why?"

"You can stay with me," he smiled, "It'll be like a sleepover. I'll be the head of an orphanage and you'll be the orphans," he joked with a laugh. "Yes, because that worked so well the first time you sent me to an orphanage," I joked back, a small smile on my face. He grinned and looked down at his hands. "I'll call Cassie to get some supplies, she'll come home, and we can help you into the real world, you'll be able to be a kid."

"What about our powers?"

"Your powers make you who you are. Only you get to decide what to do with them."

"Okay," I said back, feeling a bit better as he assured me he wouldn't stop me from using my abilities."Great! We'll start learning everything you need to know right now, and then you'll get to meet the one and only Peter Parker."