Something to Remember

Chapter 1:Hope

Splash! James hadn't been watching his step and had walked right into a large puddle. "Great" he thought, the puddle had been caused by a lone leak in the glass tunnel around him. Rapture had many problems and a simple leak coming from the outside was another. James had been on his way to a Little Sister orphanage not far from his apartment. He had nothing better do with his time and he enjoyed spending time with the girls until they went off to a "Better Life". James knew what that life was but thought he could be something better to them before they went away. Something to remember.

James was only thirteen years old. He had blonde hair and grayish blue eyes. He was a bit taller for someone his age and was rather kind. He lived alone in his apartment his parents left him when they died. He was allowed to live there alone and earned some money here and there to pay for anything he may need.

James had only been ten when he and his parents moved to Rapture. For a while his life was great but when he was twelve his mother died of cancer, starting tragedy in his life. Five months later his father was returning from his repair job when someone shot him just for the paper in his wallet. James was saddened by their deaths but continued to move on, living his life in Rapture.

James was just a few blocks from the orphanage when he spotted two men in ally way. One of them was holding a revolver to the other man's chest demanding whatever money he had on him. "Hmm" James said to himself "Sad, having to steal one's money "James pulled his hand out of his pocket and aimed it at the armed man. In less than five seconds a swarm of humming bees shot out of his hand and were surrounding the thief, stinging him most painfully. The gun man ran off down the street and around the corner, the bees flew back to James's hand. The victim of the robbing thanked James and took off at a brisk speed down the street. James carried two plasmids on him, Swarm and Winter Blast; he knew his limits and would never turn into a crazed splicer. He always used them for protection never for his own greed.

"Here it is…" James had arrived at the orphanage and stepped inside.

"James!"

"Hey, Lily."

Lily was one of the young girls waiting to be moved to the lab in another part of Rapture. All of them knew James and hugged him excitedly. He was just about the only good thing they had in their lives now. Through all the chaos he was dragged into large room and sat against the wall. Many of the girls sat around him; asking him to color or play with the stuffed animals they had. About five minutes into this James noticed a little girl huddled on a bed in the far side of the room, she was crying. James got up and walked over and sat down next to her. The girl stopped crying and looked at James.

"H… hi" she spoke to him in a quiet voice.

"Hi, what's your name?" he asked cheerfully.

"Mary"

"That's a pretty name"

Mary giggled at this and started to look a bit happy.

"Why are you sitting over here all alone?" James asked

Mary started to look depressed again and started to lightly cry.

"My p… parents told me I would be b…b…better off, so they gave me to these doctors to take care of m…me. I don't know anyone and nobody wants t…to be my friend."

"Well I'll be your friend Mary"

She looked at him with great amounts of happiness. James began to draw on the wall next to the bed and soon Mary joined in. For the rest of the day James and Mary played together running around and coloring. This made both very happy and neither wanted it to end. At about 8:30 James was ready for rest and he walked Mary back to her bed.

"Will I see you tomorrow?" she asked, James who was sitting on the bed.

James wasn't planning on coming back, but he wanted to spend more time with her.

"Yes" he said. Mary smiled, gave him long hug, and lay down.

"Goodnight" he said as he left.

James arrived at his apartment and walked inside. He wasn't hungry so he headed to bed. He was happy about today and looked forward to seeing Mary again tomorrow. Soon James was in bed and went instantly to sleep.

For two weeks James and Mary were always together. Everyday James would come to the orphanage and play with her. Mary was always at his side holding his hand; she always lost her smile when James wasn't with her. James enjoyed having someone that wanted to be in his company and loved it when she held his hand it made Rapture seem less terrifying knowing someone loved you. Into the third week James was called away from playing with Mary, by a doctor. He told her he would be right back and went to see what the doctor wanted.

"James I've noticed you and Mary"

"Yeah she is very sweet girl. Is there a problem doc?"

"Unfortunately yes. Mary is planned to be sent to the lab to begin her little sister life."

James' heart sank.

"No…No this can't happen, it can't. Is there any way I can stop this?"

"I'm sorry but there isn't James. Though…"

"WHAT. Though what?"

"There is a new project happening that could keep you to together. You wouldn't become a Big Daddy but someone that takes care of a little sister that live with them. It's known as project Zatta"