The Secret Saturdays Fanfiction: The Found Children
Hm. I wonder what food I can find tonight. I'm so hungry. I wonder how great Ashley is doing. Probably better than I am.
My stomach rumbled loudly as I groaned. I was sneaking through the forest by a farm looking for some food in my blue robe, blue leotard with a yellow belt (has yellow outline and black center in shape of three circles), and hood over my head. All of a sudden, a wonderful scent intoxicated my nine year old brain. I could do nothing except follow my nose to the source.
After walking a few feet, I came to a campsite in a clearing near what looked to be a crop circle. Or so I hear them to be. I looked around and found the center of the enticing smell. I saw a man brewing something over a fire. He wore a grey suit with black shoes and a blue shirt. Over his shirt he wore two blue belts, one over his shoulder. He had short black hair, practically buzz cut on the sides, and he wore pink tinted glasses.
So THIS is what people look like. I almost forgot. I have never seen a man since we were run out of town. The same day I had my first kiss with a kind stranger.
An image of the sweet six year old flashed before my eyes as I smiled, replaying the memory in my head. I never forgot that day where I met someone outside of my family who knew of, and wasn't afraid of, my powers.
I felt a tap on my shoulder that shook me out of dream-like state of mind.
"Hey. You shouldn't be here. This is for scientists only, which means no children. Where are your parents?"
I turned and saw the man had walked up and was speaking to me. I spoke in a whisper so only he can hear me. "I have no home. I own no parents. I will be going now." I turned to leave but a hand stopped me by the elbow gently.
"Wait. What do you mean by 'I own no parents'?" the man asked me.
"It means what it means." I shrugged and started walking off again but he ran to my side. I stopped.
"You have someone looking over you, right?" he asked me.
I shrugged.
"I can't just let you wander around by yourself. Come with me. Let's get you some food and new clothes. That robe looks like it a bit worn down. The name's Dr. Arthur Beeman. What about you? "
"Emily."
He nodded and then started to walk away as I reluctantly followed.
If anything happens, I can use my power to escape. I would also have to warn Ashley.
When we got to the campsite again, he brought me to a tent which I assumed was his. He set up what looked like a sleeping bag. "Here. You will sleep here tonight. Or you can sleep in another tent of girls. You can choose. But right now, you're probably hungry."
As if on cue, my stomach rumbled loudly and I covered it with my arms trying to muffle the sound. Dr. Beeman chuckled.
He tossed an outfit at me. "Sorry. I know that you won't work on anything but it's the only thing I have. A friend gave it to me and I was going to give it to another friend's kid."
I looked at him blankly.
"Never mind." He smiled awkwardly and rubbed the back of his head.
I nodded.
"Well, when you're done changing come outside for some food." He said as he went to the flap and lifted it up.
"Thank you Dr. Beeman." I whispered politely.
He paused and smiled. "Please. Just call me Arthur." And he walked out.
After I finished changing, I looked down. Surprisingly it fit almost perfect. It was just about one size too big. I folded my clothes and put them in a pile by the flap. The outfit was baggy jeans and a loose long sleeve white shirt and black beret. I had on a black tank top because the shirt hung a bit off the shoulders form not being the right size.
They SEEM harmless enough. We're about to find out.
I took a deep breath and opened the flap wide enough for me to step out. When I did I saw so many people doing so many activities. I looked around and finally saw Dr. Beeman. I walked over, careful not to draw any attention to me on the way there. I walked up to Dr. Beeman's side and he smiled at me.
"Glad to see you made it work. Here. Have some." He handed me a bowl and inside was some sort of liquid with a few bobbing pieces of solids. He saw me looking at it funny and started to chuckle. "You DO know what that is right?"
I shook my head.
"It's called stew. It has meat, potatoes, carrots, and onions in a broth I made. Try some, it's good." He explained.
I nodded and took a sip. I have never tried anything so warm and tasty at the same time. It heated me from the inside out as I sipped it again.
He shook his head with a small smile.
"Psst! Emily!"
I looked around for who said my name. When I looked in the bushes, I saw a familiar blue hat poking from the top.
"Is that your little friend?" Dr. Beeman looked over and the person ducked completely down trying hard not to be seen.
I nodded.
He handed me a second bowl and two spoons. "Here. She might want some to. Go ahead and take her some."
I took the bowl and spoons and walked over to Ashley laying army style on the floor with a determined face. "Do you think he saw me?"
"Ashley, of course he saw you." I deadpanned
"Aw man! And I was being so careful too!" Ashley sat up moping. She perked up pointing at my clothes. "And what's up with your clothes?"
I shook my head. "It's nothing."
"Whatever. As long as I can still be a ninja then it's all good." She stood up and started doing some karate chops and kicks.
I laughed. "Here. Have some stew. It's yummy."
She stopped halfway through a kick. "Have some what?" Ashley looked at me curiously.
"It's called stew. Try it." I handed her the bowl and a spoon.
She stared at it in her hand for a few moments, looked up at me for another few moments.
"C'mon. Just try it. I thought it looked weird to but it tastes great!" I urged her. I ate some stew and shuddered at the great taste. I tried to convince her with something she loves so I whispered to her. "It has meat you know."
She looked at it again for a bit and took a tiny sip. Her eyes grew big and glazed over.
She tossed the spoon behind her, eating all of the stew in six seconds tops. I stood there with my mouth hanging open.
She held the bowl out with a big grin. "More please!"
"I will gladly give you some more if you want. Just follow me to the pot. You two have a lot of explaining to do of why you're all alone out here." Dr. Beeman walked up behind me and put one hand on my shoulder and another hand on Ashley's shoulder.
I looked up and saw a concerned look plastered on his face before he walked away. Ashley looked at me.
"Who was that and does he know you?"
"He's the one who made the food that you just ate. He found me and gave me these clothes." I stated.
"Oh. I get it now." Ashley smiled, a huge wave of understanding washed over her face.
I smiled and started walking to the campsite.
Ashley was following me, looking around suspiciously at everything near us. When we got to Dr. Beeman, he took Ashley's bowl and refilled it. I sat down on my knees on the floor and Ashley sat next to me, legs spread out in front of her. She took her bowl and started to eat the food in it.
"The name's Dr. Arthur Beeman. What's yours?" Dr. Beeman was talking to Ashley.
"The name's Ashley. It's nice to meet you." Ashley said in between bites of food.
"The feeling's mutual. So, what are two kids doing here in Africa?" Dr. Beeman was looking into the fire.
"Well we are on a farm so you SHOULD expect to see a goat or two." I said sarcastically.
"That's not what I meant." He gave me a stern look.
"I know, I know. I'm just messing with ya. Not my fault you can't take a joke." I shrugged and ate some more stew.
He was looking at us in the corner of his eye. "What are you two doing here without any guardians to look after you, how did you get here, and where are your parents?"
I looked at Ashley who in turn looked to me. I dropped my gaze to my hands in my lap. I felt a couple tears start to form as I tried to push them back from the surface.
"Well. It all started when…"
Ashley began to tell the story of how we were run out of our home in a city in northern Africa, how we believe our parents are dead, and how we had lived on our own traveling around Africa for about three years, and also how she lost me right after we fled and had to search everywhere for me end found me about three days later in a tree. She ended with how we ended up where we are now.
"Oh. Now I understand. But there is ONE thing I don't get." He had one hand propping up his head as he was staring into the fire trying to soak in our story.
I got my bearings straightened out while she was telling the story so I decided to speak. "And what would that be?"
He refused to look at us. "Why were you two run out of your hometown?"
Ashley looked at me worried and I gave her a confident smile. I put on a sad face, which included the puppy dog eyes since I'm only nine, and I spoke in a whisper. "We really don't like talking about it. It's a memory we would like to not remember."
He nodded and there was an ominous awkward silence among the three of us as everyone was getting ready to hit the hay.
"It's getting late. I think we should go to sleep now. Go ahead to my tent and I will meet you there to set up your friend's bed." He got up and started to clean.
"Ok. Ashley, follow me." I stood and helped her get up as well and we started towards Dr. Beeman's tent.