League of Kids: The Next Generation

Chapter 10

I am going to have to slow down slightly with my fanfiction, sine I am going to be writing original short stories. If you're interested, my FictionPress link is on my profile.

(Vi)

The worst thing is that I'm used to waking up in pain. It's a horrible feeling, but I'm used to it. The one I wasn't used to, was waking up upside down. And alone. It took a bit of willpower to open my eyes, since all the blood was in my head. Of fucking course. I'm in the infirmary, in my gang's base. I'm surprised that they haven't moved.

"Hey!" I yelled out. "I know that one of you is out there! At least set me upright!" Just like I wanted, somebody came running down the hall.

"I'm sorry! The mechanism just breaks sometimes!" A girl with long, brown hair came running into the room, dressed in a lab coat, jeans, and a green shirt. "I was here like, 2 minutes ago, but number 5 needed my attention." She knelt down and gripped the top of the board, pushing me into an upright position. It took me a few seconds to fully recognize her.

"No fucking way." She walked over to stand in front of me. "14, you've grown!" She covered her mouth ad giggled. "You were only like, 3 years old when I saw you last!"

"I only vaguely remember you, 6." The happiness faded to a weak smile. "I'm the only doctor here, and it took a lot of effort, but I made sure that both of you survived. 2 is covered in bandages, but he's alright."

"Can you let me down so I can stretch?" Fear crossed her face. "You haven't done anything wrong, 14. I just need to stretch." She still looked nervous, but moved around, undoing the leather straps that held me in place. As my fit hit the ground, 14 put her hands on my hips to steady me. I went to put my hands on her shoulders, but only my right arm gripped her shoulder. I met her eyes, and all I got was a sad look. "14, why can't I feel my other arm?" She didn't say anything. "Talk to me, here."

"6, you were directly next to the explosion." I started shaking as I slowly looked to the left. My legs just gave out when I was nothing at all there. My entire arm was just gone. "Oh dear!" I wasn't paying attention to 14, but I heard another person run into the room.

"14, 14, just let her sit down." A pair of hands rested on my shoulders. "6, just breathe, okay?"

"My left hand was my dominant hand!" I yelled. "I can't fucking do anything with my right hand!" They both just stopped for a second, then they both started laughing. "What am I supposed to do now?!"

"We're here for you, 6." 14 knelt in front of me and cupped my face in her hands. "I've been working with my own two hands for however many hours to keep you alive. There is nothing that I want more than to help you."

"She's right." I flinched as 4 knelt at my side and patted my shoulder. "You may think that we're the bad guys, but all we wanted was for you to be back with us. We've always been your family. Even if you've not been with us for a few years, we've always been here for you." I'm not sure if I was shaking from shock or fear. "You just have to trust us again." I'm in the hands of my old gang, where Jinx most likely is, and I lost one of my arms. I don't have much of a choice, do I?

~~~~~~~~~~~~X~~~~~~~~~~~~

"6! You've changed!" A mess of scruffy, red hair bounded over to me and tried to jump into my arms. I almost dropped her, but she just hooked her arms around my neck and hung on.

"You're still short, 11." I grinned. "And scruffy."

"It's all part of my charm!" 4 and 14 had just sent me to find 1. Instead, I found 11. "Just like how you're still a huge, muscular B-A-M-F!" I had to smile. 11 isn't a kid anymore, but she sure acts like one. "Even if you're missing an arm, you can still break right through walls!"

"Hey, if you say it, it must be true." 11 grinned widely and jumped back down to the floor. "Any idea where 1 is?"

"Oh, that's easy!" Her small hands gripped my wrist, and she started to pull me along. I could have stayed right where I was stood if I wanted, but that wouldn't get me anywhere. I just let 11 drag me through the hallways. If this base hasn't moved since I was last here, I know exactly where I am. If it moved, I'm fucked. Although, even if I tried to break out, I've lost like, most of my strength. My hands, or hand, is my best weapon. My right hand isn't even my dominant one. Not many people know that I'm a lefty. Not many people ask. "When 2 came back with you, we didn't think that either of you would make it! I'm surprised that 2 could even walk!"

"Yeah, I'm never smoking again." I grinned. "I didn't think it would be that dangerous."

"Smoking is like, the worst thing ever, 6." 11 stopped and pressed herself into me, gripping the sides of my face. She's never had a good concept of personal space. "You're gonna hurt yourself badly if you smoke."

"I've smoked for years, and it's never hurt me before." 11 narrowed her eyes and stood on her toes to be a little bit taller. "11, can we just find 1?" 7

"We already have." She lifted one of her feet and gently pushed a door open with her toe. I pushed 11 with my arm and stormed into the room. As soon as she saw me, 1 held up a hand to stop me.

"Now, tell me who just came into the room." Words caught in my throat as she lowered her hand and gently stroked Caylee's hair. "Do exactly as I taught you." Cay closed her eyes and knitted her brow in thought. Why the fuck is my daughter here?!

"It's a woman. She's taller than you." 1's mouth twitched a smile. "Her hair isn't smooth like yours, and there are letters on her cheek." What the hell did 1 do to her?

"And what letters are those?" Caylee seemed to think harder for a second, before her eyes opened in surprise.

"Mommy!" I stepped forward at the same time Caylee jumped down from 1's lap, and knelt down to pull her into a hug. "You're okay!"

"Of course I am, babygirl." I kissed the top of her head, then looked up at 1. She put a leg over the over and smiled at me.

"It's nice to see that you're still unkillable, 6." I stood up with Caylee on my hip and stared her down. "You must know that we have some things to talk about."

"Trust me, I have a few bones to pick." 1 watched me step forward with a smug expression. "First, why?" I asked, tipping my head towards Caylee. "Also, how?"

"Number 4 had already befriended 15." I felt my skin bristle when she said that. "He and number 10 haven't left eachother's sides since the two young ones arrived." She smiled again when Caylee moved in my arm to put her head on my shoulder. "Your daughter is quite a special child, 6. It's not often that an Oracle comes into this world."

"An Oracle?" 1 stood up and walked forward until she was stood a few inches away.

"Allow me to explain. Come here, little one." Caylee gladly let herself be lifted into 1's arms. "This little girl may be blind, but with practice she can see everything with her mind's eye." Explains why she saw me come into the room. "It takes practice, though. That's why I'm teaching her." She lifted a hand up and gently stroked my cheek. "You'll stay with us, won't you 6? What happened with 2 was a complete accident, but we're here to help." I looked at Caylee, then at the stump where my entire arm used to be. 1's gaze softened when I met her eyes.

"Where are Jinx and Vincent?" 1 just beamed.

Sorry that this is late, guys. I've had a spell in hospital, another punch to my mental health, and my laptop looks like it needs a replacement charger port. So, fun times.