CHAPTER 6 – Superhero

Superhero is a person who does heroic deeds and has the ability to do them in a way that a normal person couldn't.

Stan Lee

I apologize for any grammatical errors.

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On the road to Chamonix to ski, Raven sat in the rear row of the Land Rover with Pasqua. "Pasqua, a friend of my grandfather's, wanted us to try out snowboarding. We packed them with the ski's. Em and I practiced around the cabin. It was a lot of fun. You want to give it a try?"

"Sure Raven, you know I love trying new things. Will Julien be able to snowboard?" Clyde looked towards the middle seat in which Julien, his 16 year old, autistic brother was sitting playing a game with Emily. Pasqua was thankful Raven and Emily are his friends especially since they were so isolated in the mountains and Julien is unable to traipse the mountains for long periods of time, play sports and participate in all the adrenaline junkie things that excite him. Pasqua is 3 years older than the twins and it is hilarious how only he can tell them apart. Pasqua's uncle Ted said he had a gift for remembering faces and microexpressions.

"I wouldn't recommend that Julien snowboard Pasqua. It requires a lot of control and is really fast. He can stay with Em while we snowboard. She enjoys his company and is so good with him. Julien and Em like an atmosphere of calm and quiet. Among Em's favorite things is reading and playing scrabble."

"So I have her to thank for teaching him that game. He always wants to play it. Women and girls are now taking advantage of his love for the game to get close to score a date."

Raven understood because Julien was very handsome. He had sandy blond hair, piercing clear blue eyes and athletic body. Everytime Pasqua and Julien visited the winery women and girls were falling over themselves to see Julien. Julien had eyes only for his friend Emily. She would read and share comic books, play scrabble, encourage and compliment him.

"We're here," Pasqua's uncle Ted shouted as they pulled up to their home for a week. Chalet Marmotte Mountain Zenith has 6 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms with ceiling to floor glass windows displaying breathtaking views of the Mont Blanc Mountain range. The chalet is in the heart of an old village Argentiere and less than half a kilometer from the Grands Montets ski resort. Emily was excited when she heard that a movie room came with the rental. Even though a chef was available to prepare meals throughout the duration of their stay, Pasqua's aunt Mary preferred to cook. Mary entered the chalet while the other unpacked the car to check the kitchen to make sure the food items she requested were stocked in the refrigerator and pantry.

Mary was soon busy preparing a light snack to hold everyone until dinner.

Julien took Emily's hand once rooms were claimed and suitcases and equipment were unpacked, and led her to the movie room. "Emily, you are my best friend, thanks for spending time with me. I know I can be a burden but I wanted you to know that I love you.

"I love you too Julien and I can't wait to see the Dr. Who and StarTrek series you told me about on the drive up."

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Julien and Emily spent over 12 hours in the movie room only taking a break to eat dinner. Raven and Pasqua hit the slopes with uncle Ted and even got him to join them snowboarding which they all loved.

"I've got to thank Emily for letting me borrow her snowboard that was fun. Let's head back for the night." The afternoon's strenuous exercise caught up with the three and it was all they could do to take a shower before passing out in bed.

Emily awoke early the next morning she took care of her morning ablutions dressed and went downstairs for some breakfast. Emily sat next to Julien at the kitchen island watching aunt Mary prepare Swedish pancakes for breakfast. They engorged themselves on breakfast and decided to walk it off while their siblings were sleeping. Julien and Emily were discussing what would be their superpowers if they were superheroes. Emily laughed, ``My superpowers would be invisibility and to shapeshift like Raven/Mystique. What about yours?"

Julien stopped walking and placed his hand over his heart, "I would always fight for what's right and protect the innocent…always, always."

Emily was in awe of the conviction in her friend's face. "That's so selfless and inspiring Julien to want to help others and do what's right. I am so proud to be your friend and you are a superhero. You are a superhero and my friend."

A half hour later they were walking along a creek bank and saw a boy holding what looked like rags in his arms. The boy looked dirty and he was wetting the rags with the cold water from the creek. As the two got closer the rags moved. Emily, curious, walked up quietly to the boy. The rags turned out to be a small child, she could not tell if it was a boy or a girl. "Hello, I'm Emily. Are you here on vacation?"

The boy jumped up startled, placing the child behind him. The boy quietly repeated over and over, "Don't tell, don't tell… The boy was even more afraid of Julien.

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"Armand, have you caught sight of the two kids you spotted yesterday?" Joining his associate on the trail.

"Not yet, Paul. Both kids look sickly. We may not catch them in time for the sale. I know we can't go back empty handed. Usually these mountains are rife with migrant children trying to escape their wretched conditions. Let's keep looking." The two men continued trudging up the trail.

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"We won't tell. Can we help you? What's your name?", asked Em.

Henri saw the sincerity in both Julien and Emily's faces and decided to trust them. Whispering, "My name is Henri and this is my little sister Marie. We were sold by a relative into slavery and we escaped. I am trying to find a safe place for us to live. Do you have food?"

Julien spoke, "Come with us and my uncle and aunt will take care of you. They will contact the police so that they can arrest the people who enslaved you."

"No, No, NOOOO," Henri screamed. "They are working with the slavers they caught us and we had to escape again when the police returned us to our slavers." Marie started coughing. Emily went to comfort the little girl. Henri let her hold her. The little one was burning up with fever.

"Julien, she is burning up. We need to get her to your aunt."

Julien pleaded with Henri, "Please come with us so we can care for you. You can't survive much longer."

Henri looked between the two and after contemplating decided to trust them. He was exhausted and hungry. Julien saw the exhaustion on Henri's face and did something totally out of character. "Hop on my back Henri and I will give you a piggyback ride to our chalet. Emily, can you carry Marie for a bit? Luckily we are not far from the Chalet."

"I will carry her." The four had to stop frequently for Emily to adjust carrying Marie but Emily was determined to carry the little girl to aunt Mary.

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Pasqua and Raven spotted the four coming down the mountainside and went to help. Pasqua took Marie from Emily and moved quickly to get the little girl to his aunt.

"Uncle Ted! Aunt Mary! come quickly," Julien shouted upon entering the chalet.. Emily informed aunt Mary what happened and that the little girl was sick.

Ted ran to the bathroom to prepare warm bathwater for both of the kids. "Raven, Emily go to the kitchen, make some hot chocolate for both kids and take the soup out of the refrigerator. Pasqua, bring something of yours for Henri to wear for when he finishes his bath. Julien, fetch more towels for the wee one. Ted, take care of Henri and I will take care of Marie."

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Julien and Pasqua led Henri to the kitchen after his bath where Raven and Emily prepared hot chocolate and soup for him. Henri's eyes widened when he saw Raven and Emily side by side. Henri moved closer to Julien, "Emily, how can you be two places at the same time?" Pasqua asked Henri if he knew what twins are. At his negative reply, Pasqua tells him about twins and introduces him to Raven.

"Cool!" Satisfied but a little wary since he really couldn't tell the girls apart he proceeded to eat his meal.

Henri was bathed, clothed and fed so Julien led him to his aunt's room to check on his sister. Julien smiled down at Henri, "Do you know what a superhero is Henri?" Henri shook his head no. "It's a person with superpowers. I'm a superhero because my powers are to always fight for what's right and protect the innocent." Henri smiled, "Wow! I'm being helped by a real superhero." Marie's eyes were drooping but opened excitedly when she saw her brother enter. Henri hopped up on the bed and kissed his little sister on her forehead while Julien sat in a chair by the bed. Marie was not as hot as before she was clean and had food in her stomach. The warmth and kindness of Julien and his family caused Henri to let down his guard. Henri was aware that Julien, his superhero, would protect him and Marie. Marie comforted by her brother and Henri protected by Julien succumbed to exhaustion.

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Armand and Paul find the trail of the kids and follow it back to the chalet. Let's wait a few and see what's what. We don't know who occupies the chalet. They observe from a hill above the chalet.

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rmpcmfan: Of course the girls would be so intelligent and excel at everything they do. So I am wondering why they can't be seen to be identical in public?

Spooladio: The twins' dad is hyper focused on protecting his family. He doesn't want the girls to be used as pawns while he is out doing his spy thing. Even though he is supposed to be dead, someone knows he is alive. Not to mention they could be used as political pawns against the Ambassador. Do you think she is the type to sacrifice her young? Thank you for your review.