p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"A cold wind blew straight in our direction as the doors opened again, this time much smoother than when Five had casually thrown them apart. My eyes widened as I followed the man marching closer to us, a notebook and some file folders tucked neatly under his arm. His gaze remained steely as we all watched him effortlessly move toward what could be considered the head of the table, as if there was no question he would take that place. I felt small and scrutinized under his eyes as he momentarily looked over me, before passing his judgement on to Five, as though we were nothing significant. As expected, Dad didn't bother with pleasantries as he took a seat in his chair, back perfectly straight./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Not only have you burglarized my lab…" Dad cast his disappointed glare toward Five, Diego, and I. I felt the instinct to shrink down, but I refused to give him that satisfaction. Beneath the table, I felt Five's hand attach itself to my arm, just like when we were kids. "…set my chimp loose, conned your way into the Mexican consulate, repeatedly stalked and attacked me, but you have, on numerous occasions, called me…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanDad trailed off as Klaus finally made his way to the table from the bar, a drink firmly gripped in his hand. He seemed completely blasé about the whole affair, plopping down in his chair and completely disregarding the man directly next to him for several seconds./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Hey, Pop," he finally greeted, completely casual. "How's it hangin'?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"…'Dad'." I almost wanted to laugh at the irony, but I knew it wouldn't be deemed appropriate. "My reconnaissance tells me you're not CIA, not KGB, emcertainly /emnot MI5, so… who are you?" I raised my eyebrows at Dad as he spoke. People had been watching us?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWell, actually, that seemed only fair. We were literally doing the same thing to him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe seven of us all glanced around at each other, unsure of how to answer the question. He really didn't know who we were, meaning somehow, we'd have to give him a rundown of everything. But was that even safe? What would happen if we divulged the future to someone as important as Dad? What would that mean for us?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;""We're your children," Five answered bluntly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThere went that./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanDad's head snapped back around to Five suddenly, his icy eyes piercing right through the boy. However, true to form, Five didn't waver, though his voice became noticeably more garbled./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We're from the future," he continued. "In 1989, you adopted us all and trained us to fight against the end of the world. Called us the Umbrella Academy." Klaus raised his martini glass in the air, as though the basic facts were worth a toast./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Why on Earth would I adopt seven—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Eight," I corrected Dad. I tried my best to remain strong as he looked to me, but I could already feel the scrutiny searing holes through my sweater. "One of us isn't here… One of us is dead." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"The memory of the day Ben died came creeping back into my head, forcing me into silence. My eyes fell to my hands, my left leg's rapid movements causing them to bounce./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yeah, ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba." Klaus turned around to face an empty table behind us, moving his free hand like a puppet's mouth. "Enough of that now."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanFor a brief second, I smiled, realizing Klaus had lied (as suspected). I directed my attention to the same spot Klaus had been focused on a moment ago and offered the tiniest wave/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Regardless," Dad interjected, bringing back the freezing sensation deep in my bones, "what would possess me to adopt eight ill-mannered malcontents?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanMy jaw dropped slightly as I stared down the man, suddenly unable to form even a basic word in my mind. My eyes drifted downward again, this time staring at my stomach, my arms, and my thighs. Once again, I wasn't good enough for Dad. He'd just pinpointed our manners, or rather his perceived lack thereof, but Dad would often disguise his true criticisms, forcing us to realize what was wrong with ourselves. I certainly didn't look like the ideal dancer anymore, nor did I look equipped to go out and save the world if it demanded it. I'd let myself fall off from my training. I thought I should maybe get back on that./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAs the silence lingered between our family, I felt hands squeeze my arms on either side of me. Allison and Five's reassurance cut through the thoughts that began to swirl around and settled them back down in the corner, where they belonged./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanDad always brought all the dark thoughts back…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI offered a tiny smile to the both of them, assuring them I'd come back out of my mind, and tried my best to use the fact everyone at the table was staring at me—my siblings with concern, knowing what was going on, Dad with what seemed to be slight annoyance—to my advantage./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We have special abilities," I finally answered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Special?" I flinched slightly at the way Dad barked the word. "In what sense?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"In the superpower sense," Luther clarified, realizing I'd been unsettled beyond the point of answering. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Call me old-fashioned, but I'm a stickler for a pesky little thing called evidence. Show me." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"I shook my head, sighing. There was no way we'd be able to show off our powers without destroying the place, not to mention some of our siblings would turn it into a competition of whose powers were stronger. Besides, we didn't just have to bend to Dad's will. Based on his tone, it was pretty clear he was trying to provoke us, and I wasn't about to fall into that trap./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Everybody wants to see powers all of a sudden," Allison scoffed as she mixed the straw around in her drink. My eyebrows raised slightly, realizing things must have gone a bit south with Raymond./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAt least she had the balls to actually talk to him. I had to give her props for that./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We're not circus animals, okay?" I shifted my shocked gaze to Luther, who was currently leering at Dad. Was he actually… fighting back against him? What was happening today? "We're not gonna bounce balls on our noses and clap our hands in amusement."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanRight on cue, Diego's wrist suddenly flicked out, and one of his knives went twirling right past our heads, before he changed the trajectory midway through its flight path and sent it straight into a post. Dad's eyebrows practically lowered over his eyes, his glare turning even darker, and he hunched over his notebook, scrawling quickly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What are you writing?" the knife-thrower inquired as we all leaned closer, attempting to get a peek./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You are zero-for-two, young man."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI started to snicker, when Diego suddenly shot up from his seat, nearly knocking it over. He looked as though he was going to march right for Dad, which could spell disaster. I started to slide my chair back and stand, thinking fast, when Five blinked right in front of his brother and pushed back on him, trying to get him to calm down. However, Diego being Diego, he still grumbled and wouldn't settle down, so I stuck my hand out in his direction, jolting him back into place with a slight shock. I did my best to ignore his glare, knowing he wouldn't have settled down if I hadn't done that./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Now that is interesting…" Dad muttered, before his eyes turned specifically to me. "How does that electricity work?" he inquired, his eyes no less steely. I swallowed, hard, afraid of disappointing him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm not really sure," I admitted. "I know I charge it up through movement—dance and spinning, in particular—but I'm not sure how it reaches my desired target without hitting anyone else in the process. It's almost like I can… teleport it, I guess."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanDad leaned over and began to write again, and Five took that as his chance to go through everyone else really quickly. We had more urgent things to cover, after all./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"All right, quick run-down. Luther: super strength; Klaus can commune with the dead; Allison can rumor anyone to do anything."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yeah, except she never uses it," Diego laughed, shooting a taunting glare toward his sister. She immediately shot her head up from her drink, the mischievous sparkle in her eyes returning for the first time since we were kids./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I heard a rumor you punched yourself in the face."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAllison looked right at Diego as he said that, causing his irises and pupils to completely disappear, leaving only the whites of his eyes there. His fist raised in the air, and in one, fluid motion, collided it with his nose. Almost immediately, Diego snapped out of the controlled state and bent over, covering the afflicted spot with his hands./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAlthough it was childish, I couldn't help but laugh./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Dammit!" Diego cried out in pain. Maybe I felt a little bad… /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanDad stared at the rest of us for another moment, before he leaned against his elbows and directed his gaze straight toward Vanya, who had been eerily silent this entire time. She almost looked like she had gone into shutdown mode, her eyes slightly glazed over./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"And you?" he questioned, waiting for her to do something. At the mere insinuation of Vanya using her powers, particularly indoors, the rest of our siblings stiffened, a nervous energy flowing through us./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Uh, maybe we don't take Vanya for a test run," Luther suggested, reaching over and briefly squeezing his sister's arm./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Oh, yeah, that's probably not a good idea," Klaus agreed, tipping his glass toward her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"It's fine," Vanya shrugged, already sitting up straighter. Something almost annoyed seemed to cross her face for a moment, worrying me. It appeared her emotions had a big influence on her powers, and if there was anything negative running through her at the moment, that could spell disaster for the rest of us. "I can handle it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAs she reached for a fork, the rest of our family began to protest./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Vanya, this doesn't seem like a good idea," I spoke up among the chaos of everyone else's voices. "This is an enclosed space, and your powers tend to be—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanBefore I could finish my sentence, a smirk crossed Vanya's face and she tapped the fork in her hands against the glass in front of her. A gentle note floated through the air, and just like that, the table began to shake violently, and the fruit carefully arranged in a pattern as our centerpiece exploded. I flinched and covered my eyes, shielding them from getting hit by any projectile pieces, but a few sticky, wet chunks latched themselves onto my sweater./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanOnce it was safe, I moved my arm down and sighed, gently picking off the bigger pieces. I'd need to stick this in the wash immediately, otherwise it would stain./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Oops." Vanya had the tiniest smile on her face as she set her hands back down. There was some part of me that was impressed with how unapologetic she was about this./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That was impressive," Luther muttered as Dad finished cleaning off his monocle and set it back on his left eye, just like always./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanMy heart stopped in my chest for a second as Diego stood, his eyes stark-raving mad and his fingers tightly clamped against each other./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Look, we know you're involved in a plot to assassinate the president." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanSlowly, my head lowered down into my hands, propping up against the table with my elbows. Diego was going to blow this for all of us./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You were recently hospitalized. Isn't that correct?" I felt that uncomfortable shudder run down my spine. Whoever Dad had sent to follow and research us had been really thorough… "You still appear to be suffering from delusions of grandeur and acute paranoia." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"Despite Dad's insults, Diego didn't bend, and instead, reached into his pocket and removed the blurry photograph of Dad on the grassy knoll. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;""Am I? He slapped it down against the table, staring the old man down with such intense determination and pride. "Explain this." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"Dad picked up the small square and looked over the image, his brows furrowing in confusion this time. It was as though he didn't recognize himself in the picture. Then again, all of this was in his future, so maybe he was just wary because it hadn't happened yet. emIf /emit even was him. I still maintained my doubts./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That's you," Diego pointed out, though it wasn't really necessary. "That's two days from now on the grassy knoll at the exact spot the president's gonna get shot." Something on Dad's face shifted, and he almost looked like he was smirking at Diego./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThis was not going to end well…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Well… I suppose you've solved it." He slid the photo back to Diego, who stood a little straighter. "You've single-handedly unearthed my nefarious plot." He paused for a second, almost appearing as though he was finished. But I knew Dad better than that. "Is that what you want to hear?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThere it was./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You fancy yourself a do-gooder? The last good man who will save us from our descent into corruption and conspiracy?" The bitter words leaving Dad's mouth pushed Diego down further and further, causing his arms to begin to shake. Although he'd brought this on himself, my heart still hurt for him. "This is a fantastic delusion. The sad reality is that you're a desperate man, tragically unaware of his own insignificance, desperately clinging to his own ineffectual reasoning. More succinctly, a man in over his head."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanDiego now trembled in his seat, his eyes beginning to water with tears he was too prideful to let fall. His entire being shook with rage and hurt as he stared our father down, his lips moving but no words coming out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Y-Y-You're wr-wrong," he stuttered out slowly. I inhaled sharply, unable to watch for another second. Mom had worked so hard to help Diego fix his stutter when we were kids, and now, Dad had undone all of that in just a matter of seconds. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanMost of our siblings went silent, either out of shock or out of respect for Diego. No matter how irritating and unendingly frustrating he could be, he didn't deserve this sort of treatment. None of us did./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanFive, on the other hand, had always been a bit dense when it came to social cues, and as a result, he moved on from the topic currently on the table as quickly as possible./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanNow thinking back on it, maybe he did that to help save Diego from completely drowning./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Look, forget about the president," he snapped. "We have a catastrophic war coming in five days. We need to figure out how to stop it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"War?" Dad laughed. "Men will always be at war with each other."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"No, this isn't just some war," Five insisted. "I'm talking about a doomsday. The end of the world."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanDad's glare only sharpened as he looked around at all of our faces, his shoulders rolling back to make him appear even taller… if that was possible./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Well… you're the special ones, aren't you?" I watched Five's hope slowly slither away, leaving him drained and defeated as he leaned back in his chair. My rage began to bubble up, just shy of the uncontrollable point I was so familiar with. "Why don't you band together and do something about it?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWarning signals were flashing inside my mind, but I ignored them. I'd finally reached the point of no return, and I wasn't about to put it away now. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanEverything built up inside me suddenly unleashed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Not only have you burglarized my lab…" Dad cast his disappointed glare toward Five, Diego, and I. I felt the instinct to shrink down, but I refused to give him that satisfaction. Beneath the table, I felt Five's hand attach itself to my arm, just like when we were kids. "…set my chimp loose, conned your way into the Mexican consulate, repeatedly stalked and attacked me, but you have, on numerous occasions, called me…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanDad trailed off as Klaus finally made his way to the table from the bar, a drink firmly gripped in his hand. He seemed completely blasé about the whole affair, plopping down in his chair and completely disregarding the man directly next to him for several seconds./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Hey, Pop," he finally greeted, completely casual. "How's it hangin'?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"…'Dad'." I almost wanted to laugh at the irony, but I knew it wouldn't be deemed appropriate. "My reconnaissance tells me you're not CIA, not KGB, emcertainly /emnot MI5, so… who are you?" I raised my eyebrows at Dad as he spoke. People had been watching us?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWell, actually, that seemed only fair. We were literally doing the same thing to him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe seven of us all glanced around at each other, unsure of how to answer the question. He really didn't know who we were, meaning somehow, we'd have to give him a rundown of everything. But was that even safe? What would happen if we divulged the future to someone as important as Dad? What would that mean for us?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;""We're your children," Five answered bluntly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThere went that./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanDad's head snapped back around to Five suddenly, his icy eyes piercing right through the boy. However, true to form, Five didn't waver, though his voice became noticeably more garbled./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We're from the future," he continued. "In 1989, you adopted us all and trained us to fight against the end of the world. Called us the Umbrella Academy." Klaus raised his martini glass in the air, as though the basic facts were worth a toast./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Why on Earth would I adopt seven—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Eight," I corrected Dad. I tried my best to remain strong as he looked to me, but I could already feel the scrutiny searing holes through my sweater. "One of us isn't here… One of us is dead." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"The memory of the day Ben died came creeping back into my head, forcing me into silence. My eyes fell to my hands, my left leg's rapid movements causing them to bounce./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yeah, ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba." Klaus turned around to face an empty table behind us, moving his free hand like a puppet's mouth. "Enough of that now."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanFor a brief second, I smiled, realizing Klaus had lied (as suspected). I directed my attention to the same spot Klaus had been focused on a moment ago and offered the tiniest wave/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Regardless," Dad interjected, bringing back the freezing sensation deep in my bones, "what would possess me to adopt eight ill-mannered malcontents?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanMy jaw dropped slightly as I stared down the man, suddenly unable to form even a basic word in my mind. My eyes drifted downward again, this time staring at my stomach, my arms, and my thighs. Once again, I wasn't good enough for Dad. He'd just pinpointed our manners, or rather his perceived lack thereof, but Dad would often disguise his true criticisms, forcing us to realize what was wrong with ourselves. I certainly didn't look like the ideal dancer anymore, nor did I look equipped to go out and save the world if it demanded it. I'd let myself fall off from my training. I thought I should maybe get back on that./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAs the silence lingered between our family, I felt hands squeeze my arms on either side of me. Allison and Five's reassurance cut through the thoughts that began to swirl around and settled them back down in the corner, where they belonged./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanDad always brought all the dark thoughts back…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI offered a tiny smile to the both of them, assuring them I'd come back out of my mind, and tried my best to use the fact everyone at the table was staring at me—my siblings with concern, knowing what was going on, Dad with what seemed to be slight annoyance—to my advantage./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We have special abilities," I finally answered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Special?" I flinched slightly at the way Dad barked the word. "In what sense?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"In the superpower sense," Luther clarified, realizing I'd been unsettled beyond the point of answering. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Call me old-fashioned, but I'm a stickler for a pesky little thing called evidence. Show me." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"I shook my head, sighing. There was no way we'd be able to show off our powers without destroying the place, not to mention some of our siblings would turn it into a competition of whose powers were stronger. Besides, we didn't just have to bend to Dad's will. Based on his tone, it was pretty clear he was trying to provoke us, and I wasn't about to fall into that trap./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Everybody wants to see powers all of a sudden," Allison scoffed as she mixed the straw around in her drink. My eyebrows raised slightly, realizing things must have gone a bit south with Raymond./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAt least she had the balls to actually talk to him. I had to give her props for that./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We're not circus animals, okay?" I shifted my shocked gaze to Luther, who was currently leering at Dad. Was he actually… fighting back against him? What was happening today? "We're not gonna bounce balls on our noses and clap our hands in amusement."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanRight on cue, Diego's wrist suddenly flicked out, and one of his knives went twirling right past our heads, before he changed the trajectory midway through its flight path and sent it straight into a post. Dad's eyebrows practically lowered over his eyes, his glare turning even darker, and he hunched over his notebook, scrawling quickly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What are you writing?" the knife-thrower inquired as we all leaned closer, attempting to get a peek./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You are zero-for-two, young man."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI started to snicker, when Diego suddenly shot up from his seat, nearly knocking it over. He looked as though he was going to march right for Dad, which could spell disaster. I started to slide my chair back and stand, thinking fast, when Five blinked right in front of his brother and pushed back on him, trying to get him to calm down. However, Diego being Diego, he still grumbled and wouldn't settle down, so I stuck my hand out in his direction, jolting him back into place with a slight shock. I did my best to ignore his glare, knowing he wouldn't have settled down if I hadn't done that./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Now that is interesting…" Dad muttered, before his eyes turned specifically to me. "How does that electricity work?" he inquired, his eyes no less steely. I swallowed, hard, afraid of disappointing him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm not really sure," I admitted. "I know I charge it up through movement—dance and spinning, in particular—but I'm not sure how it reaches my desired target without hitting anyone else in the process. It's almost like I can… teleport it, I guess."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanDad leaned over and began to write again, and Five took that as his chance to go through everyone else really quickly. We had more urgent things to cover, after all./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"All right, quick run-down. Luther: super strength; Klaus can commune with the dead; Allison can rumor anyone to do anything."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yeah, except she never uses it," Diego laughed, shooting a taunting glare toward his sister. She immediately shot her head up from her drink, the mischievous sparkle in her eyes returning for the first time since we were kids./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I heard a rumor you punched yourself in the face."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAllison looked right at Diego as he said that, causing his irises and pupils to completely disappear, leaving only the whites of his eyes there. His fist raised in the air, and in one, fluid motion, collided it with his nose. Almost immediately, Diego snapped out of the controlled state and bent over, covering the afflicted spot with his hands./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAlthough it was childish, I couldn't help but laugh./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Dammit!" Diego cried out in pain. Maybe I felt a little bad… /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanDad stared at the rest of us for another moment, before he leaned against his elbows and directed his gaze straight toward Vanya, who had been eerily silent this entire time. She almost looked like she had gone into shutdown mode, her eyes slightly glazed over./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"And you?" he questioned, waiting for her to do something. At the mere insinuation of Vanya using her powers, particularly indoors, the rest of our siblings stiffened, a nervous energy flowing through us./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Uh, maybe we don't take Vanya for a test run," Luther suggested, reaching over and briefly squeezing his sister's arm./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Oh, yeah, that's probably not a good idea," Klaus agreed, tipping his glass toward her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"It's fine," Vanya shrugged, already sitting up straighter. Something almost annoyed seemed to cross her face for a moment, worrying me. It appeared her emotions had a big influence on her powers, and if there was anything negative running through her at the moment, that could spell disaster for the rest of us. "I can handle it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAs she reached for a fork, the rest of our family began to protest./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Vanya, this doesn't seem like a good idea," I spoke up among the chaos of everyone else's voices. "This is an enclosed space, and your powers tend to be—"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanBefore I could finish my sentence, a smirk crossed Vanya's face and she tapped the fork in her hands against the glass in front of her. A gentle note floated through the air, and just like that, the table began to shake violently, and the fruit carefully arranged in a pattern as our centerpiece exploded. I flinched and covered my eyes, shielding them from getting hit by any projectile pieces, but a few sticky, wet chunks latched themselves onto my sweater./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanOnce it was safe, I moved my arm down and sighed, gently picking off the bigger pieces. I'd need to stick this in the wash immediately, otherwise it would stain./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Oops." Vanya had the tiniest smile on her face as she set her hands back down. There was some part of me that was impressed with how unapologetic she was about this./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That was impressive," Luther muttered as Dad finished cleaning off his monocle and set it back on his left eye, just like always./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanMy heart stopped in my chest for a second as Diego stood, his eyes stark-raving mad and his fingers tightly clamped against each other./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Look, we know you're involved in a plot to assassinate the president." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanSlowly, my head lowered down into my hands, propping up against the table with my elbows. Diego was going to blow this for all of us./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You were recently hospitalized. Isn't that correct?" I felt that uncomfortable shudder run down my spine. Whoever Dad had sent to follow and research us had been really thorough… "You still appear to be suffering from delusions of grandeur and acute paranoia." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"Despite Dad's insults, Diego didn't bend, and instead, reached into his pocket and removed the blurry photograph of Dad on the grassy knoll. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;""Am I? He slapped it down against the table, staring the old man down with such intense determination and pride. "Explain this." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"Dad picked up the small square and looked over the image, his brows furrowing in confusion this time. It was as though he didn't recognize himself in the picture. Then again, all of this was in his future, so maybe he was just wary because it hadn't happened yet. emIf /emit even was him. I still maintained my doubts./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That's you," Diego pointed out, though it wasn't really necessary. "That's two days from now on the grassy knoll at the exact spot the president's gonna get shot." Something on Dad's face shifted, and he almost looked like he was smirking at Diego./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThis was not going to end well…/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Well… I suppose you've solved it." He slid the photo back to Diego, who stood a little straighter. "You've single-handedly unearthed my nefarious plot." He paused for a second, almost appearing as though he was finished. But I knew Dad better than that. "Is that what you want to hear?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThere it was./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You fancy yourself a do-gooder? The last good man who will save us from our descent into corruption and conspiracy?" The bitter words leaving Dad's mouth pushed Diego down further and further, causing his arms to begin to shake. Although he'd brought this on himself, my heart still hurt for him. "This is a fantastic delusion. The sad reality is that you're a desperate man, tragically unaware of his own insignificance, desperately clinging to his own ineffectual reasoning. More succinctly, a man in over his head."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanDiego now trembled in his seat, his eyes beginning to water with tears he was too prideful to let fall. His entire being shook with rage and hurt as he stared our father down, his lips moving but no words coming out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Y-Y-You're wr-wrong," he stuttered out slowly. I inhaled sharply, unable to watch for another second. Mom had worked so hard to help Diego fix his stutter when we were kids, and now, Dad had undone all of that in just a matter of seconds. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanMost of our siblings went silent, either out of shock or out of respect for Diego. No matter how irritating and unendingly frustrating he could be, he didn't deserve this sort of treatment. None of us did./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanFive, on the other hand, had always been a bit dense when it came to social cues, and as a result, he moved on from the topic currently on the table as quickly as possible./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanNow thinking back on it, maybe he did that to help save Diego from completely drowning./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Look, forget about the president," he snapped. "We have a catastrophic war coming in five days. We need to figure out how to stop it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"War?" Dad laughed. "Men will always be at war with each other."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"No, this isn't just some war," Five insisted. "I'm talking about a doomsday. The end of the world."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanDad's glare only sharpened as he looked around at all of our faces, his shoulders rolling back to make him appear even taller… if that was possible./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Well… you're the special ones, aren't you?" I watched Five's hope slowly slither away, leaving him drained and defeated as he leaned back in his chair. My rage began to bubble up, just shy of the uncontrollable point I was so familiar with. "Why don't you band together and do something about it?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWarning signals were flashing inside my mind, but I ignored them. I'd finally reached the point of no return, and I wasn't about to put it away now. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanEverything built up inside me suddenly unleashed./span/p