I open my eyes. My reflection stares back at me, frowning. My bedroom is freezing and it's even colder by the window I look into. On the other side of the glass was where my friends from the night before should be standing. Left me all alone. Should listen to Father when he says, "Don't trust anyone." They broke their promise when I kept mine. A familiar wave of sadness floods my emotions. Been waiting so long for them that I need to drag a chair against the wall so I could rest from hours of floating in the air.

"Fine," I shout at my reflection. "Fine! Leave me! Don't care!" My nose starts to feel hot and tears begin to sting my eyes. How stupid can I be? I burrow my face in my hands and cry. I'm not going to ever make anyone a promise ever again! In my mind, I begin a check list of all the people I wanted to hurt ten times as much as they hurt me. The dark haired man, the pretty blonde woman, the mouse I found that used to tickle and crawl in my shirts who died, and Father. Always he found new ways to mess with me. But I can't forget the passiveness in my father's voice from last night.

\\

When Father came back from his 'vacation away from me' (Which I began to believe it really was) I was training stances, thinking on and on about my new playmates, along with excuses for when Father returned. Stance and position practices didn't usually make me huffy-puffy and sweaty, good excuse to tell him that I was doing that the whole time when he came back. I remember when the door's air pressure released and opened for him to walk through. Wasn't expecting what I saw.

Light was now slowly seeping into our windows. Morning had finally come. Before me, the metal door closed with a steady hiss. In front of me my Father stood. Exhausted and broken. Beaten and crushed. Like someone I've never met. Never would want to meet. Physically, the man I've known my entire life wasn't hurt, but the look in his eyes made up for it. Dark, sad... fear?

What had happened?

I couldn't stop myself from staring at Father. My eyes trailed after him as he strode past me, not even noticing the self-made bandage on my forehead, and made his way to his personal room. Shouldn't ask him what happened. He's never told me what he does out there anyways, though I have a feeling it's not good. Wanted to cry now. Always wanted to cry. Hate myself when I act like a baby! Needed to be stronger and be a real fighter, as Father forces me to know. No time to act like a scared little boy. Only time to train.

Before he slid into the door, I clear my throat. "Father?"

He doesn't face me, but stop before going out of sight. "Yes, son?" He surprisingly answers, his voice hollow. A pang of guilt slaps me in the face. Didn't hate father no more! Did he over hear me yesterday when I yelled? Gotta apologize and quick.

I jolt my head forward, "I'm sorry!" My voice cracks, making me sound even weaker than I already was. I pressed my palms to my eyes to stop anymore tears from pouring out. Without thinking, I automatically continue, "I missed you, Father!" I sniffled. "Don't really hate you. Just was mad!" Regretted everything I said once it poured outta my mouth. Knew I'd get in deep crud for saying something as ridiculous as that! Had a problem with saying things I shouldn't and breaking things I shouldn't whenever my emotions spilled out from my lips. Father tells me it's crucial, especially, to keep my feelings numb. This seemed to always result in me letting hell break loose on myself whenever he went away. Which was why Father insisted I didn't break anything. Too many scars too count and the majority were caused by my problem.

For an instant, I thought I saw Father cringe his fist. His head turns my way, then he looks away.

"Trunks," I looked up from my wet bandaged hands. "Don't ever let me hear you say that again." Father ordered flatly. He stepped out of my sight and pushed the door closed behind him.

Didn't hear a peep out of that room for the rest of the day.

Was so confused! Hated being the dumb one in the room. My mind immediately rewound itself to what the dark haired man told me. "I'll promise to tell you things. Things about your father."

At that moment I started to realize there was more to my Father than what I've known. Maybe even things I don't even know about myself.

\\

Tap

Didn't see them land, but I heard the sound of it. I stand a little taller and gaze out the window. Through the glass I see the two of them.

"What's your damn problem?" I ask with irritation. Inside, I do my best to mask my bolt of happiness. They actually did come!

"Me?" The man mocks, pointing to himself. I ignore his sarcasm.

"You were supposed to come hours ago," I say with my voice rising. "It's already night and Father left!" I cross my arms, imitating Father, and made sure they saw. "Now I can't go out and we can't play!" I glare at the two of them. Getting annoying how they won't answer me. I open my mouth to scold them some more, but he holds up his hand.

"Okay, kid I get it. Sorry for being 'late' or whatever you called it." He apologizes. I give him a curious look. The woman stands behind him, a hand planted on her hip, and she still hasn't said anything. A realization gently nudges into my mind. I haven't asked for their names yet.

"So what should I call you, Dark-haired-man?" I say, now floating in the air. "Seventeen, kid."

I look over at the woman, who was now studying her nails. "What about the lady?" I ask, nodding to her. He opens his mouth to speak, but she speaks instead, "Eighteen." She flatly responds, not looking up.

"Uh, ain't those numbers? I didn't ask for your age!" I shout at them. Seventeen bites off a chuckle. He looks up from side to side, as if someone else was supposed to be here, then scans the sky overhead. "I think we're safe to talk here." Seventeen says to Eighteen. Oddly, he takes a look back at me and smirks, his teeth shine in the dim moonlight outside.

Past him, Eighteen seems to straighten up. Can't tell if she wants to be here or not. Wasn't liking how they completely ignored what I said, but I don't mind it as I wonder why they seemed so suspicious of something. Monsters, perhaps.

"I heard you say your Father was gone, but it'd be best if you come out here, Trunkster." He urges. I can tell he's trying his best to talk to a little boy like me without sounding as if he was patronizing me. I shake my head.

"Can't." I simply tell him.

"Why not?"

"Are you stupid?" I ask, wondering why he doesn't know about the forbidden door. I see him hold back a snappy comment. Probably isn't used to someone like me.

"Well, uh, could you tell us how to get you out here?" Seventeen asks through his teeth. "And I might add without destroying anything." says Eighteen. I put my finger to my lips and think. I already have an idea floating in my mind, but I'm not entirely sure about it.

"Got an idea, but..."

"Come on, kid. I don't think we'll have much 'play time' if you won't tell us how to get you out of there." He impatiently says. Seventeen waits for me to tell him, a growing annoyance showing on the young face of his. I loose my train of thought and begin to study his face. Thin, shining, blue eyes. Straight and black shoulder length hair. I can see the twinkling of his golden pierced ear. Looked too much like Eighteen. Wonder why?

Seventeen conspicuously clear his throat. My mind snaps back to the conversation.

"Oh... Huh, what were we talking about?" I ask, dumbly. Now Eighteen stands next to her 'duplicate' and shakes her head in her palm. "Distracted much?" She mumbles to Seventeen.

"Alright, Trunks. Focus on what we need to figure out," He looks me in the eye. "do you know if this ship has anymore exits?"

"Ship?" What was he talking about? Wasn't no boat! This was my home. I give him a confused look.

"Erm! I mean your house," He corrects himself. "Any little doggy-doors you could slip out of?"

I decide to tell him my idea, "Okay, don't tell Father but..." I explain to him about the holes that I hid in. I suggested that I could probably crawl way, far back into one of them, but he would need to break the rest of the way through. They agree on this plan.

I take a minute to myself and think. I'm actually going to go outside? I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO GO OUTSIDE. I punch my fist into the air and jump with it. For all I've known, beside my memories with the mustache man and 'Grandma', I never have touched the outside. Not even an inch. Any feelings of guilt for betraying my Father's rules were smothered away with my feelings of adventure. Oceans, miles and miles of open area, trees, animals, and maybe I might meet more friends, like Seventeen and Eighteen. Real friends. My heart beats quicker as I slip into my imagination of sailing through the clouds. Could I ever have the courage to find Father and ask him to fly with me? Yes, maybe it was possible. Very thin chance, but still, I could work on my persuasion skills. Sometimes could almost I persuade him to give me an extra serving of a meal, if I impress him enough during training.

"Think Vegeta would notice?" Eighteen asks on the other side of the wall with the hole. My mind shifts back to the plan in action. I bend down and continue my descend into it. I hear a thump. "Asshole, that could have hurt!" She scolds. Then I hear a shushing from Seventeen.

"Okay. You hear me, kid?" Seventeen calls from the outside.

I nod and say, "Sir, yes, sir!" like one of my army men toy soldiers used to say over and over. "I like your attitude, champ." He chuckles. "Stay back, I'm going to punch through." In an instant the guy has his right fist sticking a foot away from my face. Holy, crud. I hope I can hide this gaping hole before my father returns. A long draft hits my skin. I can't help when a menacing giggle chokes through my lips. My time has finally come. I have been freed from my cage by my friends.

I drag my knees until my head pokes outside. It's dark, but the moon lights up what I can see.

"Holy crap, I'm outside! Gee thanks, you're almost as strong as Father!" I yell at Seventeen with glee. Now I lift myself out of the hole. I stop for a few moments. Am I really getting away with this?