A/N: Hey guys! I'm so so so SO sorry this took so long. I know, I know I have the whole story done and I promise I"ll try to keep updating faithfully now that school's in progress nicely. Um, I'm not crazy about the story after this point till the end, and the sequel (don't worry that's pretty far off, like another 10 chapters off) needs lots of work. So just review and leave your thoughts and thanks for reading! Chapter 15 and 16 are up too!
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Claire woke up sleepily and rolled over. Her side felt fine and the only thing bothering her was that she was hungry. It was dark though and she glanced at her clock by her bed and it read 3:19 A.M. She shook her head and rested her head on her pillow too tired to get up and go get something to eat. As she closed her eyes she began to hear a small sniffle. Tired and confused, she tried to figure out where it was coming from. In an attempt to get up she stretched her legs out but there was something at the end of her bed. She heard a whimper and she quickly sat up. "Elle?" she asked looking at her in the moonlight. Poor Elle was curled up at the end of the bed. Elle looked up with a scared look on her face. "What's wrong? I thought you were in Lyle's room? Come on over here," she said and patted the spot on the bed right next to her as she scooted over. Elle crawled over timidly and quickly pulled the covers over herself. Claire realized that Elle was shivering because she was only in a tank top and shorts and it wasn't exactly warm in her room. "What's wrong girl?" Claire tried again as she slid back down into the sheets.
"My dad," Elle whispered.
"It's okay, he's gone," Claire said comfortingly.
"I know," Elle said sadly. "He's…he's…dead." She let out a sob and Claire suddenly realized that for some crazy reason she missed her father.
"Elle he tortured you and he abused you," Claire reminded her gently.
"But he was my dad I shouldn't have been so mean to him," Elle said.
"No Elle you did the right thing and it's a good thing he's dead. He hurt a lot of people and he would have killed me and you and Peter if my father hadn't shot him."
"I know," Elle said. In her head she was thinking about what her father had said. Worthless. Useless. That's what Elle thought she was. He had loved her hadn't he? He had to be right then. "If he didn't love me wouldn't he have let me die a long time ago?" Elle asked clearly confused and dazed.
"Oh Elle," Claire said and sat up. She let Elle snuggle up close to her as she played with her hair. "Your dad was sick. If he loved you Elle it was for all the wrong reasons. Like maybe he did love you but only because you were really good at getting him people or for being able to hurt you. I'm sorry Elle but it's a good thing he's gone."
"Yeah," Elle said thinking.
"Don't worry Elle I'm going to take care of you," Claire assured her. She felt like she was adopting a lost puppy or something.
"Thanks Claire, it means a lot you know," Elle told her.
"Yeah, it's okay don't worry things will work out," Claire said. Elle sighed and tried to sleep as Claire spoke soft encouraging things to her. Suddenly she felt Claire shift positions quickly and she almost screamed as she jerked away. "Woah calm down I was just shivering," Claire said. "Hey I'm really hungry. Do you want me to get some food so we can eat?"
"Please," Elle told her and Claire went and came back in minutes. She had hot dogs on one plate in one hand and Lays chips in that arm with a gallon of water in her other hand along with ketchup.
"Three things," Claire said with a smile. "One you better love hot dogs. Cause I do. Two, I hate mustard so it's just ketchup. Three, I share my drink with people so I'm too lazy to go get a cup for you." For the first time since they'd escaped Claire saw a smile flicker across Elle's face through the dim light from the bed side lamp.
"That's perfect," Elle said with a laugh. "Let me have one."
"Here," Claire said tossing a hot dog to Elle and put some ketchup on it for her.
"Oh wow I didn't realize how hungry I was," Elle said eating it quickly. "Food is good."
"Amen to that," Claire said. "Mmm chips are good too. So is water." Both of them laughed.
"Dude, give me some water," Elle said. Claire handed over the gallon of water."So you okay?" Claire asked kindly.
"I guess, I'm still sorting things out, like what I'm going to do the rest of my life," she said thinking. "To be honest I don't know about anything Claire. I'm scared."
"Why? You've got me and Peter and…"
"But you don't get it; I grew up knowing only pain. I just don't think I fit in with anyone else."
"It doesn't have to be pain the rest of your life, Elle. We rescued you so it didn't have to be like that."
"I know but you really don't get it," Elle said shaking her head. "I know it's weird. I just can't put it into words how I feel. I was asleep in the other room and I woke up and I felt like I couldn't breathe. It felt like I was surrounded by people looking at me and it was like someone was about to hit me. I lost it Claire. I like started crying real hard and I tried to escape the room and it felt like I was drowning or something. I don't know why. I came into your room and like jumped onto your bed. I felt safe finally. I can't be alone."
"You're safe," Claire reassured her. "You can stay right here." She threw the chips on her table and put the empty plate next to it and the water right next to her. "I kinda really want to sleep though. I'm tired."
"That's okay, I'm exhausted," Elle agreed.
"Good," Claire said flicking the light off. Elle snuggled down inside the covers.
"I'm scared," Elle said quietly.
"Aw," Claire sympathized and let Elle cuddle up close to her. She felt like a big sister. "Better?"
"A little," Elle said and shut her eyes. "You too tired to sing?" Claire laughed and hugged squeezed Elle's hand tightly.
"I'll sing one song," Claire said. "I woke up it was seven, waited till eleven just to figure out that no one would call. I think I've got a lot of friends but I don't hear from them. What's another night all alone when you're spending every day on your own? I'm just a kid and life is a nightmare. I'm just a kid and I know that it's not fair and I can't remember the rest…." Claire sang. She heard Elle sigh peacefully.
"One last one?"
"Alright," Claire gave in. "Hey dad look at me. Think back and talk to me. Did I grow up according to plan? Do you think I'm wasting my time doing things I wanna do? But it hurts when you disapproved all along and now I try hard to make it. I just wanna make you proud. I'm never going to be good enough for you; can't pretend that I'm alright. And you can't change me cause we lost it all nothing lasts forever I'm sorry I can't be perfect now it's just too late and we can't go back I'm sorry I can't be perfect." Claire knew instantly that the song affected Elle because she felt her body trembling. "Sorry was that not okay?"
"It's fine," Elle said and just held Claire's hand tightly. "Good night."
"Night," Claire said softly and let herself drift into a quiet sleep. Elle, as usual, had a nightmare.
Elle stood in the middle of a dark forest. She could hear rustling and spun around but nothing was in sight except tall trees. The sky was cloudy and it was windy. She wrapped her arms around herself as the chilly air stung her and she tried to figure out what to do but she felt completely lost. Rain began to pour and Elle began to feel panic racing throughout her body. She absolutely hated being in the rain. "Elle," came a low whisper through the woods. Her body trembled and she knew who the voice belonged to. "Daddy?" she shouted through the loud rain and wind. Her clothes were soaked and her hair was a mess and she shivered as the wind blew cold air at her. "Worthless," came the voice. "Useless girl." "I'm not," Elle cried fiercely. "Stop it!" "Never," said the voice. "Go away!" she shouted into the wind as she cowered in the storm and ran aimlessly. "Elle!" came another voice. Elle whirled around but couldn't see anyone through the rain. It was like a wall of rain was separating her so she could only see ten feet in front of her. "Where are you Elle?" "Claire?!" Elle shouted recognizing this voice. "Claire I'm right here!" She shouted till she felt hoarse. Claire suddenly came into view. "Claire!" "Elle where are you?" "I'm right here!" Elle shouted waving her hands but Claire didn't seem to see her. "Elle? Elle you there?" Suddenly Elle saw a large black shadow behind Claire. She tried to move but her feet seemed like they were planted in one spot. "Claire watch out!"
"Hey sunshine," Claire said staring at her with a soft grin as Elle blinked her eyes open sleepily. She felt as though she'd been thrown right back from the dream.
"'Morning," she tried to say cheerfully.
"Must've slept good," Claire said still smiling.
"Not really it didn't feel like it," Elle told her.
"Really? You've slept like still the entire night while I kept waking up," Claire explained.
"Oh."
"It's one, by the way," Claire said.
"Really? My dad would beat me if I stayed asleep that long."
"Your dad would beat you even if you didn't," Claire said with hate against Elle's father. "He's long gone."
"Just like my mom," Elle said sadly.
"Do you remember her?"
"Not real well," she admitted. "I know she really loved me. I just remember this picture I had. She was blonde with blue eyes and she was really pretty. She was holding me and smiling. My dad destroyed the picture a while ago when he found out I had it."
"I'm sorry; did your dad love her?"
"I don't think so," Elle said. "I don't even think they were married. I think he donated sperm to her or something. I looked into files when I wasn't supposed to and I learned that he took me from her to test on. That's why I don't believe she committed suicide all those years ago. He took me. She tried to stop him. I read somewhere that she also had another girl shortly just a year after me. Another sperm donor. Then some lady named Tammy and my dad became steady. She hated me before she met me. Personally I think she was mental. You'd have to be crazy to like him. Oh and she's still out there and when she finds out I killed her beloved she'll want to kill me. Not like she didn't before. I don't think they were married. Whatever I didn't want to know about their relationship."
"Ew," Claire said at the thought of someone liking Bob. "Did she have an ability too?"
"Tammy? Yeah she actually could disable people's powers within a certain distance. My real mom could make fire I think. I only know that by reading her file."
"Woah, so could my real mom," Claire said with her face lighting up. "Wait, what was your mom's name?"
"Meredith Gordon," Elle said not seeing why Claire was so excited. Claire swiftly sat up and dragged Elle up too. "What are you doing?" Claire grabbed Elle's hands.
"Oh my gosh!" Claire said excitedly. "It all fits Elle! Meredith is my bio mom and she could create fire, you're a year older than me, we're both results of donors, we're half sisters!"
It took Elle a few seconds to realize this. Then she a huge grin spread across her face and she felt happier than she'd ever felt. "You're my sister!" Elle shrieked. "OH MY GOSH!" Both of them squealed and simultaneously tackled each other in a hug. Elle laughed as she fell back with Claire giggling on top of her. Claire tightened her hug on Elle and both of them were breathless.
"Wow," Peter said from the doorway. "I didn't know you two were like that. I'll be leaving now." Claire quickly pulled herself off of Elle and began to laugh and Peter turned to look at them. Elle could hardly talk and she was laughing along with Claire.
"Peter guess what?" Elle squealed.
"Do I want to know?"
"Elle and I are half sisters!" Claire blurted out. Peter stood there in shock. A grin spread across his face in a few seconds too.
"That's great guys," he said smiling and walked over to the bed and sat on the end facing the two ecstatic girls. "Wait, you're not related to me right Elle?"
"No," they both reassured him. He grinned and said, "Well in that case…" He pulled Elle in for a kiss and Claire laughed happily as Elle kissed him back.
"Slow down you two I'm right here," she joked and Peter broke off so he could tackle Claire.
"Come 'ere you," he said and wrestled with Claire till she fell off the bed laughing. Elle joined in and soon all three were wrestling on the floor and Elle would occasionally throw in a jolt here and there. Peter would show off his multiple powers careful to only hurt Claire because Elle couldn't heal. Claire soon rolled away breathless and trying to stop laughing.
"Let's go eat something," Claire suggested. Elle laughed and crawled over.
"You're hungry after our little feast last night?"
"Feast? Why wasn't I invited?" Peter asked jokingly.
"It was some girl bonding time," Claire said winking and ran her hand down Elle's arm.
"Ew Claire!" Elle said laughing and pulled her arm away from her.
"I won't ask," Peter said and shook his head.
"Oh come on," Elle said playfully. "It so wasn't like that. Tell him Claire."
"I don't know Pete she's pretty wild," Claire said giggling.
"Claire!" Elle shouted and shocked her.
"Ow I'm just kidding sis, geez," she said rubbing her arm where Elle shocked her but was pleased to see a smile form on Elle when she said sis.
"Claire why don't you fantasize about your boyfriend instead of hitting on my girlfriend?" Peter said with a sly smile.
"Woah slow down pretty boy, since when am I your girlfriend?" Elle asked tilting her head and batting her eye lashes.
"Well, Elle girl, do you want to be my girlfriend?"
"Definitely," she said and kissed him.
"Well now that that's solved, can we go downstairs?" Claire asked.
"Not till you tell me about this boyfriend of yours," Elle said firmly planting herself in front of Claire.
Claire smiled broadly. "His name is West."