Chapter 3: Gaining Trust

Her eyes were fearful. She hated me! She wanted to save me and I killed her! How could I do it? I'm a monster! I'm a monster! She pulled me over the counter to save my life and my only job was to maul her…I killed her…I pulled off her flesh! What have I become? What am I? I am nothing but a monster!

Alanna tossed and turned in her 'bed' on her portion of the RV. There was nothing left for her in this world. She woke up with sweat pouring from her forehead. She looked around and realized she was alone. She quickly ran to kitchen and grabbed a knife. She figured now was the perfect time to do it. She held the knife to her neck but couldn't. She was scared but she was just a little girl! She put the knife back in its spot. She sighed, "No one loves me," she said while crying.

She opened the door, wondering where they were now, and she sighed when she saw they were at yet another RV park. She closed the door. She hated RV parks. The people always stared at her and Jack and Donny never allowed her to leave the RV anyway. So, she sat back down in her corner. What she wouldn't give for a shower but Jack said it was a waste of water. She shook her head and fell back to sleep.

She must have been asleep for a couple days because when she woke back up, Jack and Donny were talking about another robbery they would be committing further north. She thought she heard the word Canada before she fell back to sleep. She was always like this after killing someone. The depression kicked in, but it wasn't because she killed someone; no, it was because she enjoyed it. She enjoyed killing people! She enjoyed killing people! But, if she enjoyed it so much then why did she feel guilty? Why was the guilt causing her to have bad dreams? Why did she have to have a soul? Why did she have to have a heart?

Why did she have to be loved? She realized something. That man who gave her the chocolate cake. Wasn't that a display of love? As she tossed in her sleep, she kept seeing his face. She only saw him that once but something about his eyes. He displayed compassion and concern. His eyes showed love. Why did he have to be so nice? She didn't deserve that. If he only knew what she had done, if he only knew what she was!

She woke up and sighed because once again she was alone. Jack and Donny used to never leave her alone but now? Now they left her alone more often than not. Maybe it sounded silly because of how much they hurt her but she was still a little girl. She was eleven years old! She needed people to look out for her. She needs love, compassion, parents! All she has ever known has been hate…she didn't even know who her birth parents were!

Alanna sighed again and stood up. Her body felt limp and tired. She would need to feed again and she swore she could smell herself. This wasn't fair! She wanted to take a shower, to be human...but all she would ever be to Jack and Donny was a monster. She opened the door and was surprised at what she saw. There was that guy again, what was his name? "Bruce," she said in more of a question, "Yes," he said with a smile. Who was this guy? Was he following them? She knew she should be suspicious but something about him put her at ease. She sighed and stepped out, knowing better to let him in. She closed the door behind her, "Are you following us?"

Bruce smirked at her, She's very intelligent, he thought, "Yes," he admitted in a moment of honesty that surprised him. Alanna studied him for a moment and then shrugged, "Why?" Bruce chuckled at this, "I want to help you," he admitted. Alanna was visibly shaking and shook her head, "You can't save me, Bruce," she said his name with a bite. He smirked and then winkled his nose, "You need a shower," he turned and began walking over to another RV.

Alanna's face visibly turned pink. For some reason, unknown to even her, she followed Bruce. She knew it was stupid and he might be trying to harm her but, then again, who could harm her? He stepped into an RV and she followed. It wasn't as big as Jack and Donny's but it easily could fit three people comfortably. She looked around and was amazed at how homey it was. It wasn't like the one she was forced to live in. No, it was much better! 'A home' she sighed in thought as she wished she had a home.

Bruce looked over at Alanna and coughed slightly holding out some towels, "I'll go outside, take as long as you need," he smiled, "There is food in the refrigerator as well; help yourself," he said as she took the towels and he headed down the steps and went outside. Alanna simply blinked her eyes, 'Is this guy serious? Help myself?...what is up with him?" She sighed in pure exhaustion as she looked down at the towels and shrugged. Why not? She started walking to the bathroom in the rear of the RV but stopped as she reached the refrigerator.

She opened the door and saw all sorts of food, but stopped herself. She grabbed a bottle of water and closed the door, "Bottled water," she said smiling, "I feel rich," she chuckled at herself and then headed to the bathroom.

A few hours passed by before Alanna left Bruce's RV. She walked over to him and sat down on the bench, "Thank you," was all that she said. He nodded his head, "You're welcome, Alanna," with a sincere smile that melted away all of Alanna's fears. She looked up at the sky, "I have to go," she said and then got up. Bruce nodded his head, "I know," he said with a hint of concern that Alanna appreciated more than anything else Bruce had done for her.

Bruce sighed as she left toward Jack and Donny's RV. He shook his head, "Bruce, what have you gotten yourself into?" He asked himself. His phone began to vibrate and he pulled it out, "Great," he said in a sarcastic and slurry tone. The caller ID showed a blocked number but he already knew who it was. "Go," he said as he answered it, "How's it going, Bruce?" Fury said on the other end, "I haven't heard from you, doctor." Bruce shook his head, "I'm almost done," he said with a smirk, "and the girl?" Fury asked. Bruce sighed, "Leave her to me" was all he said as he hung up the phone. He surprised even himself with that one. His phone starting vibrating again with another blocked number. He shut the phone off and just went back to his RV.

He smiled as he looked around. The place was cleaner than when he left. Alanna must have cleaned up. He chuckled and shook his head, "Bruce," he said to himself as he looked in the mirror, seeing The Hulk instead of himself, "Thinking about adopting her, Doctor?" the monster asked in a not-so-friendly tone. Bruce looked down at the monster and said, "Why not, Hulk?" The monster simply smirked in its normal fashion, "One monster adopting another and you ask 'why not'?" The monster laughed in a fashion that made Bruce feel uncomfortable, "Don't tell me you actually love this girl, doctor?" Bruce sighed, "What's wrong with wanting a family, Hulk?" he asked in the same tone. "We can never have a family!" The monster yelled at him, "You should know that above all else, Doctor…" With that the monster faded and Bruce saw his own reflection. He shook his head, tears falling from his eyes, "I do know this, but," his right hand gasped his heart, "I know what this tells me…"