The next morning a friend of their father came by, and somehow was convinced to wear make-up and a dress. Sad to say, no one was impressed.
"This won't do." Loid sighed as his friend yelled, "What?!"
"I don't want this mama." Anya stated as she pointed at Franky.
"Nope." Eric said as he shook his head disapprovingly. 'We'll be kicked out before we even get to that interview.'
"You're not exactly convincing with the mother role. Though I have seen uglier women." Twilight commented with his arms crossed.
Franky grabbed a hand mirror and hid the side of his face from the kids as he whispered to Twilight, "You're the master of disguise, so why can't you make me beautiful?"
"I don't think there's enough make-up in the world that can help ma'am." Eric savagely stated, making Franky incensed.
"And I also have limited options." Twilight added, not even phased by his friend's outrage.
Franky glanced between Twilight and Eric, noting how the boy mimicked his father's mannerisms, facial expressions, and stance. Eye color aside, they look too similar to not be blood related. "Are you sure you didn't father him at some point in your life? The resemblance is too freaky." He stated, remembering the earlier picture of Eric before his haircut.
"100%." Twilight answered as he sat down and mulled over his plan while Anya offered Franky a peanut and Eric sat at the end of the couch closest to his father.
"So, what options do we have? You sure there's no one at work who can do you this favor?" Eric asked, mildly worried as he watched Loid strategize in his head.
After a long moment of contemplation, Twilight straightened his back and sighed, "I'll need to find a woman."
That night, Eric slept on the left side of the bed while Anya was close to the wall. His face scrunched up and gritted his teeth, as though in pain.
*#*
Subject 006 successfully escaped his room. Dressed in hospital scrubs, his little feet padded along the cold tiled floor, making him shiver in discomfort. But that didn't stop him from his mission. With all the stealth his small three-year-old body could muster, he peeked around corners to make sure no one saw him sneaking around.
He found the room he heard the scary white coat people talk about, the one where the pretty lady was taken to. He reached his hand out and concentrated on the door handle before it moved down and opened with a click. He shimmied between the crack before he fully entered the scary room with cold steel tables and sharp instrument beside them. He gulped in fear at the sight of them.
His big green eyes looked around until he found a lock of hair peeking out from under a white sheet on top of one of the tables. He waddled over to where the hair was hiding until he was beside it. The top of his head barely reached the edge of the table.
"I found you, Mama." His little voice whispered, but silence was his answer.
"Mama, it's time to get up." He said as he stood on tippy toes and peered over the edge to see the white sheet covering her face.
"Don't worry, I'll help you." He said as he grabbed the sheet and started to pull with the intent of helping his mother breathe better. As he tugged on the sheet, her arm fell from the table, hanging limp off the edge. He let go of the sheet and touched his mother's hand but flinched when he noticed how cold it felt.
"Mama, why are you so cold, you'll get sick." He said in panic as he blew hot on the skin then rubbed it to bring some heat back. But her hand still remained cold.
"Mama, why won't you wake up?" The poor boy could not understand why she wasn't warming up or responding.
"She's dead." A chilling voice made him look behind to see a terrifying man in front of the door with two other scientists flanking him. His eyes were cold and unsympathetic behind his glasses.
"Dead? Is it a sickness?" The boy asked, holding his mother's limp hand to his chest tightly.
"No. It means she's never coming back."
"But she's right here. Can't you wake her up?" The boy wasn't sure what being dead meant, but he knew it was a bad thing.
"Dead means her life is gone. She'll never awaken, move, or breathe ever again. She can't be with you anymore." The man's cruel explanation caused something inside him to break, but he didn't want to accept what death truly meant.
"Take Subject 006 back to his room." He ordered his colleagues who moved to take the boy.
His green eyes widened as he was picked up, but he refused to let go of his mother's hand. "No, don't! Please don't take me away from Mama!" He protested through tears as the scientists pried his little fingers off the corpse. "Mama! Mama, help me!" He wailed as they successfully separated and forcefully carried him away. No matter how hard he struggled, he could not fight his way back to his mother whose face forever remained still and unmoving.
The last thing he saw was the scientist recovering her body with the sheet before the doors slammed shut.
*#*
Eric's eyes shot open to find himself stuck to the ceiling with Anya below him looking panicked as she tried to quietly wake him up without alerting their father. He was so startled that he dropped from the ceiling and bounced off the bed then crashed onto the hard wood floor with a resounding thud. Anya screamed in shock as her poor brother made impact.
The sound, unfortunately, didn't go unnoticed as Loid pushed the door open to see his son stiffly sit up holding the back of his head as tears streamed down his cheeks. He knelt down and checked him for any other injuries. "What happened?" He asked as he held Eric's head and felt a bump begin to swell under the scalp.
"Big Brother fell out of bed." Anya answered as tears streamed down her face. Loid wasn't sure if she was crying from shock or sympathy for her brother. All he knew was the boy was trying to suppress his sobs as he rubbed his head.
Loid picked him and carried him into the kitchen and sat him on the counter. He quickly went to the freezer and found an ice tray. He dumped the ice cubes onto a towel and wrapped it up before he returned to the silently sobbing boy and gently laid the ice pack on his bump. Eric winced a little then calmed down at the soothing coolness that enveloped his skull.
Loid sighed in relief as the boy leaned into the towel. "Quite a hit you took."
"Will Big Brother be okay?" Anya asked as she stood beside the counter.
"He'll be fine. He just needs to keep the ice pack on his bump." He said as Eric gently held the towel to his head as Loid carried him over to the couch with Anya following close behind.
"Sorry." Eric groaned as he was gently deposited onto the cushions.
"No need to apologize. I'll get you something for the headache. Anya, watch over your brother." Loid said as he went to the bathroom.
"'Kay." Anya said as she sat beside her brother and rubbed his back.
Loid came back to the kitchen and took out a pain reliever before he crushed it into dust with a spoon then mixed it into a glass of orange juice. "Here we go. This should help." He said as he gave Eric the drink which he slowly consumed while Loid held the ice to his head.
Once he finished, gave the cup back to Loid. "Thank you."
"It should take a few minutes for it to kick in." Loid said as he carried the glass back into the sink and washed it.
Eric stared off into space as his head continued to throb despite the ice numbing it. That wasn't merely a dream, it was a memory he experienced before he met his sister. No matter how hard he tried to forget, that day still haunted him. He felt a tugging on his sleeve and turned to Anya who looked to be on the verge of crying again. With a soft smile, he wrapped an arm around her. "I'm okay Anya." He said as his sister held him in an effort to soothe his pain, emotional and physical.
Loid silently watched their interaction and how attentive they were to each other. Something he noted about their relationship was how inseparable the siblings are. Which brought up another problem he needs to address. While Eric attends Eden, Anya must go to another school, mainly kindergarten that was close enough for Loid to pick her and Eric up simultaneously. He sighed at yet another task added to the long list of what he needs to do for his mission.
Sometime later, Franky arrives with a mountain of files on unmarried women from city hall. Eric sat at the far end of the couch with a book in his lap while holding an ice pack to his head. He watched their odd interaction with a mild look before he stared at the large pile of paper. 'One woman out of all that.' He sighed then returned to his book, 'Who he chooses is not my concern. Besides, it's only a fake wife he needs. Not a real mother.' Anya turned to her brother in sadness at the pain he still holds inside. Even though she has no memory, she knew their mother loved them with every fiber of her being. Yet she also wants to experience the love of both a mother and father.
"Don't pity me you jerk!" Franky yelled as he slammed his hands on the coffee table, making Anya flinch and hide behind the side of the couch.
She peered over the arm of the sofa at her father. "Is having kids a bad thing. Are we keeping mamas away?"
Loid reached out a hand and rubbed the top of her head. "No, it's not your fault. Just watch some TV and don't worry." He said as a way to console the sweet girl.
Anya felt good after getting her head pat then nodded, "'Kay." Then she made a bee line towards the TV and turned it on to her favorite show.
"Honestly, I don't see how hard it is for you to find a spouse." Eric commented, not taking his eyes off the book. "You're a handsome successful guy who has a perfectly stable job. Any woman would kill to be your wife. Even the married ones." He added as he turned a page.
"Smaller version of you has a point." Franky agreed, earning a glare from the boy upon being called 'small.' He decided to let it go and return to his book while the adults discussed Loid's marital status. He wasn't sure how long he tuned them out, but the moment Loid mentioned something about their appearance, Eric came back to reality.
The Forgers stood inside a tailor shop where the siblings looked at the articles of clothing, one with amazement, and the other with a calculating look. "Now then, young man and young lady, come this way and we'll take your measurements." The proprietor said as she led them around the shop.
"We're being sold off?" Anya yelled to their father as Eric calmly followed behind them.
"Not if you're a good girl." Loid quipped as he leaned against the counter, waiting for their measurements to get done.
Eric watched as Anya held her arms out as the lady measured her waist, almost falling backwards but was thankfully caught by her brother. Anya dashed back to their father when she was finished. Eric raised his arms as the woman took his measurements as well. His eyes moved over to his father who was talking to a beautiful woman with long black hair and lovely red eyes. He narrowed his eyes as that strange feeling came back. Just like when they first met Loid, he felt something off about him, dangerous and deadly but not evil. Yet, despite not feeling malice coming from her, he wasn't sure if it's a good idea to be near that woman.
"All done." The proprietor said as she stood up.
"Thank you, ma'am." Eric politely said before he returned to his family just in time to see Anya swaying side-to-side sounding 'woeful'. "Oh, poor, poor me. I'm so lonely 'cause I got no mama."
"What's this about?" Loid asked as Anya continued her dramatics, but this piqued the beautiful woman's attention.
"I just need a mama so bad." Anya added as Eric watched her with a frown of confusion. 'What are you doing?'
"Are you not here with your wife?" The woman asked their father who turned his attention back to her.
"Um, no. Sadly we lost her two years ago. It's just me, my son and daughter. I'm raising them by myself." Loid lied smoothly as the woman looked relieved.
Eric watched their interaction from the corner of his eye. It took him a moment to figure out what was going on then sighed. 'That's real subtle Anya.' He thought to her as her eyes twinkled in satisfaction.
The Forgers and the woman known as Yor Briar stood outside the shop where the latter explained her situation. Apparently, she lied to her brother about being in a relationship and needs a fake boyfriend to accompany her at this party. Loid saw this as an opportunity to get a fake wife to help him with the interview to get Eric accepted into Eden College. He even put in a little bit of dramatics telling her that it was their mother's dying wish.
'Old man's the best liar/Papa's a big fat liar.' The siblings thought at the same time as they watched their father deceive the woman.
While the woman seemed charmed and impressed by his devotion to his children. Eric caught a strange scent coming off her person. 'This smell.' It was something he vaguely remembered years ago, from his mother's fresh corpse to their escape.
After they agreed on their mutual favors and to meet her on Saturday, they parted ways from Yor Briar. Eric glanced behind them for another moment at Yor's retreating back. 'Blood. And death. There's no mistaking it. She's a killer.' She flinched when she sensed her brother's thoughts and the way he kept he eyes narrowed at the woman before facing forward to follow beside their father.
'Anya, who is that woman?' Eric asked his sister through his thoughts.
With one hand holding the sleeve on his wrist, her other hand traced his palm with her small index finger. 'SATDAY. PA NOT HOME'. Eric sighed; it was the safest time to discuss what she knows while their father went on that date.
Once Saturday came around, Twilight left them in the care of their babysitter, a kind older woman who has grandchildren of her own. "Anya, let's play checkers." Eric said as he carried the boardgame into their room.
"Okay." Anya said as she leapt off the couch as their babysitter watched them with a fond smile, reminded of how close her own grandchildren are whenever they played. She sighed, "So cute." She said as she returned to her knitting while listening to the radio.
Eric closed the door as Anya set up their boardgame in the middle of the floor. He sat cross-legged then moved his checker piece while watching her. Even if he didn't translate his thoughts or spoke, his look was enough to tell her what he wants to know.
Anya took a deep breath and whispered, "Papa's date is an ash-azen *assassin*."
It took all of Eric's will power not to yell. 'ASSASSIN?' He screamed in his head, causing Anya to wince at the ringing volume.
Anya massaged her head to relieve the pain. "Anya, what on earth were you thinking?" Eric furiously whispered.
"Well, I thought it would be fun to have her as a mama. Plus, Papa needed help finding a wife." Anya explained as she moved her piece to another square.
Eric groaned as he pinched the bridge of his nose. 'Leave it to my little sister to find dangerous people entertaining.' He gave her a pointed look, 'Anya, it's bad enough we have a spy for a father whom we have to be more careful around with our powers, but to invite a killer into our house and live under the same roof as us is just asking for more trouble. If she were to find out about his occupation, she'll kill him, and world peace will be disrupted.'
"It won't happen though." Anya said determinately. "She wants to keep herself hidden like Papa. Remember, Papa's the best in his work. Plus, since I know everything, I'll make sure neither of them ever finds out about each other while you focus on school." She added with a proud optimistic smile with hands on her hips like she did something victorious.
'It's not just that, we don't know what this woman is really like. I don't want her to hurt you.' Eric thought with immediate distrust. His own natural survival instinct.
"She won't. She's really kind and sweet." Anya said defensively as she frowned at her brother. "She's an older sibling like you. And she raised her little brother all on her own when their parents died."
Now this certainly caught Eric's attention. No mother and father meant the older sibling has to grow up faster to become their younger brother or sister's protector, provider and parent. Essentially taking on all the responsibilities of an adult at a very young age. Eric was fully prepared to take on all those tasks the moment he met his little sister. If Yor Briar had to take on such a task to care for her only family on top of being an assassin, maybe she wasn't such a bad person after all.
Eric sighed, "Fine, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. But that doesn't mean I'll completely trust her. I do have my reservations after all." He conceded as he weighed the pros and cons of an assassin mom. If Yor raised her younger brother, then she definitely has some experience as a mother. Plus, Anya really needs a mother who can protect her, and with Yor's skills and natural maternal instincts, no one can ever touch Anya.
Anya smiled when she heard his thoughts and laughed. "It's gonna be fun. Best part, you'll still get into Eden."
Eric smiled slightly, "Yeah." 'Hopefully the old man doesn't mess up.'
By late evening as Anya and Eric got ready for bed, their father came home, looking a tad rough. After paying the bewildered babysitter, he went to his children who watched him in anticipation.
"Well, how did it go?" Eric asked as he surveyed the man's appearance. 'Please tell me this guy didn't fight the assassin.'
Loid gave his children a relieved smile, "I now have a wife."
Anya's eyes lit up as she squealed and hopped excitedly, "We got a mama! We finally have a mama!" She started doing her happy dance at the success of her little mission.
Eric smiled in both relief and exasperation at the results of his sister's actions. On one hand, they now have a mother that can help them with the family interview and secure his place in Eden. On the other hand, he now has to worry about having an assassin in his house while trying to keep everyone's secrets from revealing themselves to each other.
'Spy, assassin, telekinetic, and telepath. That sounds like a start to a really bad joke.' Eric thought cynically as he felt that ill feeling well up within his stomach. He has more to worry about on top of trying to protect world peace.
A bit shorter compared to the first chapter, but I like it personally. That flashback/dream you read was just one of Eric's emotional traumas. I'm sorry for making you cry. Other than that, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Leave a like and review.