After she finished crying, Melanie laid there silently next to 505 praying, fuming, and worrying about what awaited her in her new life.
It was unfair. Her childhood had been spent living in misery. For as long as she could remember, she had been raised to be a villain in Black Hat's stupid organization. Melanie went to an elite evil private elementary school filled with fake friends who cared more about her social status in the organization than ever knowing her. Most social events outside of school that weren't dedicated to homework, her therapy or her artistic pursuits were centered around Black Hat. Her family time was spent being dragged on evil missions for the family or for Black Hat. Every possession, every vacation, everything that made her happy was "courtesy of Black Hat." Her entire damn life was overshadowed by Black Hat and Melanie hated every second of it.
Melanie always hated it. She did her hardest to convince herself she didn't to fit in, but eventually, she could not run from her conscience anymore. And like her sister Lunet, Melanie had to do her best to bury her feelings to hide them from everyone else.
Then everything changed when Melanie started going to Our Lady of Perpetual Gladness Catholic School. She expected to be miserable, but she wasn't. Melanie found other girls who welcomed her, who listened to what she wanted to say, who loved her for who she was, and who accepted her. Those other girls brought her to the Nun-ja Organization, to Sensei Lucy, and eventually, to God. Melanie found friendship, strength, love, and enlightenment. Best of all, she formed her personal relationship with the One who formed the Universe and gave her a new purpose alongside her other sisters on the same path.
That purpose gave Melanie hope. It also gave her and Lunet a way out. It was a life she had to keep secret from almost her entire family, but it was a life where she was finally happy.
But now that her secret had been revealed, her parents and Black Hat were determined to snuff that hope out, to break her links with the friends and God she loved, and to turn her into a villain who caused misery. Just like them. Just another cog in his machine.
Melanie didn't know what to do. She didn't know how she would survive. She didn't even know what would happen the next morning.
But Melanie knew one thing that was repeated in her head constantly like a mantra. The love of her friends, the Spirit inside her, and her gut made that one thing clear.
Melanie whispered it to herself as she laid on that bed in the waning daylight, "I will not submit. I will be free."
Later that evening, Flug, Black Hat, and Dementia knocked on the door to Melanie's room. She had not left her room since lunch, so they were justifiably concerned, especially when they tried the knob and realized she had locked her door.
"Melanie?" Flug said knocking on the locked door. "Black Hat and I are here to check-up on you. Will you open up?"
"Just open the door," Black Hat commanded.
Flug sighed, pulled the key out of his pocket, and opened the door.
The lights were out. Melanie was sleeping in her bed against 505 who was sleeping beside her like a giant pillow.
Black Hat scoffed and commented, "It seems that your pet has taken a liking to her, doctor."
"Uh…heh heh heh," Flug nervously chuckled. "It would appear so."
Without warning, Dementia flew in behind them.
"Hola, Melanie!" Dementia said loudly as she waltzed into the room and saw Melanie sleeping. "Aw, is she all tuckered out?"
"It would appear so," Black Hat replied. "Her defenses aren't as strong."
"So, we're spying on a sleeping child?" Dementia asked.
"No," Flug said. "We're assessing the situation."
"I get it," Dementia said. "We're figuring out her weaknesses, so we can destroy this little brat!"
"Close, but no," Flug said with a heavy sigh.
"Your assessment, doctor?!" Black Hat demanded.
"Oh, of course," Flug began. "Judging from our chats today, she's completely enamored with the life of a hero. Her connection to... that high power is as strong as her devotion to her nun-ja life, and it doesn't seem like she wants to change. However, seeing as she seemed afraid at the possibility of staying here for the next few months, this makes me wonder that it may be actually possible to turn her to villainy."
"How do you mean, doctor?" Black Hat asked.
"As you said before, nun-jas are impossible to interrogate, but judging from today, I think I saw something that we could use to our advantage: Fear," Flug said with a wicked smile in his voice.
Melanie's eyes began to flicker open unbeknownst to the three villains present.
"And what does this child fear?" Black Hat asked flashing a sadistic smile of his own.
"Several things," Flug replied. "Being away from her family and her nun-ja friends, of course. But above all, Melanie fears losing her freedom."
Melanie shut her eyes and pretended to be asleep while listening in to the rest of their conversation.
"I see," Black Hat responded maliciously.
"We should put her in a cage," Dementia suggested.
"No, we're not doing that," Flug replied.
"Then, what will we do?" Dementia asked in a huff.
"I propose we set a strict schedule with lots of boundaries and rules that Melanie has to follow or risk being punished," Flug said. "I believe that Melanie's parents allowed her too much freedom which has led her down the heroic path."
"You're so boring," Dementia complained.
"Ow!" Black Hat complained holding his head as a wave of pain rushed through it. "Come on! Let's discuss this back at my office. The girl's giving me a migraine!"
"Of course," Flug said before turning to Dementia. "Come on, Dementia. Leave Melanie alone."
Dementia glared back at Melanie, cracked her knuckles, and whispered threateningly, "Someday…" before following the two other villains out of the room and shutting the door behind her.
When she was sure they were gone, Melanie sat upright in her bed and prayed out loud.
"Father, they know my weakness," Melanie prayed. "What do I do? I have to send a more detailed message to my sisters somehow..."
It was then that Melanie heard a response from within.
"Huh?" Melanie asked before He kept speaking. "What was that? But would that...? Wait a minute…Of course! Thank you!"
Melanie immediately turned around and shook 505 awake.
The bear opened his eyes and yawned as he listened to Melanie say, "Hey, 505. I'm awake and feeling better now. Can we stream now?"
505 sat up, nodded enthusiastically, and walked out of the room with Melanie following close behind him.