Chapter 2: TWO
My whole world crumbled at that moment. I jumped out of the car that drove me home and ran towards the black debris that remained. I couldn't believe it.
No, this can't be happening, it just can't!
I saw the ambulance taking the two bodies of my parents away and I began to cry. A nurse came to me and said,"Kid, I'm sorry…"
"No! This isn't true! You're all lying! My parents are alive and my life will go on normally!"
"Kid…"She said, holding my hand.
"Let go of me!"I yelled and ran into the rubble.
The people searched for me but didn't find me.
I stayed in a corner, crouched and trying to convince myself that the proof around me was fake.
I stayed there for over a day, no food or water, crying silently.
I heard fragile objects being crushed but didn't look up. A hand tapped my shoulder before I did, my eyes, red with tears.
I saw a handsome and dark man with short hair and a grey tuxedo. He smiled and said,"Hi, my name is Mark."
I didn't respond.
He said something which made me gasp,"...and I'm your older brother."
I had never seen this man in my life and my parents had never told me I had any siblings. I just remained silent.
"I'm going to be taking care of you from now on."
"I don't have any brothers.", I said, looking away.
He showed me a picture of him graduating with my parents by his side, younger and smiling.
"Now do you believe me?"
I wanted to shake my head but ended up nodding.
He told me to follow him and for some reason I did. He took me to a blue Ferrari and helped me get in.
He drove me to a posh restaurant and said,"What would you like?"
I was surprised and repeated his question as my parents used to always decide my food, I chose the crème brulé and he nodded then ordered it.
As I ate the French dessert, he asked,"So Tommy, do you like the food?"
I nodded.
He didn't seem hungry as he hadn't ordered anything for himself then said,"I'm sorry but we'll have to move."
I was all for the idea but concealed my excitement and calmly asked,"To where?"
"I live in New York."
I just nodded again. He waited for me to finish my food then he stood up.
I also stood up and timidly followed him back to the car.
He drove to an expensive hotel and took me to the third floor.
"Would you like something to drink?"He asked me.
I shook my head.
"Would you like to watch some TV?"
I didn't see any television but I nodded.
He took a black remote and pushed the on button and a TV started rising from the floor. As it ascended, my jaw descended.
He went to take a bath while I scrolled through the channels. I wasn't interested in cartoons like most kids my age, I was more interested in documentaries.
I didn't search long till I found one by Harry Danville, about the coral reefs of West Africa and the organisms found there and nowhere else.
I watched for a little while then Mark came out, wearing a black tuxedo.
I asked,"Do you always wear a tuxedo?"
He chuckled and said no.
I also went to take a shower in the king-size bathroom. It was white themed and the shower water was warm.
By the time I got to my room, I saw the closet was full of clothes, neatly arranged. I took some and wore them, feeling proud and went to the living room.
He had already served some food on the dining table so I went to eat.
I had never seen that food in my life but, it wasn't half bad.
I asked,"Please where do you work?"
"You don't know it, I'm the C.E.O. of a shoe company in New York called Aqua."
"Wait, are you the one who had been sending me a pair of shoes every month?"
He nodded.
"Wow, thanks! Everytime I wore them to school, people couldn't get their eyes off of me, and it's not because I'm a nerd."
He chuckled, he had this charming laugh I realized, it was far better than mine where I snorted every two seconds.
"Okay, how old are you?", I asked.
He nearly choked on the food in his mouth, waited for several seconds then said,"I'm...I'm six years old."
I started to laugh then said,"Stop joking and tell me your real age."
"No, literally, I'm six. I'm a leapling so my birthday only comes once every four years, so I'm only a fourth as old as the number of years I've lived."
I tried not to laugh so I didn't hurt his feelings. He looked like a tough guy, but I could never know.
"So that means, technically, you're my younger brother, I'm twelve."
"Technically, I've still lived for far longer than you."
I chuckled and continued eating.
He took me to bed while the rain began to fall and I asked,"Can you kiss me goodnight?"
He sighed and kissed my forehead.
Before he left, I called him.
"Yup?"
"Could you please read me a bedtime story?"
"Aren't you a little too old for that?"
"Mom and dad never said that."
He sighed and sat by me, then read a few chapters of War and Peace before I fell asleep.
He had some work to do before he turned in, but the moment he was done, he slumped on his bed.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone