MIDAS ⇾ THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY

~ IX ~

Alexis opened her eyes to a white corridor, lined with pillars. She began to walk along it - there seemed no other option. A figure appeared in the distance - it looked humanoid.

She continued to travel towards it. Her footsteps made no sound on the floor. As she drew closer, she could see it was a person. It was a man, she thought. He seemed incredibly average - he had no defining features.

"You cannot stay here," he said.

Alexis said nothing.

"This place is only momentary. You must move forward."

"What if I don't want to?"

"You barely have a choice. You are crucial to their plight."

"What?"

"Time to wake up."

Alexis opened her eyes, again, to bright lights. She blinked a few times, as her senses came back, along with the memories. She inhaled sharply as she remembered what had happened. The masks, the guns, the energy. Cursing, she realised Allison had seen her power. She looked around at the room she was in. It was mostly empty, aside from medical equipment; from the decor, she decided she was still in the academy. She laid back, not seeing Pogo at the door. Her head still swam, and she closed her eyes again.

For the second time, she awoke, but this time there was someone else in the room.

"Alexis?" said Allison gently.

Alexis looked over to where the woman was sitting. She looked concerned.

"Pogo called and said you'd woken up. You've been out for a while."

"How long?" she said weakly.

"Days."

She paused.

"Alexis, about that night. What happened? You didn't tell me you had a power."

"I don't use it. That was an accident." Alexis said defensively. "I hate it."

"Believe me, I know. But you should have told me. I would have kept you safe, so this didn't happen."

Allison squeezed her hand.

"You fight well. Where did you learn that?"

"Diego. He taught me. Is everyone else okay?" she said shakily. "Vanya?"

"All fine, as far as I know."

She swallowed.

"Alexis, you should know. We found Mom - Grace. She... she was turned off by the people in masks."

Alexis laid back on the bed dejectedly.

"Diego?"

"I'm not sure how he's taken it... it's hard to tell."

"Where is he?"

"I think he's coming. Pogo called him. He, uh, said that, this had happened before?"

Alexis took a shaky breath. Her eyes stung as she remembered. Allison rubbed her shoulder.

"I'm sorry," she said. "Another time. I'm just glad you're okay. I was really worried, Alexis."

Alexis smiled sadly as Diego stormed in. Allison cleared her throat as she got up.

"I'll leave you two alone," she said.

"What happened?" said Diego, a little angrily.

"I don't know. It's not controllable - it just comes by accident."

He flicked a knife between his fingers, full of restless energy.

"You've never been out for that long before. It's like..."

"I don't know why - I think the faster it happens the more toll it takes."

"Yeah, maybe."

"What did I actually... you know, change?" Alexis said cautiously."Was it the woman?"

"No. It was something she was holding. It happened so fast. "

He kept moving around, distracted. Alexis remembered what Allison had said.

"Diego, what happened?" she said quietly.

"When? Since we found out Luther's half monkey, or since Patch was murdered?" he said.

Alexis laid a hand on his shoulder, but couldn't think of anything to say.

"I heard about Grace as well."

He said nothing.

"Diego, don't do anything stupid, please."

"You'd better come downstairs - we're having another meeting."

Gingerly, Alexis swung her legs to the side of the bed, and shuffled to the edge. Using Diego's arm for support, she slipped off. They walked slowly together to the main room.

A/N

this one's kinda short too lol. ah well. 

-peregrine