MIDAS ⇾ THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY

~ XV ~

Allison lay still, in the same blood-soaked clothes. Alexis curled up on a chair next to the bed, watching her chest move slowly up and down.

"Al, I'm so sorry I wasn't with you. You should have told me - you should have called. Anything to stop this..."

Her voice was croaky.

"Please just be alright. Please."

The light streamed in through the stained-glass window, reflecting off the medical instruments.

"I know where you are right now... I know that place. I remember the white columns. Are you speaking to the man at the end of the corridor? Maybe. I can't apologise enough for the pain that will come with consciousness. I'm so sorry, Al. I know the pain."

She took a shaky breath.

"You said you wanted to know. Are you still sure?"

She laughed darkly.

"Maybe you'd understand. It was my mother. My father barely existed... he was there, but not really. I wasn't a person. I was either a source of income, or a waste of space. She pushed my power to the limit. I was never enough for her ambition. Can you imagine? I would give her everything in me, then wake up on the floor. And again... over and over. Then Diego came. He rescued me... and I was free, for a while. I didn't have to use it - I could fight. But then, I'd panic, and the energy would come out, and I'd be brought right back."

She curled up tighter.

The light moved around the room as time passed. Alexis stared out the window, to nothing in particular. A noise made her jump.

She rushed to Allison's side, taking her hand as she stirred.

"Allison? I'm here."

Allison's eyes opened slowly, raising her arm to see the cannula. Her eyes widened slightly in fear, as she reached for her neck, panicked.

"Hey, hey... it's okay," said Aleixs. "You're okay. I'm right here."

She opened her mouth, trying to speak.

"No, don't try to talk... don't try to talk. It'll only cause more damage."

Allison whimpered gently, tears running down her face as Alexis held her hand.

"It's okay... look."

She handed her a notepad and pen.

Slowly, Allison grasped the pen, and wrote one word.

VANYA

"We don't know where she is... I'm sorry."

She shook her head, and wrote another word.

POWERS

"Vanya has powers?"

Allison nodded tearfully. Alexis looked at her wound.

"Did she do this to you?" she said slowly.

Allison nodded again, tears falling anew.

"Wait... why? Why would she ever do something like this?"

Allison grabbed Alexis' wrist, and wrote:

NOT HER FAULT

Alexis understood.

"Did she lose control?" she asked softly.

Allison nodded.

"I understand," said Alexis. "It happens. Are you... angry with her?"