Second Chance

Chapter 8

I try to push the thought to the back of my mind, and head back to my room. "So, would you like to ask me more questions, or are we done for the day?"

"I will spare you having to conversate with me anymore. We can continue tomorrow."

"Hey now, who said I didn't like talking to you?"

"Oh, do not try to act like you enjoyed any part of this contract. I made you relive your childhood trauma. There is no fun in that."

"Actually, it kind of made me feel better to talk about it. I've never really talked about it much. It's almost like venting."

"I do not understand."

"Venting is when you tell someone all of the things that upset you or you talk about all of the stuff in life that has made you sad. And all they do is listen." He looks over at me, and then looks away.

"This contract was not supposed to bring happiness."

"Not everything goes your way." I smart back. He smirks at me, and starts reading a different book. "I hope you like the books I picked out. If you want a different genres or something let me know."

"You such a simple yet complex creature of misfortune."

"Excuse me?"

"Most days, you taunt me, insult me, yet you still act as if you care."

"Its called decency. I can literally hate the air you breath and still care about your well-being. Just because you frustrate me doesn't mean I wish you to have a bad day."

"That's naive. You should not care for someone who does not care for you."

"How about you believe that, while I believe what I believe." I smile, and pull out my laptop. I open the file for my book, and I start going over the last thing I typed.

"Are all humans this way?" He asks.

"Well no. Everyone has a different way of thinking. But that's what makes everyone so unique. To me, everyone is beautiful just the way they are."

"I do not think I have ever heard such a belief. So, do you also believe that the world's villains are beautiful? What about all of the people that have done you wrong?"

"They are but lost souls trying to find their way back. And if someone who has done me wrong or hurt me would to ask for my help, if I could see their intentions are pure, I wouldn't hesitate. I would help them immediately. The best gift in life is a second chance."

"Oh really, so am I to assume you gave your father a second chance?" He hisses. I freeze.

"Actually, yes. You would be assuming correctly. But I gave him way more second chances than I should have..."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that even though he was never there for me, even though the only words he spoke to me for over five years was "Happy Birthday" and "Merry Christmas," even though he never said I love you, even though he never taught me about boys, even though he would rather mix chemicals than go to one of my school events, even though he left my mom and I alone every night to do his experiments, even though I used to cry myself to sleep every night after my mom went to bed because I remembered how my father promised he'd read me a bedtime story and never came, even though I was so excited to tell him I had entered the international science fair because we finally had something in common and he never even acknowledged that I was speaking, and even though I could hear my mother crying every night while still trying to be happy for me, I still tried. Even after I moved in with my grandma I still showed up to celebrate Christmas, and his birthday. And I did this every year, even though he didn't deserve it. Because deep down, I still love my daddy. I still remember the times before he went crazy. When he used to tuck me in at night and read to me, when we used to sing him happy birthday and he would always take some chocolate cake frosting and put it on my nose, when he used to take me to the park and we could sit on that merry go round for hours. Once I got away from that house, my plan was to never look back, but I couldn't just leave him alone. Mom was gone. I moved out due to him being incompetent and unemotional. My grandma would go with me, and I would sit him down at the table, make his favorite cake, sing happy birthday, make him open a present, and then he would rush back to his lab. And Christmas was exactly the same way... but I never gave up hope. I always dreamed that he would show up at grandma's house, tell me he was sorry, and say he would try. That's all I ever wanted, was for him to try. Now, my grandma has passed away from old age, and there is just me..." I didn't realize, but I had been yelling most of what I had just said. Steve and Wanda were standing at my door. Tears were streaming down my face, over the mask.

"But what happened to your father?" Loki asks, seeming somewhat startled.

"Two years ago, I went to see him once again for his birthday. I got him a new lab coat, thinking for some odd reason that maybe he might actually realize I was there. Grandma was gone, and it was my first time going to see him alone since I was ten years old. I made him his favorite cake, frosted it, and sang him happy birthday while I practically cried over the cake. I made him open the present, and before he rushed off to his work once again, I took some of that frosting, and smeared it on his nose. And I left. I just so happened to look back and he was standing there, crying like a child. I couldn't bare it. The next day I got a call from the police saying that my father committed suicide. He left me a note saying he was so sorry for failing me, and he knows it's better this way than torturing me any further. And now that I've gotten that out of the way, considering you said for every question you would tell me a hideout, I believe you owe me a couple of addresses." He grabs the notebook and starts writing stuff down. He doesn't stop for several minutes. He tears out a paper and waits for me to take it from the slot. On it is six different places.

"That is all of them. That I know of, in all honesty." He mumbles. I take the paper and hand it to Steve.

"The last address was the last place Cassie had signaled from. That is where we go first. Understood. Suit up."

"Secret..." Wanda whispers.

"Oh Wanda, please don't feel bad for the life I've lived. My grandma used to tell me this: life is like a bow and arrow. When ever life is dragging you back, like an arrow being drawn back, that means it is going to shoot you forward, to something greater. My past was dragging me back, and then I was shot forward with the opportunity to be with you guys. I have no regrets." I smile and pat her on the shoulder. "Now, let's go bust up some parties." And with that, her and Steve leave the room. I run to my closet, and change as fast as I can. I go in the bathroom, fix my hair and my mask, and head for the jet.

"Secret?" Loki stops me.

"Look, I honestly don't have time for any questions right now. My friend has been missing for over two weeks, and I'd like to find her." He nods and looks away. I walk over to the door, and put my hand up to the glass. "Hey! Don't look away from me with sadness, compelling me to talk to you. Listen, we can talk more when I get back. Though, if these places are dangerous there is never a guarantee that I will come back. I need to explain something to you, but I don't have time to elaborate. So listen closely." I sigh. "Thank you." I kiss my hand, touch the glass, and run out the door. I shift my focus to the task at hand. I run to the jet and see everyone hustling just as much as I am.

"Alright guys, the first one is going to be the hardest. Everyone keep your heads." Steve addresses us all as the jet is soaring through the sky. I can feel my nerves welling up inside me, but I know that this is all going to work out. Right?