The Umbrella Academy ~ Number 8

Prologue

19 years ago . . .

"Number 8, you must focus!" Reginald yelled at the young girl before him. "I'm trying dad! It's just so hard! I can't do it..." Eleanor began, but her father quickly cut her off.

"There is nothing you can't do Number 8. You simply are not trying hard enough. You will stay here until you are able to move this bottle across the table with your mind." Reginald finished, holding up a metal cup before slamming it down on the table, sending a shiver down the girl's spine.

"You can have dinner once you have completed the task." He ordered as he went to leave Eleanor alone in the cold, poorly lit room.

"But father, I've already been here for 3 hours! What if I can't...don't move it tonight?" Eleanor asked fearfully and her father was quick to reply.

"Then you will stay here for another 3 hours! However long it takes. If you truly wanted dinner, then you would use your abilities." The elder Hargreeves concluded as he slammed the door shut, locking it in the processes.

Eleanor shakily held her tiny hands up to the cup across from her and squeezed her eyes shut as she desperately attempted to telepathically move the cup that her father wanted her to.

She quickly opened her eyes to find that the cup hadn't moved an inch. Eleanor let out a sigh as she sat down on the cold floor below her.

   She glanced around the room, trying to remember how she got to this moment...

Two weeks ago, she was playing with Diego in his room when her powers first manifested.

   Unlike the rest of her siblings, Eleanor's powers hadn't come to fruition until she was older, except for Vanya who didn't have any powers at all...or so they thought.

The two were jumping on the bed when Eleanor slipped and fell on her arm, both kids hearing the bone snap in the process.

Diego quickly rushed to her side as Eleanor let out pained screams. "It's ok Ellie! I-I-I'm here. I'm here!" He stuttered as he gently hugged the smaller girl.

"What hurts?" He asked worriedly as he ran a hand through her soft brown hair.

   "My...my arm." She choked out between sobs, as she held the limb gingerly with her other arm.

"I'll g-g-g-go g-get m-m-m-mom." Diego managed to get out as he quickly got up to leave. However, before he could do so, he turned to see one of his knives levitating in the air.

"How in the world..." Diego began shocked as he cautiously stepped closer to blade in front of him. Eleanor let out another sob and one of Diego's lamps began to levitate as well.

With that, the boy instantly knew the cause of his now floating objects...Eleanor.

   He turned to the girl and slowly walked towards her, as not to startle her.

"Hey, Ellie. You need to calm down o-o-okay?" He asked carefully, bending down to be at her eye level. Diego quickly glanced back at the levitating object before looking at the girl before him.

"Ellie, when Mom comes to help wrap your arm, you need to stay calm and not cry. Ok?" He asked worriedly and Eleanor looked up at him, confused.