Chapter Seven:

Lotus rushed down the hallways, searching for the attic. The house was so huge, she had forgotten where to go. The hallways branched out at random, and some just came to an abrupt end. This placed began to seem less like a home, and more like a prison. She made a sharp turn and winched when something barrelled into her shoulder.

"Oh my god— I'm so sorry."

Lotus looked up to see a women, yet another person she hadn't met between the time she had first entered this house until now. The woman was short and small, her face was pale and she looked as if she just wanted to leave.

"It's fine." Lotus went to leave when she felt a question brewing.

"Who are you?" The woman asked, "And why are you wearing..." She slowly pointed at the blazer.

"I'm Lotus." Lotus said, "And long story. I'm actually on my way to find a shirt."

She took off, shoulder aching as she went to turn down another hallway.

"Wait."

Lotus stopped and turned, watching the woman peek down the hall. "Actually, do you know where the attic is?"

"Yah- you're, um, going the wrong way." She told her motioning for her to follow, "I can show you. I mean— if you want."

Lotus smiled, "That'd be great."

They began to walk back the way she had came, even walking by the room where Lotus had exited from. As they walked by she glanced in the room, seeing Five still standing in the same place she had left him but this time his back was facing the doors. They turned left then, and then right. She followed the woman up two more flights of stairs and onto another landing.

"Do you live here as well?" Lotus asked finally, growing sick of the awkward silence.

"I did, yah."

"You're also related to everyone else?"

"Yes."

Lotus huffed, "There is seven of you guys?"

The women looked over at her, "Six in the Umbrella Academy. I just never made the cut."

"They just left you out of it?" She asked, "That's terrible."

"Yeah, well. I'm not like them so, it's nothing I could've helped."

Lotus nodded slowly, "What Number are you?"

"Seven."

"That's also terrible, that your father just numbered you guys off." She chewed on her lip, "Is there anymore family members I may run into?"

"Have you met Allison? Or Luther?"

Lotus nodded, "Yep."

"Klaus? Or Diego?"

"Yes. They're very interesting people, especially Five." Lotus chuckled, "But, sorry, I didn't get your name."

"Vanya."

They approached the familiar dusty staircase and Lotus began climbing up, "Thanks for helping me."

"It's not problem."

Lotus glanced back to see Vanya walking away, the woman disappeared into a far room. She made her way up the stairs and rushed towards the box of forgotten clothing. Digging through it she found many vintage looking clothes but eventually she came across a plain grey shirt. Lotus shrugged the blazer off and pulled the new shirt over her head. She dug back into the box and found a zip up sweater, she carefully put it on ignoring the few holes scattered down the front.

She made her way down the stairs once again, hitting her shoulder off the banister. She yelped but continued on, reminding herself to be careful. Big framed portraits seemed to be hung in every hallway, all varying in events but the same bunch of kids were always the focus. An old man stood in the background of one, his face straight as he stared into the camera. He didn't look nice, but his arm was wrapped around one of the children in a protective manner.

"I thought you'd be in the attic."

She turned to see Five, she stuck out the blazer in her hand and watched as he took it, sliding it back on. "Vanya showed me back up there. I got lost."

"Of course you did." He brushed past her, "C'mon."

Lotus rolled her eyes, and with a huff she trailed after him. They walked all the way back down to the floor with all the bedrooms, she figured they were headed to his own. Which, they were. Lotus followed him in as he grabbed Delores off a chair and shoved her in a green bag, zipping it up tight before looking over at Lotus with a grin. "We have business to take care of."

"You still want my help?" She asked with weary eyes. The grin dropped away from his face, "Yes. Stop asking that." He took off out the door, she groaned debating wether or not she should follow. But she did, not having anything better to do.

"Where are we going?"

Five stopped at the end of a hallway and pushed a window open, slinging his bag around his shoulders he began swinging his legs out and landed on a fire escape. "You'll see."

Lotus rushed and carefully stepped onto the landing, staring at the ladder she was supposed to somehow climb down with her shoulder. "You know, I'm supposed to be resting."

"Yah, well resting is for the weak."

She snorted, gripping the bar with one hand, slowly manoeuvring herself down the ladder. "I beg to differ."

Quiet settled over as they made there way down the ladder, Lotus struggling not to fall down and crush Five below her to death on impact.

"Damn it!" A voice rang out, "Where is all of dad's stuff?"

"I'd ask you what you're doing, Klaus." Five's own voice replied, "But then it occurred to me, I don't care."

Lotus stumbled as she landed on the ground, holding onto the near dumpster to stabilize her. "Hey, weren't you just shot?" Klaus looked at her. "Aren't you supposed to stay here."

"No, she's fine." Five said.

"No, I swear Pogo was telling us—"

"How come you pay attention to the worst things but when we try to get you to do something productive you blank out?"

Klaus only shrugged, his gaze landing back to the dumpster he stood in. Five began walking towards the end of the alley and she followed quickly behind, "Hey— you know there are easier ways of getting out of the house."

Five stopped and turned, "This one involved the least amount of talking. Or, so I thought."

Klaus took a step forward but stumbled deeper into the dumpster, "Hey, hey, so— do you need any more company today? I could, uh, clear my schedule."

"Don't you have your hands full?" Lotus asked. It was clear he was searching for something.

"Oh, this? No, no. I can do this whenever." He mumbled looking around, "I'm just- I just misplaced something, that's all."

Lotus squinted at Klaus as she nudged Five beside her, "Is he high?"

"Oh! Found it! Thank god!" Klaus yelled, he held half a bagel in his hand and took a big bite. Lotus cringed as he chewed it slowly, staring at them. "Delicious."

"I'm done funding your drug habits." Five responded, nodding at Lotus as they turned back and continued towards the end of the alley.

"Come on!" Klaus yelled, "You don't— Maybe I just want to hang out with my brother."

Five held a hand out in front of Lotus as a man slid out from a van and disappeared behind another building. The car was still running and he pointed at the passenger seat. Lotus rushed around and swung open the door, pulling herself up onto the seat. She looked over to see Five toss his bag into the back and he pushed the van into drive.

"Do you even know how to—"

"I can drive!" He snapped, "I'm 58 years old."

Lotus rolled her eyes, "Looks like a child, has the attitude of a grumpy old man."

He glared at her, "Technically, I'm just a grumpy old man."

She rolled down the window and stuck her hand out, "So where are we going?"

"It's a surprise."

"Will I ever know what's going on before I'm dragged along with you?"

Five glanced over at her and flashed a smile, "Nope."

She frowned shaking her head, only thinking what had she gotten herself into again?