CHAPTER FOUR: FRANKEL FOOTAGE

When Five said, "We need to find Elliott," She expected they needed to find him right away. Not let's explore until morning, then we find him. As, Elliott remained in the same spot they left him, in his apartment daydreaming about aliens.

Before that, Five dragged Lotus all around the divisions surrounding Elliott's place, but avoided the alleyway entirely. Lotus was hesitant to even be exploring, considering those men and the fact that she was exhausted. If she was this tired, did that mean Five felt like he was on the brink of death?

"Have you ever worn anything besides that school uniform?"

He glared down at her, "It's not a school uniform."

"It looks like you go to a private school and you really love the clothes." She told him, "If you were a normal kid, you would have defiantly gone to a private school."

Five's lips formed a straight line, "Are you mad?"

"What?"

"That we're stuck. I know we just talked about it but you didn't really say."

"I think I did."

He shook his head, "Are you mad at me?"

"No."

"Lotus."

"I'm not." She chuckled, "I mean, there's nothing we can do about it expect try to save the world again. I'd like to live a little longer, you know."

"Only a little?"

She rolled her eyes, "Speaking of little, how are you tonight?"

"I'm taller than you, Lo."

"Oh." Her eyes wandered to his, "I get a nickname?"

"Haven't I called you that before?"

She shrugged, "I don't remember."

They turned a corner, walking aimlessly down a long street lined with family homes. They all looked well kept, blooming gardens sat under windows and a few even had the white picket fence everyone always associated with the American Dream.

"You look nice in that." Five pulled her attention back to him, his thin frame warming her side. He wasn't one for compliments, or even showing any genuine emotion. Tonight was an odd night, he'd been giving her both. "I mean, well, you always look nice."

She pursed her lips, "You look nice too."

They had stopped walking then, and he stared down at her. The street lamps casted a shadow over them, his eyes were dark in the overcast of light. "Can I kiss you?"

Lotus froze, staring up at him. Her mind went blank, trying to process the words that left his mouth. His eyes searched hers for an answer but was interrupted by the sound of police sirens. They both jump, dashing back down the street the way they came towards Elliott's. When she felt they were safe again, hiding under a bridge at a park close to Commerce and Knox, she gazed over at him. His expression was back to his normal one, stone cold with a side of annoyance.

"Did you just ask to kiss me?"

He turned to her, eyes widening for a spilt second, a moment of vulnerability which gave her the realization that he actually said it. She didn't make it up, her mind wasn't playing tricks on her— he actually had asked to kiss her.

"No." He said.

Lotus raised a brow, amusement dancing on her face. "I think you did."

"No I did not."

She suppressed a smile, wondering if he'd actually do it if she told him yes. Lotus didn't know anything about liking another person. She'd never been in a relationship, and hadn't even kissed anyone. It was hard considering her situation, she looked sixteen while being almost thirty. There was no market for people like her, until now—

"Did you hear that?"

Lotus blinked, light blinding as it streamed through windows. Elliott was eating cereal while Five peered at a string of photos taped to his wall.

"Huh?"

Five sighed, "Elliott here developed all these photos himself."

"And?" She wasn't understanding, her mind still swimming with the events of the night before.

He pulled the yellow box from his pocket, grabbing a pen off a table and scribbled out the date. Five handed it to Elliott, "Can you develop this?"

"Frankel Footage?" He read the label, "Friends of yours?"

"Cousins on my robot mother's side" Five stuck his hands in his pocket, a sly smile on his face. He was scheming, but when was he not? "Can you do it or not?"

"Sure I can."

Lotus stepped forward, "How long will it take?"

"Well, I mean, I'm running low on acetic acid. Beeker's camera's is open today but it's two miles away. I mean, I'd have to take the bus." Elliott turned in very slow circles, she resisted the urge to reach out and make him stand still. "On the other hand, Gibson's is only ten blocks away but I got to cut through the park, and there's pigeons—"

"Elliott." Five snapped.

"It's like five or six hours..."

Lotus sighed as a radio buzzed in, a voice shouting about a code.

"What the hell is a code 3-15?" Five asked.

"Mhm, fugitives on the run." Elliott took another mouthful of cereal. Lotus pursed her lips, focusing on the radio. The man's static voice explained that around twenty patients were at large, all at the sanatorium they had left Diego in the day prior.

"I told you you shouldn't have screwed him over." She leaned toward Five, whispering.

"Oh, Diego."

"Who's Diego?" Elliott questioned, rather loudly.

Five sent a look to the other man, "Imagine Batman, and then way lower."

"You're a dork, you know that?" She huffed, "Diego's his brother."

Five rolled his eyes, stepping away from the radio. "You get started on that film, we'll be back as soon as we can."

"I thought we agreed we could have some breakfast before—" Lotus tried to say before Five grabbed ahold of her arm and they disappeared from Elliott's living room.

When they reappeared, they were in the backseat of a car. Two people were up front, one was a woman, her voice questioning the other. "Then why are you doing this?"

"Because he's an idiot." Five huffed.

The woman jumped, turning around with wide eyes. "Who the hell are you?"

He gave a small wave and a sarcastic smile, "I'm his loving brother."

"Who left me to rot in that nut house." Diego glared.

Five shook his head, "To protect you from yourself."

"Well that's quite sweet."

Diego rolled his eyes, looking between Five and the woman. "Ok, both of you, out."

"Can I stay?" Lotus couldn't help herself to ask. "I'd like to stay."

"Lose the crazy lady and come with us. We have important business."

"I am not going anywhere with you."

Five shrugged, "Okay, fine."

He scouted over close to Lotus, she shot him a weird look as he climbed over her and stuck his head out the window. When she spotted the police officer walking down the street, she tried shoving him back inside the car. "Hey, Officer!" He shouted.

Diego leaned back and pulled Five back forcefully, "What are you doing?"

"I hear there's a reward out for you two." Five grinned, knowing he won. Diego knew he was telling the truth, there was no way he wasn't coming along.

"He's bluffing." The woman said.

"No, he's not." Diego frowned, face still inches from his brother's. "Fine. I'll go with you. But crazy lady's coming with me."

It only took twenty minutes to drive to Elliott's apartment, Lotus hummed along to a tune she'd never heard before on the radio. She didn't question the smashed window, or the fact that Diego had showed up with a random woman. Five had done that once, technically it was years in the future.

When they parked and all filed into Elliot's living room, having her trail up the rear end of the stairs, they were met with a frantic Elliott as he stormed from a dark room with a loaded gun in his hand. "Where did you get the film! The Frankel Footage, the truth this time."

"You know this lunatic?" Diego glanced over at them.

Five sighed distastefully, "New acquaintance. He's harmless."

Diego's friend didn't look satisfied, "Are you sure about that?"

"Are you or are you not an enemy of the people!" He raged, stepping forward, gun still gripped in his hands. Lotus was sick of guns as well.

They all shared a look, Diego shrugged. "Such an open-ended question, really."

"Really depends on the people." Five added.

Lotus snickered, a faint smile on her lips. She missed Diego, and all the other siblings.

"You move one more muscle and I'll blow your brains out." He threatened.

"You wanna take this or should I?" Diego questioned.

Lotus looked to Five, reaching out to grab his arm, to change into him. It seemed he knew her plan, and instead he shook his head, "Don't show them what you can do, it could work in our favour as a surprise. I've got him."

"Hey, Lila." Diego mumbled,

In a blink Five was in front of Elliott, he grabbed the gun and pointed it upwards as a shot rang out. Lotus still flinched, remaining by Lila's side. Diego grabbed the gun his brother tossed him and emptied out the cartridges. The other woman chuckled, "What the hell just happened?"

Lotus couldn't help but match her look, "I'm Lotus."

"Delilah." Her accent sounded very proper.

Lotus smiled, "I like you." She turned to Five and Deigo, pointing next to her. "I like her."

Five huffed, grabbing ahold of Elliott. Both siblings struggled the other man into the room behind him while Lotus and Lila stayed outside. Within minutes Five ushered them in, taking a seat in the dark room. A projector was set up, playing along the back wall. Five remained standing next to the machine, hands in his pockets as he stared at the screen.

It appeared to be an old couple filming each other, constantly asking if the camera was on.

"Aw, they're so cute." Lila clicked her tongue, painting her toenails a green colour. Lotus had no idea where she got to polish, but would rather not ask. "I love old couples. I'm always so proud of them for not murdering each other."

"Why are we watching this?" Diego huffed.

"Shush." Was Five's response.

Lotus leaned back in her chair, watching the screen. Elliott struggled from beside her, but every glare she sent his way seemed to quiet him down.

"Today's date is November 25th, 1963." The man smiled, nodding to his wife behind the camera.

Lila looked up from her toes, "Well, that's six days from now."

"Holy shit. This is it, the grassy knoll. Kennedy's about to get shot." Diego leaned forward, interest peaking. "How'd you get this?"

"Hazel died to get me this footage. Must be the key to stopping doomsday."

"Hazel?"

"Long story." Lotus chimed in.

"What's doomsday?" Lila joined, Five shook his head. "Longer story."

"What exactly did he say to you?"

"Three strange men shot him before he could explain anything." Lotus sighed, "But he wanted us to see this, so it must be important."

The film continued to roll, soon gunshots rung out in the distance, followed by screaming. The camera fell to the ground, capturing a man standing in the distance holding an umbrella.

"Oh no." Five whispered, moving behind the projector. He adjusted it before it froze on the frame, zooming in.

"No way." Lotus mumbled, recognizing him. Though she had never met the man, his face lingered in every portrait that hung around the Academy. "There is no way he is the biggest conspiracy theory in Kennedy's assassination."

Five and Diego both moved closer, "This can't be."

Lila looked between the three of them, "Okay, you gonna fill me in now? What the hell is this shit we're watching?"

Lotus pulled herself up, stopping beside Five. There was no way in hell this was a good sign, never when their father was mentioned did things go their way.

"No, that's impossible." Diego mumbled.

"Technically, we should be impossible." Lotus retorted.

Five's glare seemed stuck to his face, "Clearly it's not."

Elliott's muffled voice sounded, the chair he sat on groaned under his constant struggle. "What— what is it?"

Diego and Five still stared at the screen, transfixed at the impossible photo of their father.

"Dad?" They both questioned.