Sebastian had made the comment that it could simply be that religion is growing. That maybe there may be more church’s like her parents’ out there in the world. The idea of it made her shudder and chilled her to the core. She did not want to even think about that chance. The very notion that more mutants were out there, kids with parents who were just as sick minded as her own, it made her want to well up with anger. No one should have to go through what she did, absolutely no one.

And judging by the sound of Sebastian’s voice, it was obvious that he agreed with her. That opened her up just a little more to this strange man with the unicorn horn upon his brow. She doubted that any mutant would have agreed with what her parents did, but she was especially thankful that this man did not care for them either. Maybe it was because he saved her, maybe it was because he erased what they did from her body forever, whatever the case, she was thankful for the man’s presence.

A sigh fell from her lips as she walked beside the man. She still could not shake the idea that the trio of men who had attacked her were simply part of an off-shoot of her parent’s church. They were so secretive about it, about their practices. They always said that the law of man would never approve of them or their doings which was why they answered only to the law of God in privacy.

But it was just insane enough an idea that it seemed possible. Her teeth clenched. She needed to move past this but it persisted in taking over her thoughts…

>> “Parents like that... we live in such a broken world. Parents doing violence to their own children is inexcusable. It shouldn't happen. It shouldn't be allowed to happen.”

Her breath caught in her throat as she shook her head.

“No, it shouldn’t….ever again.” she said with a mini growl that seemed a little uncharacteristic of her. The attack today mixed with everything that happened to her, all the prejudice in the world, the anger, the hate, Agnes wanted it all just to end. Mutants like her should not live in fear or be lied to so horrendously by people that were supposed to be trustworthy. “Sometimes…Sometimes just wish someone, anyone, would stop them…all…”

A tear rolled down her cheek at that comment. Not a tear of sadness though...one of anger...

“The fact that they would justify such actions with religion is deplorable. Religion should be something that helps make the world a better place, not a thing that tears it into pieces. People shouldn't be dividing the population into 'them' and 'us'. There should be an equal chance for everyone to attain eternal rewards in this world.”

He took his handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped the tear from her cheek before offering the entirety of the little monogrammed cloth to Agnes.

“You could help. You could be someone that helps stop people like that. It might help.” Help her heal, that was. She wouldn't have to fear random strangers or people with connections to her parents cult. She wouldn't have to fear her past, once she had a little control over it.

“What do you think?”

>> “The fact that they would justify such actions with religion is deplorable. Religion should be something that helps make the world a better place, not a thing that tears it into pieces. People shouldn't be dividing the population into 'them' and 'us'. There should be an equal chance for everyone to attain eternal rewards in this world.”

Agnes twitched a little at the word “religion”. Agnes lost her faith in God the second that her parents pushed that metal brand into her stomach. She no longer had faith that like of any kind.

Gratefully Agnes took the handkerchief that was offered to her. Agnes normally did not like it when anyone attempted to touch her, unless she knew them implicitly, so the very fact that she did little more than flinch when Sebastian dabbed her tears from her eyes meant that she was trusting him. Which was extremely odd because she rarely trusted everyone right off the bat. But the gesture was so quick that she doubted it would have been good to make a big stink about it.

Besides, at least after he was done, he offered her the handkerchief himself. He respected her that much.

Gently she continued to dab at the corners of her eyes as she wiped those angry tears away. She was upset but not simply at the state of the world but because there was nothing that she could do to fix it. It was beyond her control to do so. She could do nothing to protect those people who suffered like she did. The realization of that left her feeling just a tad helpless. And if there was one thing that Agnes hated to feel like, it was helpless.

One breath, then another, and Agnes slowly began to regain her composure…

>> “You could help. You could be someone that helps stop people like that. It might help…What do you think?”

She blinked in confusion as she turned her gaze directly into his eyes. What, could this guy read minds too? Or was she simply that transparent?

Her wings fluttered nervously as she just stared at him.

“W-What? How…can I[/b] help?”[/color] she asked. Not only him was that question directed to, but also to herself. “I-I mean...I…I don’t want what happened to me to happen to others but…what do you expect me to do? I’m not some superhero you know.” she sighed as her eyes went downcast to the ground. “Y-You saw what happened back there. I almost got killed…I would have…if not for you…”

She was not a superhero? Clearly she was underestimating herself. She had fought an evil insect manipulator and won, she'd saved lives, she had even become an “internet sensation” whatever that was. If there was a better definition of superhero, Sebastian hoped that someone would inform him so he could update his vocabulary.

It wasn't Sebastian that had made a difference in that fight. It was his ability to heal. She could have that, she could take it with her, and then she would be unstoppable. If her body wasn't so frail, so easily breakable, she would have won that fight for sure. Even now, those thugs were probably bathing in a bathtub full of ice with their eyes swollen closed from all the bee stings. They probably wouldn't be able to sit, stand, or lay comfortably for the next several days. Already they would think twice before ever attacking a mutant again... or making business deals with one, for that matter.

“I think you simply don't realize how amazing you are. You have so much courage and strength, to have lived through what you have, to have escaped and made a life for yourself. You can help in a lot of ways.” He began listing them off, ticking off each one on a finger on his free hand.

“Tracking down and rescuing other mutants in situations similar to your previous one, counseling others who have been through difficult situations, helping others to rebuild their lives after traumatic events, exposing other branches of that church or others like it, making sure justice is served, saving lives...”

“I work with a church,” he waved his free hand in front of him, “not the same kind that your parents and those thugs.” Quite the opposite in fact. “It encourages people to use their powers, especially to help people. We don't just try to make the world a better place, we actively go out and do it.”

>> “I think you simply don't realize how amazing you are. You have so much courage and strength, to have lived through what you have, to have escaped and made a life for yourself. You can help in a lot of ways.”

Agnes rolled her eyes angrily. Really? What could she do other than be a victim? Sure she had done some stupid things that could be constituted as bravery, but really, all she was good at was sitting there and little life take potshots at her. That was not the makings of someone who could actually help. At least in Agnes’ eyes.

Apparently though…she was wrong. At least according to Sebastian…

>> “Tracking down and rescuing other mutants in situations similar to your previous one, counseling others who have been through difficult situations, helping others to rebuild their lives after traumatic events, exposing other branches of that church or others like it, making sure justice is served, saving lives...”

She could already feel pinkin’ a little with embarrassment. Though Sebastian was a complete stranger, he seemed to have reached her with his words. He managed to prod at something that she had been feeling ever since she had started to settle in at the mansion, the want of never letting what happened to her happen to others. Though it seemed a confusing as to how she could possibly pull such a feat off, Sebastian had enraptured her with words. Her head tilted down in thought.

Everything Sebastian was saying DID make sense. After all, she could not have been the only one that people like her parents have tortured. The odds of that were far too delusional. And if other mutants had gone through something like she did, they would not be willing to talk with anyone, especially if they didn’t understand. Agnes, on the other hand, she had that insight. She knew how to talk to victims because she was one.

Hell, even the idea of actually going out and finding those branches of her mother and father’s religion that escaped detection was appealing. She knew a lot of those families and though she informed the MRC about them, she knew that all of them had not been arrested yet. Maybe…just maybe she could do something good…for once.

>> “I work with a church…not the same kind that your parents and those thugs…It encourages people to use their powers, especially to help people. We don't just try to make the world a better place, we actively go out and do it.”

Her breath had caught in her throat at the mention that Sebastian worked for a church. For a second here paranoid mind ran wild. What were the odds? But looking at Sebastian, and reminding herself about how he saved her, she had to admit that he really did not seem like she belonged to any denomination she knew about. She doubted that many priests, rabbis, or ministers would wander around the city, carrying a sword! But she was still wary of him.

Eyeing him suspiciously, she let him finish. Everything he said certainly sounded good. It sounded like heaven, actually. A church that actually backed up the good deeds it swore to uphold without all the red tape and BS? It really sounded good. But that was the probably, nothing sounded that good without there being a catch, or something funny about it.

Though, Agnes had to admit, nibbled at the bait.

“I-It sounds lovely. B-But what’s the catch? Nobody does anything purely out of the goodness of their heart,” she said as she stopped and put her hands on her hips. “I’m sorry, I…I don’t mean to sound judgmental. But God and I…well…we’re definitely taking a breather from one another at the moment.”

She and god were taking a breather, huh? The immortal just smiled a little to himself and the sidewalk in front of them. Taking a breather was nothing compared to what Sebastian was doing: issuing a direct challenge to anyone and everyone who called themselves a god. Half of him disbelieved in any such being, the other half thought that if there was such a being he or she must not care very much for the creatures in need down on earth, such as Agnes. He aimed to be a better god than any that came before him.

“It may not seem that anyone is looking out for you right now, but deities work in mysterious ways.”

They were almost to the gate that marked the edge of the park.

“The important thing is wanting to help other people. If you want to do that, then stop by the church. It's on X street, just south of the park.”

There was a bus rounding the corner, getting ready to stop at Agnes' stop.

“I hope to see you again, Agnes.”

Agnes watched as the edge of the park was getting closer. Nervously she still watched the dark corners, trying to keep an eye out for those men that had attacked her. The last thing she wanted was to deal with that again. Despite the fact that she knew that she was probably perfectly safe from them, she really did not want to risk it. All she wanted to do now was to get home and forgot that this day had ever happened.

But even as she thought that, her hands grazed over her stomach and instantly she remember that her scars were gone. Would they forever be gone? Was she truly cured from all of that misery? She would have asked but she did not want to bother Sebastian any more than she had. She needed to get home and wrap her mind around everything that had happened.

>> “It may not seem that anyone is looking out for you right now, but deities work in mysterious ways…The important thing is wanting to help other people. If you want to do that, then stop by the church. It's on X street, just south of the park.”

Agnes paused as she reached the edge of the park and looked down to see that her bus to take her back to the mansion was coming. A glance up to Sebastian and she searched his eyes closely. He really did believe in what he was saying…didn’t he? He truly did believe in gods or higher forces, but he did not possess the same zealotry that she was used to seeing in people like her parents.

Huh…it was almost refreshing to hear that. Though she herself still did not feel one hundred percent ready to accept any type of church, no matter how good their intentions.

Another glance up and her bus was almost here.

>> “I hope to see you again, Agnes.”

She offered Sebastian a warm smile in response but it was tinged with sadness. She was extremely thankful for his help, for everything that he had done, but his preaching both slightly turned her off and interested her. Could he really have words that she had not heard before?

“T-Thank you,” she whispered with a nod. “I…will try.” she said with a wave goodbye. Once her bus arrived, Agnes climbed out and claimed a seat. The whole way home her mind would be a beehive of activity as tried to wrap her mind around…well…everything…