Twenty-six years ago.

The dining room was warm. Candles lit. Laughter everywhere. Harrison stood behind his mother’s legs. Small hands gripping her dress. He didn’t want to be here. "Harrison, sweetheart," his mother said gently. "Come say hello."

He shook his head. Buried his face deeper into the fabric. Across the room, another family sat at the table. A man. A woman. And a boy. The boy looked older. Maybe eight or nine. Dark hair. Bright eyes. He was watching Harrison.

"Don’t worry about it," Harrison’s mother said to the other family. "He takes time to warm up to new people." The woman across from her nodded. "Julius used to do the same thing when he was little." The boy scrunched up his face. "No I didn’t."

"Yes you did," his mother replied. She was trying not to laugh. "You hid under every table we went to." Everyone laughed. Harrison peeked out just enough to see. The boy—Julius—was looking right at him. Then he smiled.

Harrison ducked back behind his mother. "Why don’t the boys go outside?" the man at the table said. "We need to discuss the merger anyway." Julius stood up right away. "Come on," he said, walking toward Harrison. "I’ll show you the garden."

Harrison didn’t move. His mother bent down. "It’s okay. Go with him. He seems nice." Harrison looked up at her. Then at Julius. Then slowly stepped out from behind her.

Julius approached him and extended his hand. "I’m Julius. I’m nine years old. What’s your name?" Harrison stared at the hand. Then at Julius’s face. He was really pretty.

"Harrison," he whispered. "I’m four." "Okay, Harrison. Let’s go." Julius grabbed his hand without waiting for an answer and pulled him toward the door. The garden was huge. Trees. Flowers. A pond in the corner.

Julius let go of Harrison’s hand and started running. "This is my favorite place! Do you like it?" Harrison nodded. It was quiet out here. Peaceful. Better than inside with all the adults. "You want to climb?" Julius pointed at a tree.

Harrison shook his head fast. "I don’t know how." "I can teach you. It’s easy." Julius went to the tree and grabbed onto the lowest branch. He pulled himself up like it was nothing. Harrison watched, amazed.

"Come on!" Julius said. "Just put your hand here and your foot there." Harrison took a breath. Then tried. It was way harder than Julius made it look. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

But Julius kept talking him through it. Telling him exactly where to grab. Where to step next. Finally, Harrison made it up to the branch. "See?" Julius said. "You did it."

Harrison felt something warm spread through him. They sat there together. The sun was going down. Everything looked orange and gold. "Can I ask you something?" Julius said.

Harrison looked at him. "What?" "Do you have secrets? Like things you don’t tell anyone?" Harrison tensed. He had a secret. A really, really big one.

"Maybe," Harrison said quietly. "What kind of secret?" Harrison went quiet. "People think I’m a monster." Julius turned his whole body to face him. "Why would they think that?"

"Because I’m different. Because of what I can do." "What can you do?" Harrison didn’t answer. He was too scared. What if Julius ran away like everyone else did?

"Just show me," Julius said. Harrison’s eyes went wide. "I can’t." "Why not?"

"Because you’ll leave. Everyone leaves when they see what I really am." Julius shook his head. "I won’t. I’m not some weak person who gets scared of stuff like that.

Harrison hesitated. Then he decided to trust him. He let his eyes change. Gold and black. Swirling together like a storm.

Julius leaned in closer. Looked right into them. Harrison waited. Waited for Julius to scream. To run. To look at him with disgust.

But Julius just kept staring. Then he smiled. "Wow," he said. His voice was soft. "You’re so beautiful."

Harrison stopped breathing. Beautiful? No one had ever called him that. Ever. "You... you think so?" Harrison’s voice came out shaky.

"Yeah. Your eyes are really cool." The gold and black faded away. Back to regular brown. Julius was still looking at him. "Hey. When you get bigger, can you use your power to protect me?"

Harrison blinked. "What?" "You’re strong, right? Stronger than normal people?" Harrison nodded slowly. His mother had told him that. That Enigmas were stronger. More powerful.

"Then when we’re grown up, protect me," Julius said. "Use everything you have to keep me safe." Harrison’s whole body felt warm. Someone actually wanted him to use his power.

"Okay," Harrison said. "I’ll protect you. Always. I promise." Julius held out his pinky finger. "You have to promise for real."

Harrison linked his small finger with Julius’s. "I promise. Forever." That night, Harrison couldn’t sleep.

He thought about Julius. About the promise. I will protect him forever. But how? He was only four years old. He didn’t know how to protect anyone yet.

Harrison lay there, eyes open. What if I mess up? What if something happens and I’m not strong enough to stop it? His mother always told him to hide.

Never show anyone what he really was. Never let them see his eyes. But Julius wanted to see. Julius asked him to use his power.

What if people find out about me? What if they hurt Julius because I exist? The thought made him afraid. Not for himself. For Julius.

He was scared of losing the only person who hadn’t run away from him. Harrison rolled onto his side.

Maybe I should stay away. Maybe that would keep him safer. But the thought of never seeing Julius again hurt worse than anything.

No. I promised him. Harrison closed his eyes tight.

He didn’t know how to protect someone yet. Didn’t understand what it would mean when he got older. But he knew one thing for sure.

He would figure it out. He would keep Julius safe. No matter what it took.