In the late hours of the night....Brandon awoke to a strange soft murmuring voice, just to the left of his pillows.

Turning over....Brandon was not shocked to see Nora.

Her Hair was lying in a gossamer black cascade around her face and shoulder. Her large eyes were closer...and her small arm were resting on the edge of Brandon’s bed, while her hands were clasped together in the air. Her small pink lips were moving quickly as she seemed to be whispering to the air.

Seeming to sense that she had disturbed him Nora stopped what she was saying, raised her voice and softly said. “Brandon...go back to sleep.” She instructed him, without opening her eyes over putting down her hands

“Nora? Why do you kneel over my bed every night?” Brandon asked her curiously, instead of doing as she asked of him.

And Brandon was deeply curious to know the answer just then....because ever since Jacob had started teaching him to read....Nora had been coming and kneeling beside his bed. Whispering to the air with her eyes closed. Every night.

The behavior didn’t bother Brandon....but his curiosity had been building for weeks. The only thing that had kept him from speaking to Nora about it....was the fact that she didn’t seem to want to stop whispering to answer his questions.

And even now, when Brandon had finally spoke his question Nora seemed reluctant to stop and answer him....but after a small heavy hesitation Nora spoke. “I’m praying for you...” she breathed her reply past her hands and her eyes remained closed.

“Praying?” Brandon asked.

Nora paused once more, then she said “It’s something powerful that you do for someone you care about.”

“Why?” Brandon asked in a brisk, high voice which reflected that his curiosity had been peaked slightly.

“Because of many reasons.” Nora told him, finally opening her eyes and looking at him from beneath her lashes.

Still wanting to understand Brandon pressed his lips together, and looked around the room as if her were looking for another person. “But....What are you praying to?” He asked her.

With a small flick of her chin and eyes up to the ceiling Nora looked back down at him.

“God.” She softly and simply replied, then she attempted to close her eyes.

But Brandon stopped her with his next question.

“God?” Brandon asked her, capturing Nora’s eyes and staring at her.

Nora froze with small look of surprise on her face...as though she hadn’t expected Brandon to insist on an answer or to ask her a second question at all. With a small pause Nora finally put her hands down and said.

“As an Alchemist I am supposed to worship the God of our people. But just as many people pray too many different things. Some people pay to the spirits. Some people pray to destiny. Some people even pray to evil, but...I choose to pray to what I believe is a benevolent and powerful force.” Nora softly explained to him, he eyes shining with something that made Brandon want to scratch his head in confusion. ” I believe that this force cares about us and loves us unconditionally....and forgives us when we don’t do what we should do.” Nora continued with a confidence and joy in her speech that Brandon didn’t understand “I also believe that this something protects us and guides us. Something that I’m hoping will protect you if Im ever unable.”

“I don’t understand Nora.” Brandon said faintly looking down and away.

A gentle, pained smile, touched Nora’s face, and with a quick lean forward, Nora placed a small kiss to Brandon’s forehead. “I know Lil One.” She said as she pulled back.

With the warmth of her kiss on his brow Brandon looked back up at her.

“Um....Can I listen?” Brandon asked her.

A soft smile touched Nora’s lips and she said. “Yes....Now sleep...” Nora closed her eyes after that, relapsed her hands in front of her heart...and started speaking to the sky.

With no Hesitation Brandon curled back beneath his covers....and listed to soft words tumble for Nora’s lips. Her voice was filled with something beautiful...and unknown to his heart.

Because Brandon didn’t understand the concept of God. Or Good. Or Evil. Or right or wrong.

Or emotions.

But....Brandon did feel something move inside of him when he listened to Nora speak as if someone could hear her.

It was something that made Brandon secretly look up to the Heaven form that day on....and privately hope that what Nora thought was up there....really did exist.

But beyond the books...and the new words...and the way everything seemed to have changed a lot of stuff in Brandon’s life continued in an endless loop.

The Procedure continued. The feedings continued.

Nothing changed.

Everything had changed.

Especially the fact that now when Brandon went through his daily feeding and procedures.

He understood what his food was saying to him now...but it did not change anything. Brandon still had to eat

And when the Alchemists took him to a room, and used the Black lights to cut him....he now knew how to scream