Thanks for the reviews!
Amy47101 does not own pokémon or most of this story, which belongs respectively to Kelley Armstrong.
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The Summoning
Adjusting to Life as a Crazy Kid
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Before breakfast, Miss Van Turd gave us all pills, then watched as we took them. It was creepy to me, but seemed utterly normal to everyone else. No one said a word, just held out their hands, gulped down their pill with some water, and returned to their conversation. When I stared at mine, Miss Van Turd said the doctor would explain everything later, but for now, I should just take it.
So I did.
After we'd eaten, we trooped upstair to get dressed. Marina bounded up the stairs, followed by the blond girl, Ursula, Zoey, and then me. I blinked as the blond girls Eevee jumped down to the bottom step and began barking up each stair while its trainer followed. She kept her eyes downward, though, refusing to look at me.
"Jade?" Ursula called. The blond girls shoulders stiffened, but she didn't turn. Slowly, she reached into her pocket, pulled out a pokéball, and returned the Espeon.
"Yes, Ursula?" Jade asked coldly.
"You clumsily spilled your drink on my shirt I'm wearing now. Do you know where my blue shirt is?"
"How the hell would I know?" Jade asked with a scoff. "I'm fucking blind." I glanced at this girl once again. Pale blond hair that reached her mid back, side bangs over her right eye, hair framing her face. A few freckles were splattered across her nose, and her eyes, a lovely jade green that made me slightly envious, were misted over, unfocused. Unseeing. Although her hair was uncombed and sticking up in a few places, something about Jade, from the cold set features on her face to the way she defiantly and confidently stood tall, screamed authority and demanded respect.
"Oh, sorry. Forgot." Ursula said with a shrug. "How about the laundry? Did you do the laundry?"
"No." Jade said, shoving past them and into her room, Eevee close behind her. I glanced at Zoey as we stepped into our room. Ursula shot a look over her shoulder and scowled, as if the fact that blind Jade had not seen her shirt or did her laundry was her fault. As she turned, something flashed between us, and I stumbled back, grabbing the railing. Her scowl twisted.
"Geez, I'm not going to hit you." Over her shoulder, a hand appeared, pale and white(A/N: HOLY SHIT, IT'S THE WHITE HAND! XD), fingers wiggling like worms.
"Dawn?" Zoey asked.
"I-I-I-" I peeled my gaze away from the disembodied hand. "I t-tripped."
"Listen-girl-" A mans voice whispered in my ear. Marina peeked out of her room, dressed in a pink tank top and biker shorts, and came down the steps.
"You okay?" the blue haired girl asked. "You're all white."
"I j-j-just thought I h-h-heard something."
"Why is she talking like that?" Ursula asked, peering down at me from the top of the stairs. "Are you slow?"
"What?" I asked, insulted by her assumption.
"You know, do you ride the loooong bus," she pulled her hands apart, then brought them together again. "Or the short one?" Marina gaped at her.
"Ursula, that's not-"
"Well she talks like a kid, so..." Ursula trailed off, gazing at me, making all sorts of assumptions, I knew.
"I have a speech impediment." I said clearly, making sure to pronounce every word correctly without a single mishap. Who's the slow one now? "I'm close to overcoming it."
"Could've fooled me." Ursula said with a sneer as Jade came out, dressed in a black T-shirt with a white and gray zip up vest over it. Her pants appeared to be black leggings with knee-high turquoise socks and converses that reached her mid calve. Dark green gloves were on her hand, and to top it off, pilots goggles on her head like a headband, yet didn't seem to serve for holding her bangs or hair out of her face.
"I like your outfit." I blurted to her. Jade froze, her back to me. "It's, um, nice. The goggles give it a nice steampunk twist." a heavy silence, then Jade walked down the stairs, hand holding the railing while her Eevee guided her back down the stairs, completely ignoring my compliment. I huffed, biting back insults while the blind girl turned the corner. "How rude." I muttered.
"Schizotypal Personality Disorder." another voice said nonchalantly with a shrug. I raised an eyebrow at the fact that the voice was male. "Basically, it means she's really uncomfortable in social situations, and can't make close relationships, so she just doesn't."
I whirled around to look at a boy about seventeen years old with chin length brown hair that stuck up in several places. He was wearing a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, typical blue-jeans, and black sneakers. A silver chain was attached to his belt loops, six shrunken pokéballs dangling from it. On his hands were black fingerless gloves, and he was pulling on a vest such a pale blue that it was almost white. Adjusting it, he smirked, onyx black eyes shining playfully.
"Onyx!" Zoey hissed. "You know you shouldn't be over here." Onyx shrugged.
"So what?" he said. I coughed awkwardly, and changed the topic.
"That doesn't sound so bad..." I said, bringing up Jades 'disorder' again while stepping into the walk-in closet for some privacy.
"That's what I thought." I heard Onyx say. "Apparently it's super rare, too. Like, less than three percent of people in Sinnoh are diagnosed with it, and males are more prone to be diagnosed then females."
"So a female with Schizotypal Personality Disorder isn't exactly something you see everyday." I concluded. "I still don't see why it's a huge problem to the point where she has to stay in a group home. So she doesn't like people. It's not like she's gonna hurt anyone."
"Again, what I initially thought. But I guess she made some sort of threat to a girl at her school, and they deemed her 'unfit for the public' and sent her here." Onyx paused. When I came out, smoothing out the wrinkles in my purple T-shirt, he seemed to be listening intently. "Ah, gotta run, ladies. Nurses will flip if they find me up here." and like that he was sneaking down the stairs.
"That was Onyx." Zoey said with an exasperated sigh. "He has a thing for fire." Fire itself or lighting things on fire? I thought this place was supposed to be safe! My mini internal panic attack subsided as Ms. Talbot knocked on the door, standing in the doorframe.
"Girls?" she asked sweetly, looking at Zoey. "Class is in ten minutes. Dawn," she turned her attention to me as I clasped my necklace around my neck. "We're still waiting for notes from your teachers, so you won't be in class today. When you finish getting yourself ready," she glanced at the strands of hair on my head that I knew still stuck up from my restless sleep. "We'll discuss your schedule."
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Lyle House liked schedules the way boot camp likes discipline.
We awoke at 7:30. Ate, showered, dressed, and in class by 9:00, where we did independent work assigned by our regular teachers, supervised by the tutor, Ms. Wang. Break at 10:30 for a snack, nutritious, of course, and then back to class. Break for lunch at noon. Back to class from 1:00 until 4:30 with a twenty minute break at 2:30. At some point during classes- the timing would vary- we'd have our hour long therapy session with Dr. Gill. My first would be after lunch today. From 4:30 to 6:00 we had free time... sorta. In addition to classes and therapy, we had chores. A lot from the looks of the list, or, lists, if you counted the brail copy for Jade. Somehow, though, I figured that with that Espeon of hers, the brail copy would be left unread.
Anyways, these had to be done during our free time before and after dinner. Plus we had to squeeze in thirty minutes of physical activity everyday, which included battling or practicing coordinating combinations with our pokémon, whom I've realized I haven't seen since I came here. Then after a snack, it was off to bed at 9:00 and lights-out at 10:00.
Nutritious snacks? Therapy sessions? Chore lists? Nine o'clock bedtime? Boot camp was starting to look good.
I didn't belong here. I really didn't.
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After our talk, a phone call sent Mrs. Talbot scurrying off, calling back glorious promises to return with my job list. Joy to the effing world.
I sat back in the living room, trying to think, but the unrelenting cheerfulness was like a bright light shining in my eyes. It made it hard to concentrate. A few more days of easter colored paint and daisies, I'd turn into a happy zombie or a rebel against everything, like Marina and Zoey, respectively.
I felt a pang of shame. Both made me feel welcome and chatted up contests with me, which I learned both had an interest in, though Marina was more of a dancer than coordinator. Marina was even quick to defend me against Ursula, who, I assumed, had an iron grip on all the girls in this place minus Jade, who didn't particularly give a fuck about anything or anyone around her. If being cheerful, rebellious, and just not caring were forms of some mental illness, they weren't such bad one's to have. Way better than seeing Custodian McMelty.
I rubbed the back of my neck and closed my eyes with a sigh.
Lyle House wasn't so bad, really. Better than padded rooms and endless hallways filled with real zombies. Shambling mental patients so doped up they couldn't be bothered to get dressed, much less bathe. Maybe it was the illusion of the home that bothered me. Maybe, in some way, I'd be happier with ugly couches and white walls and bars on windows. Then there would be no false promises. Yet... Just because I couldn't see any bars didn't mean it was as open as it seemed. It couldn't be.
I walked towards the front window. Closed, despite the sunny day and warm spring breezes. There was a hole where there'd probably been a latch for opening it. I looked out into the real, civilian world. Lots of trees, a quiet, suburban street, more oldish houses on big lots. No electric fences. No sign on the lawn proclaiming 'LYLE HOUSE FOR CRAZY KIDS'. All very ordinary. To ordinary. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if I grabbed that cheery little rocking chair over there and smashed the window, and alarm would sound.
So where was the alarm?
I stepped into the hall, glanced at the front door, and saw it, blinking away, green meaning safe, all crazy kids locked away. It was a reminder, I knew. This might look like your house, kiddies, but don't try walking out the front door.
What about the back?
I went into the dining room and looked out the window. A large yard with as many trees as the front. There was a shed, lawn chairs, and gardens growing vegetables and fruits. There was a soccer ball and a basketball, along with a dirt battlefield, indicating that, yes, we were allowed out for those 'thirty minutes of physical activity'. Was it monitored? I couldn't see any cameras, but there were more than enough windows for the nurses to keep an eye on anyone in the yard. And the seven foot high fence was a good deterrent...
"Looking for a way out?"
I spun to see Miss Van Tu-ahem- Curd. Her eyes glittered with what seemed like pitiful amusement, but her face solemn, stoic. Almost like she was saying 'Oh, you pathetic excuse for child, can't you see? There's no way we're letting the kids of the looney bin run loose in the streets. At least, not on my watch.'
"N-No. I w-was just looking around." Damn you stutter! "Um, this morning when I woke up, I realized I didn't have my pokémon. Where are they and when will I get them again?" Miss Van Curd responded by taking out my six shrunken pokéballs out of my pocket and placing them on the dining room table. In other words, nice try on the distraction, but I've got you beat, Miss Berlitz. She pulled out a dining room chair and motioned for me to sit. I did.
"I'm sure you saw the security system on the front door," she said.
"I-I wasn't-"
"Trying to escape, I know." a smile touched her lips. "Most of our residents aren't the sort of teenagers who run away from home, unless it's to make a statement. They're bright enough to know that whatever is out there is worse than what's in here. And what's in here isn't so bad. It's not the Nimbassa City Theme Park, but not prison either. The only escape attempts we've ever had are from kids trying to sneak out to meet friends. Hardly serious, but parents expect better security from us. We pride ourselves on providing a homelike environment, so I believe," she stood up, pushing her chair in. "That it's important to point out the limits early."
I nodded numbly in response, staring at Piplups pokéball. He was shaking it back and forth, desperate to get from the confined space and back into my arms.
"The windows are armed with sirens, as are the exterior doors. You are allowed out back only, and while able to have all your pokéballs on you," she tapped her finger against the table. "You are only allowed one pokémon out at a time, preferably a small one that you are able to carry in your arms." I looked up at this.
"But Jade-"
"Has her Espeon and her Eevee, I know." Miss Van Curd said. "Both work to help her overcome her disability, Espeon by providing sight via telepathy and Eevee by providing sounds." she continued on, ending my argument. "Because of the alarm, you must notify us if you want to go outside so we can disable it and, yes, watch you. If you have any questions about what you can and cannot do, come to me. I won'y sugarcoat it Dawn. I believe honesty is the first step in establishing trust, and trust is critical in a place like this."
Again her gaze pierced mine, probing, making sure I understood both sides of this statement. Honesty went both ways, and I was expected to keep up my end. The other side: Escaping from here is about as futile as a pokémon escaping an Ariados' web. I nodded. She stood for a moment longer, and then walked out of the room, leaving me with my six pokéballs. Slowly, I reached out and let out Piplup, who leapt into my arms out of joy.
I just held him tightly as I mulled over the warning I had just received.
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Mrs. Talbot sent me to peel carrots for lunch. I didn't dare tell her I never peeled one before in my life, especially in front of Ursula, who seemed to suck up to that lady as much as a Combee does to honey. After hacking my thumb, I finally got the hang of it.
As I peeled, my mind wandered. Wandered into places I'd rather not visit. So I called in my best defense: Turn it into an idea for coordinating combinations. Perhaps a ghost type? Maybe I could use Bunneary to create an enchantingly beautiful but creepily empty ice sculpture using ice beam. Or maybe I could convince Jade to let me use her Espeon to shatter the sculpture in a flash of psychic energy...?
"Peeling duty already? What'd you do to deserve that?" this time when I whirled around, I didn't see any disembodied limbs but a whole body. A guy, in fact, close to my age and a bit taller than me. He had an explosion of black hair shoved under a backwards cap and navy eyes. He wore a red sweatshirt, hands tucked lazily in the pockets, and yellow cargo shorts with sneakers. He tilted his head to the side. "You must be Dawn, right?"
He reached out and I jumped back. The carrot leapt from my hand and bounced off his arm. A real arm. Attached to a real guy.
"I-I-" he put his fingers to his lips, and I was more than happy to fall silent. He pointed at the dining room door with a smirk. Beyond it, Mrs. Talbot was talking to Marina.
"I'm not supposed to be in here," he whispered. "I'm Jimmy, by the way."
Jimmy, as in, the guy who really didn't have any problems, at least, according to Marina. But, lets face it, I'm in a group home and he's here mainly because there is a problem. I was suddenly aware that he was standing between me and the exit. His smile was friendly, and I knew that Marina was head-over-heels for him-Fabulance!- whereas Zoey described him as 'A cool guy'. But being fabulance and a cool guy is not very reassuring when you're cornered in a group home.
He backed into the walk-in pantry, lifted a finger telling me to wait, and disappeared inside. I could hear him rooting around in the shelves. When I peeked in, he was taking down a box of graham crackers. A kitchen raid? I couldn't help but smile. Guess it didn't matter if it was a group home or summer camp, guys and their stomachs didn't change. Jimmy pulled out a sleeve and shoved it in his sweatshirt pocket, easily concealed by the bagginess of the shirt.
"The other one's already open," I whispered, pointing at it. Jimmy flashed a grin.
"Thanks, but he'll want the whole thing. Right, Paul?"
I followed my gaze over my shoulder and nearly let out a small yelp. The guy standing behind me towered over me, and I would not classify my five-foot-six height as being short. This guy, though, was bordering six feet tall, and not gangly tall, but we're talking big, tall. As in, muscular, big. Purple hair hung in to his shoulders, lank and dull, while Onyx black eyes stared me down.
"I-I-I-" I swallowed. "I didn't see you there." Completely ignoring me, he reached past my shoulder and took another sleeve of graham crackers from Jimmy. He turned to retreat, but Jimmy grabbed the back of his shirt.
"We're still teaching him manners," he said to me. "Paul, Dawn. Dawn, this is the final houseguest, Paul." Paul shot him a glare.
"It's not that I don't have manners, I don't see the point in using them on Troublesome." Paul grunted, voice deep and gruff. I opened my mouth to retort his statement. Me? Troublesome? Ridiculous! Piplup agreed with me, placing its flippers on it's hips in pose much like my own. He turned back to Jimmy. "We done here?"
"Paul?" Ursula's voice echoed down the hallway. Paul let out a low grumble, and glanced at the kitchen door leading outback, as if he was considering breaking it open and running away from corkscrew head. I wouldn't be surprised if he could do it.
To late, I thought as she walked through the door, a charming smile on her face.
"Aha. I thought I heard you." she said as she came into the room. "You and Jimmy and Onyx, always raiding the-" she spotted me and her eyes narrowed.
"Ursula." Paul grunted. Her expression flipped from simmering to simpering.
"Yes?" Paul jabbed his finger towards the dining room door.
"Shut the hell up." he said gruffly, taking out a graham cracker and taking a bit off it. As she babble apologies, I swear I even saw tears, I made my escape.
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Done and done! Thanks for the reviews!
Amy47101 signing off! ^.^
