*Sorry for the unsightly grammatical errors. I wrote this late last night
during a creative episode. Please read and review. I would appreciate
comments about content and . . . ugh . . . writing critique.*
Chapter II
Bonnie watched the other psychic with sympathy. His name was Brent Whitman.
He was still in junior high, but somehow Alaric had convinced the boy's parents that the experiments done at the research facility were all in the best interests of the boy. These sessions were supposed to help alleviate the fits of screaming caused by his nightmares.
Bonnie remembered the problem with dreams. Sometimes it was hard to tell if they were simply dreams, or being sent by another power. In the few weeks she had known Brent, he had demonstrated a mild talent for premonition. She could feel his small ability brush against her mind, but in truth, he had no real talent and was simply a frightened kid.
Brent's wavering voice called out from the testing room. "I'm sorry Dr. Saltzman but they don't just happen that way. I can't call it up like that."
Alaric lifted his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "Fine, that's enough for now. Bonnie, let's show him how it's done."
She looked away from Alaric's boyish smile, trying not to grind her teeth. This was absolutely the last time she was wasting her Wednesday evening. She rolled her eyes at Brent as she passed him, and was answered with a weak smile.
The boy always seemed nervous, his body twitched at the slightest sound. He reminded her of a frightened Vicki Bennett from high school. And remembering how Vicki had ended up, Bonnie made it her duty to make sure Brent was comfortable in this freak show.
She settled into the high backed chair and placed her hands lightly on the armrests. She shifted uncomfortably, wishing that something unexpected would come up and she wouldn't have to do the same thing again she had done for the last year.
"Okay, Bonnie. I'm going to turn off the lights except for the one directly above you. Try to ignore its presence. Now I want you to-"
"I know. I know." She couldn't keep the annoyance out of her voice.
She waited till the lights dimmed. She couldn't see anything outside the ring made by the light. Not even the glow from Alaric's computer disturbed the deep blackness of her surroundings. She frowned slightly; something was bothering her.
She closed her eyes to eliminate the visual blackness and began the inward journey to her mind. Her body lost the burden of weight as she slowly crept deeper into her unknown. Her powers spiralled around the room, causing the table and her chair to lift off the ground.
The air in the room became heavy and constricting. It took effort to take a full breath. She faltered and the table shifted until one leg was touching the ground.
Alaric's voice forced her to focus. "Okay. Now make sure to take deep breaths. Find the wall of your inner self."
She descended as far as she could go, finally feeling the barrier. "I can't go any further." Her body's voice sounded far away.
"Push past it."
Bonnie raised her hands and pushed. The air kept constricting her lungs. The blackness of the room pressed closer to her uplifted chair.
Brent's alarmed voice forced her hands back from the barrier. She turned to look down the tunnel that led to her body. Brent's pain filled screams filled her mind. Suddenly, his presence was no longer pulsing against her. It had completely vanished.
* Push harder *
Obedient, she raised her hands again and pressed. The wall ripped slightly and she touched her inner self. The wonder of it didn't last long.
The black surrounding her body touched her skin and worked its way up. She could feel the coldness as it flowed along the same route she had traced to find her inner core. The presence was something she had never felt before. Its anger and malice flowed closer to her self, sucking her warmth. It rushed past her and entered the small rip in her mind.
Her soul started to scream as the presence started to rip at her mind, pulling pieces out and leaving nothing of her self in tact. Her bodies voice finally copied the sound and she screamed in terror.
Chapter II
Bonnie watched the other psychic with sympathy. His name was Brent Whitman.
He was still in junior high, but somehow Alaric had convinced the boy's parents that the experiments done at the research facility were all in the best interests of the boy. These sessions were supposed to help alleviate the fits of screaming caused by his nightmares.
Bonnie remembered the problem with dreams. Sometimes it was hard to tell if they were simply dreams, or being sent by another power. In the few weeks she had known Brent, he had demonstrated a mild talent for premonition. She could feel his small ability brush against her mind, but in truth, he had no real talent and was simply a frightened kid.
Brent's wavering voice called out from the testing room. "I'm sorry Dr. Saltzman but they don't just happen that way. I can't call it up like that."
Alaric lifted his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "Fine, that's enough for now. Bonnie, let's show him how it's done."
She looked away from Alaric's boyish smile, trying not to grind her teeth. This was absolutely the last time she was wasting her Wednesday evening. She rolled her eyes at Brent as she passed him, and was answered with a weak smile.
The boy always seemed nervous, his body twitched at the slightest sound. He reminded her of a frightened Vicki Bennett from high school. And remembering how Vicki had ended up, Bonnie made it her duty to make sure Brent was comfortable in this freak show.
She settled into the high backed chair and placed her hands lightly on the armrests. She shifted uncomfortably, wishing that something unexpected would come up and she wouldn't have to do the same thing again she had done for the last year.
"Okay, Bonnie. I'm going to turn off the lights except for the one directly above you. Try to ignore its presence. Now I want you to-"
"I know. I know." She couldn't keep the annoyance out of her voice.
She waited till the lights dimmed. She couldn't see anything outside the ring made by the light. Not even the glow from Alaric's computer disturbed the deep blackness of her surroundings. She frowned slightly; something was bothering her.
She closed her eyes to eliminate the visual blackness and began the inward journey to her mind. Her body lost the burden of weight as she slowly crept deeper into her unknown. Her powers spiralled around the room, causing the table and her chair to lift off the ground.
The air in the room became heavy and constricting. It took effort to take a full breath. She faltered and the table shifted until one leg was touching the ground.
Alaric's voice forced her to focus. "Okay. Now make sure to take deep breaths. Find the wall of your inner self."
She descended as far as she could go, finally feeling the barrier. "I can't go any further." Her body's voice sounded far away.
"Push past it."
Bonnie raised her hands and pushed. The air kept constricting her lungs. The blackness of the room pressed closer to her uplifted chair.
Brent's alarmed voice forced her hands back from the barrier. She turned to look down the tunnel that led to her body. Brent's pain filled screams filled her mind. Suddenly, his presence was no longer pulsing against her. It had completely vanished.
* Push harder *
Obedient, she raised her hands again and pressed. The wall ripped slightly and she touched her inner self. The wonder of it didn't last long.
The black surrounding her body touched her skin and worked its way up. She could feel the coldness as it flowed along the same route she had traced to find her inner core. The presence was something she had never felt before. Its anger and malice flowed closer to her self, sucking her warmth. It rushed past her and entered the small rip in her mind.
Her soul started to scream as the presence started to rip at her mind, pulling pieces out and leaving nothing of her self in tact. Her bodies voice finally copied the sound and she screamed in terror.