17-year old Paige is absorbed in life, love, attitude and rebellion, but when normal teenage turmoil is turned upside down by something she can't explain, has she pushed her family too far? All 4 sisters. Paige-centric with Glen/Kyle

A/N: Anyone seen the film Girl, Interrupted? Well, it was my inspiration fora particularcharacter in this chapter. If you've seen the film you'll figure out the connection. Anyway, enjoy and please review!

Disclaimer: Everything to do with Charmed Not mine but Achlysa sure is!

Chapter 10: Achlysa

"My, you're a firecracker…" A calm voice drawls.

I turn around slowly and there's a figure in the doorway. Her tall, slim frame lounges casually in the doorway for a moment before crossing the threshold unasked, walking over to the small window. Then suddenly, she swings round assuredly throwing a mane of waist-length raven hair over her shoulder, fixing me with intense eyes, eyes so dark a blue that they're almost violet, they shoot glares so penetrative that I'm strongly reminded of my oldest sister. She paces slowly around me like a prowling lion and I notice her steel-toed boots laced up to the knee, as they plod with each step. They look completely odd against the white hospital overalls that she wears, she's a mystery: she's clearly a patient but she's the sanest person I've come across since I've been here.

"You a newbie round here?" She stops pacing and steps towards me. I'm not sure if I'm transfixed or intimidated: but I don't want to flinch as her hand reaches towards me. Before I know it her hand is in my hair and she drags a finger lightly across my cheek, smudging the last of my tears away. "I take it you had a run in with the dear old Doctor Shaw…I gotta say the girl isn't scoring too high on the patient satisfaction scores…"

I finally let out a breath of relief; it looks like she didn't see the whole magic thing. I'm so glad. At the minute that whole deal is something that I just don't want to think about

She looks back at me intently her forehead wrinkled in a tight frown, "So, you got a name, Firecracker?"

"Paige" I answer timidly.

"Hmm, nope…I think I like Firecracker better…" I nod dumbly. "I know what'll take your mind off this shit, come with me and I'll introduce you to the other ladies." She says, absently scuffing her boots on the floor.

This is what I've avoided, I've been here four days and so far I've managed to avoid coming into contact with any real crazy people. I don't want to be reminded where I am and staying holed up in this room has been the best way to go about it.

"No thanks."

"Sweetheart, it's a lonely place in here, you wanna survive? You gotta make some friends…" She says peering at me so closely I feel transparent and compelled to bear my soul.

"Look, I'm not crazy. I don't need…"

"Oh honey" She sighs "None of us in here are crazy. That's just a ridiculous technical term…here, this'll help you loosen up," She pulls a cigarette from her pocket and places it between her rosebud lips. She breathes in and the tip glows like its lit. Wait? did I blink and miss that…I doubt that they're gonna have lighters floating around this kindhospital ward if any. I soon forget once it is offered too me and once i've inhaled the smoke starting my blissful reunion with sweet nicotine. I didn't realise how much I missed this tobacco flavour and how long it as been since I last had a smoke.

"Thanks" I say breathily, exhaling the wispysmoke.

"No problem, by the way, Achlysa."

"What?"

"I'm Achlysa." She offers her hand as a gesture, I take it but instead of shaking it she hauls me off the bed.

"C'mon Firecracker, we're going to meet some buddies!" Her eyes sparkle. She pulls on my arm and soon I'm following but as we get to the door she pauses.

"Firecracker…" She says looking tenderly at me, "Don't let Dr Shaw get to you, don't let any of them get to you." It's like this girl can read my thoughts. "Promise me?"

"Promise" I'm intoxicated and for the first time since Glen was here my numbness is completely chased away and I feel alive.

---

Today was a good day I met some of the other people that are here. Achlysa was right, they're not all crazy. They're all just normal girls with a few problems. And who doesn't have those. It's the first time in days that I haven't thought about my sisters, I figure that I don't need to now. It's just Paige. I can survive without them.

I never thought I would be able to make any new friends after Glen, you know…but now, I know I can. I've made some friends and it is not so bad, especially Achlysa, she's smart and fun, wild and free and she cares about me. She understands and knows what I'm thinking and I feel like I've known her my whole life. She's like the sister I never had…oops, wait…no, I don't wanna think about it, it's just gonna open up that whole can of worms again.

But I know I'll survive. I can and I will.

---

"Firecracker…" The familiar voice echoes in my ear. It pulls me away from the world of sleep, where I so want to stay.

"Huh?" I don't get it. Dark still pours in through the windows, casting spooky shadows on the white walls. It's clearly not time for the wake up call yet. So I pull my covers back over my head.

"I gotta talk to you firecracker" She says quickly, the desperation that I hear in her voice jolts me to my senses. I sit up.

"That's better…Come with me"

"Okay"

I follow her through the corridors. Dim lights cast eerie shadows about the place and the silence is deafening.

Suddenly she stops dead in front of me, I end up running into the back of her letting out an undignified grunt.

"Shh" She swings around, giving me a look. My heart jumps into my mouth.

"What?" I whisper.

"Nurses' Station" She points frantically.

She grabs my hand as her slender frame crouches to the floor. I follow suit dropping down to join her. We crawl past the counter carefully trying not to make too much noise. I have a feeling that she might have done this before. When we're safely past we leap up and scamper lightly down the hallway. She leads us into a dark empty room that is sparse and so big that it echoes with every footstep. I wander in behind her, but lose her in the darkness just as I'm about to panic I feel a tap on my shoulder.

"Hey" I jump up about four feet. I hate being snuck up on, cause it tends to lead to a lot of blue lights and a whole lot more questions.

"Hey!" I snarl back, "Look, what are we doing here?"

She doesn't reply and runs to the opposite wall. I chase her, but soon slump against the wall breathlessly. Damn gym class. It's not my fault I always skive. Achlysa emerges from the darkness her wavy hair swishing softly in the dark haze, she stretches with glee like an alley cat and her eyes flash wildly, her violet irises seem to dance happily, shining in the dark.

"I saw" She mutters softly. My stomach drops; I hope she doesn't say what I think she's going to.

Oh God. Play it safe Paige, play dumb. "What?"

"Earlier on, I saw that you're special, like me."

"Special?"

"Yeah, you have powers too." She drops her voice to little above a whisper.

My jaw drops right to the floor, I'm stunned into silence. That is so not what I expected her to say…wait? this could just be a trick. Whoa. When did I get so cynical? Okay, if she's telling the truth, I guess she won't mind if I call her bluff. I look at Achlysa carefully, a strange smile creeps across her face. I cross my arms and look straight into those violet eyes.

"Okay, you've seen mine, so, prove it. Show me your powers."

"Okay!" She grins, "Watch…" She clicks her fingers and a purple flame rises and flickers, right out of her thumb.

"Cool." Wow. I guess I didn't need to doubt her after all, just, well…wow.

"and this…" and I find myself looking up to watch her again. After a beat, she closes her eyes. When they flicker open, the entire surface of her eye glows bright purple. Then instantaneously, her whole body seems to get blurry and she seems to shimmer away, all her limbs and body merge into thin air. All in a second almost the same hazes reappear just a few feet away. This is just like my power, wellapart from all the blue lights. This is so cool. The back of my neck prickles with…fear? No, I think it's definitely the excitement of finding a new friend.


Something tells me Achlysa's magical power might not be such a good thing ;) please review!