JULIE IN TROUBLE
Blackness ,a sensation of pressure, and a barely-heard noise. Flashes
of light disorientated Julie, and she could hear noises that sounded
like low whispers. She felt if she listened hard enough, she could
understand and hear what they were saying. Over this, she could
hear the voices of the scientists, muffled but still audible.
("Beginning Shadow process.")
She wasn't sure how Cipher effected the closing of the hearts of
Pokémon, but she had no desire to experience it either. She closed
her eyes, to black out as much as possible the disorientating flashes,
and tried not to hear the whispers, which almost seemed to be
speaking to her of not-feeling and not-caring. She was determined to
resist as much and as long as she could. Maybe she could come out
of it unchanged, or only partially Shadowed. In her mind's eye, she
visualised Lawrence. She thought of her love for him, and focused on
the image. She tried to concentrate only on that, to think only about
the image of him
(It's not working as well as it should. It seems slow.
We were told she was different. This isn't totally unexpected.)
and also focusing on the faces of the people who had confronted her
in Phenac and then abducted her. These people were enemies. She
focused on the image of Lawrence again. Lawrence. Husband. Lover.
Friend. Lawrence's face began to blur, and she concentrated again,
focusing on his image in her mind's eye
(We're increasing the input now.)
and sharpened the image. She risked thinking briefly of her abductors
again Enemies! then focused again
(Interesting. She seems to be consciously resisting the process, look
at the brain waves. Increase the power.)
on the first image, his lilac eyes, his blonde hair, that gorgeous smile,
and frowned as it blurred, and almost fragmented. With horror, she
realised she'd forgotten his name. The process was beginning to
work. But there was one word she could still apply in place of his
name, a word she still currently knew the meaning of.
Friend.
She concentrated, seeing the now nameless face in her head. She
found that she couldn't remember her own name either now. Tears
welled in her eyes. They-an image of her abductors flashed in her
head-were not going to win! She saw the friendface again, tried to
concentrate on it, but cried out as it started to fade
(We dare not risk any more power. Switch-off in thirty seconds.)
and the blackness around began to encroach into her head. A purple
haze danced around the edges of her vision, even behind closed lids.
She struggled to hold onto the now almost transparent image
(switch-off in twenty seconds)
of the golden-haired person, whoever he was. He was special, that
much she knew. She felt a connection of some sort with him but the
image was almost gone now, retreating as the darkness in her head
increased,
(switch-off in ten seconds)
and closed in on her, and she clung to that last memory, his hair, his
eyes, his smile, as the darkness swallowed her and she screamed as
she lost her mental grip and fell into it.
(Shutdown initiated. Shadow process complete. She's done.)
