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.)