Chapter Six: Stop the Music
I woke up to a guilty conscience, and someone calling my name.
"Juliet…Juliet!"
Opening my eyes, I saw the glass door begin to lower. Shock brings me to my senses.
"No!" I shouted, diving for my abandoned headphones and frantically shoving them in my ears before the noise from outside can get through.
As Christine Anu's Party blazes through my ears, I relax and focus on the music.
Safe
Looking up, the glass wall had begun to close again. When it shuts with a finality, I tug the earbuds out.
"Sorry, Juliet, I didn't think it would be that bad if there weren't a lot of people." Caitlin's voice penetrates the glass, and I let out a breath I hadn't realised I'd held.
"S'ok," I mumbled tiredly, "Just warn me next time or I might hurt you too."
"About that, we need you to try and reverse what you did. Cisco is trying, but all he's come up with are temporary solutions, not permanent ones. I hate to ask, but can you at least try?"
I wince, "How do you know I won't make it worse?"
"We can bring someone who is seeing things into the cell with you so it's just you and them, and-" she took a breath, "-and he says if it makes it worse, he's willing to take that risk."
I think introspectively for a moment, trying to guess if I can. After a moment, I sigh.
There is no choice. You've got to at least try and make it right. You owe it to all the people you hurt, Juliet.
"Well, I have to try, don't I?" I say to Caitlin aloud, trying to sound brave, not like I'm dreading the very thought of being alone with someone else's thoughts.
"Thank you, I'm sure you'll be fine." Caitlin says with a smile.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
An hour later, Cisco, Caitlin, The Flash, a woman named Iris, and a police officer named Joe were standing in the room next to the blue room. I still didn't see the victim Caitlin said would be here, but I suppose he's coming.
"Are you sure this is safe?" Iris asks The Flash, and she sounds worried. She's beautiful and her simple green dress is stylish. I wonder why she's worried, she wasn't at the school was she?
"No, but it's worth a try." The Flash says firmly.
I wish I had his confidence and certainty.
I put my earbuds in preparation for the lifting of the glass. I know I'll miss this room and the silence it promises when this is all over. Having a 'time out' room could be useful.
It begins to lift, and The Flash himself steps though, smiling at my confused look. The glass slams shut.
Tugging one of my earbuds out, I ask, "What? But you weren't-?"
He cuts me off gently, saying, "Yes, you got me when I came to investigate Cisco's ping at the school."
"Oh." I say in a small voice. "Sorry."
I hesitantly take the second earbud out.
"I know you can do it." I look up in shock, a thousand things running through my mind. First among them is, No one's ever thought that about me before.
"Just focus on my thoughts and try and undo what you did earlier."
Ok, focus.
I take a deep breath.
It's surprisingly easy to cope when there's only one person's thoughts to deal with.
I can tune him in and out. I close my eyes and do as he says.
At first, I only hear his thoughts.
"I hope Iris doesn't worry too much" "Just stay relax so Juliet doesn't freak out, Barry" "Ignore the illusion; it's not real"
His mind was different to any I'd heard before because there red lightning seemed to be everywhere. It wasn't as if his thoughts were faster than anyone else's, but there was this force of crackling electricity that I'd never encountered before.
I dug a little deeper, into what I supposed was his subconscious.
Then I see it.
Suddenly, there are dead bodies all around us, eyes staring emptily into nothing. I recognise some of the people standing outside the glass. The woman named Iris, the police officer, Joe, Cisco, Caitlin, and a few others. A woman with burning red hair and a white blouse.
I recoil.
I frantically try to push the illusion away, but then I pause.
Is this his worst fear?
Everyone he cares about, dead on the floor. And he can't stop seeing it.
No wonder they were all screaming.
I cringe at the memory of the school. No, I have to focus on fixing him. I examine the picture.
It's horrible, but it's not true. They're still standing out there, watching us. I accidently push the thought at the man in front of me. When he reacts, I realise that he heard me.
The bodies start to fade and disappear.
Iris, Joe, Caitlin, then Cisco.
Soon, all that's left is the body of the woman, and another man with blue eyes and short, curly greyish hair.
Their bodies aren't actually here, I tell him, I don't know who they are, but they're not here. You need to let them go.
Surprisingly, I feel a burst of sadness and two names; Mum and Dad.
Then, they fade.
I open my eyes.
Barry is smiling. And, I realise, I am too.
"Thank you Juliet." He says, his eyes looking a little red, "I guess the best way to teach someone something really is to throw them in the deep end. Should've known Joe would be right. You did great."
"Barry-" I start, then stop at the shocked look on his face. "Oh. Sorry, I didn't mean to hear your name!" I exclaim, turning red in embarrassment.
For a moment, he looks tense, then relaxes, "It's ok. I knew it was a risk when I stepped in here. Just don't tell anyone, ok?"
"Ok, I promise." I say.
The glass begins to lift, and I dive for my headphones, but stop when a hand lands on my arm.
"I don't think you need them anymore." The Flash says quietly.
I take a breath, slowly turning around, and I let myself be emboldened by my victory.
The glass completely opens, and I brace for noise, then relax as only five voices cry for attention. I soon find that by focussing on my own thoughts, everyone else's becomes background noise. A disbelieving smile spreads across my face.
Author's Note:
So, sorry about Friday - as it turns out my cold got worse and I don't think I would've had much brain power on Saturday.
Anyway, I remember saying something about a double update, so I'd better follow through!
So what do you guys think? Do you reckon Juliet has her powers under control now? Don't forget to review!