Focus
I have no idea what Mr Kliff's worst fear is, but apparently it was fast. So fast, in fact, that he needed a car to out-run it.
Barry had his suit on and was off in, well, a flash.
"He's heading down second and third." Iris said into a small microphone.
"He's driving like Nightrider in Mad Max, except with no open highway and a LOT of innocent bystanders," Cisco commented, "I guess 'driving under the influence' counts for driving under the influence of your worst fears too."
"Just keep an eye out for anyone in the way, Barry." Iris clarified.
I cringed, hoping I wouldn't be responsible for the death of a pedestrian.
Noticing my distress, Caitlin, who was standing away from the numerous screens and keyboards, said reassuringly, "Don't worry, Barry will make sure everyone stays safe."
I was about to reply, when Iris interrupted with something about hubcaps, and my focus slipped.
I remained calm and closed my eyes as their thoughts swept over me. I tried not to pay attention.
One, two, three
One, two, three
See? You can do this, Juliet. I opened them again to see Caitlin's concerned look.
"You're still struggling, aren't you?"
"I can do it," I insist, "I'm not going to create any more illusions."
"I know you want to be in control but-"
She was cut off by the whoosh and air crackling that signalled The Flash's return to S.T.A.R Labs.
A few minutes later, we stood with Mr Kliff, who was huddling in a corner, as the group explained what had happened to him.
"You mean it's all fake?" He questions, looking up at Iris angrily, "Because I know what I'm seeing and-"
"Yes!" Cisco interrupted, "It's all fake because Juliet here made a mistake, and now she's going to fix it for you."
"You?!" He exclaims, turning to me, "Young lady, just because someone tells you to do something you don't like doesn't mean you can make them see things! I'm your teacher, you should have more respect! Understand?"
"Yes sir," I mumbled, red beginning to colour my cheeks as I looked at the floor.
"It's not the behaviour that's expected or tolerated at school! Just because you're an unnatural metahuman doesn't mean-"
The Flash cut him off, saying, "Hey, leave her be. She's going to fix it, if you'll let her."
I walked a few steps closer and closed my eyes, eager to have this over and done with.
"Wait, what is she going to do to me?" "What if she makes it worse?" "I've never liked her anyway, and now I'm going to let her poke around in my mind?" "If Juliet Mason is one of those metahuman monsters, who else could be?" "What is she doing?"
The thoughts came thick and fast and I struggled to focus.
"Why can I still see the monster?" "Maybe she's going to make me see something worse!"
As my focus slipped, other thoughts began trickling in, louder and louder.
"She did it much quicker the other times, is something wrong?" "I wonder what's-" "She looks like she's-" "Why-" "-things-" "…police-" "…wrong…"
I realise my breaths are coming faster and faster and the pressure's building up in my head.
Covering my ears, I let out a quiet whimper. Over and over, my own thoughts repeat and contribute to the flood of words and sheer noise.
I can't hurt anyone else! I can't hurt anyone else! I can't hurt anyone else I can't hurt anyone else I can't hurt anyone-
Feeling that part of my brain that reacted back at the school start to give again, I bolt out of the room.
Blue room. I need the blue room.
Distantly, I can hear a scream, but I keep running.
Slamming my hands on the keypad outside, I quickly threw myself into the room so I was locked in.
Then I let it all go.
I feel a wave of energy pulse outward, stopped only by the walls of the room, and a flash of white hot pain in my head.
Then black.
Author's Note:
Not really sure what to say after this one. Maybe "Bwahahahahaha!"? Or, "poor Juliet"? Cliffhangers are great, right? But I'm sure you can all guess what's going to happen. Or can you? I guess I'll find out when you review! What do you think's going to happen?
By the way, I've given up on an update schedule. I reckon I'll still try to update of Saturday, but there might be a bunch of updates in between. I've finally planned out the rest of this fic so I'm pretty sure I'll be able to keep up. Not that I didn't have an idea here it was going before now (I would NOT have posted the fic otherwise), but I didn't have my usual chapter-by-chapter general plan for what is generally going to happen in each chapter. Now I do, so I'm confident I can post a bit more than I have been.
Trix