I fear my own shadow - Asher

let's run away

AND PRETEND WE'RE NOT IN LOVE

Raelynn had never considered actually getting training for her power. In her mind, she could already control it and being in school had basically run it's course. In fact, she was planning on dropping out of school when the year was over. She is unsure what convinced her to disclose this information for Dr. Zimmermann, or why she thought it would be a good idea at all. But the Professor was insistent that she make an appointment with one of the trainers.

So here she was, sitting outside of training room 13, with this last sitch effort to feel like coming to Calloway hadn't been one of the biggest mistakes of her life.

let's make this

INTERESTING AND START ALL OVER

@asher
CLOTHING

created by RYN

The first semester had been as uneventful as the rest, other than the student body's growing hatred for him. Well, that was an understatement. According to the staff, he was still torturing the students. If only they knew what torture really was. Maybe some day he would have to show them.

Oh well, there was no time to dwell on the subject as his phone alerted him that his next appointment was due. Grabbing the sparse chart, he realized that only the basics had been filled out. Pyrokinetic, newer student, never had a training session. Great. Why couldn't the new kid have gone to Bash instead? He had a steady hand and was the school favorite. Much better for someone who was potentially out of control.

Oh well. He thought, pocketing the remote for the power neutralizing device just in case. Davenport, Raelynn. You're up. He barked once the door was partially open, not bothering to hold it open for the student as he walked back in to the room, balancing the chart precariously against his hook so that his good hand was free.

let's run away

AND PRETEND WE'RE NOT IN LOVE

Jumping at the rough sound of her name, Raelynn frowned and stood up. Oh great, why did this trainer have to be so obviously an ass. There was no way something like this was going to make her want to stay in school, "Just so you know," She started after opening the door he let slam in her face, "I don't NEED any power training. I'm here because Dr. Zimmermann made me come." Raelynn crossed her arms over her chest and rolled her eyes.

let's make this

INTERESTING AND START ALL OVER

@asher
CLOTHING

created by RYN

If he hadn't been amused before, Asher surely wasn't now that the apparently headstrong kid was standing in his training room. Well, then it's a good thing this isn't a normal training session. If you want target practice and zen rituals to hone your abilities, I'd suggest an appointment with Coach Bash. Not that Bash probably had slots open anymore at this point. Asher was down to a hand full of students at this point, which meant he had to be swamped. Eh, he was the one who wanted to play it nice.

But, if you want to know how to make those powers work under pressure, then I'd suggest taking a seat. Motioning to the two black chairs in the center of the room, he sat down in his usual spot and waited for her to follow. I assume you know what's about to happen, or did Dr. Zimmerman not tell you exactly where to sign up? That was always interesting. The ones who just thought they were signing up for a random session and then ended up with him. Come to think of it, he didn't even have an essay from her on her fears that he could recall. Interesting indeed.

let's run away

AND PRETEND WE'RE NOT IN LOVE

She was not amused by this rash and forward man. Narrowing her eyes at him she shook her head, "I do not need training, so I didn't bother to check on the trainer." She said in a matter of fact tone.

let's make this

INTERESTING AND START ALL OVER

@asher
CLOTHING

created by RYN

He couldn't help it when he burst out laughing, his good hand eventually moving to rub his temples as he thought about how this kid had just randomly stumbled upon his class. He was going to get burned today, that was for sure. Then, allow me to properly introduce you to the course. Welcome to fear and stress training 101. He could practically feel the fear itching just beneath his skin, ready to manipulate hers. Since you haven't read the introductory material, are we just winging it to see what happens or would you prefer a basic rundown? Part of him wanted to just start like he had with the O'connor boy. Give her a blast of something she had undoubtedly not experienced full force just to knock her down a peg or two, but for now he was waiting to gauge her reactions.

let's run away

AND PRETEND WE'RE NOT IN LOVE

Exasperated, Raelynn leaned against a wall and shrugged, "Let's get it over with, I guess." She said in a dull voice, like she didn't actually care. Holding up her hand, a tower of flame erupted from the center of her palm. It spiraled in the air and filled the room with a pulsing heat.

let's make this

INTERESTING AND START ALL OVER

@asher
CLOTHING

created by RYN

They never sat down like he told them to the first time, not unless they had superficial fears. The ones who actually needed it always stood. Maybe it was a control thing, like actually using her powers in the first session without being told to. Not that it mattered.

Usually he preffered to work by touch on the first five or six run throughs because it gave him more control over how much he was giving them, but there was no way he was walking over there and getting burned in an effort to make the girl more comfortable. He definitely didn't get paid enough for that. Instead, he felt his power ebb out like a shadow as the warmth somewhat faded in the room. Technically the temperature was the same, but the perception of it was different, like horror movies explained ghosts entering a room. Once it had engulfed the girl completely, he whispered the word fear in his mind.

Some people saw what they feared, others felt it like a panic attack. It depended on their manifestation as to whether or not he would get to see as well. The Gaunt girl had simply felt alone, surrounded in darkness, and it was enough that she wanted to give up. O'connor had seen the image Asher sent him through the connection of a bruised and beaten Danielle Rockefellar and made the images his own. Either way, each person was unique in their fear and it was the one thing about his job that tended to fascinate him.

let's run away

AND PRETEND WE'RE NOT IN LOVE

It was suddenly dark, despite the warm glow of her fire. She felt the flame die out as her hand dropped to her waist and her eyes went wide, trying without hope to see through the terrible darkness that surrounded her, She was alone again, but that isn't what terrified her. It was the sounds. A light flickered on the other side of a door across what looked like her old bedroom. She could feel the cold concrete under her bare feet, even though she knew she was standing in the training center.

Raelynn shook her head and pressed herself more tightly against the wall, as if trying to phase right through it and disappear. The line of light along the bottom of the door across the room grew wider as the door swung toward her. A silhouette of darkness stood in the doorway, but Raelynn knew who it was, and she understand what was going to happen. The voice was clear and convincing, "You're dangerous, my dear." Teresa said as the dark outline of a kitchen knife appeared in her hand, "There is only one answer." She insisted, now only feet from Raelynn.

let's make this

INTERESTING AND START ALL OVER

@asher
CLOTHING

created by RYN

Asher watched in amusement that started to slowly turn towards horror as the girl's fear began to manifest. This was why he never usually took walk ins. They were too unpredictable. Unfortunately for both of them, once the process was started he didn't have much of a choice other than to wait until she snapped out of it or the illusion was finished. His powers had been retracted almost as soon as her hallucination began. Whatever the girl had experienced would have to wait to be discussed when she finished. Still, as a precaution for the students outside, he did stand up long enough to bolt the door so that she couldn't just run out.

let's run away

AND PRETEND WE'RE NOT IN LOVE

Sinking against the wall, Raelynn felt herself shaking her head, but she could hear any words that she opened her mouth to say. She felt herself pausing, like those moments when you pause live TV and it almost feels like you stole the words from the character's mouth. Teresa raised her hand holding the knife and said something Raelynn couldn't quite make out before swinging the blade at her daughter. Raelynn threw her hands up in front of her face and screamed.

Then, quite suddenly, brightness retook the room. She looked at her palms, which had blocked the swing on the blade, and found two red marks that looked like burns across her hands. Self-inflicted wounds, but she had never burned herself before. How? She looked up as the burn mark quickly faded away like they had never been there, "What did you do?" She couldn't tell if her voice was shaky and accusatory, or steady and calm. Either way, tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.

let's make this

INTERESTING AND START ALL OVER

@asher
CLOTHING

created by RYN

Phobiokinesis. It allows me to manipulate your greatest fears at will. He explained shortly, leaning against a table in the room to look at her. There were questions that needed asked, but he had a feeling that she would only open up on something like that with a little explanation. Such a specific fear, it seemed. Normally, when one signs up for this class, there are essays, a syllabus, they know what they've come here for. To practice under the greatest pressure or to learn to escape their fears. Knowing that it was a lot to process, he stopped. No use in keeping it up if he was going to have to explain himself several times over to a person who likely wouldn't return to this room.

let's run away

AND PRETEND WE'RE NOT IN LOVE

Raelynn wasn't disturbed. Honestly, once the fear ebbed off, she nodded, "Cool." She cracked a small half smile and tilted her head to one side as if stretching because her neck was hurting. She had become so accustomed to the fear of her mother that it didn't take long for that fear to dissipate.

let's make this

INTERESTING AND START ALL OVER

@asher
CLOTHING

created by RYN

Interesting didn't even begin to cover it. The girl just bounced back. No questions, no power surges. To most people that would be something shocking, but to Asher... it let him know something that no report ever would. This girl had lived that nightmare. It wasn't in her head the way the others experienced it. So the next logical step is to decide if you want to keep with this course or if I need to recommend you to another one. Or maybe he needed to have a talk with Zimmerman. If the girl didn't need training, then why was she at the center? It didn't make even a little sense.

let's run away

AND PRETEND WE'RE NOT IN LOVE

Keeping a stony face, Raelynn straightened her back before eventually standing from her spot on the floor, "I have to ask," She said, watching the teacher with curiosity, "Exactly what can I gain from reliving something I have already seen over and over?"

let's make this

INTERESTING AND START ALL OVER

@asher
CLOTHING

created by RYN