01-22-2018, 05:11 PM
In the time Marcus was gone, Jay paced the room. Given its size, the pacing was mostly turning in circles, but good enough. He released the power some time ago, but there was no ignoring it now. The storm was just over the horizon, and in the blink of an eye it could course his body alive.
That feeling of life was what he feared. The power was a storm, yes, but like Marcus said, it was alive too. It pulsed and flowed. It beckoned. It called. He wanted to run back into the storm and bend it to will.
That was exactly why he didn't.
Marcus' promises echoed in his mind. Offer, ultimatum, it didn't matter. Jay knew his limits. He knew that he couldn't ignore the power any more. The light blazed, painful, but pure too. What to do with it was another question. His gaze moved briefly to the replaced cot, then to the cameras and vents overhead. He clasped his hands behind his back and paced until Marcus returned.
The hall was lined with dozens of doors to containment cells. How many were down here, where ever here was, he couldn't guess. But neither did he sense anything beyond. He hoped they were empty. Hoped there weren't kids on the other side.
The labyrinth of halls was typical of an army base, but holo-screens, touch walls, and security measures were the most advanced he'd ever seen. Still not sure what they did here beyond lock away channelers, his frown deepened when he passed a suite that looked set up for surgery. The room was dark, but the purpose to the table and lights were obvious. He shivered at that, and the sense of foreboding deepened.
The new room was more barracks style, but he wasn't necessarily at ease. He was given access to a shower and clean, black scrubs to wear afterward. He was rather reluctant to hand over boots, but they were covered in filth from the sewers and sticky with mud. He traded them for thick socks and adopted a bunk in the back corner. Nobody else joined him. Lights were turned out, the doors locked, and he slept while he could.
Dreams of fire engulfing cells with gray walls swarmed his nightmares. People locked within banged to be released, but were locked by silvery chains that tethered them inside. He ran, but the doors were endless. Fire chased his heels, and other times it erupted from his hands. Smoke choked his nostrils. He tried to plug his ears, but the screams were inside his head. Trapped. there was no escape. Fire took it all.
He opened his eyes to darkness, and laid there blinking at the underside of the bunk above, but the brink of sleep was long gone. He tossed and turned until the lights flicked bright. The doctor from yesterday, he presumed it was the next day, appeared and asked him to follow.
"Why? Where are we going?"
She glanced back at him and answered after a moment's thought, "Tests, Lieutenant. This way."
He swallowed and padded behind, feet cold despite the socks. Probably nothing to worry about. He wasn't in a CCD army prison about to be brainwashed to serve everything he stood against. This was totally normal.
Or so he told himself.
That feeling of life was what he feared. The power was a storm, yes, but like Marcus said, it was alive too. It pulsed and flowed. It beckoned. It called. He wanted to run back into the storm and bend it to will.
That was exactly why he didn't.
Marcus' promises echoed in his mind. Offer, ultimatum, it didn't matter. Jay knew his limits. He knew that he couldn't ignore the power any more. The light blazed, painful, but pure too. What to do with it was another question. His gaze moved briefly to the replaced cot, then to the cameras and vents overhead. He clasped his hands behind his back and paced until Marcus returned.
The hall was lined with dozens of doors to containment cells. How many were down here, where ever here was, he couldn't guess. But neither did he sense anything beyond. He hoped they were empty. Hoped there weren't kids on the other side.
The labyrinth of halls was typical of an army base, but holo-screens, touch walls, and security measures were the most advanced he'd ever seen. Still not sure what they did here beyond lock away channelers, his frown deepened when he passed a suite that looked set up for surgery. The room was dark, but the purpose to the table and lights were obvious. He shivered at that, and the sense of foreboding deepened.
The new room was more barracks style, but he wasn't necessarily at ease. He was given access to a shower and clean, black scrubs to wear afterward. He was rather reluctant to hand over boots, but they were covered in filth from the sewers and sticky with mud. He traded them for thick socks and adopted a bunk in the back corner. Nobody else joined him. Lights were turned out, the doors locked, and he slept while he could.
Dreams of fire engulfing cells with gray walls swarmed his nightmares. People locked within banged to be released, but were locked by silvery chains that tethered them inside. He ran, but the doors were endless. Fire chased his heels, and other times it erupted from his hands. Smoke choked his nostrils. He tried to plug his ears, but the screams were inside his head. Trapped. there was no escape. Fire took it all.
He opened his eyes to darkness, and laid there blinking at the underside of the bunk above, but the brink of sleep was long gone. He tossed and turned until the lights flicked bright. The doctor from yesterday, he presumed it was the next day, appeared and asked him to follow.
"Why? Where are we going?"
She glanced back at him and answered after a moment's thought, "Tests, Lieutenant. This way."
He swallowed and padded behind, feet cold despite the socks. Probably nothing to worry about. He wasn't in a CCD army prison about to be brainwashed to serve everything he stood against. This was totally normal.
Or so he told himself.
Only darkness shows you the light.