Eighteeenth PSI

[a_gentle_boy]

((I apologize in advance for being a drama whore.  Indulge me.  I am sorry.))

[The inhalation of Luke's hallucinatory gas has left Lucas in a terrible state. This is what he sees. The island of Tanetane . . . The island of nightmares and delusions.  And though he knows that the images he sees must be false, he cannot help but succumb to his dark fears nonetheless.  In fact . . . his mental delusions are so strong that anyone who comes near him may, perhaps, catch a momentary glimpse of his nightmares.  Is this due to the gas lingering around his body or is this because of what is buried deep within his psychic mind?]

[Scenario 1]
Lucas has opened your mailbox and is rifling through the letters.  The expression on his face is one of tormented anguish.  Whispers can be heard if he is approached closely, though they do not appear to be made in his voice.  "The boy named Lucas . . . The boy named Lucas . . . The boy named Lucas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "    There is a terrifying scream.  It is not his.

[Scenario 2]
Lucas is shivering and shuddering as he takes his bath.  His bath appears to be a dirty puddle of mud in the park.  Or a dirty pool of water on the side of the street.  Or a septic tank.  Or a poison swamp.  A pool of knives.  A pool of nothing.  Nothing after nothing after nothing after nothing.

[Scenario 3]
He's running towards you with a baseball bat.  "Run!"  His voice is harsh as he engages the massive smiling face beaming balefully from midair.  Will you fight with him?  Will you help him?  He needs to get home before supper.  Hinawa is coming home for supper.  When is Hinawa coming home?  Come home, Hinawa.  Come home.

[Scenario 4]
He's running towards you with a baseball bat.  " . . . Get away!"  He swings at you.  He wants to kill you.  Let him kill you.  You should die.

[Scenario 5]
Lucas is huddled, knees to his chest, on the ground in the middle of the street.  All of his things are spread out around him as he holds his hands over his ears and rocks back and forth.  Approaching him, you may see a shadowy image and hear a torrent of harsh, angry, deriding words.  Why are you coming near him?  What are you doing?  What did you do to him?  Huh? . . . . . . . . I did it to him? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No.  Don't go near him.  Don't go near him.  You did it.  Don't go near her. Don't go near her.   Don't go near her. Don't go near her. Lucas did it.  Lucas did it.  Lucas did it.  Lucas did it.

[Scenario Q]
You could have saved me.
Why didn't you save me?
Switch places with me.
I want
I want to be
I want to be alive, Lucas. 
You're more . . .
You're more . . .
You're more . . . . . . . .   
It's all your fault.  It's your fault.  It's your fault.  I hate you.  You don't deserve it.  No one loves you.  Everyone's waiting for you.  Everyone's waiting to throw rocks at you, spit on you, and make your life hell.  Everyone hates you.  Everyone hates you.  I hate you.
Switch with me
Switch with me
Die
I want to be
you
I will be

you

Comments

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Lucas only seems to notice that the cheese fence has resealed itself. Bother. He heals the wound on his head and begins to smash at the cheese.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Evidently, the boy is having trouble comprehending his surroundings. Slugger suspected this warped perception of reality earlier but now it's been confirmed. Happy to let Lucas waste his energy in attacking the door, Slugger rounds the corner of the fence and silently enters the yard again behind Lucas.

Following a pattern of sneak-attacks, he rushes at the boy from behind, bat trained on a path to the side of Lucas's head.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Lucas can't understand why the Swiss is so sturdy. Perhaps it would have been easier if it was brie. He is distracted, though, by Slugger's attack, which largely deflects off the Shield Lucas had conjured.

He rubs at his head, frowning, and immediately refocuses his attention on the boy, aiming a swing at Slugger's own head.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Slugger is still in too much shock over how Lucas has somehow deflected a direct shot to avoid an oncoming blow to the head. It catches him just to the side of the eye socket and rattles every bone in his skull down to the spine.

It's all very much a novel experience: to be the one on the opposite end of the bat wasn't something he was actually prepared to encounter. The next thing he knows, he's staggering sideways with a hand held to the side of his face. Beneath it he can feel the pressure building to an ache and the heat radiating painfully through the flesh.

He stands braced against the fence for a moment, ready to slip through again should Lucas advance.]

...It does hurt. [said with a hint of wonder]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

It does. Here. And here.

[He rests a hand on his head and on his heart in turn.]

Are you about finished? There's nothing you can say or do that will make me feel any worse than I already do.