a_gentle_boy | Twenty-Second PSI

[The events of the previous few weeks have left their mark upon Lucas. Following mere hours after Netherlands's droning, mere weeks after his extremely painful and scarring encounter with Billy Smith, the boy hadn't been in any state to be of help during the hazmat attack. Normally, he would have jumped at the chance to assist the injured; he would even have sacrificed his own life to do so. But this time . . . he wasn't sure if he could have done so. Death after death after death, and all he could do was pray that the nightmare would end quickly. Privately, he recognized the part of him that had wished for the Russian man to be found.

He remembered his encounter with Sergei as clearly as if it had just happened. The fear upon the man's face, the desperation in his words. Lucas had promised that he would do everything he could to help -- Yet in the end, he had done nothing, had even hoped that the man would be discovered by his hunters. For the boy who made emotional bonds so easily and valued human life so greatly . . . the feeling of guilt was immense.]

[He stands in front of City Hall, now, fists clenched and body trembling slightly with emotion as he stares at the corpse. He had passed by it earlier. Recognized it immediately. Recoiled in horror from the sight.

At his side is a bucket of fresh water and a small pile of rags. He will decide whether or not he dares to release the body from its noose later. For now, he simply applies his healing PSI to close the open wounds, gently wipes away the blood with his cloth, does for Sergei what he had not been able to do while the man was still alive.

Be at peace.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Roshian had seen the body, but hadn't done anything for him. If she ignored it, it wouldn't be real.

But now? Now she stands behind Lucas, just watching.]

[He is on the alert, knowing that Grady or the Mayor may take issue with what he is doing. As Roshian approaches, he half-turns, taking a few moments to recognize her from Westport.

Luke's mother. She receives a hesitant nod as Lucas lowers his hands.]

Would be interesting to see if town is bringing him back.

They wanted to kill him so badly that they went through twenty or thirty of us. Do you really think they'd bring him back?

Is depending very much on who is really in charge of situation in town.

[If he came back, that meant that Grady and the Mayor and the Milkman and even Lucy Smith weren't really the ones in control of the town.]

[Lucas understands her meaning after a few moments. His eyes slightly narrow.]

I don't think they would have spent that much effort if they didn't know they could kill him for real.

Have spent effort on pointless things before.

. . . What do you mean?

Everything the town has put us through before has taken effort. How much have they gained?

. . . I'm not convinced everything that's happened has been under their control. But . . . it felt different this time. Like it was personal.

People take revenge here, even though death is not permanent.

Yes, but they're not the ones bringing people back to life.

Is no proof Grady and others are ones bringing people back either.

Miss . . .

I'm not sure why you think it might even happen, but Grady, the Mayor, and Lucy Smith all called for his death.

If he was coming back, we wouldn't have gone through what we just did. It would have been entirely pointless. There's no way. It's impossible.

Never said it would happen, or it might happen. Only that it would be interesting to see what does happen.

Nothing will happen.

[Because it is entirely nonsensical. If they had gone through hell for no reason, the passion of anger would burn in Lucas more powerfully than it had even for Porky.]