2/1/2013 - Erasing TJ Whitlock (Past SL)
(We had our orders, it had taken too long to find an opening that left us able to move freely, now the night was here and the anxiety was building. I sucked in a heavy breath, my eyes darting over to @SpiritOfGlory before checking our surroundings again)
The atmosphere is unsteady.
(It was feeding off my mood, the pressure had been building as I watched @SpiritOfGlory prepare for the night ahead. Three children's lives were changing, as if all of ours hadn't already. I pulled the apple out of my pack, handing it to @SpiritOfGlory)
Eat, you need your strength.
(I didn't need to push, Sidda knew I was worried about what tonight was going to cost her. Leaning up against the closest tree, l drop my pack to the ground and slide my hand along the rough bark, pulling it back slowly I cast a glance@SpiritOfGlory)
This is the place. A few people are stirring, but we're masked.
[I bit into the apple, the crunch seemed to echo with just us here.]
She's restless. I know you can feel it.
[Not that, that, was my main concern but it didn't help either. I lifted my eyes to the sky, fingertips grazing across my necklace pendant and took another bite.]
You have to control it, @ABrewingStorm. No matter what happens in there. Do you understand what I'm saying?
[He had finally given up, his resolve that I wasn't changing my mind was paid in mother nature's own personal war. My pack rested against my right leg and I gathered it up, the wind picking up as I did.]
[The light from the porch caught my line of sight. The mother, it had to be, appeared before us, her slow walk leading me to believe just as I thought. Mask or not, she could feel it too.]
(Pulling the strap of my bag over my shoulder, I give @SpiritOfGlory a stiff nod of my head, I got what she was saying. My nervous energy was flowing through the area around us, pulling everything and everyone with it. Even if our glamour hid us, my gift was going to cause complications)
I'll control it, Sidda. I said I'd do this, I'm here.
(I wasn't leaving @SpiritOfGlory. I made a vow after we'd lost our parents, I was here.)
The woman's okay, she left. Where do you want to do this?
(The sound of hooves pounding the ground, caught my attention causing me to whirl around and the wind around us to pick up)
@SpiritOfGlory, we have to get settled, inside. Before the rain starts.
(I could only control it so long, the rain was inevitable)
[I positioned my pack on my arm and nodded slowly. The small trickle of rain had started and I glanced over at @ABrewingStorm, motioning closer to the porch as my feet carried me there. The common gift we both shared together would only work on my end for a while but then @ABrewingStorm would be carrying that too on his own.
My apple long been discarded, I placed my hand on the door knob and paused. This was it. No going back now. I looked over my shoulder at @ABrewingStorm, whispering to him in our native tongue for a moment before opening the door, walking inside. That would be the last time I would look at @ABrewingStorm until this was over. Finally over and done.]
(I strengthened the glamour over us as I grabbed the door @SpiritOfGlory had opened and pulled it gently closed behind us.
I wanted to to take @SpiritOfGlory by the arm and pull her back out of the house. We weren't welcome here. The wood spoke loudly, burning it's opinions into the palm of my hand.
We were trespassers into a world that was not our own. The protective nature of the walls surrounding us screamed that we were not invading a house, but a home.)
(My words were a soft response to @SpiritOfGlory's own. She wasn't turning back)
Second floor, hidden passage in the child's room.
(She nodded and kept moving. Once @SpiritOfGlory was started, I'd have to stand over her, protecting her. I held a few steps behind, holding our glamour, until we reached TJ’s room and slipped silently inside)
(But it was. @SpiritOfGlory didn't leave a job unfinished. I found the hidden passage between the children's rooms and guided @SpiritOfGlory inside, willing the pressure in the house to stop dropping)
[I headed up the stairs, my hand trailing up the banister, feeling the first wave hit and assault my mind. @ABrewingStorm's words were falling on deaf ears. A child's laughter as he slid down and landed on his feet at the bottom. Funny thing about houses. They held their own memories too.
A crash of thunder sounded from above and I still kept my eyes trained ahead, finding the passage that @ABrewingStorm led me to held just enough space for us both, my hand reaching out to grab a shirt from the floor first.
Once inside, I inhaled a shaky breath and exhaled it slowly, letting my true gift take hold. The memories coming to me in tidal waves and this was just the beginning. My bag slipped free of my arm and my fingers curled around the small shirt and I could feel the material begin to tear in my grasp. This child, his memories weren't as deeply rooted but they were there.
Small glimpses of @SoullessWhit came through and I watched through my mind as I began to alter them. The memories I planted were more of titles and name changes. Quickly dropping it to the floor, I doubled over, slamming my eyes shut.]
I need something else. This wasn't the one..
(I grabbed the torn shirt @SpiritOfGlory dropped and packed it away in my pack, the thunderclaps sounding overhead meant the storm was coming whether I wanted it to or not. @SpiritOfGlory didn't have time to worry about me controlling myself, I had to. I had to at the least keep the rain outside of the house. I doubted with what @SpiritOfGlory was going through, that our glamour could mask an indoor flood.)
(I grasped @SpiritOfGlory's shoulder, shaking it gently as I stood and moved out of the passage. She had to keep her strength up)
(I moved through the room, the air thickening with my every step, looking for that one item of TJ’s that would give @SpiritOfGlory what she needed.)
(I didn't turn around to get @SpiritOfGlory's approval, instead I grabbed the stack off TJ’s' desk, a photograph of two children playing, and a book off the shelf. Flipping open the book, my eyes fly open in disbelief that this was Tj’s, I didn't want @SpiritOfGlory to have to see this)
(Steadying my resolve, I take the book and wrap my fingers firmly around it, carrying it, the pictures and papers back into the pathway where @SpiritOfGlory was waiting)
Take your time, Sidda. This isn't going to be pleasant.
(I used our native tongue with @SpiritOfGlory as I handed her the photograph first)
You might be able to get @EvilLilGris from the photograph, @SpiritOfGlory. Don't touch the book first.
(I slid my back down the wall, coming to sit next to Sidda, my hand resting on her arm, knowing how dangerous things were going to get once @SpiritOfGlory touched the book)
[Take your time, @ABrewingStorm had said when my hands clasped around the photo. @EvilLilGris memories flooded in and I couldn't help lean my head back against the wall as @ABrewingStorm slid down beside me. She was so young, her memories vibrant and and colorful. With each passing one, I swiped each thought with a new one.
As before, I could feel the affects of my gift taking their toll. I let the photo slip from my grasp and with a trembling hand I reached for TJ’s book, the first of many of his memories slamming into me like lightning. Bile rose in my throat and as I fought the images that came to my mind.
A man standing over TJ, his luring evil stares and then another of a woman being killed. Tears brimmed my eyes and they fell closed once more, swallowing thickly as my gift started to turn each one into a happier one.
Memory after memory, image after image, I tried to get my body to stop shaking until I nearly blacked out, each one worse than the last.]
[My words fell from my lips as the last of the memories gave way and I felt my breath leave my body in a rush as the storm descended upon us, the book falling to the floor.]
(Ripping the book from @SpiritOfGlory's fingers wasn't something I could do. Interrupting her, no matter how horrifying this was would have only caused more damage. To @SpiritOfGlory and TJ. I knew this was too much.
Grumbling I stand over Sidda, holding onto the glamour we'd put around us, my own gift pulling at me, begging me to silence the storm I was creating. I couldn't stop the storm anymore than I could reach out and comfort @SpiritOfGlory.
The walls around us sucked in, and heaved out it's next breath as @SpiritOfGlory called out my name, I stood up, holding onto what little resolve I had as the house started to shake. The gentle drops of rain that had caressed our skin outside were hitting the window panes with all the fury I felt inside.
I glanced around the small passage between the children's rooms, noting the floor had dampened, if I didn't gain some control soon the wind that was ravaging the outside of the house would soon be joining us inside)
(I bent down, kneeling in front of @SpiritOfGlory at the same time the book fell from her fingers, a loud exhale escaping as I took @SpiritOfGlory's chin in my hand, lifting her face up to look at me)
(I wasn't sure she was, but I wasn't going to let anything happen to her, not now, not ever)
(I lowered @SpiritOfGlory's chin, dropping my hand to gather the book and shove it into my pack, my eyes never leaving@SpiritOfGlory)
(I tried to smile though Sidda couldn't see me, I was trying to calm the rage, the anger that had seeped into and out of me while watching over @SpiritOfGlory)
I've got your honey whenever you're ready.
(I pulled @SpiritOfGlory's jar of honey from her pack, and the spoon I often saw shoved into her mouth, setting both on the floor in front of @SpiritOfGlory, knowing we couldn't leave until she recovered enough to leave the house)
It's storming, Sidda. I'm sorry.
( @SpiritOfGlory knew I couldn't control it, but I did try)
[I slumped forward, trying to reach for the only lifeline I had left. My honey. Oh but how it was still so far out of my reach, the weight of my action, my gift had stripped me completely until I was gasping for breath.
@ABrewingStorm’s words came to me in far away melodies until he lifted my chin. My throat bone dry as my voice was hoarse.]
[Failed him. I could feel my energy being sucked away like the air in this small passage. With every breath that I tried to take into my lungs it felt like I was choking. Choking on each memory that I took tonight.]
(I pounded my fist into the wall behind @SpiritOfGlory, my anger rising with each gasp she took, tree limbs were dropping to the ground with each new thought I had. It had been too much, @SpiritOfGlory, took in too much and all I could do was stand over her and wait)
You didn't fail. You finished it, @SpiritOfGlory.
(Reaching into my pack, I pulled out a bottle of water, twisting the cap open before setting it down next to @SpiritOfGlory and grabbing the jar of honey, opening it the same)
You carried out our orders. TJ is now Thaddeus Julian Grisnoire, son of Bells and Gabe. You did your job, @SpiritOfGlory.
(I rest one hand on @SpiritOfGlory and the other on the wall behind her, speaking softly to both, reassuring them both that the worst was over and the storm would calm again.)
(I lifted my hand, picking up @SpiritOfGlory's spoon and honey jar, dipping the spoon into the jar before offering it to @SpiritOfGlory. How many times had she fed me to calm the storm?)
[The moment I felt the honey hit my tongue it was as if all circuits fired off at once and I started nodding, finally grabbing the water. If I was going to die from this it wasn't going to be stuck inside these thin walls. I would take my death in the rain.
I may have gotten the job done, our orders carried out but I still wasn't out of the woods yet. For every memory I took and replaced, I kept.]
Those children have one mother and one dad. The same.
[I downed the rest of the water and took another spoonful that @ABrewingStorm offered, pushing back the memories and replacing them with ones of our own. Our parents. My memories.]
Burn it, @ABrewingStorm, I can't touch it again.
[I staggered to my feet, leaning back against the wall.]
(It was hitting @SpiritOfGlory all over again, everything she'd taken tonight she was reliving and I wanted to make hell pay for it, everyone around us pay for it. I tugged at the ties on my pack, securing the items in it before slinging it over my shoulder)
Lets get out into the surrounding forest, Sister. You'll heal faster.
( I couldn't do more for @SpiritOfGlory while in this house. I reach out, offering Sidda my arm)
Let me help you. I can carry you.
[And I took it. I wrapped my arm around @ABrewingStorm's, leaning on him for leverage as my pack hung loosely from my shoulder. We made it halfway down the staircase before my legs started to go out and in one sweeping move @ABrewingStorm was carrying me the rest of the way. He was right. The closer we were to our element the better the chance I had of coming out of this.
Lightning crashed and thunder boomed around us and it wasn't until we were outside the front door that I took in smell of the rain into my nose, letting the scent soothe me as best it could. Taking a last look at the home now from over @ABrewingStorm's shoulder, I thought about the children inside. Especially one child in particular]
(This would plague @SpiritOfGlory for awhile, it wasn't the kind of thing we could just erase and let go. There was a process, like with nature, when there was destruction, there had to be healing. I carried@SpiritOfGlory in my arms, keeping my thoughts to myself until we reached the tree line)
Just a little further, Sidda.
(I cradled@SpiritOfGlory close, dodging the fallen tree limbs as I took us us further into the forest, my own gifts still at war with each other)
(I lowered @SpiritOfGlory to the ground, propping her up against a large fallen tree trunk and took my place beside her before opening @SpiritOfGlory's pack, pulling out the the jar of honey and a blanket)
We'll stay here until you're healed,@SpiritOfGlory.
(There was no need to move her further. I could protect her out here, control our glamour better)
(I wrapped an arm around @SpiritOfGlory's shoulders, pulling her to rest against me, sighing in relief as @SpiritOfGlory's eyes drifted shut)
Sleep, Sister, we'll find out how wide spread my storm was in the daylight.
(Come daylight we'd see how much destruction I'd caused and just how much healing @SpiritOfGlory had left to do)
