Andria Andromeda Rivera and The Chalice of Belief

Independent

“Whatever you fear most has no power. It is your fear that has the power.”
- Oprah Winfrey

The way Carter was looking at him... as though he were a rogue pet that needed to be kept in check... just set Roy a little off. To be fair, though, it was he who had asked Carter to keep an eye on him.

He'd finally managed to do something useful for once, and Roy was not going to give this chance up. His nagging insecurities could wait for later.

And so, against the voices that told him that he was good for nothing, that even his imagination was something he couldn't control-

Right next to Carter, a real life infirmary appeared, with Eava and Jennifer present in it. They were blinking. Like normal human beings would. Roy was so happy. And his idea had been such that he didn't even feel much tired after producing Velarium.

But can you keep it? Can you prove to be worth anything?

That voice... was his. It made his blood boil that some pathetic part of him was so insecure.

"I can- do it." Said Roy. Something about his voice was more scared than rejoicing. As though he trying to make himself believe-

No. I'm being serious. I CAN do anything.

Can you really? Could you do anything when they died? Or when you-

Images and screams flashed through his mind, and it was all Roy could do not to cry.

"Roy, stop. Something's not right. You don't look okay." Carter urged.

You don't understand! I can do anything. I don't need someone to look after me all the time!

"I'm- fine." Said Roy, not even sure of where he was now, "You don't scare me."

You wish, kiddo. You wish.

Shut up! You are nothing but my imagination.

And you can't even control me. Thought yourself worthy of creating Velarium, huh?

Leave me alone. Please...

"Roy, look! Olivia!" Carter said, barely audible over the war going on inside his head.

Olivia? But...That's right- there is a world out there that values me. Someone... someone like family...

Ever so slightly, so that the voice in his head that had momentarily gone silent would not pounce on his weakness again, Roy tried to see around him. There was no blonde with striking, sparkling green eyes. There was no Olivia.

"O-Olivia?" Said Roy, "But she's... not here. I'm alone. And I-I'm enough."

You're not.

Roy was momentarily confused from where that sound came.

But then his vision cleared, and before him stood a horrified, worried Carter, beside whom stood a Velarium-made Jennifer, giving both Roy and him a cold look.

You'll never be enough.

Carter backed off and pulled out a sharp, lethal looking knife out of the sheath that hung on his side. Roy followed suit, only, he had a wooden sword that hung instead with no sheath. It wasn't going to be of much use in this... whatever this was.

"Roy, if you know how to stop this, now would be a good time. Or RUN!" Carter yelled.

**

"You stupid boy." Father had said, "Why must you always...?"