ELECTRIC LOVE; Sam Guthrie

<5>

"I have asked you to remember the first time your mutation appeared." Dr Reyes announced to the group, most of the teenagers casually laying back listening half-heartedly.

Meanwhile, Athena as usual had dozed off her headphones on and her sweater oddly enough oversized. Sam had attempted to wake her up tapping her with his leg multiple times but he knew she was a deep sleeper.

Athena had slept for 2 days after Roberto and her had attempted to escape, Reyes assuming it was a late reaction to the sedatives she had received recently.

"Who wants to tell?" Dr Reyes continued glancing towards each of them. "Sam? Illyana? Roberto? Ranhe?" She looked to Athena. "Athena!" She clapped her hands startling the girl awake. Athena blinked a few times slipping her headphones onto her neck sitting up to rub her eyes.

"What can I help you with?" Athena muttered slumping back down lazily, gaining a snicker from Roberto.

"Would you like to share with the group?" Reyes encouraged Athena remaining silent. "We can not help each other if we do not talk to each other." Reyes raised her eyebrows.

"I have nothing to share." Athena muttered expressionless, looking away from Reyes. Gosh sometimes she hates the woman.

"I've said this a hundred times Athena, this program can't help you if you refuse to participate." Reyes sighed looking around at the group. "So Rahne why don't you start then Athena might feel like sharing." Reyes looked between the girls, before she was interrupted the new girl opening the door.

"Come and sit down, Dani." She greeted the girl gaining Athena's attention, "This is our new patient, Danielle Moonstar." Reyes announced Roberto chuckling to himself.

"Let's do our best to make her feel at home." The girl moved her way over to Athena sitting beside her, the girl eyeing her curiously. "Go ahead Rahne." Reyes spoke.

"Right. I was 13 years old. I remember running through the woods." Rahne begun, giving Athena the cue to slip her headphones back on fiddling with her gloves. The conversation continued Athena droning out most of it until Illyana had stood up angrily Athena slipping her headphones off to hear the conversation.

"Illyana since you're already up, why don't you show Dani around?" Reyes smiled triumphantly.

"Why should I?" Illyana snarked, Reyes making sure she did. Just before Athena could leave the room, Reyes had called her back leaving just the two of them.

"Athena I need you to open up more in group otherwise I'll have to revoke your privilege." Dr Reyes pleaded, Athena sinking in her seat.

"Right. Sorry Doctor Reyes, I'm just a bit tired from last night, didn't get enough sleep. Nightmares and all." Athena groaned, running her hand across her face.

"If it happens again let me know and I'll see if I can organise some sleeping pills Athena." Reyes nodded leaving the room followed by Athena who left for the courtyard.

The rest of the group had scattered across the courtyard, Sam doing his usual routine involving Athena fixing him up when he got hurt which was quite regularly yet this time Athena walked the opposite direction heading for the chapel.

Athena hung her head low as she walked into the old chapel bracing herself carefully. "Come on Athena, it's not that hard." She whispered to herself her parents voices running through her head angering her. Athena lifted her right hand to gently pull her glove off then removing the other running her palms across one another.

After a deep breath in Athena brought her hands together straining as sparks begin to form within her palms. She focused on the energy growing bigger and bigger, a large ball of electricity pulsing in her hands.

Athena prepared herself to release the energy but was startled the ball flinging towards the direction of the movement. Athena yelped in surprise to see Rahne standing inches away from where the lightning bolt hit.

"Bloody hell Rahne, announce yourself will you." Athena breathed heavily, Rahne standing still timidly. "Why are you even here?" Athena slid down the wall tiredly, pulling her gloves back on.

"So sorry Athena! I think the new girl's trying to jump off this tower." Rahne apologised guiltily.

"Oh.... that's odd." Athena scoffed standing up, turning to walk up the stairs of the clock tower, Rahne following after her quickly.

When she reached the top, Rahne spoke first startling the new girl. Not long after Athena ducked her head behind Rahne. "Hiiii" Athena greeted the scared girl, her smile highlighting the dimples in her cheek.

"Oh Jesus you're here too." Dani breathed shakily, her body pressed against the building.

"That's really far down. A fall from here would mess you up." Rahne spoke calmly.

"It would kill me. Instantly." Dani deadpanned Athena eyeing the ground.

"No it wouldn't, I've jumped off higher and survived. Unlucky for you though." Athena laughed dryly causing Rahne to glare at her, Athena getting the message chuckling as she pulled her headphones over her ears waiting for the two girls to join her on the top floor.

She was right of course the two girls tumbling down in front of her moments later Athena pulling one headphone off slightly. "Right! Now that that's sorted, I'm hungry." Athena sighed slipping her headphones back on walking down the steps satisfied.

Athena walked a lot faster than the two girls arriving at the cafeteria dropping her tray in front of Sam loudly scaring him.

"Jeez, Athena." Sam cursed shaking his head, the girl sitting opposite to him, placing her headphones on the table.

"Whatcha reading." Athena picked up a sandwich eating it speaking with her mouth full, Sam chuckling at her antics.

"Here." Sam slid the book across the table in front of her, Athena quickly indulging in the book failing to notice Sam staring at her as if he was trying mesmorise every detail on her face.

Eventually Sam had left to finish some training, leaving Athena to read the book. Later that night Athena couldn't sleep, she tossed and turned graphic images flashing through her head.

"Athena I promise you'll be safe. I won't let them hurt you." A male voice ran through her head. Followed by screams, his screams.

Athena gasped awake, her sheets covered in sweat the girl standing up to catch her breath. Not long after Athena felt sick rushing out and into the bathrooms, emptying the contents of her stomach.

Athena stood up shakily, washing her mouth and hands in the sink, before hearing an odd sound nearby. "Hello? Is anyone there?" She walked slowly towards the exit, more crashing sounding.

"Who's there?" Athena spoke softly, slowly removing her gloves, just as she stepped out of the bathroom she was knocked back, a punch landing on her cheek yet no one was there. Athena attempted to regain herself but another blow landed on her face knocking her to the ground, a deep laugh sounded.

"No... No.. No.. You're not real. You can't be.. I-I saw your body." Athena stuttered shuffling back the room growing silent again before Athena was hit again, still no voice speaking.

"What the hell." She cursed hearing the familiar voice taunt her. "It's your fault Attie. I told you to just keep your head low and look where that got me." Another blow landing on her side causing her to cry out in pain.

"A-Anthony?" She cried the invisible figure materialising, her brother landing a sharp kick to her side.

"Why did you kill me? I thought it was you and me against the world little sis." Anthony bent down hovering over her face, the girl cowering under him.

"I-I didn't it's not my fault! Ant you know what happened" Athena screamed, his blows grew more violent, bruising her ribs.
Athena couldn't help it, she was a strong girl, but she'd never felt such an intense pain her entire life. The figure disappeared leaving the broken girl on the bathroom floor, crying painfully.