THEM

Chapter 6

It had been a few weeks since Aithne's first session and though her visions were still haunting her day and night, she had been getting farther and farther through them during her sessions. She hadn't dared ask how much time was left of her treatment and even though her parents called every few days, they hadn't either. She didn't let the fact bother her, because with Isadora, she found the institute to be more bearable than she first thought it to be. At least here, she didn't feel so different all the time. Though she felt like she was in a strange, separate world, at least there was a place for her in it. Even though Kathy hadn't said it because she didn't know what a compliment was, she could tell that her control over her visions had improved.

"So, when am I going to be able to see the data you've collected?" Aithne asked for the tenth time, trying to rein in her frustration.

"When the time is right." Kathy answered simply. "Since you haven't caused any disasters or run away again recently, we're going to be able to take the next step. You're going to join group sessions next week."

Aithne wondered if the change of topic was a way to distract her from her question, but nevertheless, it had worked and piqued her interest.

"Group sessions?"

"Yes. Everyone moves on to group sessions once their instructor decides they have adequate control in summoning their visions. You will be placed with a few other people that have similar visions or other characteristics that you can learn from. There will be teamwork activities provided by the instructor to aid in understanding and controlling your visions. Unfortunately, I'm not going to be the instructor for your group work." Kathy didn't appear very disheartened by her last statement.

"Who will be in my group?"

"That's for me to know and you to figure out next week." Kathy replied curtly.

Aithne huffed a breath. She never got any answers from her. It was like they were purposefully keeping her in the dark until it suited them or it was absolutely necessary for her to know.

As if reading her mind, Kathy spoke."You ask too many questions. I'm the one who asks questions, remember that. What you need to know, I will tell you when you need to know it."

Aithne pursed her lips and stood up briskly to stop herself from saying something she would surely regret. "See you tomorrow."

She walked out and headed down the corridor towards the courtyard to meet up with Isadora. As she turned a corner, a dark shadow appeared about thirty meters in front of her, against the wall. She couldn't tell what it was, but the few tentative steps she took closer sharpened the edges of the shape and allowed her to see what, or rather who, it was. As she stepped even closer, she realized the person's entire body was slightly trembling, his eyes shut tightly and his handsome tan face twisted in pain.

Aithne rushed forwards, closing the last few meters between them, and crouched down in front of him. She grabbed one of his shaking hands between her own and he gripped her hand, squeezing so tightly it hurt, but Aithne didn't let go.

"Hey, hey. V? Can you hear me?" She murmured. His teeth grinding against each other was her only answer. Her chest clenched as she noticed the beginning of a tear pooling at the corner of his eye. She didn't know what to do. As his head began to drop, she instinctively reached out her free hand and gently placed it on the side of his face to hold it. "It's going to be okay. This isn't real. Come back." She urged. "Come back."

His figure shook more and more violently, and Aithne was scrambling for something, anything to do, but she had run out of options. She sat helplessly, watching his distress. Then, an Irish song her father used to sing to her as a child when she was stressed popped up in her mind. Hesitantly, she started softly, "True you ride the finest horse I have ever seen..." She felt foolish, singing to an unresponsive mass, but continued regardless. "Ride on, see you, I could never go with you no matter how I wanted to." She was about to lose hope when his eyes snapped open. Even though his eyes were open, they were glazed over and unfocused; he still wasn't completely present. She stared into those depthless pools and didn't let herself balk at the darkness and horror she saw inside. She squeezed his hand tighter. "You're here. In this corridor. With me. And you're safe." She murmured, almost in despair. She hadn't expected a reaction, but slowly, the taut lines along his face eased away and, though his jaw remained clenched, the trembling slowed down and finally ceased. She held eye contact as she saw recognition flow into his eyes along with a flash of relief, which quickly transformed into animosity as his whole face went cold. Her hand dropped from along his face, as if feeling the iciness.