Diary of Stefanie Salvatore

26 : A world of black and white

(Salvatore Boarding School)

"As supernaturals, we all carry a burden, our eyes are open to evil, and recently, you've had to face it, some of us process these traumas by suppressing what happened, for others, it's easier to bury it deep inside and pretend like nothing's happened at all." Emma spoke as she paced in a line of the chairs in the hall.

"Still, others may take a different route, such as..." "Pushing people away in an attempt to self-isolate? because everyone they love is in perpetual danger, which often results in them becoming perpetually dead." Hope spoke from beside her girlfriend who stared at her "See, there that's it, that's my therapy."

"Can I go now, because Landon's outside trying to fly and could use a spotter." "I'm afraid not Hope, because the point is we can all do better at processing the traumas we've been through." the woman continued, Stefanie raising her hand slightly "I'm fine with suppressing it until it breaks me."

Emma stared at her "There is so much to unpack there." she said with a shake of her head, the Salvatore just shrugging "It's a family thing."

The woman turned back to the group as a whole "Which is why Dr Saltzman has asked me to conduct a special group lesson today." MG shook his head whilst Stefanie groaned and Jo sighed heavily "I for one, could really use this, and I would appreciate everyone's support." Lizzie said.

"Honestly, I don't know why I'm here, but I'm down to help." MG spoke joining his hands together as if praying before pointing them at Lizzie who was seated in front of him. "You will all have an important role to play in this simulation." Emma told them, Stefanie rolled her eyes as she slouched back in the chair.

"Oh, stop looking at me like that, it'll be fun." the woman spoke as everyone gave her unimpressed looks, she took off the tarp that was draped over an object "This device was created by Professor Rupert Vardemus."

"Ew" Lizzie immediately objected as Stefanie cringed at the man's name "The real Professor Vardemus." Emma interjected with emphasis, "He's quite famous in mystical therapeutic circles."

"It's his variation on a Chambre de Chasse, all your psychological concerns will be transferred inside to form a shared narrative, now the world you create together can be anything, from pirates on the high seas to spies in the Cold War, but no matter what it ends up looking like, it will be designed specifically to help you."

"Out here you're unconscious, you'll have no awareness that you're in a simulation." "So, it's like a game?" MG asked making the witch hum with a smile, "Uh, how do I win?" Lizzie questioned perking up "Simply reach the end of your story and you'll be given an escape word."

Stefanie tilted her head slightly "Say it out loud and you'll become self-aware again, then wake up here having discovered something valuable in the process." the woman continued "Uh, yeah, I have a question, what the hell is she doing here?" Lizzie spoke looking towards the doors where Jade walked towards them.

"Hi, uh, sorry I'm late, uh, weird dreams." Stefanie furrowed her brows looking between the girl and Josie who were staring at each other, she leaned towards her girlfriend slightly "Did she have a sex dream about Josie." Hope turned to her a flicker of a smile on her face "Probably."

"You're just in time, Jade." Emma told the vampire who took a seat behind the Salvatore "Don't worry, what we're about to do here is merely a simulation, and I'll be in it as well, and self-aware the whole time, I promise to keep a careful eye on all of you."

"Everyone think of bright, sunny, tropical beaches." Lizzie smiled making Stefanie smirk slightly "You know Liz, I was thinking more of a haunted house where you're trapped forever." the blonde turned to her "Don't you even dare Stefanie Rose Salvatore!" she retorted a smile breaking out on her face.