Only Through Pain [Collab with kayfiles]

Chapter Seven [Ziarenee]

Kitra followed the rest of the teens out into the hall. They were lead down a long corridor and told to wait outside a large metal door. Everyone seemed tense. Kitra could feel the anxiety in her own muscles. It was like a toxin, a slow acting poison that crawled through her body and wove webs around her heart until she thought she might turn around and start running. This was all too much. Everything was too new, too big, too fast. So many things were happening and she wasn't ready for any of it.

Kitra stared down at her hands. Could she really be capable of the things Benjamin was saying? Was she really special? Unique? Powerful?

The image of Patricia's disembodied corpse flashed in Kitra's mind and she felt her stomach tighten, the vomit rising in her throat. Had she done that to Patricia? The woman had been wicked, but a sense of fear and guilt began to overwhelm Kitra. Had she really murdered somebody? Brutally, disgustingly murdered her? Suddenly, Kitra didn't want whatever powers she possessed. They would be terrifying. Destructive. She'd be a monster! What if she lost control again? What if she hurt other people? What if she became the very thing she suffered against for years?

Kitra leaned against the wall, steadying herself as the thoughts enveloped her mind. She didn't notice as kids began filing in, one by one. It wasn't soon until she was called. She snapped back to attention and braced herself, taking cautious, wary steps forward. One she was inside the room, she saw Benjamin standing in a ring of light. Everything else was dark. Kitra was afraid. Unprepared. She couldn't do this. She didn't want to do this.

Benjamin smiled at her. "Kitra, it's alright. You are special, not dangerous." he assured her.

Kitra stared at him, the fear still blazing in her eyes. She felt dizzy and panicky. Her throat ran dry and a cold sweat broke out all across her skin. Benjamin sensed her going into a full on anxiety attack and he walked over, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. He gave her a moment to quiet her thoughts before he spoke.

"As long as I'm here, you'll be safe. As long as I'm here, you won't become a monster. As long as I'm here, everything will be okay." he whispered.

A warmth began to tingle inside her chest and she relaxed. She closed her eyes and let the feeling take her away, her body floating farther and farther away from all her worries and doubts. With Benjamin here, she did feel okay. He removed his hand and Kitra followed him to the ring of light. He motioned for her to stay within it and then he disappeared behind a mirror. With him gone, the lingering feeling of fear stalked Kitra's mind, but Benjamin broke in, his deep, calming voice speaking straight into her head.

"It's alright. I'm still here. I'm watching you. You'll be safe. You don't have to be afraid anymore. Remember that."

The voice was gone and Kitra stared around the dark room. A thick and foreboding silence mixed with the air.

And then she heard it. The chime of a little bell.

The hair on her arms and neck pricked up and Kitra took a stumbling step backwards into the darkness. She threw her hands infront of her face and cowered down. The bell chimed again and along with it, the sound of rattling chains came. Kitra whimpered, the hot tears stinging her eyes. She thought to scream, to call out for Benjamin. For anybody. Kitra could hear footsteps. Heavy, dangerous ones. They echoed straight into her brain and she clamped her hands over her ears in a vain effort to block the noise, but it only grew louder and louder. The bell chimed and the chains rattled and somewhere in the darkness, feet were taking menacing steps toward her. Then all the sounds ceased and Kitra opened her eyes and unclamped her ears. She searched the darkness and as soon as her eyes fell upon the figure standing in the middle of the ring of the light, she was screaming, her terror drowning out the voice.