The Creative Process

Chapter Three: Smoldering

I peered around through the darkness, but I couldn't see anything at all, just black. I stood up easily, and I had already taken a few steps before I realized, my cast was gone. I wrapped my arms around my waist, so were my bruised ribs! I felt a breeze on the back of my neck and whipped around. Arthur was standing a few feet away, his back to me. His arms were crossed and his head was slightly bent over like he was deep in thought

"Arthur!" I called. He didn't turn around, or acknowledge that I'd spoken in any way. I walked towards him, around him so I could look at him, but his eyes were closed. His lips were moving like he was talking very quickly but I couldn't hear anything. I tried to reach out and touch him, but It was like every time Id reach out he would suddenly be too far away. There were no walls but suddenly it felt like they were closing in on me, pressing in around me from all angles; like something was tryin to crawl inside of me. The sound of turning gears grew in the background, slowly getting louder and louder.

It was too loud

It was too much

I cant control it

I cant make it stop

I covered my ears but I couldn't block it out

Its inside me

It is me

I sank to my knees

It hurt

So much

Everything hurts.

Its too loud.

Then it was silent.

I slowly took my hands off my ears and glanced up. Arthurs eyes were open, still glowing, but not as bright now, more of a smoldering flame; a fire after its finished its work. He was looking right at me, he smiled and extended his hand. I took it. I opened my eyes.

We were back in Kate's office. But it wasn't the same. Nothing would ever be the same. I sat up from where I had been laying in the center of the office floor.

"Oh thank god!" Kate yelped, "What just happened!?"

I didn't answer, glancing around the room and then over at Arthur.

"Did it work, please work please work,"

"Did what work?" I asked, His eyes widened.

"He didn't, say anything.." Kate said, "you didn't-"

"he did," Arthur exclaimed, leaping to his feet. His smile broke free and he was grinning wider than he had in weeks.

"What did I do?"

"You used abilities!" Kate gasped

"Thomas, try and move this pencil with your mind," Arthur coached, holding a pencil flat in his palm, "Just imagine it flying around, like you're moving it with your hand but not your actual hand," I focused on the pencil and it shot into the air, sticking tip first into the ceiling.

"Good," he responded, telepathically retrieving the pencil and placing it back in his palm, "Try it again," I did, the pencil didn't move an inch. "Ok, now use your hand," I pointed my hand at the pencil and focused on trying to get it to move. It shifted only slightly in his hand.

"What happened?" I asked, disappointed.

"I figured it out, that's what happened." Arthur grinned, "I'm channeling my abilities through you, I have control over how much power you use, and I have to be consciously thinking about you using the powers for you to be able to use them,"

"How did you even think to do that?" Kate asked,

"I didn't, it just kinda happened," he answered, "but I'm sure I could do it again,"

"Yes please!" Kate hopped over to him. He drew in a deep breath, shook out his head and hands, then placed his first and middle fingers on her temples and closed his eyes.

Kate's lips parted in a gasp and she brought her hands up to cover his. Arthur dropped to his knees and Kate went down with him. A few seconds later, Arthurs hands flew away from Kate's face like they had been shoved away and they both sank to the ground. I was afraid to do anything but watch. Well, it felt like Arthur and I were in there for quite a while so I might as well just wait, the second the thought popped into my head, they both sat up. I jumped, knocking my shoulder against the wall.

"Woah.." Kate whispered, rubbing her hand,

"Thomas, catch!" Arthur shouted, tossing me the pencil, I caught it in my hand, confused.

"Hmm," he responded.

"My turn!" Kate shouted, focusing and launching the pencil across the room like a bullet. Arthur caught it a second before it hit him in the face, dropping it to the ground like Loki catching an arrow in the avengers or something.

"Careful," Arthur laughed, "That was impressive though,"

"I could say the same to you!" She laughed, agape at his catch. Arthur laughed.

"Detective Wright!" Came a shout from outside, "Detective Wright!" Kate rushed over and threw the door open. "Detective wright you have to come quick!" At the door was Abby, and she was frantic and out of breath. 

"What's happening?" Kate asked, putting a hand on her heaving shoulder.

"I don't know but everyone is freaking out and they told me to get you down there as fast as possible,"

"Where?" Kate asked.

"The front doors,"

Kate glanced over her shoulder at us and dashed out the door. Arthur threw my arm over his shoulder and heaved me down the hall after Kate. I limped along side him as best as I could but my cast dragged and I just couldn't keep up. Come on, come on, come on.

I stumbled over my feet and fell against Arthur, catching myself against his shoulder.

"I have an idea," Arthur whispered. I nodded, without asking what it was. He swept my feet out from under me and held me to him, bridal style. He kept running down the hall towards the front doors, carrying me easily.

"How-"

"Telekinesis," he answered my question before I had the chance to ask it, "But I have to be carrying you for it to look like its not,"

"Yea that makes sense,"

Arthur skidded to the front doors, where a crowd was forming. There was crease in between his eyes and his eye brows were drawn together in concentration. Arthur scanned the crowd, I couldn't tell what he was exactly looking for.

"There!" He hissed. His hand fidgeted at his side as he pushed himself up on his toes to see over the crowd.

'Kate! Come to the back of the crowd, we need to find another door we can get out there through so we don't freak everybody out.' I could tell that it was a telepathic message sent to Kate, meaning Arthur had activated Kates powers so she could hear it. But evidently, he couldn't activate one of us without getting both. A few seconds later, Kate popped back out of the crowd and motioned us around to the back door. Arthur scooped me up and followed her. She held the door for us on our way out but Arthur banged my cast on the doorframe as we went through.

"SORRY!" He yelped, setting me down on the sidewalk outside.

"Its fine, its not-"

"INCOMING!" Kate screeched. Arthur and I looked up and a billboard was careening towards us off the roof of a near by building. OMG WHAT DO WE DO????  I raised my hands instinctively and saw Kate and Arthur do the same. The board hovered in the air above us for a few seconds before Arthur shoved his hands at the air, sending it flying back upwards. I saw two figures standing on the room turn and disappear.

"Its them, no doubt about it." Arthur growled.

"What do we do?" Kate asked

"Well I..." He trailed off, giving no actual answer.

"We trust you," I said "Take charge Arthur,"