Caleb Tate, channeler extraordinaire (synergistic) wrote in invol_rpg, @ 2012-11-12 21:13:00 |
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There was no time for Anthony to question this other reality he had stepped in. His eyes squinted as they met against the light above him. The scratches appeared first, the scraps and bruises over his knees and arms. It didn’t take long -- no -- it only took a few seconds for him to feel, once more, the slash of the blade against the skin of his shoulder, and another swipe above his waist. Finally, his body recollected the deep plunge of the knife into his abdomen, felt it drag underneath its skin before it was pulled out again. Eyes shut tight, he let out a pained cry, gripping the edge of the bed as if it could somehow make it go away; his body shaking violently as he reacted, once more, to the pain. This wasn’t a sensation that he had never felt before -- he could recall it from how he had healed those who were at the brink of death. Blood that he had lost in the dream gushed out over the white sheet. There were people approaching him, but his vision was a blur now, his ears blocking off any sound, his breathing became more and more erratic. His hold weakened, loosening as his strength seeped away. Caleb had seen Anthony get stabbed in the dream and, when he had, he'd felt his stomach drop out under him. Of all of the people to get injured, Anthony was one who needed to be okay, who needed to get through this, so that he could get to work healing everyone else. But with his serious the wound was, Caleb was suddenly concerned that Anthony might not make it. His first thought was to run over to him and try to heal him then and there, but then Caleb remembered how he'd struggled with his power in the dreams. He could only channel on power at a time, and he already had Marine's, so trying to use anyone else's, even in dream world, hadn't worked. Even though he wanted to stay, he felt bad about leaving in the middle of an all-out nightmarish fight, he knew he had to. Even though he’d already woken up once to tell the people in the real world needed to know what was happening, he could give them an update, he thought, seeing student after student go after George. If George was subject to the same vulnerabilities in the dreams, this might not last much longer, and the doctors and nurses needed to know they were going to have dozens of injuries forthcoming. So, with effort, he woke himself up, quickly recounting the story to the people in the infirmary and getting ready to leave for the sleeping bay, hoping they'd find a way to beat George before Anthony - or anyone - succumbed to their injuries. Anthony was with Claudia, though - she knew what she was doing more than most, he reminded himself. He'd be fine. Quickly he turned to Donovan, there because he'd been augmenting Caleb's powers all day, and asked him to help again, this time when he channeled Anthony. Donovan agreed and the two rushed to the sleeping students, followed by all but one of the medical staff, the last staying behind to tend to Marine when she woke up. When Caleb arrived to the sleeping bay he headed straight to Anthony, pulling up a chair for himself and for Donovan and waiting anxiously for him to wake up. His first clue that Anthony had was the blood seeping onto the sheets and Caleb stood up, trying to remember what Anthony had told him about his power when they'd talked about it a couple of months ago. Touching Anthony's arm gently in order to channel his power, Caleb raised his other hand over Anthony's midsection where he'd been stabbed. He tried to think healing thoughts, picturing in his mind the wound closing up like happened in the movies and on television, hoping that would be enough. It didn’t take long for the the gaping wound on his abdomen to gradually close, and that, of course, wasn’t the only effect of Anthony’s healing. It spread through the rest of his body, replenishing his blood cells, restoring his skin and removing the bruises and the rest of the injuries inflicted on him. There had been occasions when he had wondered how it would feel, to be healed. It didn’t seem possible back then. It didn’t seem like he would’ve needed it, and so his thoughts never strayed too far. It was more important that he was able to get people to stop hurting. His breathing steadied, his body relaxed, unaware of what was going on; it was as if he was pulled out from a nightmare. At the thought, Anthony’s eyes shot open as memories of the insane asylum and the fairgrounds flooded back into his mind, wanting to make sure that he was no longer there. That this was real. Caleb knew when it started working, but not for the reason he thought he would. Suddenly he was struck with extreme pain in his midsection, right where Anthony’s injury was. Did this always happen to Anthony, he thought, and let go of his arm to briefly stop channeling him, doubled over in pain. He steeled himself, though, taking a deep breath and then trying again, fighting through the pain to finish healing Anthony. “Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck,” he said under his breath, trying to distract himself from the searing pain in his abdomen, and grateful for Donovan’s presence, which was probably making it go faster than it would without him. Once he realized that he could move without hurting himself, Anthony began to fully register his surroundings. He was in the school's infirmary. Caleb was standing next to his bed. He slowly sat up, staring down and wondering where did so much blood come from. The goth. His hand went to the spot where he was stabbed, then to his shoulders where she had slashed him. He couldn't have healed himself. Realization crossed his face and his mouth felt dry -- someone else had found out his secret. He recognized the look on the other boy's face; it mirrored Anthony's own, three years ago when he healed a serious injury for the first time. "Caleb," he began, forcing himself to look at his friend without being overwhelmed with guilt. "Are you all right? It went away, right? It usually does quickly." When Anthony opened his eyes Caleb felt a wave of relief, sitting down and trying to catch his breath, the pain gone as quickly as it had come. He nodded at Anthony’s question, rubbing his own abdomen briefly, wondering how it felt so okay when moments ago it had hurt so much. “I’m fine - are you? Did I do it right? Is it all healed?” “It worked,” he assured Caleb, feeling a wave gratitude for his friend that he had gotten there in time to heal him. “Thank you. I could’ve --” Anthony’s words were stuck in his throat as the possibility hit him. “I could’ve died.” There was a short silence as he started to wonder how he should explain to Caleb about what just happened. It’s temporary. Sometimes it happens. You don’t have to worry. Don’t tell anyone because it’ll make them worry and it’s the last thing they should be doing. His eyes were full of uncertainty when he brought his gaze up again, the words ready to leave his mouth. But he saw the sleepers behind them slowly waking up, and he knew that this was a conversation that he needed to have later. Not now, when other people needed their help. Forgetting that his clothes were still drenched in his own blood and that only a few minutes ago he had been on the brink of death, Anthony slowly stood up, finding his balance when he realized that it had been a while since he had physically moved. “I should help them.” “But you didn’t,” Caleb said, trying to be reassuring. No one had. Yet, at least, and now that Anthony was awake, they’d make sure that no one would. “Give yourself a second and then we can,” Caleb said, glancing around. “They’ll let us know which ones are the most critical, where we should start anyway. And if you heal Richie, he can use your power too. And maybe Donovan can help augment, too - with the four of us we can get a lot done.” Caleb needed a second too, to prepare himself to do it again. Knowing that he’d have pain wouldn’t stop him, but it did mean he needed a moment to mentally prepare. It never occurred to him that he would have people helping him heal, but he found himself welcoming the idea, though still a little concerned about how they’d be able to cope with his power. Still, he couldn’t and didn’t want to argue with Caleb, and so he nodded with a grateful smile. Judging from the number of people in the room, he’d definitely need extra hands to help him. |