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Alma Wade will not give up (its_my_nature) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-01-07 23:01:00

I thought I saw a girl on the beach before.
Who: Alma and Sam
What: Talking
When: January 5th
Where: The boardwalk
Status: Complete
Rating: Spooky.



Alma went to the boardwalk, late that day. It was dangerous, and a little stupid, all things considered. After what had happened on the second, she should be more careful. She was walking, and looking at the sea, her hand occasionally dropping to her stomach. The air was charged around her, and in a nearby building the tv turned to static.

Sam was out for a walk on the beach, clearing his head. This time of year was great for the beach, as there were so few other people around. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, and turned around to glance and see if he could find the cause.

A little girl stood there for just a moment. She had long black hair, with bangs that obscured her eyes. There seemed to be a soft glow behind the bangs, and she wore a red dress. One moment she was there, and then another moment she was gone, a ghostly giggle trailing in the air.

Standing on a rock, Alma turned her head and spied Sam. She smiled, though the expression was conflicted. “Hello.”

Sam blinked, and the girl was gone. It wasn't the first time he'd seem a ghost before, or what he assumed was a ghost, but it was the first time he'd seen one in his waking hours. He turned with a little jump at the sound of the voice, and then started breathing again. "Alma, hi. "

“How have you been?” She hopped off the rock and walked over to him, seeming to almost float across the sand, but that of course was impossible. She came to a stop in front of him. “It has been a long while since we spoke.”

“It has, yeah.” Sam said, glancing back toward where he’d seen the girl ghost floating around. Now he wished that he had some salt or iron to protect them. “I’m good. How are you?” He asked, turning back to face her. “You keeping up all right?”

“Is it possible to be fantastic and terrible at the same time?” Alma asked, tilting her head. She kept a few feet between them, mostly for his own safety. Her mind was seeking the surrounding area for any potential danger. She wouldn’t be caught off guard again.

“I guess so.” Sam said, sounding both confused and concerned. He wanted to make sure the young girl was all right. That was his main concern. He hadn’t heard anything from her after he’d given her his business card, so he assumed she was okay“...do you think it’s possible to be both fantastic and terrible at the same time?”

“I have a family,” She replied, ducking her head. “Someone I am very much in love with. However, things have happened that are worrisome. So I guess it is possible.”

She pondered how much to tell him, and how much he’d be willing to believe. She had told him quite a bit to begin with, so she settled on the truth. “The people who I ran away from tried to get me again. We fought them off. My powers and dreams have also caused me to become pregnant.”

Sam listened. It sounded as if she had a very complicated life, and he wasn’t sure what to think about all of it. The last time they’d talked, she’d confessed having a relationship with a much older man, and now she was pregnant because of dreams? He didn’t really believe it, but who was he to decide what was real and what wasn’t?

“Wow. Sounds... complicated.” He said, raising an eyebrow. “...are you all right? Are you getting the right... um... prenatal care?”

"You don't believe me," Alma accused, her brow furrowing a bit. "I suppose I can understand that. But I never had sex with him, and my current partner is a girl my age."

“No, I just...” Sam frowned a little and shook his head. “I want to make sure that you’re all right.” He said, genuine concern showing in his voice. He really only wanted to make sure that she was safe and happy.

"I do not know yet if I am all right. The idea terrifies me." She would be a terrible mother, she feared. She was scared of what the child could be. She was scared of herself. But she had help. "But it does not, not really."

“It terrifies you, but it doesn’t?” Sam asked, not sure what she meant or what she was talking about. He wasn’t sure he could ever really understand, but he could

“I know what I am in my dreams. What I can become, and what that might mean for this girl growing inside me,” Alma explained. “But I also know I have a family here, and support. That makes it less daunting. It makes me hope.”

Sam paused for a moment. “Our lives here are certainly different than the ones in our dreams.” He said. “I’m sure you’ll do better here than you will there.”

"I could scarcely do worse." She walked over, and hugged him suddenly. She had precious few male role-models in her life, and he reminded of her Michael, which only made her feel guilty.

Sam was a little taken aback by the hug, but he returned it. He had massive, bear-hug like arms and a thick chest, so he was really good for hugging. “Are you sure you’re all right?” He asked, gently. “Tell me what I can do to help you, and I’ll do it.”

“Just this for now. If I need anything else I will let you know. You should probably meet my father.”

“Sure. It’d be good to let him know I’m not some perv after his daughter.” He said with a little chuckle. “I just want to help.”

“He is bigger than you,” Alma said, like that was somehow reassuring. She was still in Sam’s arms and felt comforted. He gave her the same vibe that Wrex had. “I know you want to help. That makes you amazing.”

Sam chuckled sheepishly. “Not amazing. I’m just a guy looking out for other people.” Like in his dreams. Only this was real life. There weren’t monsters and ghosts here. He turned his eyes over to where he’d seen the girl standing on the beach and frowned a little.

"What is it?" She asked, tilting her head and forcing herself not to peek into his mind. That was rude.

“I thought I saw a girl on the beach before.” He said aloud, then turned back to her, releasing her from the hug. He didn’t want it to last too long, to get weird or awkward. He didn’t want to seem pervy. “It seemed like an apparition of sorts.”

Alma paled a little bit as she read his mind. That was her fault, her powers manifesting in an unusual way. "Was she wearing red?"

"Yeah." Sam paused a beat. "Who is she?"

"Me, as a child.” Or perhaps her daughter, when she was older, but Alma hoped not. She wanted her baby to have Beth’s natural hair. More black than brown. Assuming the child had pulled anything from her. Alma’s mental powers were unpredictable.

Sam looked confused. That wasn't what he expected. "How?" He asked, his brow furrowed.

“It was something that manifested often in my dreams. I would appear to people as an eight-year old girl. Death and destruction usually followed.” Her eyes looked off into the distance. “Later, that form would be what was left of my innocence.”

Sam turned to look out into the distance, as if expecting to see the little girl again. He turned back to look at Alma, his voice dark. “You think I’m about to face death and destruction?”

"I do not know what to think. I thought I was beyond that." Her face had turned a little ashen. "I will do my best to control it, and fight the darkness. I do not want to be evil."

“You’re not evil.” Sam said, lifting his hand to clap her gently on her shoulder. “Whether you are good or evil is your choice. And it sounds like you’ve chosen.”

"I do not like having things chosen for me," She agreed, wondering if she'd subconsciously chosen the child. To have a fresh start at raising on without it being ripped away from her.

Sam nodded. “I don’t think anyone likes having things chosen for them.” He said, then glanced off into the distance again. “You’ve got my number, right?” He asked, turning back to her. “In case you need anything. Really. Don’t hesitate to call.”

“Memorized, and on my phone.” Alma stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. “I should go. It is...Beth will miss me.”

“Go.” Sam said, taking a couple of steps back and giving her a nod. “Stay safe, Alma.”

She nodded, and then turned, and walked away. A little girl dogged her steps, before vanishing into thin air.