Theresa Cassidy (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
formerlysiryn) wrote2016-03-21 12:25 am
formerlysiryn) wrote2016-03-21 12:25 am
[Post-GAPS]
Perhaps she's hiding away, but Terry thinks she has every bloody right to.
It had been days locked up in that facility, she finds out, days powerless, days spent poked and prodded and having her power tested like she's some sort of bloody lab rat. Whatever they'd done, they'd been good at it; good enough to kidnap her and others, good enough to get around their defenses, good enough to keep them locked up.
They'd been so good that after the rage burns through her, after she'd done her part and took off for the countryside to prevent herself from doing something she'd regret, all she'd felt was raw. Exposed. Careless.
She'd promised herself that would never happen again, but she can't even keep promises to herself anymore.
The school had come to mind first, the only place she could think of that was safe. Even if someone knew she was there, they wouldn't be able to get past the wards.
She's safe.
She's safe.
Once she showers, once she scrubs away a week of sweat and blood, constantly humming or singing to herself, filling the silence with her own voice as she changes into a fresh set of clothes, once she has no reason to move anymore--
It builds up in her chest first, a mounting pressure that rises, burning the back of her throat and clouding her vision with tears as she stumbles downstairs, makes it into the huge basement and trusts, trusts that she can let go of the scream she's been holding in for days and the world won't crumble around her.
[Let's say she left the basement door open a touch to be heard. Takes place the morning after GAPS plot wraps up.]
It had been days locked up in that facility, she finds out, days powerless, days spent poked and prodded and having her power tested like she's some sort of bloody lab rat. Whatever they'd done, they'd been good at it; good enough to kidnap her and others, good enough to get around their defenses, good enough to keep them locked up.
They'd been so good that after the rage burns through her, after she'd done her part and took off for the countryside to prevent herself from doing something she'd regret, all she'd felt was raw. Exposed. Careless.
She'd promised herself that would never happen again, but she can't even keep promises to herself anymore.
The school had come to mind first, the only place she could think of that was safe. Even if someone knew she was there, they wouldn't be able to get past the wards.
She's safe.
She's safe.
Once she showers, once she scrubs away a week of sweat and blood, constantly humming or singing to herself, filling the silence with her own voice as she changes into a fresh set of clothes, once she has no reason to move anymore--
It builds up in her chest first, a mounting pressure that rises, burning the back of her throat and clouding her vision with tears as she stumbles downstairs, makes it into the huge basement and trusts, trusts that she can let go of the scream she's been holding in for days and the world won't crumble around her.
[Let's say she left the basement door open a touch to be heard. Takes place the morning after GAPS plot wraps up.]
no subject
"No," he says. "I never have before and I wasn't going to let them bully me into changing that." He'd paid for it, of course, he's sure Terry understands that without needing it to be said out loud. They'd hurt him when he refused to bite people, but he had been able to take it. It isn't as if that's the worst he's ever suffered through.
Pulling back, he gives Terry's shoulders a squeeze and looks at her again. "They took your voice?" he asks.
no subject
She feels like she is, but she knows herself, and knows she needs some time. Eventually this will pass, as it has before, and she'll go on. There will be one more thing weighing her down, but it won't even be the worst thing that's ever happened to her.
"They did," she answers with a nod. She tilts her head back a bit, showing the pink ring around her throat. The collar, even though it had been smooth, had been cold and heavy, chafing her skin the longer she had it on. "It was some sort o' collar, it paralyzed my vocal cords."
She'd pretty much disintegrated the thing on her way out, making sure it would never be used again.
no subject
Silver for him, the collar for Terry, they'd bled Magnus, confused and disoriented Simon somehow.
"I think they were watching us," he says. "For weeks before. I could sometimes hear or see people who looked out of place and then, about four days before they took me, I was attacked on my way home. It was them. It had to be."
no subject
She shakes her head when Luke voices what she'd been thinking, voices the reason why she'd come straight here and not home.
"I was headin' inside my building when they got me," she admits, and she wonders when she'll be able to step back inside that place without feeling like it's been violated -- and without thinking about how stupid she must have been, how blind. "I didn't notice a thing. I can't remember thinkin' that anyone was followin' or watchin' me, and I should know better. I've gotten too bloody comfortable here."
no subject
He doesn't know if he would have picked up on them had he not been so aware of Reid's growing feud with some of the vampires in the city.
"They came into the store," he says. "Surprised me there. If I hadn't already been looking for trouble, I don't think I would have noticed them. They were able to get into the store without me even realizing they were coming."