Between Broken Glass and Butterflies(Psychic Rpg)

"Your eyes see everything, don't they? So, you must already know. What do you see?"

"Of course. I see it all clearly...I know how it all ends, but should I tell you? I wouldn't want to spoil it."

The second man to speak came into focus while everything was blurred around him. His face and and well dressed suit perfectly clear, even though everything else was nothing but a white fog. The first voice, who asked him the question waved a hand in front of him, but their body and face remained obscured in the strange whiteness. It didn't bother the man sitting, who calmly enjoyed his meal, golden eyes staring straight ahead, looking at someone, but clearly not the invisible person beside him.

"This whole cryptic card isn't as cute as you think it is. We're pinned against the wall and there's so little of us left."

"For want of a nail the shoe was lost, and so, the poem closes with the battle being lost. Just like a single nail, there's many working pieces than the ones we've seen. In fact, a few such nails are lying outside the box, ready to be placed by anybody willing to make use of them. Not the greatest of material to work with, but more than effective enough for them to do all things as intended."

"Okay, wait. I think I actually understood that. You mean there's still more left who haven't taken sides? And you think these people will actually make up the strength difference?"

"Yes, absolutely."

"Then we should-"

"Oh, to be accurate, I mean for everyone except for ourselves, I'm afraid."

"....so what? We're screwed?" The sounds of impatience and frustration cracked through the obscured figure's voice, clearly agitated that his acquaintance didn't seem to be taking the issue seriously.

"Yes, it sure looks like it, doesn't?" The man at the table just gave a rich and almost old age aristocratic laugh as if this was just a joke to him. At no point did the smile from his face change, keeping the look in his eyes as if this was all just a game to him.

"Fuck that. I'm not just going to stand around to die." The sounds of tromping echoed as footsteps began to head off into the distance, but the guy sitting didn't seem in anyway surprised, as if this is exactly what he was expecting.

"Oh, going to assassinate these would be threats before they're dangerous? You realize attempting to murder them won't make them willing to be our friends. after you fail?" The claims from the man actually did get the other one to stop in his tracks from the sounds.

"But...god dammit. We can't just do nothing."

"We can't? Isn't that what we're doing right now? We're awfully good at it." His mood remained in an almost serene grace of confidence and positivity, not even flinching when the hand slammed down on the table directly in front of him, still just taking another bite of the cake as if nothing happened.

"Just one god dam straight answer! How hard is that?"

"That poses quite an interesting question. Would you tell a sick person they only had a few months to live? Or would you try having someone else break the news to them? Regardless, the lot will be waking up soon once this conversation is over. Good for them too. You intend to sick Abel and Adel on them, after all. They're best strategy will be to immediately leave the hospital when they wake up. Of course...if I were so inclined, I'd be willing to grant them the weapon of the knowledge so they can keep themselves alive....at a cost, of course."

"What the hell...why would you tell how to kill our own assassins?"

"Maybe, it's part of my own plan....you should be getting a move on now, they will wake up in their rooms and the pair won't have much time to work, and you need to begin your own journey of constantly doubting me, so everyone must be turning the gears to put the grand machine in working order."

"...you know how much I hate talking to you, right?"

"I do. But then,...I know everything."

As the man sitting spoke his final sentence, the white clouds in the dream like vision began to shroud over him, making him fade away from sight like everything else, and in not a second sooner, there was a flicker of those same white clouds being broken by rays of light, and as the prospective nails open their eyes, the first thing they spot is the hospital lights hanging over their heads.

 

Alexandra's eyes flutter open, and she looks confusedly around the room. Seeing her gown, she realises that she must have been sick or in an accident. "Wha-What happened?" She calls out. "Hello?"

 

Jack woke from the very strange dream with a headache and a groan, shaking his head and bliking his eyes. Asking himself if he had eaten somethibg spoilt to get such strange dreams. He looked around the bright room with squinted eyes, very surprised he had woken up in a hospital. Groggily, he slowly sat up and got off the bed. The cold floor and the breeze on his ass clued him in that he wasn't wearing anything under the hospital gown he was wearing. He grimaced and exclaimed, 'This is some fucked up shit, what the hell happened?!'
Panicked, his hands went under the gown to check his junk and for scars around his torso. He breathed a sigh of relief, finding every thing in order.

 

The door to Alexandra's room, creaks open almost timed to the exact second that she wakes up. Stepping out of it, is a dark haired young woman with a friendly enough smile as she turns her attention to the woman on the bed, who was clearly confused about her surroundings.

"Ah, good. You're finally waking up. Do you know where you are?" Her tone was friendly and polite enough asking the basic questions, but Alexandra's sensitivity to emotions had to go on edge for a second. It was odd. She wasn't being fake nice, but her feelings seemed much more muted than most regular people. It wasn't in an uncaring way...it was like parts of her personality were just...gone. She still kept a respectable distance from the patient and wasn't being rude, but there was a small sudden spike of anxiety flaring up in her, before Alexandra even had a chance to speak. Not towards Alexandra specifically...but something else that was making her tense and just a slight bit scared. Her smile just remained normal and friendly enough despite it.

"This is the Rose Valley Hospital. Can you tell me your name? Don't try to force it. Let it come to you."

"Please, don't make any sudden moves. You've only just woken up. Good to see you still have so much energy though." The voice was a young woman's who was standing just a couple feet across from the bed watching him. Was she there the whole time? Did she only now just come in?

She looked normal enough. Her smile was perfectly friendly and she hadn't did anything strange yet...but Jack felt something odd...that little pressure in his head of danger was going off. Not..quite to her. But something brewing in the back of his mind that made some hairs stand on end. She seemed oblivious to any coming risk however and simply sat to look at him calmly. He couldn't read her exactly, but...the look in her eyes didn't seem quite right. She was looking right at him...but also as if she wasn't really paying any attention either. She clearly was, since she tracked his movements and calmly walked closer to him, keeping a reasonably cautiously distance, which Jack was smart enough to realize was her trying to avoid getting too close to a disoriented and clearly agitated person. From her perspective, she saw him as a potential danger.

"This is the Rose Valley Hospital. Can you tell me your name? Don't try to force it. Let it come to you."

 

Alexandra doesn't make any overt moves, but she tenses up, her instincts telling her not to trust this person. "My name? I'm Alexandra McKinney. I'm sorry, what happened? How did I end up here?"

 

Jack nearly jumped out of his boots, if he had been wearing any, as the woman spoke to him. He took a steadying step, 'Damn, where you standing there the entire time? You really startled me.'

Unbeknowst to Jack, new powers had awakened in him, one being telepathy. He was openly broadcasting his thoughts into the woman, as he had no real control over it yet: Rose Valley? Never heard of it. Is she the doctor or something? She looks like a doctor, bit young, though. There's something odd here. Maybe not her who's dangerous but there's.... something else. Don't panic, there's a perfectly plausible explanantion for all of this... right?

When she came closer, his eyes darted down for a split-second: Holy hell, that cleavage... don't look... she'll think you're a pervert. Wait, did she put this gown on me? Did she see me naked?

The young man tried his best to keep his eyes above shoulder-level and be calm, as he answered her, 'Who me? Uhm...' He paused, 'Jack Langley. How did I get in this hospitcal, doctor? Did I have an accident?'

 

"That's an excellent question. I'm Dr. Laya Mason. The doctor previously in charge of your care was involved in an unfortunate accident, so I'll be taking his place while he recovers. I've already examined your medical files, but it seems that you were picked up on the side of the road in the middle of the night. The paramedics suspected a drug overdose at first, but after properly testing your bloodwork, there doesn't seem to be anything in your system." The doctor spoke as soft and calmly as she could, seeming to start to relax from whatever other situation was bothering her....but she was still clearly unusual despite how mostly normal looking she was. Her smiled faded a slight bit while examining the older woman.

"Everything said is confidential, and just so we can get you the best treatment. The first thing we must do is keep you overnight so we can determine if you're ready for leave. We wouldn't want a repeat of this and we still can't quite verify the exact nature or cause...I know this isn't easy to talk about, but we need to make sure we do everything we can for you. Did or do you take any drugs?" As standard as the questions were, Alexandra was aware that it didn't speak well for things since it was looking like the hospital didn't actually what exactly had happened.

Her face flushed just a little, but she didn't seem to comment despite hearing everything that he was thinking.

"Yes, I'm doctor Laya Mason and the one who was assigned for your care. The gowns are standard issue. They were put on by the orderlies when you were brought in. As for the exact nature of how you got here...I only have what the paramedics explained to me. Apparently...there was a massive traffic accident that they pulled you from...you didn't sustain any injuries from the collision but...exhibited all the signs of someone suffering from drowning." Her face scrounged as she spoke, clearly realizing how little it made sense even trying to explain it.

"We're going to have to keep you overnight before we can properly clear you for leaving. Do you have someone you would like us to contact? You didn't seem to have any emergency contacts listed."

 

How odd... I'm sure I didn't ask that stuff about the gown? Did I? Maybe I thought out loud, Jack racked his mind while Dr Mason spoke. He listened intently as she explained, Traffic accident? Fuck, really? I don't remember a thing about that... doesn't surprise me, though... New York drivers... wait, drowning?!

'I was drowning?' Jack looked at her extremely confused and scratched his head, 'Now, doc, don't get me wrong, you're the expert here, but... isn't that impossible in a traffic accident?'

Sitting down on the bed again, he nodded, 'My mother. Do you have my phone? I can give you the number,' the teenager said, Oh boy, do I even want her to call mom? She's gonna be furious.

 

“You are an adult and given the situation, it is up to you whether or not to call her.” Laya remained mostly soft spoken with her brain trying to wrap itself around his question about the incident.

“It’s not entirely impossible...but, very close to being next to. You don’t need to be fully immersed in water to suffer from the effects of dry drowning. A condition with similar symptoms that can occur almost a full day after the fact....but even assuming that’s the case, it’s not generally fatal and almost exclusive to occurring in small children. They did have to perform compressions to get water out of the lungs...but the police are still trying to investigate how it happened...maybe somebody put it there...maybe... how someone would even go about doing that is beyond me.” She was clearly as unsatisfied with her knowledge of how it was even possible as much as he was.

“Do you-“ She didn’t finish her follow up question, attention caught on the lights in the room making a bright flash, turning into an orange glow for a brief second and burning out causing a dark shadow to loom over the room. It was dimly lit, but still easy to make out mostly everything without much difficulty, but the sound of the machines beeping kept on in the background and the doctor looked largely unbothered.

“It looks like we’re having power issues, but we have plenty of back up generators so this shouldn’t be a problem and we’ll have it back on in a few minutes.”

 

'That depends... when was this accident and how long have I been in this hospital?' Jack asked.

Fuck me if I know what she's talking about. I'll just keep nodding, that should do the trick, Jack thought and nodded along with her explanation. 'But I'm okay... right? No long-term consquences?'

'Power surges? Isn't that dangerous, with surgery and all that?' Jack tried to keep a straight face, but was a bit worried. Jeez, what if some surgeon is slicing something critical and "bang!" lights out...

 

Though the doctor promises confidentiality, Alexandra doesn't trust her further than she can throw her. "No, no drugs, except for a glass of red wine every night." In truth, she was a regular pot smoker until a few months ago, quitting because of the risk her habit posed to her job if found out. She also once did cocaine during college. She enjoyed it, but never did it again, concerned that she could get addicted.

 

"Oh, most modern machines have an independent backup power system for this exact kind of scenario. Our staff is good at what they do. ...except maybe Gary..." Her face flashed in disgust for reasons unknown to Jack, settling back down shortly. before returning to her clearly well practiced bedside matter.

"It hasn't been too long. You were just brought in last night. As for any complications, that is what we're going to try and find out. Most likely, you should be perfectly healthy. I don't think there should be any-

The sudden snap of lights happened in a brief flash, all of them coming back on...and then more sound of electricity crackling, the remaining lights in the room beginning to flash for a few seconds before burning out like candles, leaving things into a deeper and blacker darkness. Her eyes began to widen for a few seconds, genuinely surprised, while making the sounds of "Ah...." and "Hmm." Jack could hear a strange silence in a couple of the machines behind him that they weren't using. Laya had walked over the the window to draw open the curtains and allow some natural light in, but still seemed completely bewildered, now facing away from Jack.

"It seems...the backup generator for the lights has failed to power on. A minor technical issue, I'm sure. They'll get it fixed. Just focus on your rest. It's nothing you need to worry about." She sounded like she genuinely meant to reassure him, but Jack could feel that brooding forewarning to oncoming danger getting stronger, the pressure building that was telling him something was drawing closer.

Laya raised an eyebrow looking skeptical. Alexandra could sense the feelings of doubt, clearly, not truly believing her. Alexandra also knew enough to realize pot would almost never cause an overdose, unless laced with another chemical. But the claims that her bloodwork was clean meant they hadn't found anything like the standard culprits for memory loss or passing out. "Are you sure, that's all you-

The sudden lights in the room began to get swallowed by a darkness coming over the room. Laya's expression didn't change, as if she was completely expecting this since she was already starting to speak as the lights were being killed. "There is a minor technical problem with our power right now, but everything will be just fine. We couldn't locate your emergency contacts on file. Do you need us to call anybody?...no, you're fine. We already have your information..." Her eyes were cast in a diagonal direction, away from the teacher. Out of focus, but then looking back at her. "If you desperately want to get out early, we just need you to sign a few forms stating that you refused services. I really would recommend staying the night so we can try and figure out the issue."

 

Thoroughly creeped out, Alexandra nods vigorously when the doctor suggests that she can get out early. She takes the forms, reading them carefully to ensure that they are what she said they were, and that there aren't any traps hidden in the fine print. "My things, my phone. Do you have them?" If everything is okay with the release forms, she signs.

 

Jack was startled by the renewed power surge, looking worried, 'Okay, I'm no electrician but that isn't normal, doc.'

He couldn't shake that feeling of danger, clutching his head, Ugh, there's that creepy feeling again. I don't like this one bit.

'Doc,' Jack stood up from the bed, 'I got a bad feeling about this... something isn't right here.'

 

"Yes, right beside you on the table." Giving Alexandra time to read over them, the teacher found them to be perfectly normal forms. Despite the paranoia, this hospital seemed perfectly ordinary except for how unusual the doctor was. Still, her emotions read her as a perfectly nice girl. At least on the surface. She just kept a polite smile the whole time. "So, you should be clear to leave when you're ready. Do you know where you are and how to get home or should we call you a cab?" Taking a step to closer to Alexandra, she couldn't see it happen directly behind her.

A very brief and small intense flash of white, like a star, against the darkness of the room. Alexandra could make it out, though there was barely any time to react. A gleam of silver that's speed made an updraft causing her hair to stand up letting out a scream as she grabbed at her neck, redness leaking down her fingertips, unable to process what had just struck her, but Alexandra able to see the sharp medical scalpel that scraped her, ignoring any loss in speed as it kept on it's course straight for the confused patient's head.

It didn't take long for the rest of Jack's senses to catch up to his other ones. The sudden high pitched whining of the medical machines behind him began to scream, getting louder and louder as orange sparks started to fly, as well as the scent of smoke starting to pour into his nostrils. The noise was enough to get Laya's attention as she turned to take a look at it, but was just left with her mouth hanging open, scared and confused.

"L-look out!" Her attempts at a warning came well after Jack could have used him, but his sense for danger was enough to give him just a few more seconds to react to things like this than most and combined with his naturally fit body, diving out of harm's way became easy, leaving the machine's apparent malfunction to happen, bursting into flames and taking the hospital bed with it.

"T-that's not supposed to happen!" Her voice had cracked, clearly panicked and scared, taking a step back. While she was still recovering the fright, Jack's danger sense had relieved itself..but only somewhat. The apparent primary danger was gone, but it still lingered around with him feeling the source of it right outside the hall. Laya was scared stiff only able to stand there, and not properly react, but Jack could feel whatever the cause was already starting to gradually move itself away from the apparent "accident" that had just broken out in his room.

 

What?! Jack's adrenaline was pumping, as things went crazy. He dodged out of the way of the exploding machine by instinct. Oh fucking shit! What the fuck was that? EMP? Solar flares? His mind raced a thousand miles an hour.

He looked to Laya, noticing she was shocked and scared. Stay with me now! I can't figure this out by myself. Come on, how to calm her down?

He went over to the doctor and put his hand on her shoulder, 'Okay, deep breaths, doc. I have no idea what the hell's going on... but, I think we should get away from any electric stuff. Does the hospital have a park or garden? Let's go there... get some fresh air.'

Shit, I'm still naked under this thing... Where's my stuff?

'Are my clothes around here somewhere? Or did those get shredded in the accident?' Jack asked, wanting to get out of the room quickly.

 

Acting more on instinct than on conscious thought, Alexandra uses her telekinesis to move her medical chart in the way of the scalpel. Letting out a shrill scream, she leaves the bed, crawling over to the doctor and checking if she's alright.

 

It tool her about half a minute to breath, and regain enough composure to hear his question. “There’s a courtyard, yes....we have your clothes bagged up. Maybe just take those with you. I’d rather not stay here until..whatever this is get’s fixed.” Gesturing to a plastic wrapped bag on the counter, he could see all his clothes neatly wrapped inside, the doctor still having some issues keeping calm, but listening.

The scalpel comes fast, but Alexandra’s telekinetic force manages to slow it down enough on it’s own so it strikes the medical board, small tip of the blade sticking out the opposite end, but not in Alexandra’s face.

She could see the cut against Laya’s neck. Not incredibly deep or serious, but still definitely spooked from what just happened. Being able to read the girl’s emotions, she was able to sense the fear building from many things, including Alexandra herself.

“You...did something. What did you do? Can..are you..... like me?...can you do this?” Not able to put it in words, the remaining light in the room began to recolor and take shape, solidifying into a person. A second duplicate image of the doctor standing side beside the still bleeding one, the only way of actually telling the doopleganger apart.

 

Alexandra pulls the blade out of the board, holding it put in front of her defensively. "I don't know what's going on, but both of you, back off." She grabs the bag with her clothes and phone, and moves to the door.

 

Lights flickering and a serious headache Dr. Steve Cho jumps up out of bed taking it all. Hearing people’s thoughts around. He jumps out of bed and stands at the door seeing people aren’t talking physically and yet he can still hear them. He doesn’t speak, but he really wants silence....and then silence.

Turning around he notices another doctor in the room that looks like his colleague. He sits back down on the bed waiting to hear it out how exactly he has patient robes in the hospital he works at.