My Own Worst Enemy (Open)

[Deleted]

Phoenix didn't used to come to the library very often. Okay, scratch that. He used to never come, and he still didn't all that often, but since he was slowly letting himself try to do alright in school again, he found it was a nice place to go when he didn't want distractions and felt like it was a pretty safe environment.

Today, however, he was in there for a different reason.

He was slowly losing his craving for his hallucinogenic dust, though it was a rough process that was filled with panic attacks and lots of shivering in Oriel's arms until the need left. However, today a particularly rough craving hit him without warning, and, panicking, he fled to the nearest quiet place - the library.

He made his way to the back, finding an empty corner away from any studying students and let himself slump to the floor, shivering. He wasn't sure where Oriel was, and he didn't have his phone with him at the moment. His breath began to come in small, shallow pants, his back twitching as his wings ached to be released. He knew even if he did inhale a lungful, it wouldn't do anything - the last time he had taken a hit, the hallucinations were barely there at all. It seemed he had finally grown immune to the stuff.

And that scared him shitless.

Whimpering, he pawed at his back, which was shuddering under the fabric of his shirt. He could feel the lines of dark pigment on his back start to rise as his wings slowly emerged, and bit his lip and squeezed his eyes shut, trying his damndest to keep them in.

It was a losing battle.

[Jack McCarthy]

Urg. The library. Why did Jack choose the library to hang out of all places?

Today was in Jack Mccarthy’s opinion the worse type of days. Some days were awesome days and there was particularly crappy days (the infamous Halloween party where Layla broke his heart and agreed to marry Riley comes to mind as an example) To be honest Jack would much prefer the shitty days then these days.

Namely; the “Meh” days. The days where nothing happens and everything was so desperately dull and boring and…”Meh” He didn’t even have school to keep him entertained.

So in order to count down the hours Jack made sure to spend some time kicking back reading some comic books as he sat with his ankles atop his current table at the library and crossed. A large stack of comics towered by his feet, all of them read thoroughly twice and pending a third go-through. He had been there since early morning and many a time someone would wander by his area and ask him to please remove his feet from the table, each time with growing aggravation. After they moved on, he would always prop his feet back up, and then feign forgetfulness when they came by again

It’s the little things, that made life worth living..

Jack attention was drawn away from the latest batman issue and he instead focused on the young gentleman sitting in a corner very near by looking to be in some discomfort. With a sigh Jack closed his book and walked over to him. “Are you ok dude? I think the toilet is just down the hall"

[Deleted]

Phoenix was far too deep into his own head to realize that there was anyone paying attention to him. His eyes were closed, his brow furrowed, lips parted as he fought to calm his breathing. He never knew what to do when suffering from a panic attack; all he could do was to let them pass and hope he didn't hurt himself or anyone else in the process.

So when someone spoke up in his direction, his eyes snapped open and he cringed away, losing what little control he had over his wings in the process. They bulged up underneath his shirt, cramped uncomfortably beneath the fabric. Even as Phoenix fought to pull up the back of his shirt to let them out, he was scrabbling for something to say to the guy that had approached him.

"P-please, don't get close, I don't want t'hurt you," he stammered, holding a hand out as though that would keep him away. Having someone else feel the effects of his dust was the last thing he wanted; that was why he had come here, where it was quiet and there were few people.

But he did know who this was. Jack McCarthy. Phen had heard of some of the stuff that had happened between him and Oriel, which made him even more anxious that Jack was the one now approaching him when he was in full-blown panic mode. "Please just leave me alone," he mumbled weakly, finally managing to pull the back of his shirt up enough to let the dragonfly-like wings spread out completely. He winced, already prepared for laughter and scorn, even as he took shaky breaths to try to keep himself from releasing those potent spores.

[Jack McCarthy]

You know, Jack was fully aware that he had a reputation within the school and he was more then willing to concern that, that particular reputation he had more then earned, but if there was one thing that Jack resented was the fact that people naturally assumed that Jack needed to shoed away like a nasty bug before he started stinging the innocent.

Take now for example; Jack saw someone in clear pain and like the kind hearted person that he was, he approached and asked him if he was ok, and what exactly did he get for taken an interest in the well being of his fellow student? He was told to buzz off. That’s gratitude for you…


Now normally Jack really wouldn’t go out of his way like this but the guy looked seriously out of it. The dude looked like he was in clear agony, Jack was a tad out of dept here, he supposed he should have called the medical staff or something. But then the guy blurted out his warning he sounded so sincere that Jack actually took half a step back, he could be going all bruce banner on Jack’s ass. During his brief time in Hammel he had seen al manner of powers and quite a lot of them were dangerous. Who knows? This guy might have super strength or Lazar eyes or…

Before Jack could finish this thought, his eyes grew wide as Phoenix started to grow bright fairy wings. For a moment Jack just stared at this bizarre scene for a moment before Jack suddenly busted into gales of laughter. “Oh God, Oh man! You really had me going there for a secord. I really thought you were going to hurt me, dude, no offence but that has to be the lamest power I’ve ever seen…EVER and I’m rooming with a dude that has caterpillars in her hair. Ohhhh I’m so scared! Watch out everyone! Tinkerbell is going to kick my ass.” As Jack recovered he ignored Phoenix’s advice and sat right beside him “What are you going to do? Pretty me to death?

[Deleted]

Phoenix had hardly told Jack to 'buzz off'. Normally he would have been thankful for the help, but at the moment he was concerned about Jack's own well-being more than his need for comfort. And, really, he preferred to be alone and in a quiet place to calm himself down when these situations popped up anyway. Along with knowing Jack's reputation, well, none of this was doing any help to calm the poor boy down.

Add that to the fact that his wings were now out and fully extended, which meant Phen was an inch away from dusting the area with a hallucinogenic shower. And Jack, so close, would get a huge dose, leading to a very, very severe bout of hallucinations.

Phoenix didn't want to make him go through that. Not even as he winced away from Jack's taunting, his lower lip trembling as he curled his knees in tighter on himself and turned away. This was why he tended to keep to himself. People were cruel, and hurtful, especially towards someone like him - a misunderstood, troubled young boy of a minority group with an unfortunate power. While he would have snapped back at Jack a few months ago, when he got his snarky behavior from nearly always being on a high, he had changed too much since then to even muster any words in strong defense.

"Please get away," he begged again, his voice meek and quiet, scooting away even more as Jack sat beside him. "Th-this isn't the only part of my ability." Tinkerbell. His teeth sunk into his lip and he held back a whimper, feeling his back twitch again, only seconds away from releasing the dust. "I don't mean this-!" he managed to yelp right before his wings gave a flutter and a large, shimmering cloud of dust descended over both of them, shrouding them in the potent drug. Phoenix shoved his face into the crook of his arm, trying not to take too much in, but Jack would get a large, concentrated dose, and the hallucinations would start in probably... ten to fifteen seconds. "I'm sorry," he whimpered into his sleeve.

[Jack McCarthy]

Oi, Eggroll you ok? You seem a little spaced out” Urg. “Eggroll” Jack didn’t really enjoys those types of insults. Not that he had some kind problem with mock racist comments. It’s just that Jack thought they were uncreative and obvious, and generally not funny. Race was just the obvious joke, Jack enjoyed a challenge. Besides he was Irish. He could get away with it.

Jack felt a rush of rare sympathy of the dude. He sometimes forgot that he got (No joke intended) Lucky when it came to the old power draw. Sprouting frilly fairy wings could NOT have been fun, not to awkward at social occasions. Jack could imagine it would be difficult trying to court a potential sexual partner when you suddenly bright and girly wings….still they might have their advantages, could he fly with they? He needed to remind himself to ask him when he felt a little more talkative.

Jack frowned slightly at the fairy guy. HE seemed to be in an always lot of pain, but Jack was even more confused by his words. Why exactly did he need to get away? And what did he mean that wasn’t what he meant? Jack was just about to ask what he meant by that, when the wings started to flutter and the next thing Jack knew he was encompassed in a large cloud of pink dust, Jack not expecting this became quickly overwhelmed and practically breathed the entire thing in. Almost instantly Jack began to feel dizzy and his felt his joints begin to tingle strangely. Jack blinked several times as the world began to swam in and out of focus

“What…whatta mean...” Jack said groggily unable to finish the sentence as he tried to stand up but his legs felt like rubber and they quickly gave why, causing Jack to fall to the floor in a heap. What was happening to him?! Jack began to feel really scared, that he somehow ingested poison…was this what death felt like. As he thought this he began to breath more rapidly in fear, breathing in more of the dust, which caused the room to spin faster and faster before everything turned dark and world began to twist and distort….

He was cold . That much he knew for certain. He was cold and alone. Jack begain heard the sound of whispered voices all around him all talking at once.

“FREAK!”

“MONSTER!”

“POOR KID!”

“WEIRDO!”

It seemed almost every cruel taunt and every school yard insult that Jack had ever endured was running through his head at an insane pace over and over again, louder and louder! Louder and louder intensifying every second.

Loser”

“Dick”

“Weird kid”

“Jesus Christ Mccarthy would you ever shut the Fuck up?”

“Creep!”


“ PSYCHO!”

“YOUR MOMMY’S A WHORE!”

“HEY JACK! MY DADDY GOT ME A PUPPY! WHAT DID YOUR’S GIVE YOU!?”

“STAND AWAY FROM US FREAK!”

“Why the hell are you even here Jack? Nobody even like you and trust me, nobody wants you here!

“…What?! A date?! With you?! This like some sick joke right?!”

“SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!”

Jack head shook violently from side to side eye widened searching for some way, ANY way to escape this wide awake nightmare but for the first time in JT’s life there was no way he could weasel his way out of here. every second and everyone felt like a razor blade through the skull.

Jack suddently looked up, as he began to become aware of someone standing above him.

Layla.

It was her…but it wasn’t, she was as beautiful as Jack always thought she was, but there was no tickle in her eye. Nor was there any warmth on her face She was ghostly pale and staring at Jack with an expression on her face like Jack was a slug. Jack desperately raised a shaking arm out to her. “Pl…Please…”

“You disgust me.” Jack’s blood ran cold in his vain. It was Layla, but it wasn’t her voice she was speaking in. Jack could recognize that deep throaty growl from anywhere.

Dad.

“Look at you, Did you really think I would EVER go out with a freak like you?”

“No…no..Stop”

You’re pathetic. No wouder, you’re mom left you. No wouder, your father hate’s you. No wonder you inspire contempt in everyone you meet.You don't deserve me. You don’t deserve to be happy, you don’t deserve love. You don’t deserve anything!.”

With that Layla suddenly bursts out in gale of high pitched cruel laughter as Jack rolled into a ball and rocked back and forward staring at the horror's only he could see. She was right. This is how he’ll die. With no friends, no family, utterly alone forever.

“So…alone…”

[Deleted]

Eggroll. Twinkie. Chinatown. Phoenix normally would have rolled his eyes at the name. So unoriginal. And not even really accurate. Whatever, he was too busy panicking to even really pay attention. "Get... Back..." he said again, this time a slight growl in his voice. It was for Jack's own good; Phen didn't want to be forceful, but if that was what it would take to keep the other boy from getting hit with his dust, well, he would do it.

Hah. If only Jack knew about his 'sexual partner'. That was the least of Phoenix's worries. The wings he could deal with or without; he never used them anyway. It was the dust that came with them that was the real problem. First as his addiction, and now...

Phen could only flinch and cower as the dust came out, wishing there was something he could do, but knowing it was too late. Dammit, why hadn't Jack listened!? If he had backed off this wouldn't have happened... Or if Phen had come more damn self-control and could have prevented it himself.... Guilt ran over him like a wave as he peeked up to see how the boy was reacting. Maybe it would be like Erik, and he would just kind of zone out...

He was blinking first. Well, that was normal. Phoenix dissipated the last of the dust with his wings and stared at Jack, watching and waiting. "Don't stand up," he squeaked, fluttering his hands and shifting over to the boy, feeling responsibility now over his well-being until the hallucinations wore off. "It's just a hallucinogen, nothing you're gonna see is real-" he trailed off, sensing that Jack was already past the point of understanding. "I'm so sorry," he whined again, knowing it was pointless. Phen just hovered over his prone form, wondering if he should call someone over, maybe the librarian, or something....

It was a few moments before Jack started screaming, and Phoenix flinched away again, knowing he wasn't actually yelling at him but knowing it was his fault for whatever he WAS screaming at. There was nothing he could do. The only thing that would help was time. Hopefully this wouldn't last any longer than a half-hour, forty-five minutes tops, and it would begin to become less extreme before then.

Was this how he looked when he hallucinated? Deranged and sick? Phen shivered, holding his arms over his chest, wincing at every yell and movement. He could only imagine what Jack was seeing. His wings sunk back into his back, and he grimaced at the normal pain. "S-someone, help," he mumbled meekly, looking around for any sign that someone was coming to the aid of the screaming boy. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." he kept repeating over and over, before swallowing and yelling louder,"Please, someone, help!" He didn't want to leave Jack by himself, there was no telling what he might do.

[Terrence Mathews]

It had been a regular day for Terrence so far. Help out the occasional kid, do some organizing, drink some tea and so forth. But, as they usually do, the once regular day had to come to an end. It was interrupted as he sat in his office, going through his files, when he heard shouting coming from the library. His body automatically shot up from shock and he ran outside, "Alright, what's-" The sight he came into was not a pleasant one by any terms, two boys were shivering on the floor, one of them who was shouting for help, the other was in a ball on the floor. Terrence cupped his mouth with his hand, he had no words...

But this wasn't the time to shy away by any means. His protective side came bounding out in leaps and springs, "What's happened to him?" he asked the conscious boy, then shook his head, watching the other boy cower. "Someone get me a- no, never mind." He looked at the other boy again, "Do you know how to stop this? Because I can't leave him here!" He looked between the two rapidly, "He needs help!"

He knelt down near the sharp-faced boy; it wasn't one Terrence recognized. He clicked in front of the student's face, "Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?" He turned back to the other boy, "What's his name?" He looked at the boy in distress again, this seemed hopeless. He had no idea how to help, and the situation was right in front of him. He quickly summoned a water bottle over from the front desk where it had been sitting for both the boys. He handed it back to the first, "Drink some, you look like you need it."

[Jack McCarthy]

Jack was too far gone to even register the fact that there were people surrounding him, as far as he knew he was utterly alone, in a dark cell, slightly shriving due to the cold that seemed to be cutting him to his bones

Even if he could hear Phoenix and Terrence, if nothing else he’ll be confused in his drug addled state, why on earth would he leave? Didn't they know that this is where he belonged here, this is what he deserved. This is his destiny, there was no such thing as love. At least for Jack, he wasn't worthy of gaining love, he was a deformed freak, an his existence was a complete and utter mistake and his father treated him as he should, why would he even want to go back to reality? Would anyone really care if he just disappeared, Jack doubted it. All he contributed to the life’s of the people around him was pain and confusion. No, it was best if he just stayed here from everyone concerned. The world was better off with out him.

It was best he stay in his world of darkness, whispering shadows and cold.

Jack suddenly became aware of a strange tingling sensation over his body, he looked down as he yelped when he saw that thousands apon thousands of tiny bugs was buried themselves into Jacks arms and legs almost covering his entire body, Jack screamed in sheer panic, if he didn’t do something soon they’ll crawl on his face and into his mouth and eyes. Desperately he began to claw and scratch at his arms ignoring the pain that it caused and trying to ignore the blood that was now appearance, all that mattered was he got rid of all these bugs/

[Deleted]

Phoenix continued to hover worriedly and uselessly, gaze darting around for any sign that someone would come and help. Finally, thankfully, someone (someone older, by the looks of it) was coming running; Phen didn't recognize him, but he stood shakily and rushed forward to meet him. His breath was coming in quick pants; he was about to have a panic attack himself.

"I-it's my fault," he whimpered, hands clutching at his own chest. "I-I told him to get away, but he wouldn't listen...!" Phen swallowed, realizing this wasn't doing any good. "M-my ability, I can create hallucinogenic dust, and h-he just.... Breathed in a lot...." Honestly, most people didn't react this badly... Even Oriel, though his was bad enough. "Th-the only thing that can really help is time," he said meekly. "A-and maybe getting some water in him, if you c-can... That might make it go faster..."

Phen hadn't actually dusted very many others in his time here at Hammel. He was inexperienced at helping people that weren't used to the stuff like himself.

This guy looked like he was freaking out too, though; at least he was trying to help. "He probably can't hear you," he mumbled, eyes wide and frightened. "I-I think his name's Jack." Phen blinked as the water bottle appeared from nowhere, gaping for a moment before he took it and gulped down a large swallow. At that point, Jack had begun scratching at himself, and Phen yelped as crimson began to bead on his skin. "S-Stop!" he shrieked, doing the only thing he could think to do at the time - he slapped Jack, hoping it would break some of the hallucination. It should, at least a little, and for a short period of time. Phoenix winced afterwards, shying away from both of the guys. "I'm sorry...." he mewled again.

[Terrence Mathews]

Terrence listened as the shaken up boy told the story of how this situation had developed. He frowned, he'd read up about a lot of the common meta powers, but since it seemed there was only few who could create hallucinogenic dust, he'd just... skimmed over it. He knew simple, basic facts about it, things that everyone would know about hallucinogens in general, so all he had to work on to help the boy below him was whatever this other student said. He nodded, slightly frustrated at his lack of intelligence on the matter but continued on anyway.

Time. If that was the main thing the boy needed, Terrence, or somebody, needed to get Jack to a safer place than this, where attention was drawn and he was near multiple objects that could fall and hurt him. This was dangerous, and he had no idea of what to do. It wasn't like he was strong enough to carry Jack, and this other boy didn't exactly seem like a weightlifter either, to put it bluntly. He cursed under his breath and nodded again as the boy drank. Once he was done, he took back the bottle and went to go help the absent boy sit up so he could get the liquid in his system, but Jack began scratching himself and let out a shout; Terrence was miles out of his comfort zone by now. Heck, he'd left his comfort zone as soon as he'd begun helping. Or whatever it was he was doing.

He winced and jumped as the other boy slapped Jack, about to get angry and question why he would do such a thing, but he forgave it silently and quickly, blaming it on the panic. If anything, the shock of the pain would help Jack to 'wake up', as it were. "It... it's alright." he said to the boy who had slapped Jack. Time seemed a little stiller now, for some reason. He got up off the floor, handing the bottle back to the other boy as he did, "Watch him." he stated simply, going to the front desk, where there was a phone. He could call the school's nurse from there, she'd be able to do more than he ever could.

Terrence was about to punch in the number, when he turned back to the student, "What's your name?" He wasn't certain why he wanted to know, maybe to make it easier to comfort the boy, but he felt it was necessary all the same.