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Posted by Iris/Rayne on Jul 7, 2008 23:26:43 GMT -6
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Nov 20, 2008 23:33:20 GMT -6
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Rayne squeezed her eyes shut for a few moments. The action only served to intensify the scratchy discomfort underneath the lids. It also allowed the throb at the base of her skull to make itself loudly known. Her bones ached dully, her ears hummed uncomfortably, and her stomach growled irritably. She was nearing her body’s physical limitations, and it was attempting to warn her, in every way possible.
But she couldn’t stop. Not yet, not now. Not until she had control. She couldn’t stop until she controlled her mutation, not the other way around.
”Fifteen-point-seven degrees Fahrenheit.”
The Rayne ignored the low announcement above her. Her entire focus centered on her goal. And her goal was control. Control of her mutation. Specifically the Ice mutation.
<“I have to keep going.”>
A thin layer of frozen crystals gave testament to her success thus far. They spidered across the floor and up the walls in chilly patterns, coating them in slippery beauty. Clusters of spikes popped out at random intervals, reminiscent of frozen fireworks. Their number and size increased closer to Rayne.
”Fifteen-point-six degrees Fahrenheit.”
<“I can’t let it control me.”>
The young mutant herself sat in the center of the room, cross-legged and straight-backed, surrounded on all sides by varying shapes of ice. It had crept up and over her lower half, giving the impression that she herself had emerged from beneath the ice, or even grown out of it. A frigid fog wisped out of her nostrils with each breath, and hung in the air. Her lips had nearly turned blue in the cold, as had her skin. Streaks of blue peeked from underneath the blond hair dye, and hid behind her quivering eyelids.
”Fifteen-point-five degrees Fahrenheit.”
A single icicle broke free from the ceiling, and fell to the ground with a sharp PING!! that echoed throughout the room. Her shallow breathing increased in speed slightly. The ice crept upward over her body, traveling up her stomach.
<“No! There is nothing to be afraid of!”>
Nothing except herself. Her own unrestraint, lack of discipline. A lack that put her friends in danger. A lack that may have killed someone. A lack that could kill again, if she couldn’t reign it in.
”Fifteen-point-four degrees Fahrenheit.”
Her breathing speed up a bit further. The fog intensified. The ice crept farther.
<“No! Force it back! You control it. Force it back!”>
The ice around her shuddered slightly. Another icicle cracked, and fell floorward.
”Fifteen-point-three degrees Fahrenheit.”
<“I can’t let it control me. Too.... many.... ”>
Too many friends she didn’t want to hurt. Too many people to get to know and care about. Too many animals yet to take care of. Too many relationships left to mend. Too many seconds left to live. Too many sunrises yet to see. Too many heartbeats left in her chest. Too many tears left to cry.
Too many everything. A tear formed in the corner of her closed eyes, and froze before it hit the ground with a tiny plink!.
”Fifteen-point-two degrees Fahrenheit.”
<“I can do this. I have to do this.”>
The ice shuddered again, and groaned eerily. Slowly it began to recede.
<“Don’t be so scared. Fear is good. Fear gives you adrenaline. But don’t let it control you. Don’t be scared of yourself....”>
”Fifteen-point-one degrees Fahrenheit.”
Her breathing sped up a bit further. Despite the chill of the room, her back burned like fire. Her head began to droop, and her shoulders sagged.
<“Almost there.... Still in.... control....”>
”Fifteen-point-zero degrees Fahrenheit.”
Her eyelids fluttered, giving glimpses of the icy blue orbs behind them. The ice reclaimed a bit of its headway, again beginning to creep upward.
”Fourteen-point-nine degrees Fahrenheit.”
A small smile formed on her blue lips. ”Huh. New.... record. Cooool.....”
Her voice trailed off as her body slumped forward. The ice began to pull back in on itself, as if it were alive. The crystals shrunk and vanished, and the fog lifted. The temperature climbed back toward tolerable level. At the very last, the ice around Rayne groaned, then shattered, freeing her to fall completely to the ground, unconscious. Even after her body reset, four minutes later, she remained where she’d fallen. Her body had had enough.
At least this time, her sleep wasn’t plagued with nightmares of what might have happened. Instead her dreams assured her that, maybe, there was a degree of hope in her future after all.
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Jul 7, 2008 23:39:46 GMT -6
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