[center][h2]Lucie Valentine[/h2]

[h3] Auditorium > Therapy room > Room 12[/h3] [/center]

The events at the auditorium had passed away in a confusing blur; all sense having fled through the metaphorical window somewhere between 'you all have powers’ and 'we kidnapped you for your own good’. It all seemed like a really bad dream - it wasn't, she'd checked - or a harebrained plot for a science fiction movie. Chaos had erupted and a girl had had to be sedated. A girl who looked like something out of that weird hybrid argonian mod she had seen for Skyrim. And then there were the adults. The kidnappers, as Lucie secretly called them. They claimed to be some sort of government approved organization who were looking to help control these powers. Crashing a car into someone or hijacking a taxi and jabbing them with a needle was all part of this helpful plan, apparently. Though the most baffling of all was the news that their parents had been notified; and had consented. That had stunned her, halting her thoughts for moment before kicking up like a dozen flurries in the wind. 

While she'd been too dumbfounded to utter a word, to protest that she didn't have any powers, she found herself being assigned to a mentor who would no doubt help her through this extremely troubling time. Christian had been led away by someone as well, much to the girl's dismay. 

“Hello, Lucie. I’m Dr. Alice White. I look forward to working with you.” 

A stunningly beautiful woman was smiling at her, a perfectly manicured hand extended in greeting. 

[I]Do these people hire from a modeling agency or something?[/I] 

Lucie found herself standing up, though she made no move to accept the handshake or make any form of reply. Social niceties could be skipped, considering the circumstances. At her full height, she was taller than Ms. White and therefore could look down on her; something that gave her a vengeful little burst of satisfaction. 

“You can call me Alice, if you like. Would you prefer to converse in English or French? I'm fine with whichever makes you feel more comfortable.” The woman continued as if Lucie hadn't just so rudely ignored her friendly greeting. “Please follow me. This won't take long.” 

“I think you're mistaken.” Lucie somehow managed to say despite her throat having suddenly gone dry. “I don't have any powers. I'm normal.”

She was a perfectly normal girl and she wanted to go back to her perfectly normal life that revolved around playing video games all day and disapproving of people. It was a wonderful life. A perfect life, she now convinced herself. 

Slender fingers curled in on themselves, the black lacquered nails scratching at her gloves in the few seconds it took for the woman to answer.

“Your doubts are completely understandable and quite reasonable.” Alice began gently, “However, we have been extremely thorough with our analysis and are one hundred percent certain of the results. You do have latent abilities. For what it's worth, I'm sorry.” 

The words hit her like a physical blow, pushing out the breath she'd been holding in. The woman, Alice, wasn't acting like Lucie was the lucky winner of a spectacular prize; that she was some amazingly special snowflake and being in this situation was somehow a good thing. Anger and quailing at the injustice of it all was difficult to maintain in the face of it. It would have been easier if that weren't the case. It was always easier to be angry. 

“I would still like to see some proof.” 

“Of course. We can do so at our session.” Alice was quick to agree and began to lead the way. 

“English. I'd prefer English.” Lucie answered in reply to the woman's previous query.

She didn't want to converse with this woman in her native language, much as it would have been nice to be able to. The familiarity that would no doubt spring forth wasn't something she was keen on establishing here. 

“Here we are.” Alice announced once they had stopped in front of a door with the number 12 on it. “I figured you might want to change into normal clothes before we begin.” 

Nodding her agreement, Lucie stepped inside and realized it was the very same room she had woken up in. The wig was still lying rumpled on the bed from when she had tossed it. After hanging up her costume with more care this time, she took a quick shower, not caring that it wasn't polite to make Alice wait. Clothes hung neatly in the closet, eerily similar to the way she preferred to arrange hers. What was even creepier, she noted, was that the clothes were of the brands and styles she favored. She began to wonder just how much these people knew, and for how long she had been studied. 

“All done?” Alice asked pleasantly once Lucie stepped out, no hint of impatience at having been made to wait. 

“Your Morrigan cosplay was very well done. It was nice to see her original outfit rather than the fancy ball gown she's now known for, lovely as it was.” 

“Thank you. I did plan on putting together her ball gown as well. It's too beautiful to pass on.” Lucie volunteered the information before realizing that she was having a normal, even pleasant conversation about a subject she liked. This woman was sneaky, she decided right then and there. 

The glare she shot was lost on Alice, as the woman only smiled knowingly. 

They arrived at another room and the session concluded without much fanfare. It was surprisingly brief and very professional. Lucie had been shown some charts and numbers that proved she held some sort of power within herself. The hope she had secretly been harboring was almost snuffed out like a lonesome candle. Almost, but not quite. The science could very well have been faked. Once the results from the blood test arrived, she was told that she would see more proof, if she liked. 

She was also told that she would be able to use the phone in her room to contact her aunt. Lucie jumped at the chance but then cooled her excitement as she realized that Francesca would still be at work. She would have to wait a couple more hours until they could talk. Stomach tying itself into complicated knots from the nervousness, she pondered how to pass the time. Sitting in her room by herself would only prolong the wait and probably drive her insane. Perhaps she could see what her fellow inmates were like. 

Even if she wasn't going to be staying here long.