[center][h3][b]Thalia Floros[/b][/h3]
[i][color=lightcoral]AA Meeting[/color] | [color=lightblue]Awkwardness Abates[/color] | [color=palegreen]Atypical Therapy is a Bit Unusual[/color][/i][/center]

The meeting began as, usual, and I heard people begin to warm up to one another. A cosy room on a cold night, and a stomach full of buttery pastry seemed to be having a cathartic affect on everyone already. People continued introducing one another, and the girls I had been chatting to had begun to eye a lithe looking tom cat who had strolled in behind another attendee, casually - as if he owned the room. Which was hardly unusual for a cat, of course. I looked over at Erina who hadn't even blinked at the sight of the cat, who had rubbed against her shin before settling down into one of the chairs. 

There was a new girl who had come who had taken the chair next to me. She was tall and athletic, with a black pixie cut. At first, she had seemed stand-offish, but she had confidently introduced herself as Valeria, and we talked a bit about our day, and the usual small talk involving weather and shitty New York drivers. 

After waiting patiently, Erina joined our circle and gave us her reserved smile before ruffling the notebook that was in her hands, finding what looked like a blank page. She then began to speak. She spoke very deliberately, and rarely minced words. She didn't seem like a natural speaker, but she had this almost hypnotic charisma that made you ignore the brief pauses. 

"Hello everyone! Welcome to Atypicals Anonymous! There are so many new faces here," she looked around at everyone, as if taking a mental inventory. "As you know, this is a support group for the strange and unusual, and I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you. I am Dr. Erina Slate, though you are all welcome to call me Erina. I started this group to help unite people like us, and form a community. Many of you have abilities that are challenging, difficult to control or understand, and are affecting your ability to live a normal life. It's our goal to help you learn more about yourself, how to control your powers, and how to live up to your fullest potential." 

She paused, and brushed her short cropped hair out of her eyes before continuing. She then lowered her voice. "Now, I've noticed some of you have been quiet. And I understand your trepidation. Some of you have never talked about your abilities before. But, I want you to learn how to become comfortable expressing yourself with others, especially in a controlled environment. So, I have developed a new introductory exercise!"

Erina walked across the room, and turned off the light. The entire room was cast in shadow, and only the soft glow of distant street lights and the light of the bright half moon reflecting off the clouds illuminated the room. 

Her voice lowered, she rejoined the circle. "Please close your eyes, and imagine yourself deep underground, in a cave that is eerily silent, except for the occasional sound of water dripping from stalactites hundreds of feet above you."

I looked around me, interested in seeing if others were participating. I noted a few reluctant eyebrow raises, especially from Valeria, and a somewhat incredulous look from a large man with a beard. However, there were a few who settled right into the exercise - a young and lanky asian man, as well as an unkempt looking ginger fellow seemed right at home closing their eyes and settling into their chairs. Lan seemed like she had too much energy to fully relax in her seat, but the other girl, Cam, seemed relieved at a break from all of the nervous tension. I was feeling a bit sleepy from my high sugar and carb intake, and settling into Erina's calming, almost hypnotic voice, felt comfortable. I could picture myself in the belly of a dark, damp and desolate cave. One that was so far underground, that one could almost feel the weight of the earth pressing in. And it was true, the sound of water droplets pooling in eroded rock echoed around me. 

"The surroundings are almost entirely black, but the occasional blue glow from bioluminescent glow worms paints the ceiling in clusters like stars. The light they emanate seems to grow and fade in rhythm, and the whole room feel likes it's breathing," she continued. Her voice was so relaxing, and I felt myself almost drift off, until I felt my chair slip away, and I began to fall. I gave a sharp shriek and felt myself hit the ground.

But, instead of hitting the ground of the community center, I found myself hitting the freezing cold stone of the cave that Erina had just described. There was no sign of the community center's four walls, and the chair I had fallen from had disappeared. I scrambled to my feet, not believing where I was. I could hardly see a couple feet ahead of me, but I started stumbling forward towards a patch of light that was, as described, being produced by pale blue glow worms that were attached to the side of the cave walls. 

My forehead smacked into something soft...like a shirt...someone's shirt.

"Hey!" the person shouted, sounding surprised, and also a bit frightened - like myself. 

And then I realized what had happened. Somehow, Erina had mentally transported us to the cave she had been describing. I had heard of Atypicals being able to create mental illusions, for themselves and others. It was something like lucid dreaming. But I had no idea how Erina was doing it, or if she was doing it. But if not her, then who? 

But, as if in an answer to my question, Erina's voice drifted through the cave. It was soft and whispery, like an echo or a sigh. "You are in a mental simulation. You must find your way out using any means at your disposal. There are ways that your abilities can both help and hurt your progress. Look for clues and help each other. Good luck." 

When her voice faded, I finally felt truly afraid. The warmth of the room had finally worn off and I felt a numbing cold encroaching on my extremities. Then, I tried speaking.

"Is everyone okay?" My voice came out trembling, and unsure. I had no idea what lengths Erina would go through to finish this "mental simulation," but knowing her intensity and eccentricity, I was sure she wouldn't allow us to leave until we had found a way out. 

Suddenly, I heard something that made my heart skip a beat, and I jumped in alarm. It was a sound in the far distance, perhaps in a different chamber of the cave. It was both a rumbling and a growl, and what sounded like large claws being dragged across stoney ground. And it was coming closer.