[IC] Anna's Gift

[AHeartlessNobody]

"Danny! Please! Wake up! Wake up!" Mirabella cried over her friend and new found lover as he layed on the floor, staring blankly up at her with frightening grey eyes. She took his glasses, one of the lenses cracked, off his face, checking his head, and screaming a terrified shriek when she touched his head where the bucket had hit. They had killed him. The only person who ever understood her, who had tried to help her, who had loved her, was gone. She clutched his glasses in her hand and the blood soaked girl stood up, her angry and piercing blue eyes glowing ever so slightly as they fell upon the crowd. The sweet, shy, awkward little Mira was gone in that moment. The old Mira was not conscious, nor aware of what was going on.This was someone completely different.The lights above her cracked and exploded over everyone, making them scream.

They had reasons to scream yes, because they would soon loose their lives. Every single one of those unforgivable scum would soon be begging for mercy, just as she had so many times. But, just as mercy was never shown to neither she or Danny, she would not show it to them. She killed them all. Some were held down mentally to the floor while their classmates trampled over them in attempt to get to the locked doors, while others were crushed between the bleachers trying to escape. Some where caught on fire. Some were thrown against walls and tables. Once the more disposable ones(over one hundred students) were out of the way, she moved onto the few whom had caused her and Danny the most pain through out their years. A group of just twenty people. She took her time with these. The ones who had just been the lackeys she mentally choked until they fell to the floor lifeless. The leaders though, oh she had fun with them. She levitated broken shards of glass and slowly cut them, every inch of their skin, and when she grew tired of ones screams, she would slit their throat and move on to the next one.

The very last one trembled there. This was the most hated one. A pretty little bitch who had made her life miserable. The one who had taken the video of her and laughed, only to later post it on the internet for everyone to see.The one who had planned the prank that had killed her beloved Danny. This girl had ruined her life. The girl looked up at her, begging her for her life to be spared, "Mirabella! Y-you don't want to do this! You'll regret this! All of this! For the rest of your life!"

"And what about Danny's life? WHAT ABOUT HIS LIFE!? YOU THINK HE'LL REGRET THIS?!" Mira's face suddenly grew darker as she stood over the girl, "Oh yes, that's right. He won't have a chance to. Because you killed him." With a snarl she swiped her hand through the air and a sickening crack sounded as the girls neck was broken. With her last victim out of the way, Mira left. She ran home. She found her mother had broken out of the closet, and unable to find her, went to wash the horrid blood from her skin. She filled the tub and stripped down, slipping in. The blood filled her tuba and looking down at her arms, still wet with the blood that had not only been poured over her, but the blood of the people she had killed, the emotional and scarred Mira suddenly snapped back into place and she began screaming.

The screams that escaped her filled her bedroom and woke her up, the young blonde woman siting up in her bed quickly, hysterical, biting down hard on her arm to muffle her screams and cries of fear at the painful memories that haunted her dreams. She laid back, sobbing and yelling into her pillow, trying to tell herself that what happened was all in the past. That it wasn't even her. That had been Mirabella. She wasn't Mirabella anymore. She was Annabella. Anna wouldn't do anything like that. Anna was a new person. Anna hadn't killed anyone. She hadn't killed anyone. No that was Mira who had done the deed. But even then, all the lights about her bedroom flickered widely and busted, things about her room, including her bed levitating.

She took deep breaths, clawing at her pillow, ripping them by accident with her finger nails in attempt to clam and sooth herself. When her mind was at least somewhat at ease, everything floating in the air dropped, her bed making a rather loud sound when it hit the floor. Her down stairs neighbors of course banged on their ceiling as if to tell her to shut up, thinking she was just playing around watching a scary movie or fooling around in bed, as they did every time she had one of her meltdowns. She couldn't blame them. It couldn't be easy living in the same building as a freak such as herself. She was just thankful no one had asked too many questions about this. She had seemed to muffle her screams, cries, and loud noises enough where people didn't think too much of them. After all, she was a young college student. Surely she was just a crazy adolescent who was just having a bit of college fun. Or so they thought anyway.

Carefully rising from her bed, she went to take a quick shower to calm her nerves and after that, as well as getting a quick glass of water, went back to bed, though she didn't sleep. She couldn't, for fear of being bombarded by more unwanted memories.

...

Anna got up early the next morning, figuring if she hadn't fallen asleep by then she probably wouldn't, and took to getting ready for college. She only had one class today. Her classes were pretty much spread out. She had one class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, another on Wednesdays, and three on Mondays and Fridays. She had Saturdays and Sundays off. It was good and less stressful that way. She first got dressed in the outfit she had picked out last night before heading bed, then threw her hair up, and lastly grabbed a biscuit and headed out the door, eating as she walked. She of course, had to walk to school, not exactly having the money to get a car in the past three months she had been in this town, but she was slowly working her way toward that goal. Until then, walking to school and work would just have to do. She sighed finishing her biscuit as she made it to the elevator and pressed the button, patiently waiting for it to come up and the doors to open.

[Avanhelsing]

"He makes the catch! Bailey has won the game! Alpine High wins the state championship! " The man said happily. He was dreaming he knew it. So what it was a happy memory. He was remmebring how his school had won the state championship in football thanks in no small part to one Mr. Tucker Bailey. His game winning catch had secured it for them. His team had carried him off the field in jubilation. They had come from behind and won it. Course it wasa double edged sword. That night his best friend had crashed his car into a pole and died instantly. It cast a darkness over the event. But the dream was just about how happy he had been.

Tucker woke up smiling and with a song in his head. Odd. well he had to get to class like now. He was late and he did not need to be. Hell he had to keep his GPA up or risk being kicked from the team. Not that they would do that to their star reciever. He had been signed to the school, one of the best football schools in the country. He had a plan for his life.

It was shaping to be a great day. Well Tucker thought it would be. He was a hopeful kind of guy. He woke up humming something jaunty. Why not it was his nature to be like that. He tried to keep a positive outlook on life. He showered and changed into a muscle shirt and some jeans. Standard issue football player clothing. He walked out with an apple and whistled as he closed the door. He noticed his next door neighbor. Anna he thought. He walked up behind her and smiled when he was next to her. "Hey, Anna! How are you this fine morning!" He asked happy. Just because.

[AHeartlessNobody]

Anna was getting a little aggravated. The elevator was taking so long to come up to the floor and she was never a very patient person. She shifted her weight from one side to the other and in fixing the strap of her backpack suddenly couldn't remember if she had placed her essay for her college language arts class in her back pack or not. Turning slightly without taking her backpack fully off, she unzipped it and began rummaging through her and just as she sighed in relief, pulling the essay out to make sure all the pages were there, when a very loud and overly excited voice spoke right next to her, scaring her and making her jump and drop her papers, the lights above flickering ever so slightly but thankfully not busting. She took a deep breath and nervously bent down to pick up her papers, looking up at him, her voice quiet and shy as usual, a nervousness to her posture at him speaking to her, as she always was when he or anyone else attempted a conversation with her, "I-I'm fine I suppose...."

Once she had all the papers in hand, she put them in order and in a neat stack, placing them in to her backpack just as the elevator dinged and the metal doors slid open. She moved shyly into the elevator, brushing a stray strand of blond hair from her face as he entered the elevator with her. He was always so happy. How couldn't someone just be that over joyed all the time? It seemed so against nature. Or maybe that was just her. She glanced over at him for a moment, studying his happy features, as well as his handsome face, not even realizing she was staring at him until his eyes met hers for a split second, making her quickly avert her gaze to look straight ahead of her, that same all nervous look coming to her face once more.

She was more than relieved when the elevator dinged, signaling they were on the 1st floor. She quickly made her way out of the elevator, keeping her head down as she walked. It was a good thirty minute walk to the college and the slow elevator had already made her a few minutes off schedule. She quickened her pace a little as she walked out of the building and moved to walk down the sidewalk, going in the direction of the university.

[Avanhelsing]

When she dropped her papers Tucker reached down and helped her pick them up. Well as many as he could before she did. Not an easy task. But he handed some of them back just for the sake of it. He watched Anna. There was something off about her. A sadness to an otherwise beautiful girl. A rose with thorns to try and keep people away. Excpet Tucker was a bit dense. he always tried to keep at something. His mission with Anna? To see her smile. Just once was all he wanted. He would get her to smile at him if it was the last thing he did. It was a flaw if you will.'

Once he got into the elevator he stared at the sign until he turned and looked at her. There was such a sadness to her. A deep desire to be a lone. A wall to keep others out. The wall seemed espically created to keep him out. Why? Did he remind her of something painful? Was this her attempt to keep him out? Why? They had been neighbors and the most he had ever coaxed out of her was a hello and I'm fine. He wanted to know her but she did not want anything to do with him. He was looking at her until he noticed their eyes meet for a second. There was something there. He looked away but was secretly happy. He had won a minor victory.

Once they got to the first floor he chased after her. He wanted to walk with her r better yet drive her there. She was late. He knew this since she had the same schedule every day. he read people for a sport. She was no different. "Hey Anna? Want me to drive you? You'll get there on time and I owe you for scaring you earlier." He offered fishing his keys out. His car was an old black Impala. It had been his brother's. He hoped she would say yes. He loved that car.

[AHeartlessNobody]

When Anna heard foot steps following her quickly out of the building, she was about to quicken her pace when her next door neighbor spoke to her, asking her if she needed a ride. She stopped walking and turned slightly, looking at him for a quick moment, her blond hair slightly hanging in her face, before she nervously glanced at her watch. She was indeed a few minutes late. Now she was torn. She could walk and likely get to her class late, which she really hated to do, or accept the ride from a boy she barely even knew and risk something slipping out that she definitely didn't want slipping. She shifted her weight nervously again from one foot to the other before she carefully nodded, "Okay." She knew this was a bad idea. A really bad idea. But it was just simple a car ride. How bad could it be?

She followed him a few paces behind, walking over to his car. It was an older car, but definitely a classic she had to admit. It was a nice car. She silently opened up the door to the passenger side and climbed on, the same worried look on her face as she refused to look at him. What if something happened? What if her powers, for any reason, got out of control while she was with him in this car? She had purposely avoided people, especially him, for such reasons. He reminded her too much of her past. Too much of Danny. Danny had been a lot like Tucker. Smiling. Always happy and cracking jokes. She had loved that about Danny. And being around someone who acted as Danny had wasn't helping to conceal her powers at all.

She buckled up and placed her backpack in her lap, her medium length straight blonde hair acting as a curtain between she and the boy in the drivers seat, as if she were trying to hide from him. Well, technically she was trying to hide from him, but surely he didn't know that. She bit down on her bottom lip as the car roared to life when he turned the key in the ignition and glanced out the car window, her body tense and unsure about what she had just agreed to.

[Avanhelsing]

Two victories in these many minutes. This was his lucky day that was for sure. He had gotten her to say something and now she was in his car. Go team. He started the car and looked at Anna. There she was hiding again. Well he thought she hiding something. It seemed to him she was keeping him a t a safe distance. But why? He had done nothing to her right? Odd. He drove for a few mintues before he got there. He parked and looked at her.

"So uhh Anna? Want me to drive you home? We could go get something to eat?" He offered. He was being a bit too free with how he was talking to her. Why not he was feeling lucky and she rarely got out. He had practice later but afterwards he would take her. Hopefully.

[AHeartlessNobody]

Anna was thankful when they finally reached the school after the ten minute drive. Even though it had only been ten minutes, that drive had felt like forever. She was tense, nervous, and oh so ready to just get out of that car. She was ready to just go into the school and hopefully not be tortured any more by having to be around another person. She unbuckled and reached for the car door handle, but as soon as she laid a hand on it, Tucker was speaking to her again. He was asking if she wanted him to drive her home. Or go get something to eat together. The old her. Mira. Mira might have agreed to such a thing. After all, Mira would have nothing to fear. It was going to hang out with someone. If this had been a few months before, she would have given him one of her shy smiles and agreed. But the old her was gone. She was Anna now. And Anna wouldn't -no she couldn't- agree to such a thing. It was too risky. Too dangerous for not only her, but for him as well.

Shaking her head quickly without meeting his gaze, she said nothing but a quick, "No." Before she climbed out of the car as fast as she could, going into the university. She hated doing that. She knew it might have hurt his feelings. He really was a nice guy. But nice guys were the ones to always get hurt. And she didn't want to hurt anyone ever again. She walked down the hallways, keeping her head down as she moved and trying to avoid bumping into anyone in the crowd of the hallways and people trying to get to their classes. She lucky made it to her class on time. It was a boring and a quick class. But, luckily was her only class for the day.

And hour and thirty minutes later, Anna walked out of her language class and sighed as she walked down the hallway, ready to walk back to her apartment. Thoguh, she only get about halfway there when something caught her eye. A cafe and in the window was a really good looking piece of chocolate cake. She considered it for a moment before she walked into the cafe, ordering both a piece of the cake and a cup of coffee. She sat down and within ten minutes her order was brought to her and she said a small thank you to the waitress before eating quietly, sipping on her coffee silently, glancing about at all the people in the cafe. They all looked so happy. Most of them were couples, while others were just there with friends.

It was then that a conversation came to her ears.

"Geez look at her. Who comes to a place like this alone?"

"Haha, what a freak."

It was a couple, sitting a few tables down from her. They probably didn't think she could hear, but she had. When she heard their chairs squeak as the two got up to leave, Anna turned her gaze on them and suddenly a chair pulled out, tripping the two of them so they fell to the floor. She gasped, looking around frightenedly. People laughed, obviously thinking the two hadn't been watching and hadn't seen the chair there. No one had seemed to seen the chair pull out on its own, but the scared Anna, as she han't meant for her powers to do that, making her want to get out of there as fast as she could. She immediately stood up, going as fast as she could to the door and as she was about to come out, someone was coming in. he yelped, bumping right into them and looked up wide eyed to see none other than Tucker.

"I-I'm sorry." She said quickly as she movd around him in a hurry to get out of the cafe, almost running down the side walk toward the apartment buildings.

[Avanhelsing]

Tucker watched as she left the car. She had really just crushed him. He had tried offer her a date but what had she said? No. Not even a reason. Just no. He would get her to accept eventually. He walked into the gym he had practice today.

After a few hours or an hour and a half the practice was over. He was covered in sweat but ready for anything. His hair was covering his face and honestly he did not look great. He walked out the door and decided to go to the cafe. He always went there after practice. He was fine that he went there alone. He did not care. He looked around and collided with Anna. How ironic. "Anna! What..." He said right before she ran out the door.

He chased after her. "Anna! Wait." He said running after her. Why not? "Anna wait for me. Can we atleast talk? You went into the same cafe as me. That can't be ironic." He said as he ran after her. it was easy for him.

[AHeartlessNobody]

Anna continued to run down the street and of course, to her bad luck, Tucker was following her. She quickened her speed, but it obviously didn't help much. He was an athlete and she was just a awkward girl who couldn't even out run a hippo if she tried.She, looking around warily for a way out of this situation and seeing none, turning a corner to continue her run. She shook her head, speaking quickly over her shoulder without stopping the run, "N-no! I don't want to talk! I just want you to leave me alone! Please!" She begged, turning another corner. Lights around them flickered somewhat as she made it to the apartment building. This happened whenever she got emotional and all of the tenants in the building, and even some of the workers, chalked it up to being bad electrical wiring in the apartments.

She pressed the bottom on the elevator frantically, trying to get the doors to open before Tucker caught up all the way with her. The door immediately slid open and she got in, pressing the bottom to go up to the fifth floor. The doors began to close and right before they could close all the way, Tucker had managed to slip in. There was a slight fearful look on her face and the elevator lights began flickering as well before the elevator shut down completely. She began pressing the bottoms to try and get the elevator moving again, silently cursing her powers for being so out of control.

Giving up on trying to get it to turn back on she turned, putting her back to the elevator wall, sliding down to sit there on the floor, her eyes warily on him, "We're stuck." Great. Who knew how long they it would take for them to get it up and running again or for her powers to kick the elevator back on. Until then, it wasn't likely they were going to get out any time soon.

[Avanhelsing]

Tucker definitely not like being told to go away. He wanted to talk to her. Or at least get to know her. He kept chasing after her hoping that she would slow down. oddly the lights were flashing again. They seemed to do all the time he had no idea why it did this. He looked at Anna as he got into the elevator. It was odd but he felt she had something to with this. He looked at the elevator.

Then it stopped. It was one of his fears to be stuck in a small cramped area and no way out. Yah he was terrified of this. But he did not show it. He kept his face the mask of happiness.

"Well this is not that bad. I wanted to get you alone so we could talk. Now we are alone and we can talk. No running away." He said smiling as he sat down on the wall. He looked at her. "So you owe me a chat Anna. I mean we have been neighbors for a few months right now. So why don't we just talk about stuff.. Like why are you so desperate to avoid me. I just want to get to know you." He said hoping she would tell him.

[AHeartlessNobody]

Anna didn't like being trapped in this elevator. It reminded her too much of the 'prayer closet' her mother would force her into. Small spaces always reminded her of that horrible time in her life. She was trembling her breathing harsh and she looked at him, her blue eyes wide and the blue in them glowing almost unnoticeably, her pupils dilates ever so slightly. There he was, smiling as if nothing was wrong. How could he be this happy? And why did he keep pestering her? Why didn't he just move on to some other girl and try talking her into a date? Anna wasn't even that pretty! She was weird and shy and awkward. It didn't make sense for him to chase after her like he had been doing ever sicne she had moved into these apartments.

"I don't want to talk to you, or anyone else. Why can't you just see that? I just want to alone!" As she said that, the lights in the elevator flicked few times more, as if coming back on, only to go out again. She was feeling claustrophobic in this place and scared with another person so close to her. The fear was apparent in her eyes as she quickly stood, trying to press the buttons again, even though she knew it would not work.

She stood there for a moment, her hands still on the buttons, pressing them down as she slowly looked at him from over her shoulder. This was the closest she had been to breaking down in front of another person since she had moved here three months ago. What if her powers got too out of control? Flickering lights? That was easily explainable and could be counted as electricity problems. But if things started flying through the air, how could she possibly explain that? Would he tell anyone? Would she have to kill him before he even got the chance to? She didn't want to. She didn't want to kill anyone else for the rest of her life if she could help it. But if she had to to keep herself safe and alive, then....she just would have to.

She took deep breaths trying to calm herself, her gaze still on him, "Not here. I can't talk to you here...I....being trapped in this thing scares me..."

[Avanhelsing]

Tucker looked confused at her. Were her eyes glowing or was he going crazy again? She looked terrified but so was he. There were a few times he had been stuck in a closed tight place. Once when he was little he had gotten stuck in a well. His older brothers managed to get him out after a few minutes but he had been so scared. He had sat there thinking if he would drown down there or not. That scared him alot. Then once his brothers had locked him in the cellar for about three hours. That, that had terrified him. His brothers had done it to toughen him up and it worked. He had come out of it a lot better.

He did not want to die. Not yet. He had a list of goals he had to follow. A set of things to do before death. He was not going to die in an elevator with some girl he had been trying to court. Trying being the optimal word. He had tried to get her to go out with him. why? Because he thought she was interesting. Silent but there was a sadness to her. She was differnt than the bimbos that followed the football team around. He want different. She also had been a battle to try and get her to talk to him. Now he had his chance to help her and he took it.

He walked to her and before she could react he hugged her. Just beccause he was scared to. "I.. know... I'm scared to. I keep my mask of glee to try and show the world I'm okay." He whispered into her ear. "Let's just sit here till it comes back okay?" He said letting go. His face was more serious.

[AHeartlessNobody]

Anna yelped softly when Tucker suddenly hugged her close to him and whispered into her ear. It remained her so much of her Danny. Any time Danny hugged her it was never when she expected it. She was tense, but didn't saw anything against the hug. It was the first hug she had been given since...since her mother had stabbed her in the back. Her body grew even more tense, as if expecting that same result with Tucker hugging her and was relieved when he didn't. She nodded slowly and shakily sat back down on the floor of the elevator, "O-okay." She curled her knees to her chest, her blue eyes going between staring him to glancing nervously about the elevator. It was all she could do for now until she was able to calm herself down a little more so she could focus her powers enough to get the elevator running again.

She took deep breaths, closing her eyes and calming herself very slowly. Her blue eyes opened a few moments after, glowing just a little more than they had before and in that instant the elevator lights flickered back on and the elevator began moving again. Her eyes lost their glow and she sighed in relief, standing back up. As soon as the elevator doors opened, she got out and gave a deep sigh, more than relieved to be out of that tight space, "I'm using the stairs tomorrow." She mumbled quietly to herself before she turned to look at Tucker, an unsure look on her face. She really didn't want to talk to anyone. She would much prefer to head to her room by herself and stay away from people. But even though she hadn't technically agreed to speak with him, it had in a way been implied that she would speak with him.

She glanced down nervously, shifting her wight as she always did when speaking to people and was at a lose for words, "Um....I....where should we go? To talk that is?" She asked almost inaudibly, looking up at him through her bangs, the glow in her eyes already having faded leaving just her natural aquamarine colored eyes.

[Avanhelsing]

Tucker had not expected that to work. He had expected her to push him away. Yet it worked He did not know what to do afterwards. He smiled at her. He was still happy. He looked at her and motioned for her to go to her place. Might as well make her feel safer.

"Let's go to your place. I feel like that we might be better at your place. Unless you want to go to your place." He offered looking at her. He was feeling happy still. He was out of the close area.

((Sorry for short post. Still on phone...))

[AHeartlessNobody]

Anna nodded slowly when he suggested they go to her place to talk or hang out for a bit, "My place is fine." She agreed, thankful she had thought to clean up after her little outburst last night. It wouldn't look at all too good if he walked in to her apartment to see broken glass and many other things thrown about as if a tornado had come through her home. She walked over to her apartment and unlocked the door, leading him in.

Her apartment wasn't much. It was rather plain in fact. Simple black and white colors for the furniture. No nic-nacs. A few movies were layed on the coffee table, but other then that no person items could be seen. The only personal items she did have were hidden away in her room, safe from the sight of this boy. No family pictures were anywhere in sight. How could she have any? Her psychotic mother had been the only family Anna had ever known and she sure wasn't going to keep a picture of the woman she had killed. Even if her mother had tried to kill her first, it just seemed wrong.

There was only on picture in the whole apartment in fact. It sat in a frame upon the side table next to the couch. It was of she and Danny. Danny stood behind her , an arm around her neck holding her in place and ruffling her blonde hair while she just laughed. It was a very playful picture, one they had taken on their first day of high school. If was so hard for her to believe all that time had passed. Back then she had thought she and Danny would always be best friends. That he would always be there with her. She would have never imagined she'd be living her life without her best friend/boyfriend. Sighing she walked into the kitchen first, asking him what he wanted to drink and once she had it, handed him what he wanted and sat down on the couch, taking a sip of her soda, "So....um....you wanted to talk?"