"The Lightless" Chapter Five

Chapter Five

            Abby felt her emotions changing just after the police cars started to roll. She would be happy and joyful one moment then angry and sporadic the next. The officers in her car were looking more and more nervous and Abby was beginning to understand Shawn's plan. Of course, she though, make them think I am insane and they have me. The officers words to Josh ran like a tredmill through her thoughts, 'The Department of Corrections and rehabilitation…' This is fabulous, she thought, two years of work and I end up in a home for crazy people, but even as she thought she felt her emotions roller costing again. She wanted to scream, stop it! but she figured that wouldn’t help her situation any so she did her best to control herself. It was already obvious to the men with her that she was not normal and she had noticed them nodding to each other several times as if this was what they expected. Curse you Shawn, she thought angrily and pressed her face against the window looking behind them.

            "I want to see the warrant for my arrest" she said finally, thinking she should have thought of that long ago. The officer in the driver's side seat brought up a piece of paper and put it to her face. After a moment she nodded. She wasn't surprised they had one, she knew Shawn wouldn’t mess around. "Don't I get to talk with a judge before you check me in?" She asked. 

            "You will talk with judge Gibson tomorrow morning and he will tell you whether you will be released before your trial or not." They were now pulling up to the building and Abby bit her lip as her emotions when berserk. Obviously Shawn was trying to make her want to run but she was going to control herself as long as she could. The officer who arrested her came and opened her door, grabbed her arm and pulled her up. She turned to watch the car behind them and gasped quietly. Shawn was getting out of the car and even though she knew he was there it still made her tense to see him. He looked directly into her eyes and mouthed I win, then he smiled. Abby screamed and tried to pull away from the cop holding her. She could feel the fear emotion overwhelming her to the point of insanity.

            "Hey!, hey!," the officer said. And several of the other men grabbed Abby's arms and legs. They hauled her into the building kicking and screaming as tears ran down her face. Shawn ran up close and put his hand on her immediately she calmed and he pulled her out of the officer's hands.

            "Hey," he said brushing her hair out of her face. I'm here now; you don't have to be afraid." His touch made her nearly go limp and she had to lean against him for support. The officers looked weary and surprised simultaneously. "Perhaps I should take her to her cell and stay with her for a while, it might be best all the way around" Shawn looked at the arresting officer and slightly lifted his shoulders.

            "That's fine," the man said. "Chip, take them to WC08 and then come to the office." One of the officers began walking and Shawn started to follow him. Abby started to walk but she stumbled and Shawn took her in his arms carrying her the rest of the way. Officer Chip led them to a small hall with jail cells along one wall. He opened one that had 08 above it and stepped aside.

            "Put her in here," he said. Shawn laid Abby onto the cot and then quickly exited the cell closing the door with a loud mettle clang. Abby felt herself return to normal again but she held still.

            "Thank you Chip," Shawn said. "If it's aloud I think I should stay here with her for a few more minutes. You can go report to the Sherriff if that’s what you need to do." Chip nodded and left the room, releasing a breath of tension. Abby sat up and faced Shawn, her eyes completely unreadable.

            "I suppose you told them that I am Schizophrenic or something." She said.

            "Hello Abby." Shawn said softly. "You look beautiful when you're mad" Abby frowned and shook her head.

            "You don't have the slightest clue how to treat people like people Shawn, but maybe that's 'cause you're not one." Shawn stiffened.

            "I'm just as human as the next guy" he said.

            "I still think I can prove that wrong." Abby's words were bitter and thick with distain.

            "We're wasting time."

            "That's been our story from day one."

            "Abby. I want to talk this through but we have to be fast, so listen, we can work out our past issues later, right now we have to get you out so we can get you home. I-"

            "Get me out, you just got me in!"

            "I know but I just did that so you would stop your crazy, pointless search and come back to where you belong." Abby threw her hands up and gave an exasperated ah!

            "What business is it of yours that I am here? I can do as I please."

            "You know what I mean. The lightless need you," here he paused. "I need you Abby."

            "You know Shawn, three years ago that might have sounded beautiful to me. But you blew that whole thing up with ten gallons of gasoline and we are through forever." Abby turned away, staring at the dull gray brick wall.

            "Abby, I… so I got a little hasty. I shouldn't have done that I know. I should have let you fall in love on your own, I see that now. But can't a person make a mistake and be forgiven for it? I mean it's been three years… I want a second chance. I promise I would never to it again."

            "You would Shawn. It's just in you. You did it today, and you'd do it every day that I wasn't doing exactly what you wanted me to do. Feel exactly how you want me to feel. This is the consequence for having that ability. You chose your own fate."

            "I can control it. I know I can." Shawn's words were pleading and soft, tearing at Abby's heart. She bit her lip.

            "Shawn, I don't even know if my emotions of sorrow for you are truly my own. Love cannot exist without trust." Shawn visibly flinched. "You think Mr. Johnson could make you happy?" He said bitterly. "I can make you happy any time you desire it."

            "Leave Josh out of this," Abby said. "At least when I am around him I can call my emotions my own, whatever they may be." Shawn opened his mouth to speak then he suddenly turned his head to the left.

            "Never mind all this right now. My first duty is to get you back to the Lightless dimension so you can perform the duties required of you." Now, do you want help out of here or not?" Abby looked at the floor for a second. Ironic, she thought, he is my hero and my enemy at the same time- my capture and my savior.

            "Fine," she said finally. "What do you want me to do?" Just then the door opened, and an officer walked in followed by a young man Abby immediately recognized.

            "Josh!" she said, unable to contain her excitement. She rushed up to the bars and reached out her hand. "I can't believe your hear." Josh walked up to the bars leaving the guard to stand a few feet behind him.

            "Hello Abby," he said with a smile taking her hand briefly in his own. Then he turned to Shawn. "I don't believe we have met." Shawn extended his hand and inclined his head slightly.

            "Shawn Allburr," he said.

            "Joshua Johnson." Abby flinched as Josh shook Shawn's hand and looked fearfully at Josh, who didn't notice.

            "Perhaps you would be so kind as to leave us alone for a moment Mr. Allburr. I am sure you and officer Manning can find something to talk about." Abby bit her lip suppressing a smile.

            "If you desire a short time to say goodbye I suppose that can be arranged." Shawn said. Then he turned officer Manning, ignoring Josh's scowl, and said. "I need to speak with the chief officer if that is possible." The man nodded and they both left the room. Josh turned to Abby and smiled again.

            "I tried to bring a file but they confiscated it outside the building," he said. Abby laughed out loud.

            "Oh Josh, I know this sounds cliché but I didn't think I would see you again." Josh took Abby's out stretched hand again and looked at it.

            "I want to help you," he said.

            "I sure hope that means you don't believe I have a mental problem like they claim." She said. Josh smiled.

            "I spoke with officer Manning before I came in. It seems your friend Mr. Allburr told everyone you have Schizophrenia and are dangerous." Abby sighed deeply and let her shoulders sag.

            "Figures," she said softly. Then she looked up. "You don't believe that do you?"  Josh was shaking his head before she even finished.

            "No one will for very long Abby. Anyone could see that you're not like that, they just have to do tests so they know for sure… merely because of Shawn's lies." Abby brushed her foot against the floor.

            "Unfortunately that’s not true." She said.

            "Do you know what Schizophrenic people are like Abby? Hearing voices, uncontrolled emotions-"

            "That's just it." She said, cutting him off. "If Shawn is anywhere near, that's how I act." Josh gave her a puzzled look but didn't let go of her hand, instead he brought it closer to him.

            "Does he scare you that much?" His words were soft and concerned.

            "Actually yes, but it's for different reasons than you would think." She sighed. How to give a complete over view of a different dimension to someone who doesn't even know it exists.

            "Okay. Remember how I was trying to tell you about being able to sense when Shawn was close?" Josh nodded but remained silent. "Well, where I come from-which I'll tell you about another time-there are select people who can-" here she lowered her voice, glancing at the closed door, "who can control other people's emotions." Josh gave her a curious expression but let her continue. "I am not one of them, but Shawn is. When he is around me he can make me feel things, powerful emotions that I would otherwise not feel. And he tends to do it in a very controlling way; she added, looking to the side as if remembering something.

            "Where are you from?" Josh asked.

            "I know we won't have time to go into that right now. If you want to help me, we will have to focus on getting me out before we do background stories." Here she smiled in spite of herself. "I am actually curious about yours, very curious." Josh did not return her smile but looked deep into her eyes, searching them as if they were as mysterious as the ocean. Finally he spoke and his deep yet quiet voice made Abby get goose bumps.

            "Are you interested in my story or that of my great great grandfather and his family?" Abby snapped her head up opened her mouth slightly. She was about to speak, no longer willing to push the subject away, when something began building inside her. She frowned.

            "Go Josh," she said quickly. "He is starting to control me, go." Josh just stood there, his face unreadable. "Josh!" She said again, "don't be a stick, " here she sat down holding her stomach as the emotions began to build, "You can help me more by not letting Shawn get to you as well." Josh, who was now holding the bars as if wishing he could help her, nodded.

            "I'll be back." He said firmly. Then with one last desperate look at her he began to walk out of the room. She screamed as the emotion of anger welled up inside her; anger at Josh. "NO! She shouted. "No. He is helping me, he truly cares about me." She thrust herself against the door feeling it bruise her body. Suddenly an alarm went off and three men, including Shawn ran in the room. She glanced at the door just in time to see Josh being pulled away from it by two other Officers. Tears streamed down her face as her real emotions mixed with Shawn's artificial ones.

            "Abby!" Shawn said in a gentle caring tone. And immediately she felt herself relaxing. Hating it all she fought to stay mad, changing her focus to the real enemy. Shawn saw the anger in her eyes and quickly reached in grabbing her arm before she could jump back. She knew it was over again. Shawn was much stronger in his ability when he was touching the person. She could sometimes gain a little control when he was just near but when he was touching her he had full control of her emotions. She sank down to the floor appearing completely relaxed. Shawn continued to grip her arm and followed her down.

            "I think she needs me here tonight," he said to the officers. Is there a cot or something I could put in this hall way?" One man looked to the other who nodded. The first man ran out of the room and returned a moment later carrying a green army style cot. Shawn slowly let go of Abby's arm and stood again watching her. "Maybe it would be wise to bring the doctor in now to analyze her. Abby turned around and looked Shawn directly in the eyes. She saw the coldness in his eyes but it was nothing to the coldness in his voice. "That way I can help make sure it goes well." He said.