Second Impression (Sebastian)

[François Laffont]

François spent the last hour or so training his power. He was getting a lot better lately, able to prevent himself from going too deep into someone’s emotions whenever he’d touch them. Of course, he still couldn’t stop himself from reading the feelings at the surface but it was still a huge improvement. Besides, feeling people’s contentment or shyness wasn’t so hard, anyone observant enough could read as much. He can live with that, or at least today, since he was in a good mood, he could. Who knows, had the training session turned badly, maybe he wouldn’t take this with so light a heart.

After spending such a long time reading people, or trying not to read people by controlling his powers, he needed some rest though. He liked people but digging to their core was draining. And he needed to wear those emotions off. For that, there was nothing as good as a walk alone around the grounds. He could deal with what he picked up then without risking adding more feelings to the mix. At least today he didn’t get anything too confusing out of practice. He hated when he suddenly realized that a calm and happy person was completely torn on the inside. He felt terrible when picking such emotions. He wasn’t sure if he should help and so admit he found out their deep secret or keep quiet and pretend he knew nothing of it. If only he could tell whether they wanted him to help or not.

He let his steps take him further away from the school and the people. He didn't have too much to process but it became kind of a tradition of his. He either wanted to talk to a friend and get it off his mind or he wanted to process things and today he chose the second option. It was quiet and a light shiver ran through his spine when the wind hit him. It looked like a nice day. Maybe he should linger a bit. His father certainly wouldn’t mind. It was so peaceful around here.

He arrived by the lake and stood there, his hands in his pockets, admiring the calm waters. There was something soothing about the place. Maybe the quietness of it. Ever since his power manifested, it was almost impossible for Franck to find such a place. Because if people may not talk, they always feel. He breathed in deeply. Oh well, it was time to head back home. Slowly, he made his way back to school, in no hurry.

[Sebastian Silver]

Sebastian had been at the library studying for most of the day,Trying to catch up on years of no schooling was an almost impossible thing. Having been staring at the same page for an hour and not retaining the info, he closed it in defeat knowing he couldn't shove another bit of info in his head if he kept it up for another hour. Getting up from the table he walked down the rows of books placing the one he was looking at back into it proper place.



At that moment he noticed the author name was Frank, he couldn't help but think of Franck one of the student he might on the roof the other day. To his horror Sebastian realized to late what he had done, he had allowed mind wander, it had only been for an instant but it was enough within a blink of an eye, he found himself standing in the grass by the lake.



To his horror he realized he didn’t just teleport himself, but the entire row of book shelves from the library with him.
Bookstands were not meant to stand on grass, proven as they started to fall one by one, spilling their books all over the grass. It looked like something out of a comedy, and would have been funny if it were only in a movie. The sound of crashing book shelves was accompanied by the splashing of water as he realized a few had tumbled into the lake as well.



Jumping back to avoid the bookcase falling down towards him, trying to avoid it crushing him under its weight, he hit something unexpectedly behind him. A grunt indicated it was a person he backed into, causing both of them to go tumbling onto the ground, Sebastian landing on top o the poor victim.

“I'm so sorry? Are you ok?” sputtered Sebastian as he climbed up off the flattened person below him, trying to do it as gently as possible. Realizing who it was that he crashed into was none other than Franck, his embarrassment flared up to new levels, his face burning red hotter than the sun.

"Oh Hi Franck.....are you...... ok?" Said Sebastian in a small voice, looking down towards the ground.



There had to have been hundreds if not thousands of books scatted around the lawn. He looked at the mess, having no idea where to start.

[François Laffont]

Something really weird happened. Something only here in Bellefonte Academy would it seem almost normal. Almost being the word here, since even there it was unusual. But still believable. Had Franck been a normal kid growing in a normal town and going to a regular school, the idea of books suddenly appearing in the middle of nowhere and falling to the ground was preposterous. At most, would it make a funny joke or an interesting photoshopped picture.

Franck startled as he heard the rumble. He turned around quickly, frowned at the sight of the stands and the books on the ground. That wasn’t there a minute ago. Nor was the guy in the middle of all this. He approached, hurrying the pace as he realized there was also the sound of water. Clearly whoever brought those there forgot about the light slope and now the books were sliding down into the lake. Not good. The man didn't see him however and ran right into him as he moved backwards to avoid being crushed by a bookshelf.

When he saw it fall down, Franck had startled again and when he received Sebastian, he held his shoulders but obviously it failed to help him hold still and it resulted in the two of them falling to the ground. Franck let out another grunt when air went back into his chest after the shock. He hoped Sebastian was alright or at least in better condition than he was.

Letting go of him, he rolled on his stomach. His hands against the ground, he waited a second for his lungs to catch in some air before sitting down. “I’m fine. Are you ok, what happened?” he asked as he turned his head to stare at him. Oh, he was so embarrassed and Franck wanted more than anything to sympathize with him, but first he wanted to know exactly what happened and how he ended up here with an entire row of books only to fall on him.

[Sebastian Silver]

“I’m fine. Are you ok, what happened?” Franck asked



Sebastian bent down to help him up, " I was in the library.... when I let my mind wonder...."



Suddenly Sebastian felt something wet on his face, putting his hand up to it coming away with blood on his finger tips, his nose was bleeding? But not only that the ground started to spin. Something was wrong he never felt like this after a teleport, but then again he never teleported thousands of items in one accidentally teleport before either. Struggling to stay on his feet or at lest not fall on Franck again he stumbled backwards before losing the fight with consciousness and falling to the ground.


Unaware, to him by the fact he was unconscious, he powers started to flair up rapidly teleporting to multiple locations before stopping at a cave entrance, anyone touching him would have had to hold on tight so as not lose their grip in the rapid teleporting.

There is just enough light coming through the entrance for someone to see something craved into the cave wall. It read Hell and had multiple tally marks below it as if someone had been keeping track of time passing for a long time. 

Sebastian stirred with a moan, still out of it but starting to wake up.  

[François Laffont]

He let his mind wander... And he wandered outside the library with an entire row! Imagine had it happened in class, all the students falling in the cold waters. So the guy could teleport, obviously. Franck doubted he just moved really, really fast and felt like bringing the books outside for a walk. But he didn't have the time to ask further question.

He was the first one to notice the blood coming out of Sebastian’s nose and he moved closer to him. “Hey are you okay?” he asked. To anyone else, in a regular school, a nosebleed would mean a hit of some sort, or that joke cartoons like to do when they were seeing something so sexy or whatever. He never really understood the point of nosebleed in those really. But here it might mean something worse, a power taking its toll. And Franck could feel he was getting dizzy so he grabbed Sebastian’s shoulders, trying to help him not to fall to the ground too hard. He could tell he was losing consciousness and Franck didn't want that.

He was about to let go, to tell him he’d go and get some help. But he never had the time because Sebastian suddenly teleported them. The feeling as they were transported to multiple locations in the blink of an eye was terrible and rather scary. Afraid he might let go and so end up somewhere unknown to him and, why not, in danger, he held onto Sebastian as tightly as he could. At some point, the rapid movements stopped however.

By that time, Franck was panting heavily. Feeling hard ground under them, he finally let go of Sebastian to have a look around. Where were they? He could see the cave but right now, not knowing where they were, he preferred not to trust it. His mind could not focus, trying to do everything at once: locate where they were, notice any potential danger and a way to communicate with the school to tell them about this little mishap. But when he heard Sebastian moan he remembered there was something more important to do and it was check if he was okay. He helped Sebastian to sit. “Hold on. Are you alright, where did you take us?” he said, trying to gently force him to open his eyes. The last thing he wanted was his friend passed out cold and he left all alone in the middle of God knows where.

[Sebastian Silver]

Hearing Franck's voice helped rouse Sebastian into opening his eyes. The sun was blindingly bright to him and he had to close his again almost as soon as he opened them. He could feel Franck's hands helping him sit up and was glad he left them there to help steady him, enjoying the warmth of Franck's hands on his shoulder and back.


"I'm...not sure...... give me a sec and I'll.....teleport us back."  Sebastian tried to stand but couldn't so gave up on the idea. Opening his eyes again he blinked hard a few times before finally getting used to the light. Looking around his heart sank, he knew this place all to familiar. With a surge of adrenaline rushed through his body, as he jumped up and ran over to the cave entrance. Confirming for sure what his mind already knew when he saw what was carved into the cave wall.


"No, no, no...I know where we are" Grabbing Franck he tried with all his might to port them to the school to the US to anywhere but here! His every effort only meet with a tiny flicker as they failed to teleport away, each attempt feeling like someone hitting him with a fist in his chest. Having to give up before passing out again. he sunk down to his knees lost in his own thoughts.

"This island ....I ported here a long time ago, it was shortly after my powers awoke. It was after the fun of teleporting all over the world wore off, I stated to feel very alone and abandoned. My power work off my subconscious and as a result telported me to this island. As far as I can tell it is no where near any other country, its just out in the middle of the ocean all by its self. I don't even think anybody even knows about it but me. My powers kept me here for 6 months before I final was able to stay ported away. It felt like Hell for me this .....island. Like it was a prison designed for me. The island of Abandonment is what I called it, and now I'm back here again." Sebastian sat with a blank look on his face trying to deal with one of the worst fears in his life, knowing he has failed to hold the tears back as they fell down his checks.
  

[François Laffont]

Sebastian was slowly emerging. Franck stood in front of him, blocking partially the sun from his face after he saw him close them again from the excess of light hitting his retinas all of a sudden. Right now, Franck really needed to focus on Seb. Because if he did not, he’d start freaking out about where they were. Please, if this was Crusoe’s island, let them be near the village with the nice people and not near the pirates or flesh-eating creatures. Usually it was other people’s feelings that got him unnerved but right now, it was his own. He was terrified, having no idea where they were.

Seeing Sebastian could barely stand, he forced him to sit down. “Just rest a little, you don’t look so good,” he said, worries in his voice. He was worried, the guy was his only way home. And just before Sebastian brought them here, for who else could have done it, he collapsed. He needed rest as Franck was pretty sure his power had something to do with his state.

While he waited, he checked on his phone. But no signal reached it. Damn! He knew it was a long shot but he still thought he had to try it. He startled when Sebastian just like that jumped on his feet. He followed him, ready to force him to stay still for a moment and regain some strength. But he froze in his back when the man said he knew where they were. Oh good, so they could get out. Maybe there was a town nearby, someplace with a phone. He had no idea where they were but if they could contact the school, surely they would get them. Because in his state, Sebastian really shouldn’t try to teleport either of them anywhere, not even ten feet from their current position.

He felt Sebastian on the verge of collapse again and he held onto him. “Hey, hey, just relax, it’ll be alright. Tell me where we are and I’ll get us out in no time. You, you need to rest,” he said. But Sebastian seemed quite shaken and it only made Franck all the more nervous. Please let there not be man-eating anacondas or cannibals around here. He knew this was silly, but he wasn’t able to think quite straight at the moment.

Sebastian started to explain. So he was able to teleport, well he kind of figured as much. He frowned a bit though as he explained how his power worked. The island of Abandonment, Hell, a prison... yeah he kind of liked this place less and less as he was talking. Unable to keep Sebastian standing any longer, he let him sit down but make sure he would not hurt himself. He could feel all of his pain and it was the worst for Franck. He hated when such thing happened, mostly because he felt so helpless towards this misery. He held Sebastian’s face, forcing him to look at the French boy in the eye. “Look, it will be all right. Just... get some strength and you’ll bring us back to school. You managed to get out once, you will be again,” he assured him. He really didn’t know how they would do that but right now he knew if Sebastian kept feeling depressed it would not help.

Franck sighed and sat down next to him. “So you can teleport yourself anywhere you like?” he asked, trying to help the guy change his mind from where they were. If he was depressed so would Franck be eventually and then who knows how long it would take for them to leave. And one thing he knew, his father would not survive spending six months not knowing where his son was.

[Sebastian Silver]

Sebastian listened to Franck's words as they made him feel better. It was not the same as it was before, the island was horrible because it heightened his since of abandonment when he was young, alone and afraid, which was not the case anymore. He had made friends, real connections with people, connections he didn't have last time. He was also alone on the island last time, now he was their with Franck.

Taking a deep breath Sebastian tried to relax, he looked out onto the island it was actually quite beautiful, it had plenty of fruit, fresh water and even small game but nothing to dangerous. He Smiled at Franck. "Yup anywhere that I want, the problem is that my power is far too easy to use, most peoples power takes a lot of effort to use. Mine takes a lot of effort not to keep teleporting away to random places. In fact ......that is what happened last time we were together, I wouldn't have left you standing there..... when you were nice enough to show me around...... I just lost control of my ....power. So you never told me what can you do?"  

[François Laffont]

Alright, so this island was a little bit scary. I mean, come on, it could be filled with all sorts of creatures wanting to eat them. Well, maybe not. After all, Sebastian said he lived there for a while so if he survived, they should too. What would they need? Honestly, Franck had no idea. He never was that much of a camping guy. Kind of ironic when you live by mountains but then again, he didn’t as a child, when he was back in France. Water, he supposed. And shelter and food and fire if they were to stay a lot. Well, shelter they got and he could see a lot of fruits n the trees but Franck really hoped they would be gone before any of them started to really need food or water. Best not think about it, he might as well get hungry.

He didn’t want to think about how they were lost in the middle of nowhere. So instead, he tried to focus on Sebastian. And talking might also help him be less depressed about being back here. Because Franck didn’t want to be depressed too, not when he had no idea where he was and no way of communication. He couldn’t call after all to say they were all right.

He nodded as Sebastian talked of his power. Must be annoying, to be transported anywhere without being able to stop it or even really wanting it. Had he been able to choose, it would have been a great power, but apparently he had no control. He reminded him of last time they met and tried to apologize, explaining he never meant to run away or anything. Franck was a little surprised that he would talk of this. Sure, when he turned around and didn’t see Sebastian, he wondered what happened but he took no offense. He just wished he had told him before running off. Not like he would have minded had he not really desired a tour of the school. “Don’t worry about it. I didn’t think any less of you. Erika kind of tricked us both with that tour,” he replied, giving him a smile along the way. He didn’t want Sebastian to feel bad about this.

It was now his time to explain what his power was. “Well, I... I’m an empath. I can feel what others feel. All the time. So I know what it’s like to have no control,” he said. Now, it was the moment Franck usually called the ‘make or break’. Some people just aren’t comfortable with someone able to read all of their feelings, all of the time. He would know now if Sebastian could accept it or not.

A thought suddenly crossed his mind however, as he realized what Sebastian said. “Does that mean you wanted to see me? Earlier, when you brought half the library with you?” he asked. He tried not to smile too much at the thought. He didn’t to get ideas and he knew he jumped very quickly to them. Sometimes, he really acted too much like a silly schoolgirl! He chuckled. “You know, bringing a date here is kind of a smart move, but I’ll need more to lie down,” he added although jokingly. Well, he hoped he would take it as a joke.