Peppers, Pickles, and Panophobia [Toast & Sarella]

[Sarella]

LILLY MORGANO




"SAVE ME FROM
MYSELF"

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"LILLY SAMANTHA MORGANO!" I hear Mrs. Morgano scream. I still refuse to call her 'Mommy'. I roll my eyes. That middles name again. I hated it, since she couldn't give me a first name, she settled for my middle and last. I roll my eyes and walk into the kitchen.

Oh yea, I forgot about that. I left my shoes outside the closet. "You are supposed to put the shoes IN the closet! If someone were to rob us they'd get STOLEN!" She yells at me. Ever since she began understanding I wasn't going to cooperate, she's been using more "discipline" as she calls it.

"This is the fifth time this week!" She screeches, and I give her a blank look. "Just, go play outside." She tells me, and shakes her head. I open the front door and step into the cold. "Wait, Lilly!" She says, "You forgot your coat." She hands me the coat and I remember all the winters I spent huddles up in a corner breathing clouds.

When I finally make it out the door, I throw off the top layer of coats and continue my walk in a jacket. I go to the square and look around, then continue my walk. The crowd grows very thick, and I can barely see anyone. I'm getting ready to walk into a bakery and look around, when I come face-to-face with a person in the door.

IN THE DOOR! I scream and tumble backwards, then realize it was my reflection. I duck my head and crawl to open the door, all the while eyeing anything that might reflect me. I reach to open the doorknob, when the door bursts open and someone trips over me. My face hits smack on the pavement and I cry out in pain. I turn my head to see who trampled me.

[Toasty]

love peregrine
district six

I was having a rather peaceful day today, and I hadn't jumped or screamed for at least 5 hours. Quite the record for somebody of my... Personality. Ever since I was a baby I've had phobias of almost everything. And no matter how hard I ever tried, they'd never, ever go away. I just wanted to be normal, was the truly too much to ask? Was there no one in this District that could heal me? Our doctors are known to be better than the Capitols, and my family was rich. Was there really no one who could help me? The thoughts send images through my mind. Ones of doctors needles and knives, and I break out into tears- screams even. I hope I don't startle anyone, though they're usually used to it. The only one who really ever cares is Harper. She's a real sweetheart to me. But the images re-produce, poisoning my mind. I run out my door, grabbing my coat and hat, and dashing out the creaky, old rotten door. I run as fast I can can, forgetting my shoes, but I couldn't care less. I needed fresh air, and I needed to go someplace nice. Somewhere that didn't scare me. Maybe the square? NO, there were too many people for me to last there. I dash down the hill, rocks lightly injecting my foot with scratches, and the square and the college are fully in sight.

Oh, no. Please no. I couldn't last out here, there are too many things. I needed Harper, Or River. just somebody to help me. The hat gripped in my hand sways itself out, floating down to the ground. The images re-appear, and the visions of people kidnapping me, hurting me touching me, fill my mind. I was going to die today, wasn't I? I heard a scream, from that of a little girl, till my mind went fuzzy, and I soon passed out.

***

I'm-... In the square? How did I ever end up here? I'm... in the square. I.. am.. in... THE SQUARE?! Oh god no, someone help me. My throat was now clogged, and my lips frozen with fear. What am I supposed to do now?! My black jumper begins to shrink as I curl into a little ball, sliding my back against a wall, or a window. The only thing is my eyes are shut, and I feel someone make impact with my foot. There was a scream, one from before. The same little girl, I had hit before. Oh, no. I wasn't ready for confrontation. GOD, PLEASE HELP ME! My eyes shoot open as I stutter the words.

"I-..I-... apologize Miss, I didn't mean to trip you. Please don't hurt me...' [/colour] [/size] [/justify] [/blockquote]

[Sarella]

LILLY MORGANO

There is a girl, stuttering an apology. I stay in my ducked position, trying not to see any reflections, and then get another surprise. "Please don't hurt me..." and her words curve off. My eyes flash open. She hurt me, she scared me, and now...? I stand up, careful to stay against the wall were no windows reflect, and keep my grim expression.

I lean against the wall and try to use my coat to cover my dress. I turn around swiftly, without a word, and inch my way into the bakery. I use the last of my money on a small bag of four cookies . I'll eat two now, and save the rest for later. I lean against the wall, and again inch my way outside.

When I get there, the girl is still standing there, looking around frantically. She has the same look in her eyes of fear as I get when around reflections. She looks around 14, maybe 15, I don't know. Keeping my expression the same, I walk over to her and tap on her shoulder.

"Is something wrong?" I ask, then catch a glimpse of myself in a window and duck instinctively. I realize what I did, and stand up, using her body as a shield between myself and the window.

[Toasty]

love peregrine
district six

I still wasn't aware who I had tripped. my vision had gone blurry, and my senses were all jumbled together and dull. If I died today, no one would know it. not Harper, not Mum, not Pa, not anyone. I could barely make out a figure of a small girl, sizing up to around my hips. Was she the one I tripped? Was she the one I was deathly afraid of? Probably. She was the only one who could have been closer enough to me to trip. Well, is she was just going to walk off like that, I'd better find another way out of this situation. This time, minus the tripping. my head jerks from side to side, trying to find a path that doesn't look like it'll wield a handful of serial killers and kindnappers. None of them look satisfying to my naked eye. OH GOD, how I wish Harper was with me. To guide me, to help me; To make me feel comfortable, and safe.

My vision began to clear as my breath began to slow itself down. Was I conquering my fears? Was my body trying to help me? Nope. I feel a tap on my shoulder, followed by the innocent (or not...) voice of a little girl. For all I knew, this could be a copy of Myra. Some messed up girl that could slit my throat in seconds. oh, no. What if she could read my mind?! No... That' impossible. How far does my phobia even go? Reading minds, really? My breath quickens as I turn my head to the little girl, stuttering and attempting to gather my breath as I speak. I swear, my eyes couldn't be wider in fear, and my hair couldn't look worse.

"W-..W-What do you w-w..want from me? I've not done anything wrong... Don't... Hurt me, please!"

[/blockquote] [/justify]

[Sarella]

LILLY MORGANO

I stare in surprise at the girl, my mouth hanging open wide. She seems so... scared. I'm not a proffesional at handling other people's fears, but I know it can be comforting for someone to have a reassuring voice. Not that anyone ever did it for me...

I open the cookie bag and poke around inside. I just want to gain some trust first. I examine her firs, making sure she wasn't some escapee mirror girl, then decide she isn't. I grab a cookie, wrapping it in the clear plastic cover, and hold it out to her. I hold it there for a long time, then my expression goes back to usual and I'm ready to give up on this.

"Take the cookie and throw it away if you're that scared." I say, and nod my head at it when I shove it at her. Gently, but enough to hopefully get it into her brain I want her to take it. I smile, trying my very hardest to look nice.

[Toasty]

love peregrine
district six

It was just a little girl. I shouldn't be afraid of her, right? Wrong. Who knew what she could do? Myra was vicious, she could be too. I had to be cautious, take all the safest paths. The one I was about to go down was not the safest. She-.. was reaching in her paper bag. What was in there? a Knife? a bomb? poison? No... it was just a cookie. Why wasn't I afraid of cookies? I'm not sure. you'd imagine I would be. Virtually, I'd imagined I would be. Guess that's one step closer to being normal, right? I hope so.

I stare at the cookie in the little girls hand for a good 5 minutes, before she gets annoyed with my phobia problem. It wasn't my fault though, why I was so frightened all the time. It was the way I was born- And the point that my household is a wreck, full of mentally insane kids. Yea, that'd probably do this to me. I was shaking, more than a curtain getting blown by vicious winds with the window open. The outside world was the open window and I was like the sad, useless curtain. There for nothing. I'm still shivering and staring, as the little girl decides to break the barrier of silence, and speaks.

[/size]

"Take the cookie and throw it away if you're that scared."

She seemed pretty harmless now, but there were always possibilities. Not wanting to embarrass myself anymore, I reach out and grab the cookie in it's wrap. It was strange, accepting a generous offer from someone. This was probably the 1st time that's ever happened without my peeing my pants. I spoke, thinking thanking her was most appropriate.

"Thank you, little girl. C-...can we go a-..a-and talk somewhere more alone and quiet, please? I'd be better off there. And plus, throwing away this cookie would be a waste, would it not?

I was finally making conversation with somebody. Hopefully, the little girl would follow me as I inched my way around the corner of the building, into a slim alleyway lit by few street lights. And hopefully, she wouldn't hurt me.

[/blockquote]

[Sarella]

LILLY MORGANO

When she takes the cookie, I sigh with relief. When she asks me to follow her, and walks off, I try following her. It's no use, everything seems to reflect, everywhere. I'm ducking and doging, and occasionally shrieking, when I finally make it to an alleyway.

"So this is where you want to talk?" I ask, and look around, making sure I was safe from reflections. I look around the narrow passage, and examine every inch of anything I pass. I approach her, and take a bite from one of the cookies.

I chew and chew, then swallow. Chew and chew, then swallow. I finish the cookies and look up at her. She looks a little less frightened than when we were on the street.

"Are you gonna be alright?" I ask, "You look so frightened." I try for a caring face, and am not sure if I succeed or not.

[Toasty]

love peregrine
district six

As we entered the narrow street, my nerves calmed themselves down the slightest bit. Being out in those streets was terrifying- Anyone could snatch you up a any time and do unspeakable things. For all I knew... We could be being stalked right now. In this very spot. Oh god, how I hated being who I was. The few street lights lining the small street light themselves, obviously hinting night is going to fall soon. The lights around us, they flickered. What was it? A ghost? Just a malfunction? OH GOD, how I hated this place now.

How was the girl not scared? All she was doing was happily munching away on her cookie, as I gripped my between my right hand and it's trembling fingers. My hearing begins to buzz out as I hear the last of the few words the girls mutters to me.

[/size]

"...-Alright? You look so frightened."

Did she actually care about me? Was this feeling the one I lacked in my very own household? This girl was adorable once i thoughts about it. She was kind. And Adorable. But something seemed to frighten her as well. Maybe I should indeed get to know this girl, and we become of what the normal folk say: "Best friends." [/size]

"Oh, yes. I apologize for my... foolishness. I've been diagnosed with much too many fears than I can handle. Nearly Panophobia, if you will. You know, the fear of everything? But, lets not talk about that. What's your name? I'm Love. [/size] [/blockquote] [/justify]

[Sarella]

"I'm....Lilly." I tell her, fascinated... fear of everything? I've heard of it before, Panophobia, yes, I remember. Rare, like mine, but not nonexistent. It's not a phobia everyone calls bizzarre, at least, I've seen and heard people mention Eisoptrophobia as bizzarre, wierd, strange, funny, ridiculous. But everyone seems to understand Panophobia for some reason. "...Are you scared...of reflections, by chance?" I ask, out of curiosity.

I know there are no reflective sufaces around, but I can't shake the feeling we're being watched, maybe there is an unknown mirror around here.

[Toasty]

love peregrine
district six

I wasn't exactly sure why I was talking to this little girl, but it was comforting. She wasn't as intimidating as Myra and she didn't look suspicious at all. She was just doing something any other little girl would be doing: Snacking on sweets. There are other possibilities sure, but I had a special feelings inside for this girl. It was like she had a special little place for me inside, like she way some sort of a missing slice to my pie.

[/size]

"I'm Love... Are you scared of...Reflections, by any chance?" [/size]

Was this the source of her unknown screaming back at the square? Was it because of seeing herself in the mirror had nearly scared her half to death? Because it just so happened I did have a fear of reflections, but luckily, it was only if I stare into my reflection for too long. Which I made sure not to do every time I glance into a reflective surface. Maybe me and this little girl, Lily, could get through our fears. Together. [/size]

"Well, it just so happens I do. But only if I glance at myself for too long. How come? Do you have that fear as well? If you do, maybe we could try and break them together. Shatter them like they were never here." [/size]


And that concluded it. This girl definitely had a place in my heart and I planned on showing her what kind of girl I actually am. Not the one that shivers and shakes at the slightest movements that appear in the shadows.
[/size] [/blockquote] [/justify]

[Sarella]

Thinking over her suggestion, I tilt my head up a bit. "Uh...no. It might make them mad." Maybe I said the wrong thing? Hm. "Well, actually...yes?" I'm thinking it over in my head, tossing it to all side, making sure my body agrees. Here is the problem: Half does, half doesn't. Well, maybe I want to smash them a little more thna I want to run away from this scene.

"Where will we find mirrors to break?" I question, hoping it's not too far. I'm a bit shaky, thinking about the reflections.