A hundred thoughts buzzed into Avery’s mind, some their own, but most were not. Psychic impressions jumped right into their brain. A few months ago they’d applied to Ravenhold hoping to learn to control their powers for times like these.

The collar of their hoodie found its way into their mouth and they bit down on it, the mechanical and repetitive motion of their jaw chewing the fabric bringing some comfort. If their mother was there they’d get scolded, it wasn’t ‘proper’ for a fifteen-year-old to do, but she wasn’t there and Avery could take the little comfort the stim brought them.

There were so many people, far more than they’d ever been around back in the suburbs of Edmonton and their minds were not calm; waves of anxiety, anticipation, and excitement washed over Avery like a psychic tempest as they made their way through the crowd. 

Avery stashed their suitcase in the compartment under the bus and then walked up into the bus they’d been assigned. Climbing inside they looked for a free spot and found one next to a girl.

The girl sat staring out the window, her long, thick and wavy brown hair covered most of her bare shoulders. She wore ripped jeans and a tank top that had the sides cut out to make room for sugar glider flaps connected from her arms to her waist and sides. The cut up shirt revealed a couple of strange scars and an obvious lack of a bra, or need to wear one. When she turned to look at Avery there were black markings, like those of a sugar glider, around her eyes and a few cuts, old and new, on her chin.

“Hi! I’m Amanda!” The girl said, while her tone was soft, shy and friendly Avery could pick up the irritation deep beneath her facade. 

Avery removed their headphones and frowned at the strange girl. “I’m Avery…”

“Whatcha listening to?” Amanda asked, but her thoughts were much harsher; What’s this bitch frowning about, they’re the one that sat next to me?

“You don’t have to be so mean!” Avery snapped. It then dawned on them they had answered to Amanda’s thoughts and not words

“You didn’t say that outloud did you…”

Panic raced into Amanda’s mind, she had to get away from that damn psychic. She lost control and gravity inside the bus broke, Avery and every nearby loose object floating away. 

But Amanda wasn’t the only one in a panic, “I’m sorry… I’m sorry… it was an accident.’’ They repeated, going into a protective stance, covering their face with their arms as the memory of their father hitting them resurfacing, awaiting a hit that never came.

Avery couldn’t breathe, a panic attack hitting them hard. They did the only thing that they knew to fix it; bringing their hand to their mouth and biting on it – hard. The pain was like an anchor that grounded them.

Amanda’s power ceased and Avery fell a few inches back onto their seat. 

“I’m sorry…”

The fuck is wrong with her?

“I get punished for reading minds.”

Amanda pursed her lips. She didn’t speak but her thoughts were loud and clear to Avery; and I got punished for losing fights stacked against me. You ain’t special.

“You don’t have to be such a bitch about it.”

Amanda crossed her arms, leaning away from Avery, “Well normally the “bitch” is contained inside so it’s your own fault for being a psychic.” Her voice is low, only loud enough for Avery to hear.

“Well, it’s not my fault your thoughts are very loud, it’s not like I can switch it off!” 

Amanda leaned in and hissed, “Then sit somewhere else then.” Although the words were full of poison, Amanda’s voice was still laced with that fake softness.

“I will!” Avery snapped, drawing attention to them again. 

They got up and grabbed their bag, going to the back of the bus and flopping down in the furthest seat they could from her. 

Avery chose the seat next to a boy in a ratty black hoodie with the hood up, the split ends of long blond hair peeking out from under the hood and the drawstring missing.

The boy sat there half-asleep, his thoughts quiet, but the impact of Avery sitting down  jolted him awake.

To Avery’s surprise there were not one but two voices in his head; one clear, the other a strange distorted hiss. 

“Sorry… I’m Avery,”

He looked up at Avery when they spoke. He had a bit of stubble on his chin and his eyes were a slightly piercing blue. Around his left eye was a strange black marking and the sclera was black as well. “Thor,” he yawned. A strange inky ooze slinked up his neck and onto his cheek forming a strange mouth full of teeth, “and I am Ragnarok!”

Avery squinted at the ‘Ragnarok’ creature, the source of the mental static. “Your thoughts are weird, like old tv static, I can’t read them.”

The boy swatted at the mouth-thing but it retreated under his shirt, causing him to slap his own cheek. 

“Nobody asked you,” Thor spoke, his voice deep but still cracking.

Ragnarak’s  muffled voice came from Thor’s chest, “this kid’s a freak!”

“And you aren’t?” Thor snarled down at his own lap, “ignore Bastard.”

“I’m not a freak!” Avery snapped, tears threatening to erupt, “Why is everyone so mean today…”

“Sounds like something a freak would say!” Ragnarok gleefully said. 

Thor punched himself in the chest, hard enough that he bent over wincing. “Please, I’m begging you, just ignore him, he’s a bastard saying shit just to get a rise out of people.”

Avery didn’t look at Thor. “You don’t think I’m a freak?” 

“I’ve got a weird monster living inside me that’s trying to kill me. I don’t have the right to call anyone else a freak.” He said with a smile that pulled at his reddened and slightly swelling cheek, they could feel he was genuine.

Avery smiled back a little. “How did you get that thing inside you?”

It was then Ragnarok snapped. “That bitch fucking ripped me from my home and cut me open and turned me inside out! So I’m going to kill her precious little spawn!! I’m going to cut him open! And turn him inside out! I’m going to eat his heart and melt his brain into sludge!” As it spoke, Ragnarok slowly encroached on Thor’s face, his voice seeming to come from multiple points on Thor’s body, and soon Ragnorak’s “skin” had covered over Thor’s mouth.

Thor tried to speak but only choked noises would come out. 

Avery froze, not sure what to do. They could communicate telepathically, they knew it even if they hadn’t done so in years…

Thor had said they weren’t a freak?

 Avery projected their thoughts into Thor’s only to find his mind ensnared by Bastard like a cage.  

He’s really rude! No answer came. Can you hear me?

Thor isn’t here right now. Bastard’s distorted voice answered, soon turning into laughter.

Thor was struggling against it, and Avery felt compelled to act, but how? An idea popped into their mind.

They conjured up their worst sensory experiences; the smell of overcooked brussel sprouts, the seam of new clothes scratching against bare skin, wet greasy hands after doing dishes, chalk on the blackboard; sending it right into Bastard’s mind.

“Stop that freak! Bitch! Slut!” It screeched, drawing more attention, but it was pushed back and away from Thor’s face.

“Shut the fuck up already! Or I’ll go sunbathe on the roof in the nude again!” 

To this threat Ragnarok retreated completely out of sight, even leaving Thor’s eye back to normal. Avery could still feel its presence but it felt deep and far away in Thor’s mind.

Avery leaned back in their seat, a sudden wave of tiredness washing over them as their head buzzed and ached from the strain. 

“I’ve never done that before.”

“Well, it did help so thanks,” Thor smiled, seeming equally tired.

Avery smiled back. “It sounds very annoying,” 

“So fucking annoying.”

Avery couldn’t help but giggle. “Well, maybe if it misbehaves I can try that again. I don’t think it liked the Brussel sprouts.”

Thor took down his hood and swept his hand through his long greasy blonde hair. He’s kind of pretty, Avery thought, maybe he needed a shower and some skin lotion, but Avery was in no place to judge. 

“I really am sorry about him. It’s hard enough keeping him from taking over my limbs and shit, stopping his mouth is nigh on impossible.”

“Sounds and felt like it, I tried to reach you but couldn’t.”

“I could vaguely hear you but I had to focus too much on fighting him to respond. Distracting and annoying him is a much more effective help.” 

Avery nodded.

“Threatening him with the sun usually makes him shut up for a while but unfortunately I turn into a ripe tomato after only 5 minutes so it’s torture for the both of us.” In fact his face was already a little red, maybe it was a sunburn or maybe it was just dry skin.

“Oh same.”

“Good ole Scandinavian genes.”

“Is that where you’re from?” Avery asked.”I’m Canadian.”

“It’s where my dad’s family is from. I grew up in the States”

“Oh.”

There was a long pause as both of them took a moment to breathe after that confrontation. Avery took out some aspirin and popped two into their mouth hoping to disperse the headache growing before it would reach critical mass.

“Are you… excited to start a new school?” Thor asked.

“Terrified.” Avery answered, chewing the collar of their shirt once again, they could feel Thor wasn’t judging, “I was home-schooled.”

“That’s…” Avery paused trying to find words, “not good? But it’s reassuring to know I’m not alone.”

“Same actually.”

“I’m sure we’ll both be fine and we can look after each other as fellow former homeschoolers.”

Thor nodded and there was another pause. 

“Do… Do you have a phone?” Avery asked.

Thor got out his phone, its screen heavily cracked, and shared his number with Avery, and Avery shared theirs. Avery didn’t have any signal down in the United States but hopefully they would get a SIM card soon enough.

As the bus continued its journey there was a happy bounce in Avery’s foot. For the first time in their life they’d made a friend!

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter