Haunted by the Past (Doc)

[Nerissa Clemming]

Nerissa paced the apartment she shared with her sire. No one was there, which had become normal, but she felt far from normal. On a normal night she would be out pickpocketing, breaking into warehouses, making weapons, or even just exploring the city, but that hadn't happened for a while. For the past couple of nights she stayed in the apartment, avoiding the windows and staying in one room so that she didn't have to go around any corners.

She ran her hands through her purple streaked hair as she paced, vainly attempting to calm her nerves and settle her mind. This can't be happening! She thought to herself. She stopped pacing and took a deep breath. She didn't need to breath, but something about the action was a bit cleansing. As she stood there, a thought came to mind, reminding her of someone who might be able to help. She racked her brain to try and remember everything he said in those few times they met, hoping to unearth some clue as to where she might be able to find him, when a name crossed her mind: Winterbrook.

She looked at the entrance to the other room where the computer was located, a feeling of unease threatening to overwhelm her. She had never been so afraid to enter a room before, but she had to know where Winterbrook was. She pushed down her fear and cautiously walked to the entrance, her eyes darting around looking for anything that might pop out of the shadows she used to trust so deeply. When she entered the room without incident she sighed with relief and quickly walked to the computer. After a few searches she found the answer she was looking for and with renewed courage she left the apartment. With practiced ease she left the Flats and entered the sewers, following the same path she always took to leave the Quarantine Zone and enter River Rock. She walked down the road towards the station when something caught her eye, a young girl with dark hair standing on the sidewalk across the street and staring at Nerissa. Nerissa stopped walking and stared at the girl, her eyes wide with both disbelief and fear. Then like a scene from a movie someone walked in front of the girl and broke their eye contact, then the girl was gone. With a shiver Nerissa pulled the hood of her jacket down farther to block out everything around her except for what was right in front of her and began walking faster, her eyes glued to the ground.

The rest of her travel was a bit of a blur. The next thing she knew she was standing in front of an old building with many windows. She shook her head a bit, hoping to clear some of the haze, then walked into the building. To her surprise the door opened without a sound, revealing a sterile looking room with a few nuns walking around. Flashback of doctor visits flashed across her mind as she stepped in and cautiously lowered her hood. She smoothed her hair, hoping to look somewhat presentable as approached one of the nuns. "Excuse me, I'm looking for someone who works here. His name is Charles I think? I know him as Doc. Is he here?"

[Doc]

One of the abilities Doc had, was the ability to compartmentalize. When he was hunting, he didn’t let other thoughts about work, family or the like, invade. He focused on the matter at hand. The same was true with business, when he was at work, his mind was on work and everything else was closeted, until it was time for him to deal with those issues. Granted it was more difficult since his turning. Since his turning, his emotions had become stronger, namely anger. The last few weeks were tedious to say the least. He found his ability to control his frustration, had lessened. It was irksome.

Things were far from back to normal since the events over the holidays, so when Penguin Sinister came in and told him someone was there to see him, Doc immediately tensed. He frowned slightly as he wondered who the woman was, as Penguin Sinister added that she had ‘cabello purpura’, he gave her a blank look.

The nun pointed to her head, “Cabello purpura.”

For the most part Doc thought the Nuns were the best workers he had, except for the fact they didn’t speak ******* English. “What the **** are you trying to tell me? She nuts? News flash,... This is an asylum.. Lots of nuts here.”

The nun glared at him, anyone looking at her could tell that a lesser person would have let loose with a string of curses at him, But Nun merely glared and turned on her heel and left. Doc sneered at her disappearing form, as he straightened his desk and locked his files away. Standing, he adjusted his tie and headed for reception, where a woman was asking to see him.

As soon as he saw her, he realized belatedly, that cabella purpura meant purple hair. His apprehension based on the events over the holidays eased; only to be replaced because this was Lucretia’s Spawn. He had not seen or heard from Lucretia in weeks. He had even stopped her paycheck, thinking that might have led to a phone call. But it had not.

He stepped forward and held out his hand to her, “Hello Nerissa..This is a surprise. A pleasant one.. “ He added, “I trust everything is alright?”

[Nerissa Clemming]

Nerissa stood in the middle of the room while she waited for the nun to go find Doc and she cautiously looked around. There wasn't much happening at that time of night, or at least there wasn't from what she could see. She scanned the room and started to relax, when movement caught the corner of her eye. She turned and saw the girl again, standing on the far side of the room and staring at her, and Nerissa froze, not sure what to do. It took all of her concentration and willpower to not run out the door,so she stood where she was, staring at the girl. What did she want? Why was she here?

A voice inturrupted her thoughts and caused her to nearly jump out of her skin. Doc stood with his hand extended and she only registered the end of his greetings. She glanced back to where the girl was, but she was gone, so Nerissa turned back to Doc and shook his hand. "Hello, Doc. I'm sorry for barging in like this, but I was hoping you could help me. Is there somewhere private we can talk?"

[Doc]

Doc nodded to the receptionist in regard to Nerissa, “She’s fine. She’s a relative. I take full responsibility.” He gestured for Nerissa to precede him through the security doors, that led deeper into the asylum. He swiped the lock with his key card and help to the door open for her. “My office is first door on the right.”

In the back of his mind, he wondered what caused her to seek him out and he was barely repressing the the urge to ask her. But he wasn’t going to jump the gun. Doc wanted her to be comfortable, if he pushed her before she was comfortable, she could rabbit and he would never know. And if she did need help, he would have hindered more than help. This was Lucretia’s childe, he felt a responsibility toward her.

“I am actually quite pleased to see you. I haven’t heard from Lu..” He paused. Doc knew her as Lucretia, but others called her Pyper. “..Pyper since Phoenix left, and in turn, I had no news of you. I much relieved to see you.” He wasn’t the touchy feely type, but knowing that Lucretia was MIA.. meant Nerissa could be in a vulnerable position. However, it seemed Lucretia had done well in giving Nerissa a solid footing. Something a lot of sires are ******* pathetic at. Nerissa knew to seek him out.

As they entered his office, he shut the door behind them, indicating to the nuns, he did not want to be disturbed. Gesturing to a seat, “How can I be of service?”

[Nerissa Clemming]

Nerissa followed Doc to his office, keeping her eyes glued to the ground. She listened to what he said and frowned slightly. Doc hadn't heard from Pyper either, which worried her. She hoped her sire was alright, it had been a long time since she had seen her. She replied to his comment in a low voice, "I'm glad I was able to find you. I didn't know anyone else I could talk to about this..." Her voice trailed off. She still wasn't quite sure how to talk about her 'situation', heck she hadn't figured out how to explain it to herself. But that was why she was there, right? To get answers?

Her thoughts were interrupted when they reached Doc's office and she sat down in the offered seat, her hands folded in her lap. She was silent as she tried to gather her thoughts, not quite sure how to begin. The only time she ever talked about herself was with Pyper; everyone else only saw what she wanted them to see. She took a deep breath to try and calm her nerves, then asked in a quite voice, "What is you opinion on ghosts? Are they real or just a figment of the imagination?"

[Doc]

Doc took the seat opposite of Nerisaa, choosing not to take the seat at the desk, because he didn’t want a barrier between them as they talked. At her question, Doc quirked a brow and canted his head. He took a moment before answering. He presumed she had seen her first Wraith and it was startling for her.

“Had you asked me this a couple of years ago, I would have said no. But I have seen far too many things since then, to discount the reality of ghosts. I believe when we are turned, we somehow become open to seeing and viewing things in a different way. These different ways, mean we see things in a clearer reality than existed when we were human.”

Doc looked at her evenly, “I say ‘I believe’, because I have no science to back up my hypothesis. No science, apart from my own experiences. You are young, you have yet to come into many of the powers that will eventually be opened to you. One of those powers is the ability to see wraiths. And perhaps the ghosts, may actually be a wraiths. Although, my understanding of wraiths is limited, there is one that will came when I call and scout areas out for me. They are non corporeal, so they cannot touch or be touched. However, they can speak.. so it can be unnerving the first time you come across one, especially if it speaks to you. Does that sound like something you have experienced?”

[Nerissa Clemming]

Nerissa listened to him carefully and sat in silence for a moment while she went over everything in her mind. Could it be a wraith she's been seeing? The girl never spoke to her or was ever close enough to touch, but were wraiths always someone you knew? Nerissa frowned slightly as she fought with herself to tell Doc what had happened years ago. Not even Pyper knew this; it was a very closely guarded secret. She never thought about it in case it would overwhelm her, but maybe now was the time to share it.

"It might have been a wraith," She stated, "But this ghost has been appearing for a while now..." She hesitated, then sighed. "I don't know what all Pyper told you about me, but I spent most of my life on the streets. Not because I had to, but because I couldn't stay where I was." Nerissa wrapped her arms around herself and looked at the ground as her memories began to flood to the front of her mind. "When I was little, my only friend was a girl named Rachel. Despite what everyone said about me and the rumors that would fly around, she stuck close to my side. So close, that it cost her her life." She looked up at Doc with a glimpse of hatred in her gaze. "She was hit by a car driven by a drunk. Killed her instantly. My only friend was gone in a moment and I was alone. So I left. I've never been home again and I don't plan on ever returning. Harper Rock is my home now. But now, I see Rachel everywhere, staring at me from a distance. If that is a wraith, is it Rachel or is it pretending? I don't understand, why would she be here?"

She hoped that Doc would be able to answer her questions. If it was a wraith like he said, then maybe he would know how to stop it from following her. She loved her friend, but she didn't like having an image of her following her every move without saying a word or anything, which was completely unlike her bubbly, take charge attitude.

[Doc]

Doc leaned back after she explained. His gaze drifted off as he thought through what she had told him. Finally locking his gaze on hers, his brow furrowed slightly, “My understanding of wraiths, is that .. they are the soul… or apparition of vampires that cannot .. for someone reason take corporeal form anymore. So.. this friend of yours.. Rachel, correct me if I am wrong; was human not a vampire,” he paused, “ thus if she was human when she died, it would not be a wraith version of her that you are seeing now. So what are you seeing?”

Had Pyper’s absence led Nerissa to spend too much time alone? Possibly causing a mental image of an old friend to ‘appear’, in order to keep her ‘company’? But if that were the case, why would Nerissa be upset over it. Doc had not heard Nerissa say she was upset, but the fact she sought him out to get answers meant she found something odd or wrong about the incidents. Or could it be, that Nerissa has seen or heard something that is a danger, and her subconscious was trying to tell her. To warn her to be careful? Absently rubbing his chin, “Rachel.. when you see her, is she the age when you last saw her? The age when she died? Or has she aged as you have aged? For instance, if she died when you were both 12.. and now you are.. 20ish.. is she 12.. or 20ish?”

He had a lot of questions regarding Rachel, but first things first. He wanted to lock down the age.. or apparent age of this apparition that is appearing to Nerissa.

[Nerissa Clemming]

Nerissa listened to his musings and thought carefully about the questions before answering him. "She was definitely human. So she's not a wraith..." This comforted her slightly. At least it wasn't some creature using her form. She then thought about when she last saw her friend and involuntarily shuddered. That moment she spent so long to suppress came back to her mind as though it had only happened yesterday; Rachel's mangled body, the offending car speeding away like nothing happened, and young Nerissa standing there watching it all happen.

She shook her head as she tried to suppress the pain her memory was bringing back and said in a shaky voice "We were 13 when it happened. I knew her since we met in second grade, and the person I keep seeing is 13 years old. She hasn't changed a bit, physically anyway. She's acting so strange now..." Nerissa's voice faded as she began to get lost in the memories again. She could almost see herself sitting in the front pew of the church with her mother, both of them dressed in black, and a small coffin sitting right in front of her. She could feel tears stinging her eyes as she remembered the still body of her once vibrant friend.

[Doc]

“Well that would be my supposition..” he said nodding, as Nerissa commented, ‘So she’s not a wraith..’. Doc clasped his fingers together, tapping his thumbs against one another while continuing to listen to her.

So the apparition was the age of death. Nerissa had said she had no changed. Not physically. It could be nothing. Or it could be the key. He was curious, had Nerissa seen her friend die? Had she seen the wounds? And the apparition was appearing whole and unharmed to her now? Or had Nerissa not seen the evident wounds, and is recalling her, truly from the last time she had seen Rachel alive?

Why would it matter? If Nerissa was recalling her whole-bodied, while having been witness to her death, it could be a closer to a portent of a warning. Had Nerissa not seen her friend grievously wounded, the apparition could possibly be a subconscious manifestation of survivor guilt. Nerissa having a life that had been denied her friend. The one loyal person to her. Guilt could do terrible things to people. So her answer would be important, but it would also be one that might make Nerissa angry. She might think he was being unduly cruel.

Doc’s thumbs stilled. He softened his voice, “I wouldn’t ask this, if it wasn’t important. Did you witness her death, Nerissa?”