Feedback is welcome at [email protected]

This is my third fic in this "Fear of Darkness" Series.

Ami nodded at me encouragingly. "One more try, please, Boyd. You can do it!" I scrunched up my face, and concentrated on the beach, once again. A static shimmer enveloped my body, then I vanished in a loud burst of white. Sure enough, I materialized 3 feet in the air above the ocean. AGAIN! I plummeted into the damned Ocean. As I strode out of the lapping waves, I grumbled to myself.

[ When am I EVER gonna learn this? Do I need to? Why me? ], echoed my thoughts, inadvertedly. Kevin, who was sitting by the Tent nearby, peered at me, and smiled. "It's okay, Boyd. We all go through the same thing at least once. I remember when I first 'broke out'...." He went on to explain how he had broken out, and thought he was in a dream and that he didn't understand what was going on at the time. I listened to him, for a moment. I started to realize... I didn't deserve the situation that I had been in, and it wasn't ...my fault. Something inside me broke, a dam of pent up emotions. I stumbled toward Kevin, and fell face down onto the sand, before Kevin had a chance to react. I blacked out, my mind retreating into the dark, dark, deep recesses of my mind, as a hand touched a fire, and pulled back.

Kevin quickly turned me on my back. He looked really worried. He tried to rouse me by shaking my shoulder, mindful of my past. When that failed to wake me, he truly became worried, and panicked.

[ HELP!! Boyd's blacked out!!!! ], was his broadcast, in a volume that made every TP cringe as if a bullhorn just blared that into their ear. Kevin started to sob, but choked it back, "Don't go, Boyd! We need you. I need you too, even if I don't know why.." A white burst of light and noise materialized into Adam, with a worried glance. "You okay Kevin?" Kevin nodded, while Adam knelt before Boyd and attempted to heal him. He furrowed his brow, as the healing started, but faded away almost immediately. "Damn. It's not a physical wound. Kevin? What happened?"

Kevin looked at Adam with a lost expression in his eyes. "Ah..Um. We were just talking ... Ami was teaching him how to teleport... and he landed in the ocean again."

Adam interrputed, "He got this way from landing in the ocean?" Kevin shook his head no. "No... He was broadcasting that he wasn't sure about this whole thing, and I thought I'd encourage him."

Just then, Ami popped out onto the beach with a static burst. "Where's Boyd? I felt something wrong but... I can't sense too well within the Ship." Adam nodded. She looked at Boyd and burst into tears. "What's wrong with him? He's..." She laid her hands on my chest. She widened her eyes, and started gasping loudly.

A vision started to emerge in her eyes. What I had been through.

Thudding footsteps were heard starting at the base of the stairs on the first floor, leading up to a bedroom. Ami could see Boyd cringing inwardly in absolute terror. A crackling sound could be seen, but very faintly. Ami saw Boyd with eyes closed tightly, as to prolong the sight of his nightmare. A slowly ascending step could be heard thudding, as HE took a slow agonizing step. Ami could feel my horror and saw eyes widened in horror, as the key was heard turning in the lock. The handle turned slowly. The tall door creaked open. Ami struggled to continue the vision, beads of sweat forming on her forehead, and a clenched jaw. She saw me creeping backwards as far as I could. A brusque snarl was heard.

"Well, have you had enough, boy!? Do you need a beating?" Ami shuddered as she looked up into the visage of a ugly man, in his 40s, and clad only in overalls. His thick hand raised up in the air, as his face was set in a scowl.

The vision shattered. Ami screamed in agony, and toppled over, passing out. Kevin scrambled to Ami's side, and tried to revive her. Ami moaned softly, and slowly sat up. Adam looked sternly at Ami. "Are you sure you SHOULD have done that? You could have endangered yourself, or Boyd." Ami stared at Adam, her expression unreadable, face, and mind. Kevin begged, "What did you see, Ami? It could be important."

Ami's voice was flat and expressionless. "I saw... his breakout."

Adam prompted Ami, "......and?" Ami looked at Adam with a compassionate glance. "We need to help him. He...was beaten by his Foster Father. I felt a connection between Boyd and the father, although the love in his heart is no longer for his father, they are still connected." Kevin inquired, "Connected? How?"

Ami spread her arms, as to say she didn't know. Adam pondered this turn of events for a moment. Kevin gazed upon my still form, yet breathing. Kevin looked back up at the other two TPs. "What if we tried to help him deal with this emotional mess?"

Ami stared, gesturing her hand palm facing upwards, at Kevin. "How? We can't even fix our own minds. Let alone fix someone else's mind and heart."

Kevin had a resolute expression on his face. Adam knew that Kevin was determined, but what could they do?

[end part 3]