TeranikaSloane
10-24-2011, 04:45 AM
Survival Instincts - Synopsis.
Half way through the semester at Itico High, a new student arrives. Raqua Rannaca seems very innocent, with long brown hair and bambi brown eyes. She doesn't talk much though and remains a mystery to everyone, although not many of the rumours that start circling around her are the truth. A bullying ring is evident at the prestigous school with the school ruled over by two gangs, after discovering one such bullying incident taking place in the hallway of the school during lunch, the school finds that Raqua is cute and innocent. And cold and heartless. But most of all, Raqua is protective.
Survival Instincts - Prolouge.
"What, do you mean like multiple personality disorder?" Raqua laughed at Zakynthros, crossing her arms over her chest as she leaned against the classroom wall, staring out the window and the manicured gardens.
"No, I don't. With multiple personality disorder you normally are two people, with two names, and you have no memory of either one when you change between them. I have two personalities, one name, one identity. Tell me, Zak, what kind of girl are most guys attracted to?" Zakynthros leant back in his chair, studying his mysterious classmate intently. This was the longest conversation he had ever had with her. He thought the longest conversation anyone in his class had, had with her.
"Cute, I guess. Fun, energetic, funny. Much like you are, most of the time." Suddenly it dawned on Zakynthros what she was talking about. Raqua was cute and happy most of the time, an easy smiler with a contagious laugh. But Zakynthros was observant and he had noticed… changes… in Raqua at certain times. He had made a note to question her about it and that was what had started this conversation.
"Your second personality..."
"Yup, I realised a few years ago that I seemed to attract a lot of guys. At first I liked the attention but then... Around where I lived a serial rapist started targeting young women, with much the same physique as me. When they caught him I realised I had seen him, on a regular basis. He was a man who always walked his dog at the park across the road from our house. It woke me up. Made me terrified. Suddenly I realised I was in real danger of being targeted by some sicko. I started watching girls, mostly on TV like Ziva from NCIS and Xena: Warrior Princess. I took little notes in my head, stored away information and slowly began to construct another personality. Hard, brave, strong, my other personality comes out when my survival instincts are triggered.” Raqua took a deep breath and let it out heavily as Zakynthros rocked on his chair, taking it all in.
“The first time I noticed your change between your two personalities it was when that gang guy got up in your face at the school disco. You went from looking all happy and carefree to all closed-up. Cold. And like you were going to floor him, like you were perfectly capable of doing it-“ Raqua laughed, her normal, life filled laugh that made Zakynthros smile.
“I am Zak. I am perfectly capable of flooring him. It isn’t just how you act that makes your personality but the way you act and the things you do. I realised this when I first starting to construct my other personality. So I began learning martial arts, as it turned out I was talented at it. If I became my other self. I made all of this to protect myself, so I didn’t get hurt as easily. I don’t notice the transition anymore, some people make me change with out doing anything to me. I guess I got like that after my parents died in that car accident and I started going through foster home after foster home. When I go to a new school I keep that other personality up as a mask until I start to get comfortable with others. Of course, by the time everyone has figured out who I really am, I have already made friends. Normally the freaks or the outsiders. In my experience, they are the ones most likely to stick with you through anything, good or bad.” Zakynthros just sat there, listening to her. That last part was true when Raqua had turned up they had all expected her to do exactly what every other new kid did, which was sit as close to the most popular girl in school as they could get. There had been a moment of hesitation from Raqua, almost like she was scrutinising the class. Then she walked up to the empty desk beside the freak of the class, a skinny girl who always had her nose in a book, with a ragged hair cut and no fashion sense. She’d plonked herself down and everyone in the class disregarded her as nothing. But after a few days the two girls were laughing like they’d always been friends, arguing over what book was better and sharing each other lunches. It wasn’t hard to notice the change in the freak as Raqua mouthed off at the bullies and constantly turned to her for ideas and decisions. It was like Raqua had brought her to life.
“Why are you suddenly telling me all this?” Zakynthros asked, sitting straighter in his chair. Raqua smiled, a little sadly actually.
“I’m being moved again. To another foster home. Every family I go to they say the same. I go to a house that’s had the same kids there since forever and after a month or so, the family decides we’re all healed and sends us off again.” Zakynthros understood why this happened, he’d watched it happen. The process was slow, you wouldn’t notice it unless you fast forwarded it in your mind. Something about Raqua made even the most solid walls that you’d built around yourself crumble.
“When do you leave?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Can I ask you something? Whats something that both your personalities have in common? Raqua shrugged, a thoughtful expression crinkling her forehead.
"Both of them are... protective. I am protective. I made my fake personality to protect myself. And now I protect most people with it, although one is more verbal and one more physical than the other." Zakynthros nodded as he finally began to understand who Raqua was. She wasn't some strange alien thing but a girl. A scared girl. A protective girl. A girl who saw the good things in people, the dead people or the not-yet-hatched people and she brought them to life. Suddenly, a bell sounded. The bell signalling the end of school.
"I guess this is bye." Raqua muttered as she swiped her bag off the ground and rested it on her shoulder in one fluid motion. Zakynthros just watched as she headed towards the door, when she paused and turned to look over her shoulder at him.
"Zak.... protect her for me?" It could've been a statement but Zakynthros knew it was a question. Almost immediately he nodded and Raqua exited the classroom. He knew he'd never see her again and he felt sad. He knew he would miss her. He knew, now, that most people in the class would to. She was one very unique girl.
Half way through the semester at Itico High, a new student arrives. Raqua Rannaca seems very innocent, with long brown hair and bambi brown eyes. She doesn't talk much though and remains a mystery to everyone, although not many of the rumours that start circling around her are the truth. A bullying ring is evident at the prestigous school with the school ruled over by two gangs, after discovering one such bullying incident taking place in the hallway of the school during lunch, the school finds that Raqua is cute and innocent. And cold and heartless. But most of all, Raqua is protective.
Survival Instincts - Prolouge.
"What, do you mean like multiple personality disorder?" Raqua laughed at Zakynthros, crossing her arms over her chest as she leaned against the classroom wall, staring out the window and the manicured gardens.
"No, I don't. With multiple personality disorder you normally are two people, with two names, and you have no memory of either one when you change between them. I have two personalities, one name, one identity. Tell me, Zak, what kind of girl are most guys attracted to?" Zakynthros leant back in his chair, studying his mysterious classmate intently. This was the longest conversation he had ever had with her. He thought the longest conversation anyone in his class had, had with her.
"Cute, I guess. Fun, energetic, funny. Much like you are, most of the time." Suddenly it dawned on Zakynthros what she was talking about. Raqua was cute and happy most of the time, an easy smiler with a contagious laugh. But Zakynthros was observant and he had noticed… changes… in Raqua at certain times. He had made a note to question her about it and that was what had started this conversation.
"Your second personality..."
"Yup, I realised a few years ago that I seemed to attract a lot of guys. At first I liked the attention but then... Around where I lived a serial rapist started targeting young women, with much the same physique as me. When they caught him I realised I had seen him, on a regular basis. He was a man who always walked his dog at the park across the road from our house. It woke me up. Made me terrified. Suddenly I realised I was in real danger of being targeted by some sicko. I started watching girls, mostly on TV like Ziva from NCIS and Xena: Warrior Princess. I took little notes in my head, stored away information and slowly began to construct another personality. Hard, brave, strong, my other personality comes out when my survival instincts are triggered.” Raqua took a deep breath and let it out heavily as Zakynthros rocked on his chair, taking it all in.
“The first time I noticed your change between your two personalities it was when that gang guy got up in your face at the school disco. You went from looking all happy and carefree to all closed-up. Cold. And like you were going to floor him, like you were perfectly capable of doing it-“ Raqua laughed, her normal, life filled laugh that made Zakynthros smile.
“I am Zak. I am perfectly capable of flooring him. It isn’t just how you act that makes your personality but the way you act and the things you do. I realised this when I first starting to construct my other personality. So I began learning martial arts, as it turned out I was talented at it. If I became my other self. I made all of this to protect myself, so I didn’t get hurt as easily. I don’t notice the transition anymore, some people make me change with out doing anything to me. I guess I got like that after my parents died in that car accident and I started going through foster home after foster home. When I go to a new school I keep that other personality up as a mask until I start to get comfortable with others. Of course, by the time everyone has figured out who I really am, I have already made friends. Normally the freaks or the outsiders. In my experience, they are the ones most likely to stick with you through anything, good or bad.” Zakynthros just sat there, listening to her. That last part was true when Raqua had turned up they had all expected her to do exactly what every other new kid did, which was sit as close to the most popular girl in school as they could get. There had been a moment of hesitation from Raqua, almost like she was scrutinising the class. Then she walked up to the empty desk beside the freak of the class, a skinny girl who always had her nose in a book, with a ragged hair cut and no fashion sense. She’d plonked herself down and everyone in the class disregarded her as nothing. But after a few days the two girls were laughing like they’d always been friends, arguing over what book was better and sharing each other lunches. It wasn’t hard to notice the change in the freak as Raqua mouthed off at the bullies and constantly turned to her for ideas and decisions. It was like Raqua had brought her to life.
“Why are you suddenly telling me all this?” Zakynthros asked, sitting straighter in his chair. Raqua smiled, a little sadly actually.
“I’m being moved again. To another foster home. Every family I go to they say the same. I go to a house that’s had the same kids there since forever and after a month or so, the family decides we’re all healed and sends us off again.” Zakynthros understood why this happened, he’d watched it happen. The process was slow, you wouldn’t notice it unless you fast forwarded it in your mind. Something about Raqua made even the most solid walls that you’d built around yourself crumble.
“When do you leave?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Can I ask you something? Whats something that both your personalities have in common? Raqua shrugged, a thoughtful expression crinkling her forehead.
"Both of them are... protective. I am protective. I made my fake personality to protect myself. And now I protect most people with it, although one is more verbal and one more physical than the other." Zakynthros nodded as he finally began to understand who Raqua was. She wasn't some strange alien thing but a girl. A scared girl. A protective girl. A girl who saw the good things in people, the dead people or the not-yet-hatched people and she brought them to life. Suddenly, a bell sounded. The bell signalling the end of school.
"I guess this is bye." Raqua muttered as she swiped her bag off the ground and rested it on her shoulder in one fluid motion. Zakynthros just watched as she headed towards the door, when she paused and turned to look over her shoulder at him.
"Zak.... protect her for me?" It could've been a statement but Zakynthros knew it was a question. Almost immediately he nodded and Raqua exited the classroom. He knew he'd never see her again and he felt sad. He knew he would miss her. He knew, now, that most people in the class would to. She was one very unique girl.