Peppers, Pickles, and Panophobia [Toast & Sarella]

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.

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!"

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.

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.

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.