Idea: Reading Nothing

Summary: 

                                   (Note: This story takes place in the late 1800s) 

          We've all tried wishing on a star. Or on dandelions and birthday candles. Fact is, it close to never works. But, when it finally does, everything may not come out the way you imagine it.

          Aida Evens, like many naive kids, wish for superpowers. She doesn't specify the abilities just that she desires to have them. The wish doesn't come true until much later. Or at least, it isn't strong enough to be noticed for a while. Reaching her 12th birthday, Aida realizes that she has the unusual powers. The girl is able to move small objects without touching them, as well as read what others are thinking.

           The telepathy began a bit weak at first. Aida was only able to read a person's thoughts through physical contact, with the addition of hard concentration. But, as time passed, she was able to share thoughts with almost everyone without much effort. However, this power easily got out of hand, and she could not control the ability. The girl succumbed to the negative thoughts of her peers towards her, and fell into depression.

          It wasn't the sudden drop in her mood that caused her to be sent to the psychiatric ward, it was her telekinesis. As the telepathy had grown rapidly stronger, as had the other power. The secondary ability reacted with her emotions, and often caused supernatural harm to those who thought ill of her. Ex: classroom doors closing on the hands of bullies. Bikes running into walls. Or, in the most extreme case, a pair of scissors flying towards one of her tormentor's head. (She never actually killed anyone, or inflicted any sort of major injury.)

          That last act was what sent the girl into an insane asylum. Seeing as the institute was just getting to its peak of overcapacity, the patients were beginning to be treated horribly. Shock treatments were a normal thing. Lobotomies were being done to every other person. Luckily, Aida managed to get her hands on her own room, but only because it’s previous occupant had been recently killed.

          Aida somehow lives through the experience, sliding under the doctors' radar for a good stretch of time. One of the doctors believes her claim that she can read minds, and silently uses her for experiments. It isn't until he attempts to physically experiment on her brain, does Aida try to escape. Using her powers, the girl kills the doctor and his assistants with the objects that they try to use on her. She escapes, and hides out in the outside world.

           Using her superpowers, the girl ends up going more evil than good. Aida tries to avoid being evicted again, at all costs. Her morals have become a bit twisted from being around tortured psychopaths and maniacal doctors. At this point, there is probably no going back.

           But, because I have to add an upside to this somewhat depressing story, there is some good in her that can be retrieved. Tanner Richmond a quiet and stubborn boy, discovers the girl after she had just escaped a pair of police officers that had been hunting her down. Unlike the rest of the world, he doesn't immediately think ill of her. He follows Aida around. And, even if it sounds a bit creepy, becomes quite attached to her without really talking to her.  Tanner eventually wants to help her. The girl knows this, but refuses to believe it, thinking that everyone in the world is evil.

          Aida forgot that all she had to do was open her eyes in order to see the sun.

Characters:

           Name: Aida Evans

           Age: 12/13

           Physical Characteristics: Long brown hair that gets cut short whilst inside of the asylum. Grey eyes. Skinny in an unhealthy way, again because of the nuthouse. Small for her age, and very pale. Gains a scar on her temple from when the doctor tried to drill into her brain. Wears a faded blue dress that earns numerous tears and stains.

           Personality: Quiet and doesn't trust anyone around her. Aida tends to look to the dark side of things, considering the fact that almost everyone who meets her instantly thinks that she is a freak. Their negative thoughts affect her more than the positive ones.

           Name: Tanner Richmond

           Age: 14

           Physical Characteristics: Long black hair that kind of hangs over his eyes when not brushed back, which it rarely was. Brown eyes. Lean and strong for his age. Wears suspenders and a graying cotton shirt. He also wears a cap and doesn't own a pair of shoes. Missing a majority of his pinkie from an accident using a machine in one of the factories.

           Personality: Quiet and a bit stubborn at times. Despite the poor living conditions he currently has, the boy is optimistic about almost everything. Even though he doesn't have much to share, Tanner does his best to make Aida feel welcome in the outside world.