Thought I was Alone Here (Niki)

[Cooper Liam Daye]

The sun was beginning to set behind the trees of Michigan Forest. Today had been a rather uneventful one, which for Cooper was a good thing. This meant that he didn't have any fights to break up, nor did he have to try and stop someone from killing themselves or someone else. It had been a few short days since he'd started this job. Nothing too intense had occurred just yet, but he was ready if it ever did. At least he was sure he was ready, he had just finished up a year's training at the police academy back home in Minnesota after all. He just hoped that all that training would prepare him for some of what could go down behind these walls. Sure there were some people in there that had been arrested, but some of them were just down right insane. Who knew what was going through these people's minds?

No one else it seemed was out in the area as he gathered up some sticks and leaves. Bringing them to a clearing in an area of the forest that was furthest from the facilities, he started to stack them before he lit them on fire. The smoke started to rise up and an aroma filled the air around him. His hand moved to his pocket and he pulled out a small leather bag, one his grandfather had given to him after he had completed his rite of passage a few years ago.

Opening it he pinched a little of the reddish minerals between his fingers, sprinkling it over the flames. This caused them to turn from their orange hue, to a blood red one. Standing near the flames he took in a deep breath. Cooper could still remember the first time he had done this with his grandparents when he was six years old. They had been the ones who had taught him to pray to the spirits of the land, to the great Wakan Tanka. Taking some dirt from the ground, he mixed it with some of the red minerals from the pouch in his hand, before rubbing a little on his cheeks and the undersides of his wrists. Moving around the fire, stepping sideways, one leg crossing behind the other as he moved, Cooper began to chant, saying a Siouan prayer of wisdom and strength

[Niki Hanley]

So far, it hadn't been as bad as she expected. Well, it hadn't been a vacation. Niki had gone through a lot so far, with meeting with counselors, and people trying to force her to talk. She didn't want to talk, not yet. She didn't want to sit there and bitch and moan about why she'd tried to kill herself to people who didn't know her, who only wanted to listen because they were getting paid for it. That wasn't what she needed. She needed some fresh air. Niki sat upright on her bed, adjusting the gray beanie on her head. Her hats had been her comfort items recently. Not a day had gone by here where she hadn't worn a hat. Luckily, that was the one thing that she'd brought a lot of. Every beanie or tam that she owned came with her. She had to at least have some sort of security blanket or she'd completely lose her mind. The blonde sighed, looking up at the ceiling as she pulled on her hat with her hands, pulling it halfway over her eyes before standing up.

Niki looked down at the ground, at her bare feet. She really wanted to go for a walk outside, and as much as she loved walking around barefoot, it probably wasn't the best idea. Her mother was always afraid that she'd step on a piece of broken glass or something and get an infection. Niki sighed, searching through her things and pulling out the first pair of leather sandals that she grabbed and buckling them to her feet. She looked down at herself, wondering if she should bring a hoodie or not. Meh, it wasn't too cold out. It was sunny, at least, and the hat kept her warm. Niki sighed again, walking out of her cell, down the hallway, down the stairs, and out of the building, immediately taking in a huge breath of fresh air as soon as she stepped outside. The grounds of this place were strangely beautiful. No one would ever expect the hell that people went through when they got here just from looking at it.

The blonde wandered around for a bit, her eyes drawn to the forest that lay on the perimeters of the institution. She'd always loved the forest. Just something about the pure nature out there, all the trees, and wildlife. It was so undisturbed and peaceful. Niki looked at the ground as she walked, hearing the crunching of leaves and grass underneath her feet as she walked towards and into the forest. Niki looked up at the trees, squinting her eyes through the sun as she ventured into the woods. She took a deep breath, smelling something burning. It was very faint. It didn't smell bad, but it was definitely fire. Curiosity got the better of her, and Niki tried her best to follow her sense of scent, finally stopping when she saw the source of the burning smell.

A boy sat on the ground, sprinkling something over the fire that changed the colour of the flame, and saying something that she couldn't understand. It sounded cool, like an incantation or something, though from the looks of it, the boy didn't seem like he was into witchcraft. Niki tilted her head, watching him as he performed this ritual. It was certainly something she hadn't seen here before, and she couldn't help but wonder what he was here for, and why he was out here in the forest, besides to do whatever it was he was doing now. Niki took a few steps towards him, not wanting to interrupt, but he had peaked her interest. He was moving around the fire now, and Niki watched, walking very slowly towards him. He had what looked like some red stuff rubbed on his face, and now Niki was just confused. Intrigued, but she wasn't quite sure what religion this was from.

Niki stood perfectly still, observing the boy, and had the strange urge to join him, but she decided not to. She didn't want him to think that she was mocking him or his rituals. That would be rude of her. So instead, Niki watched, leaning her body up against the tree beside her, as a small smile formed on her face.

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[Cooper Liam Daye]

The chanting had continued on, and Cooper had moved around the fire a total of two times. His head and arms lifted up unto the skies. Taking to a knee he bent his back, his forehead resting against his raised knee.

Grabbing the sides of his hood he pulled it down over his head, as his chants slowly came to a halt. The prayer had finished and the young man felt rather rejuvenated and that the great Wakan Tanka had heard his prayers.

Putting his hands down on the ground he started to slowly stand. One of his hands scooped up some dirt on his way up, so that he could put it on the fire in order to put it out before anyone else who worked there discovered it. Cooper wasn’t entirely sure, but he had a feeling if anyone discovered the fire that he would easily be fired. He couldn’t get fired, he needed this job. Without this job he’d be out on the streets.

As he started putting the dirt on the fire he felt something. It wasn’t as if something or someone had touched him in any way, no he felt eyes on him. Someone one was watching him, he knew it. Slowly turning he froze when he saw that he was right and he wasn’t alone. A person of the female persuasion was there leaning against a tree smiling at him. He swallowed hard, wishing he could pull his hood even further over his head.

Why was she looking at him? How long had she been there? Turning back around to face the fire, his hands moved to his cheeks trying to wipe away the dirt rub from them. He’d never been able to get it off without water before, so why was he trying so hard to do it now?

[Niki Hanley]

Niki watched with great interest, trying to figure out what on earth this boy was doing. It was definitely something religious, or spiritual at least. Niki wasn't really a religious person. In fact, quite the opposite. She hated organized religion. But she was a spiritual person, hence why so many people called her a hippie. That was probably why she found whatever this guy was doing to be so interesting, and cool, even. When she noticed his face, she didn't recognize it. Then again, she'd only been here for a little while, so she probably hadn't seen anyone yet. Or, maybe he was even more new than she was. She couldn't help but wonder what he was in here for. Maybe his parents saw him doing one of these rituals and thought he was doing witchcraft or something stupid like that. Judgemental people, who didn't understand anything that was a little bit different. That's how her own parents were. The moment they couldn't figure out what was "wrong" with their daughter, they shipped her off to some prison, basically, letting her fend for herself. There was nothing wrong with Niki, in her mind. She just got sad sometimes, and didn't really handle it in the best possible way. But there wasn't anything wrong with her. She wasn't crazy or anything. People were in places like these for murder, for crying out loud. No, she didn't belong here. Not with people like that.

Sighing, Niki looked up at the ground, her eyes growing wide when the boy noticed her. Oops. From the looks of it, she had interrupted something pretty sacred to him, and she felt kind of bad. He seemed a little embarrassed, maybe. Ah, she should probably say something so he doesn't think she was just standing there, starring at him like an idiot, even though she basically was. "Oh, sorry," she started, feeling her heart speed up slightly from nervousness. She hadn't meant to be noticed, at least not like this. "Uh, what were you doing? It looked interesting," Niki said, walking over to him. She really hoped he didn't think she was a freak or anything. He looked like he was trying pretty hard to get that red stuff off his face, and Niki looked at the ground now. She felt kind of bad for interrupting him. She only hoped that he was done with the ritual thing.

"Uh, I'm Niki, by the way. And sorry, for interrupting," she said sincerely, frowning slightly as she looked at him, her arms crossed behind her back. She looked at the remains of the fire that he had been dancing around. Whatever he had been doing, it had intrigued her. Maybe he could teach her a little bit about it. What it meant, what the meaning behind the dirt and the fire was, stuff like that. She'd certainly listen. It was interesting, and it was the least she could do for ruining his ritual thing.

[Cooper Liam Daye]

As he stood there back turned, and hands rubbing his cheeks, he heard the girl speak. An apologitec sorry, before she started to ask him what it was he was doing. Putting his hands back down by his sides, he lifted his head up and turned to face her direction. She had thought it was interesting? Inhaling one hand moved to his hood, pushing it back, down off of his head, the reddish stuff on his cheeks, seemed to be rubbed in, almost in sort of streaks on his face now, from all the rubbing. He probably looked even more ridiculous now than he would have if he hadn't tried rubbing it off.

"I was praying" he told her after a brief moment of silence. He might as well tell her the truth, really what else could he tell her? "I can't really do it anywhere else here. I thought I was alone out here. You probably think I'm sort of voodoo freak or something like that" he added as he knelt down and finished putting out the fire. Didn't want to leave that burning and catch the whole area on fire. Burning down a forest and a building would definitely not look good on a resume.

"I'm Cooper" he answered as he started standing once again. Hands moved to his jacket pockets, loosely placing them inside. "oh you didn't interrupt, I was done. It was just you know, wasn't expecting to turn around and see someone standing there" he said giving a light chuckle. It was an almost nervous sounding one, but what did he have to be nervous about? Wasn't like she could report him to staff...wait she could. Damn, but she didn't seem that kind of person, as least he was hoping she wasn't.

[Niki Hanley]

Niki watched, her blue eyes blinking as the boy had his back turned to her. She really hoped he wouldn't be mad or something like that. She was really curious as to what exactly he had been doing, and she couldn't exactly get a good answer if he was mad that she was there. She starred at the ground for a moment. Maybe she should leave now, before she made more of an ass out of herself than she already had. Niki looked up, hearing the boy speak. So he had been praying. Niki smiled, she figured it was something like that. Cool. She could respect that. It was certainly a unique way of praying, she had to give that to him.

"I can't really do it anywhere else here. I thought I was alone out here. You probably think I'm sort of voodoo freak or something like that."

Niki shook her head, frowning. She didn't think it was anything like that at all. The last thing going through her mind was that this guy was some sort of freak. Hell, if he was, then she was a freak too for finding it interesting and wanting to know more about it. "No I don't," Niki said, with a small chuckle. She'd seen a lot weirder stuff in her days, especially in high school. Or back in middle school, when she went through her brief stage of hanging out with the "goth" crowd. Now that, was some weird stuff. All the candles and chanting, incense burning. There was the hippie kind of candles and incense, and then there was the over-the-top kind. Niki had attended one of those sessions, and found the whole thing to be a joke. It was just a bunch of young teens claiming to be Satanists. They'd all grown out of it when they hit high school and kind of found out who they actually were. But what this kid had been doing, she hadn't associated with that memory at all.

Cooper. That wasn't a name you heard every day, but it had a nice ring to it, Niki thought. It sounded like a little kid name to her, for some reason. Just how certain names you associated with older people, like Erma, or Ruth. Those were old lady names. Names like Lindsey and Katie were teenage girl names. Cooper seemed like a little kid to her, maybe about 5 or 6. "Oh you didn't interrupt, I was done. It was just you know, wasn't expecting to turn around and see someone standing there." Niki smiled, nodding. Good, so she wasn't as much of a nuisance as she had originally thought. He probably still wasn't so thrilled about her being there, but at least he didn't seem too unnerved by her presence. "Sorry," she said again, chuckling nervously. She still felt like she was kind of intruding, as she watched him put out the remains of the fire, but she could stick around for a little bit. She hadn't met too many people at Michigan State yet, so maybe she could try to start up a conversation.

Niki hadn't exactly been expecting to have company either. She went outside, expecting a nice, peaceful walk through the woods, and then she had stumbled upon Cooper, dancing around his fire. It wasn't at all what she had expected, but she wasn't complaining. It was a nice surprise, really. Niki looked at the boy for a moment, tilting her head. "Um, what religion? If you don't mind me asking," she said, adding the last part quickly. She didn't want to offend him by asking his religious beliefs. It was merely for her own curiosity.