Ravenna Silvan Smith

Raven might as well have been raised at the Asylum. Her mother ended up pregnant with her while at the Asylum and well Raven was born one dark Halloween night. Her mother was a level three patient with a very severe form of paranoid schizophrenia. Knowing this the doctors had Raven taken to the local orphanage to keep a close watch on her. They never did find out who the father was but no one really cared. Her mother died shortly after Raven was taken away. She still doesn't know exactly what happened. Though she believes the woman killed herself. Growing up wasn't easy. She had a hard time making friends and she didn't like being around the other kids. She was the Asylum child, a freak. No one wanted to adopt her because of her family records and she was already showing signs of being like her mother. She was eight when she was officially diagnosed and shipped back to the Asylum.  

The official reports say that she was hallucinating and starting to scream while trying to claw at her own skin and anyone who came near her. The girl learned later that what really happened was that she had entered someone's nightmares and was experiencing it while awake. She didn't know how to control it at such an age so she felt like it was really happening. She was a level three like her mother. As much as she hated it, the longer she was there and sometimes in isolation the more she learned what her powers really were and how to control them. Every now and then she would lash out but she was better at control. She can enter others dreams while she is awake or asleep, it just helps to be in a meditative state. She can alter the person's dream world to what she wants (cause or stop nightmares). This was her favorite way of talking with people. She could have conversations with the dreamer and they would remember it. It helped her feel more connected to others. After many years of practice she can control which dreams she enters, it helps when she is asleep herself, and can even enter the dreams of those at the Asylum even when living in the caves. 

She was one of those that escaped, even helping in getting everyone on the same page so it was a success. Raven hated the Asylum because she had lived there most of her life and because even if there the place wasn't as bad as it used to be, it had it's moments. There were things that went on that were not on record and she hated being forced to take part in such things. She now hides out in the caves, still entering the dreams of those at the Asylum whom she became friends with. She would go out to get basic necessities but for the most part she hides out in the dark caves, enjoying the first taste of freedom she ever had, even if she was in hiding.

Six and a half hours gave her enough time to book a hotel. She went with something cheaper and under a fake id. She didn’t want to be herself, she already didn’t feel like herself and it was driving her mad. This was completely unlike her. If she wanted to get away she would just go to a spa for a couple of days to de-stress. But this little adventure wasn’t to relax. If anything it was going to be toxic. Raven never did anything wrong so she figured she would not be Raven and slip into comatose like state. Maybe then she wouldn’t feel, maybe then she would be free. It was a twisted concept but it was the only one she could think of. Her mind was just not working and after years of hiding behind a smile she was breaking. Raven couldn’t think strait, couldn’t smile. She wondered if the real her was just as fake as she felt right then. She always put up a brave face, used to always have to fake a smile. Sure the last few years at Ashford were wonderful but she still had all of her pint up anger and fear that it was really starting to consume her. She just didn’t want her friends, her family see her that way so she ran. She ran just like Dani had told her to do.

It was evening and the city was bustling. She changed into club attire, a short open back lace dress and donned a white and black wig. She didn’t do it to avoid being recognized but to really become a different person. The club was upscale, loud and dark. She had acquired VIP status and slipped up to the VIP section and grabbed a drink before taking a seat at the lounge looking over the dancers. Laser lights and strobes lit up the dark club. Out of the corner of her eyes she noticed a few people join her. The guy was good looking as so was his arm candy. She didn’t really pay much attention to what they were saying, also the loud music made it hard to make it out. She did see the small baggie of pills. If this was any other situation she wouldn’t even be sitting there. Her reasoning for taking the baggie was that it was time to break free of her shell. It was time to stop worrying about everything else. To stop being the perfect child. She never did anything wrong and was still always yelled at it was a wonder she didn’t do something like this sooner. Something through her over the edge recently and she half wondered if it was because she kept it all in for so long that it was time for her to break.