Story Info: This story is about a sheltered 14 year old girl who has been brought up by her religious parents to think that mutants are people who gain powers from demons. She has been taught to pray for their deliverance, but to keep far away, because these "powers" may be contagious. But what happens when she attends a rally of anti-mutant activist?

My Life As It Was

"Juanita Oberlin?" My cheer coach called.

"Here!" I answered. It was the end of May, and we were coming back from cheer camp and getting ready for the summer break. The other girls were laughing and holding up the multiple spirit sticks that we had earned throughout the week we were at camp.

I was so happy to be heading back to see my family. Nothing made you miss your extremely religious family than a bunch of peppy screaming girls.

I thought back to the past few days at camp and the boy that was harboring the demon inside him.

"Wake up, everyone! It's time for breakfast," Coach yelled.

I groaned and got out of bed. I wanted to make it to the cafeteria before the line got too long. Thankfully everybody else had the same idea.

It was extremely cloudy, and it looked like it was going to rain, so we went quickly inside the cafeteria with the other cheer teams who woke up early to get food. That's when it happened.

A boy, probably 15 or 16 walked in rolling a cart with trays on them. He was rubbing his temple, and then all of a sudden he started to scream.

The room got really bright, like light was coming from him.

"Everybody OUT!" Coach yelled at us. We didn't seem him again for the rest of our stay at camp. But we heard whispers that he was removed because he was one of them.

I shuddered as I came back to my reality. My parents had always told me to pray for people who were mutants, because prayer can fix everything. The ride home was long and soon we all fell asleep.

When I awoke, we were back in little old Tulsa, Oklahoma. I sighed. Nothing ever happened here, but at least this weekend I was going to Washington D.C on a school trip!

I had made sure that this summer I would stay as far away from home as possible. Sometimes being prayed over spoon fed all the time with the Bible could get really frustrating! I mean, can't I go out sometimes?!

The bus stopped at the high school, and all of us girls ran out to meet our parents.

"Mom, Dad!" I yelled as I ran over to my parents. My mom was clutching a rosary to her chest and beaming at me. I mentally rolled my eyes at the rosary. It was something Hispanic people always did….well in my family, anyways.

My dad who was African American, didn't really get the rosary ordeal either, but he was just as religious as my mother. They both embraced me with open arms.

We lugged my things to the car, where my sibling were waving, and headed home.

"Happy Birthday!" My sister Theresa screamed in my ear.

I had completely forgotten it was my birthday. I was 14 years old now. Just two more years and then I can drive! I thought self-righteously.

On the way home, there is this neighborhood that is rumored to only have mutants.

"Look away," My mother instructed. I complied just so I wouldn't have to hear her gripe about how I might catch these demonic powers like a cold.

The next few days passed my really quick, and before I knew it, I was at the airport getting ready to leave for Washington D.C with my other classmates.

My parents made a huge deal about praying for me, and it was a little obnoxious, but what can ya do?

The ride to D.C was a little turbulent, but the other kids made it really fun. It was at this time, I started hearing ringing in my ears. I dismissed it saying that it was because the plane was so high up, as I had never been on a plane before.

When we went to the hotel we were going to be staying at, I grabbed my friend Marissa, and headed to our room! I was so excited to be in a whole other state than dreary Oklahoma.

That night we chatted all night until we couldn't keep our eyes open any longer. That's when we decided to go to sleep. I turned off the light, and found that I could still see perfectly, even with no lights on. I thought it was weird but again I dismissed it until the ringing sensation came back into my ears.

It's just been a long day, I told myself.

I didn't know that my life as I knew it, would change forever.

A/N: So what do you guys think? Her powers will emerge next chapter, I just didn't want to immediately jump into it. Read and Review for what you would like to see in the story. Thank you!