I felt a tear of sweat run down my neck as the lights above cascaded over my body and wreaked havoc on my vision - two feelings I was far too familiar with and yet could barely remember at all. I scanned the room, facing the audience, noticing that all the patrons easily qualified for seniors discounts on Sundays. Most of their faces were hidden in shadows or buried deep within their drink of choice, which I found to be somewhat comforting as it is easier to do what I do without watchful eyes.

"As requested.. welcome the lovely Jade to the stage!" A deep seedy voice rang over the PA system as the spotlight leaped to me and my own personal theme song began to play. Jade - for my eyes - and no more insulting than my real name which seems almost pointless considering what I am. A weapon. A machine. I don't deserve a human name because I am not entirely human at all.

I began to do what I do best, remove whatever small amount of clothing I have on and give the men a show. I was trained to do such things long ago and it no longer affects me the way it would a normal girl. I am unaffected by most things. The cheers or what could be more accurately described as grunts filled the room and deafened my own thoughts for a moment, providing me with a brief glimpse at peace. I've longed.. no not longed.. can I long if I do not feel? I've dreamt of being simple.. of being normal. My dreams, when they are not nightmares, are the only escape I know from my own very particular cell.

I looked up once more but something wasn't right.. a white coat.. a coat just like in my dreams.. my nightmares.. my memories. I watched it play out before me like an old horror movie - one about monsters - Frankenstein, a monster created by humans. Just as I was. And everything became white.. and strangely, red.

I suddenly felt myself being tugged at, shook, hit. My blood began to boil before and then a familiar tingle as my claws ripped through my hands and out into plain view. The cheers were replaced with gasps on terror, some men leaped from their seats to maintain a distance from me. Other girls began to take the stage, attempting to salvage whatever attention they possibly could.. but I knew it was too late.

"MUTANT!" An old man cried, slamming his glass of whiskey onto the bar top. "KILL HER!" Several more men chimed in with him, almost completely overwhelming the music, and filling my ears with hate.

"Get out of here, you freak!" My manager ran to the stage and threw a coat over my claws, hoping that covering them would repair the situation and quiet the rioting customers.

I scrambled to my feet, retracting my claws, and ran for the door, pulling the coat over my body as I headed for the exit. The cold winter air hit me with a blast as I left the club with my head down, hoping to somehow disappear. I felt alone.. and for the first time in a while, perhaps afraid. Can I feel afraid?

"Hey.. wait!" A gruff male voice called from behind me, and I quickened my pace so as to lose him. I did not want it to come to violence.. I did not want to be that person again.

Sirens began to sound from a few blocks away, they had called the police and I knew I was done for. I remember the stories about the tests done on people like me, tests I already knew far too much about. I never wanted to endure such a horror again.. not if I could help it.

I heard the sound of steel slice through the air and feared for the worst. He can't kill me.. but can I keep myself from killing him? Do I have any control at all?

"Wait, damn it! I'm like you."

I turned around sharply to see a man with claws so much like mine protruding from his fists.

And I fell.