Chapter 1 : The Cure

Say no to the cure!

We don't need to be cured!

You mutie freaks!

You should all die!

Rogue shifted nervously as she stood in line. The chants of both mutants protesting against the cure and of humans telling mutants to go in and get cured were deafening. Those mutants standing in line were filled with the same nervous and scared energy she felt filled with she was sure. The woman in front of her turned to look back at her

"They don't get it"

Startled Rogue looked at her "Excuse me?" surprised that this woman was actually talking when everyone in lined was either standing stoically looking ahead, hiding beneath hoodies that disguised who they were or nervously shifting their weight as they waited their turn and did their best to ignore the protesters.

"They don't get it, what it like not being able to control your own power, the ones protesting. I doubt a single one of them can't control it." Rogue shifted as the woman's words struck a nerve within her.

"Wha..." Rogue stopped to lick her dry lips "What's your powah?"

The woman glanced at her, assessing her it seemed "I...I have bone projectiles..." The woman trails off and looks at Rogue there's a sadness there in her eyes that Rogue recognizes. The pain of having hurt someone you care for.

"Ah...mah skin it's poisonous...I mean when I touch others I absorb their memories and powers if they're mutants knocks them put." The woman looks at her shocked.

"Oh honey...that..." the woman trails off obviously no idea what to say to the young woman standing next to her and instead only sends a pitying look at her.

The two women fall silent and shuffle forward as several more people enter the clinic and the line moves forward. Rogue shifts a part of her wishing that the line was moving faster and yet another part of her is wishing that someone, that anyone from the mansion would show up. That they would she her and storm up, then shake her demanding to know what she was doing and then drag her from here. Away from the hateful slurs that are being shouted from the two opposing picket lines, away from the fears, doubts and uncertainties plaguing her mind.

The woman taps Rogue on the shoulder, startled she looks up at her.

"Lines moving up sweetie." With that the woman shuffles forward, as Rogue follows slowly behind her. Taking a deep breath Rogue looks around her companion to see how many more people remain in between her and the guarded doorway. There are only four more people, excluding the woman in front of her, between Rogue and her turn to take the cure. Nervous fear wells up in her belly stronger than before causing her to take a few deep breaths to quell the feelings of nausea that coil within her.

The line moved forward again, and Rogue knows she has to make a decision now. Yes she made a decision when she left the mansion to come here, but she hasn't gone all the way through yet and there's still time she knows to change her mind. In the back of her mind she remembers Storm telling her that there was nothing wrong with her that her mutation wasn't a disease and some part of her is holding onto that. As long as Rogue can remember since the development of her mutation she hadn't been able not to regard it as a disease. None of the others really got it just how important touch really was. They took it for granted, they took being able to go swimming in a regular bathing suit during in the middle of the day with their friends for granted, and it angered and hurt Rogue that she didn't and possibly never would have that.

"I hope things work out for you sweetie." With that the woman in front of her entered the doorway and went into the darkness of the building. The door shut behind her with a heavy thud and with that Rogue knew.

Standing up straight she hiked her bag onto her back, and ignored the guard who was telling her that it was her turn now. Rogue turned away from him and she did the world exploded in flames and glass.

Frightened Rogue dropped to the ground, as did everyone else in line, she could hear the crowds screaming and dimly Rogue was aware of people scattering, or colliding in fists and blood. Gasping Rogue berated herself was she or was she not an X-Man or well X-Woman? Getting into a crouching position she got her bearings from the best she could tell someone from one of the sides had decided to throw some Molotov cocktails into the crowd. The two groups of protesters were fighting while innocent bystanders or mutants who had been in line for the Cure scattered. There were police officers trying rather ineffectively to calm things down as the street became alight with flames. Rogue looked around a few cars were on fire and there were definitely bodies on the ground.

"Hey you mutie freak!" A man yelled from somewhere to her right.

Rogue screamed in pain as the brick she assumed he'd thrown hit her shoulder. Whirling around her eyes widened as she took in the rather tall and muscular man that stood sneering down at her. Instincts kicking in she began backing up only to feel herself back up into the wall of the Cure clinic. The man laughed then called out.

"I got one cornered." Immediately several more men broke away from larger conflict taking place only a few metres away and joined the man in front of her.

"We're gonna do ya a favour you freak, we're gonna put you out of ya misery." One of the men slurred.

Laughing and jeering at her the men drew back their arms and Rogue barely had time to put her arms up to defend her head as more bricks were thrown at her. She never saw the bat being swung at her head until it was too late. Stunned Rogue dropped to the ground and quickly the men surrounded her continuing to strike at her with their fists, boots. Rogue struggled but only managed to get one good kick in before a sharp pain went through her leg as someone brought what was probably the bat down onto it. Screaming Rogue could feel blood filling her mouth as she bit her tongue at some point. No matter where she turned and how many hits she tried to throw none got her attackers off.

Oh god please someone please help me!

It hurts please make it stop.

I don't wanna be here, I just wanna be somewhere safe!

Then in a cloud of blue smoke Rogue disappeared. Leaving behind a group of rather startled men and a fire filled street.