2012: This is my first fanfic so don't be too harsh on me please! English isn't my first language, Flemish is (I'm from Belgium), so warn me if there are any spelling or grammar mistakes!

Update: 2016 today. Longest. Time. Ago. Ever. I've gotten back on the train and started to rewrite my chapters. Don't worry, the storyline will remain the same, I just edited my writing style because I couldn't bear reading it… So, here's chapter 1, edited for the last time. Please enjoy!


Chapter 1: Sadness

In Bayville, the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters was completely empty and abandoned, or that was how it seemed to be. In the library sat a boy, all alone.

His name was Ray Crisp, the electricity producing mutant of the bunch. He had a bad temper and was quickly irritated, but also was a happy and funny person. Today, like always, he was the former. He couldn't concentrate at all, his eyes skimming over the page of the book that lay before him. A hand went through his orange bangs and found its way back to support his head. And boy, was it heavy.

He had been down for a while now. He sank away in his thoughts as he sat in his chair. He seemed so small in a library so big, and that's exactly how he felt.

'Why?' was the question Ray asked himself daily, because he didn't even know why he felt that way. He thought of a few words to describe his situation. Numb. Empty. Lifeless. It was that bad. An average mutant life was far from normal, and he was sad to realise he felt the most normal as could be. He smoothed out his knee-ripped jeans.

He talked about it though, mainly with Roberto, who he could vent to whenever he'd like. Ray was truly grateful for a friend like that, but still felt egoistic for not letting it make him happy. Eventually, he fell asleep on page 394 of his book.

Meanwhile, in Jean Grey's room, the tension was smashing. The girls of the Institute were preparing the biggest girls' room in the Institute for a small party. Since the X-Men and Brotherhood were no longer enemies, the X-Men invited the Brotherhood to come live with them and they happily obliged. Logan also contacted Laura to ask her to move in with them. It took Logan a while to convince her since she is the independent type, but he succeeded anyways. It turned out so that Wanda and Laura were attending the party as well.

Laura just got a large can of booze from the fridge, ready to bring to Jean's room. When she opened the door, she tried her hardest not to trip over the thousands of pillows (fetched from all over the mansion) sprawled on the floor. The first thing she noticed, however, was that the room looked kind of... cosy.

There were little lights hung on the ceiling, some in the shape of flowers and others formed like stars. Several small tables stood throughout the room, including a mini bar where Laura was going to put the drinks in. She walked, no, stumbled through the room to finally reach her destination, thanking her amazing balance. After having put the booze aside, she sat herself down and continued her conversation with Rahne.

"But doesn't it hurt, like, at all?" Rahne asked Laura with a face of morbid curiosity. She was watching Laura pick her nails with her claws right after she returned.

"Nah, Rahne. Sure, I cut myself once or twice, but after I got the hang of it, it became a habit. Also, I got my healing powers so I'm good."

The Scot swallowed, saved by the others joining the party.

In the library, time flew by as Ray remained asleep. He dreamt.

A white sky turned into a humongous black hole in which he found himself. His figure seemed lost in the all black space. Peering into the abyss, something caught his eye. A flickering flame, dancing towards him.

He woke up after that, a soothing feeling taking over.


So, that was my first chapter! This was more of an introduction chappie, but the real story is about to start in the second.

Feel free to leave a review if you like :)