Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story.
CHAPTER 1. Awakening
The rain trickled down steadily and a cold breeze of wind made Marie shudder. She was running across the dark streets, shying way from the place which had been her home during her whole life. The tears made her vision blur, that's why she stumbled sereral times.
Kissing her best friend, Cody, he had come into a coma. It happened three weeks ago and he had not awoken yet. She could not bear for more her father's rejection, so she had left home.
The rumours had been spread quickly and now the neighbours were not frightened nor restrained when they declared Marie wanted to murder Cody but she did not achieved it.
She had already had the chance to feel guilty enough for those three weeks, and nobody was necessary to take part in it. She did not understand what happened. She had never experienced a so horrible sense as the one that she had when her lips touched Cody's.
At the beginning, both of them enjoyed the kiss, like any other couple. However, shortly after, when she held his face with her hands, she felt it abnormally cold. Marie opened her eyes and observed, with fear and angst, how Cody's skin had become pale, a deathly pale color. She perceived his face was suddenly flaccid, and then, his eyes opened and slitted, falling to the ground.
Since then, her aunt who had nerver felt interested to have any type of physical contact with her, going by what had occurred to Cody, she was reluctant to share space with Marie. Little by little, like if they had a silent pact, Marie started to see her father convinced by her aunt to do the same as herself, and her two only relatives were drifting away from her gradually.
She could not even go out, without people looked at her as she was a weirdo. She lived in a village and it wasn't strange that everybody knew who she was and what had happened with Cody.
Without being able to bear the situation for more time, the girl had taken the decission of leaving. She was not willing to remain in a place where she was not loved nor wanted. She doubted even if someone could love her again one day. Only two people had done it: her father and her best friend. The first one despised her and the second one was in a coma and it was her blame.
Succumbed in dispair, Marie only knew that she didn't want to touch anyone ever. Before kissing Cody, she had scarcely touch with anyone. At least, she had not had a touch which involved her bare skin for so much time so that happen what had befallen to her friend.
Running, she disappeared in the dense forest which surrounded the village, almost without realizing it. She did not matter the fact that the boughs were scratching her bare legs and broking her dress, just kept on going on between trash, shrugging into her coat.
She walked slowly, aware of anybody was going to look for her. Health authorities had surveyed her when they knew that she was the only person who was with Cody when he came into a coma, and they had done up thinking that the coma was due to some health problem that he should have, but they did not know what it was. Therefore, the police would not go after her, because they considered she had anything to do with the boy's coma. However, Marie knew the thruth.
She knew there was something not good in her, and it didn't allow her to approach others. Actually, she had always known it but had denied herself. Perhaps, that's why her aunt never went near to her, and deal with her from the distance. Marie would have rather started to be aware of it in not such a harsh way.
Step by step. Raindrop by raindrop. Tear by tear. Marie was starting to understand that she would never be back home, in spite of having no idea where to go. She was just fifteen, had a bag with her meager savings, and a curse that would haunted her to death. She had just to wait for the moment, after a life full of loneliness. A life that anyone would ever dream for him/herself nor for his/her worst enemy. Maybe, the wisest thing she could do was living away from other people lesdt hurting no one else never again.
The sound of an owl hooting made her look up. Marie stayed very quiet, gazing at the bird leaving the tree above her. The place was very noiseless at that moment.
The fact that she was alone in a forest frightened and calmed her in equal parts. Although the sky had its typical dark nocturnal color, the full moon was enormous, and thanks that, Marie could see what was around her. Hence, stopped next to the tree that that owl had left before, she dared not move a single muscle.
Her heart was pounding in her chest strongly, making her body vibrate to the rhythm that marked her hearbeat. She clenched her fists inside the pockets of her coat, a cold sweat running through her back. Silence was deafening and Marie only could keep staring ahead.
The moonlight fell projecting shadows in front of her, and they were not exactly from trees. Little by little, the were getting closer to the girl, slowly but surely.
Although Marie had it clear that she was not going to be hurt if those hooded people intended to harm her, because of her curse, she could not help feeling fear. However, she could not move. It was like if an invisible strenght impeded her doing it.
The new arrivals, worn in black, soon uncovered their faces. They were two young boys and a woman, who was in the middle of both of them.
The boy on the left had a strong constitution, blond curls falling over his forehead and an inoffensive appearance. His eyes sunk in an expressionless face, were staring at her.
On the contrary, the woman seemed more friendly, her face of amazingly pale, bracketed by short bright black hair. Unlike the others, she smiled at her.
The boy on the right was more slender than the other one and his hair had an attractive silver color. One of the corners of his mouth was slightly elevated. He was looking at her like if he knew something that she didn't.
Marie shrunk on herself, backing away. She was speechless, falling on the trunk of a tree. She couldn't look away from the people who had just appeared from nowhere and were going towards her.
-Easy, we're not gonna hurt you- the woman said, trying to calm her.
-Nothing's wrong, we're not gonna bite you- the boy with that bizarre hair color, mocked her.
-We're here to help you, my dear- she assures her, bending down beside the girl- We perfectly know who you are and what you're passing through.
Marie was so impressed that she could not talk back to her.
-Alone, with no home. Abandoned by your family because of something they don't understand- the woman continued, seriously- They don't understand your nature. It happened the same to us not long ago. You don't have to fear more, my dear, can have a new and better family.
-Did the cat have your tongue?- the only boy who had talked to her so far, laughed at her.
The woman gave him a stern look.
-Shut the fuck up, Pietro.
He shrugged, without erasing his mischievous smile to the girl.
The woman turned her attention back to Marie, who was looking at her in a different way. Fear was gone from her eyes, replaced by a glow of hope.
-You can come with us. We'll show you who you are, we'll protect you. You are not the only one humans discriminate for being different.
-Humans?- she repeated, with a tiny voice- What do you mean?
-What you hear, love- Pietro interjected again- You, me, all of us- he said, pointing at her, at himself and at his accompanists- are not like the rest. All of us here have our special charm. Show us yours.
Marie's eyes locked on his, like daggers. Her face had taken an expression full of bitterness and tears pile her eyes up again threatening to spill.
-I don't have any charm, but a curse- then Marie turned to the woman- If you know me so much, you should already know it.
-Any of the gifts we have can be considered a curse, unless you can't control it- the woman objected, almost reaching out to her- Come with us, my dear. We'll teach you to handdle it.
Marie looked her hand like if it was a shotgun which was pointing at her. She wanted to go away but it was impossible, since her back was stuck to the tree which she had been resting on.
Nevertheless, the woman didn't seem surprised at her reaction.
-We have something for you- the blond boy announced, talking for the very first time. His voice was rough and tough, in contrast to his angelic face.
He pulled out an small leather bag from one of his pockets and handed it to Marie, who seemed reluctant to take it.
-What is that?- she asked, suspiciously.
-Nothing's gonna hurt you- Pietro replied, snatching the bag from the other boy's hands, and taking out of it a pair of gloves. He let Marie catch them.
-Put them on if you are not sure- the woman advised her.
Marie looked, with her green eyes, those gloves, thin as silk. She could glimpse her slightly tanned skin through them. They suited her hands perfectly. She put them on, a little glad, since she had found out a temporary remedy for her situation.
-Come with us- the woman insisted- and in a short time, you won't have to rely on gloves, but only on the control you have over yourself.
-I don't know who you are- Marie replied, frowned- I don't even know your names.
-Warren- the blond boy whispered almost inaudibly.
-Mine you already know- Pietro said, shrugging.
The woman gave her a smile which did not bode well. However, Marie didn't realize it because she was too overwhelmed.
-Raven- she said, finally, with a hint of disdain- That was my human name.
-Perhaps... aren't all of us humans?- the girl questioned, confused.
Raven laughed in a way that was almost creepy.
-Humans...- she snorted- Can humans do this?
Raven's face became Marie's. The true one was too impressed to say anything. Later, she took the same aspect than before, but without showing Marie her real face.
-What are you?- Marie asked her, fascinated.
Pietro snickered, expecting his leader to answer. Warren narrowed his eyes.
-What are we, my dear- Raven corrected, with a crooked smile- Mutants, with a determinant genetic modification that made us more than simple humans. It is not any alteration, as you can see.
-Are you mutants as well?- the girl said, adressing to Raven's accompanists.
Warren rose an eyebrow, saying nothing. But Pietro had a smug smile.
-Mutant, but not a simple mutant- he laughed, proud of himself.
One second later, Marie saw herself accepting a rose that Pietro had brought to her. The strangest thing was that in those surroundings there were no rosebushes, and in less than a blink, she had Pietro almost above her.
-Do you teletransport?- Marie could say, clutching the rose against her chest.
Pietro pretended to be displeased.
-Not exactly, try again- he answered, snorting.
-We don't have time for this, Pietro- Raven interjected, grabbing Marie's arm and forcing her to stand- You decide, muy dear. Are you joining the Brotherhood, or not?
-What's that?- the girl asked, trying to absorb all that information.
-You will understand it at the right time- Raven answered, impatient- There are many types of mutants. Some of them join certain groups. The best place where you can be is with us.
-Take it or leave it, love?- Pietro interjected, a twinkle in his blue eyes.
Marie thought about it for a moment. She didn't have where to go. No one loved her. Those unknown people were so strange as her. The best thing she could do was going with her peers. Perhaps Raven helped her, perhaps they knew how to undo her curse... She got rid of that last idea. If she was indeed a mutant, it had no solution. Nevertheless, she could not pass up the opportunity. She did not have many options, anyway.
-I will join the Brotherhood- she concluded, with a shy smile.
Warren nodded, Pietro gave her his back and Raven hugged her, careful, she did not want to touch any bare part of Marie's skin.
-Well done, my dear- she sentenced, smiling her back.