Every story has a beginning. Some are happy, others aren't. Mine wasn't.
I was born-so much to my knowledge-in Paris, France. I've never known who my parent's were, but I like to think that the Gypsy clan that took me in was my family. Madame Foresture and her sister Melinda watched over me. Until the fire. Then I was out on the streets in search of food and money. I am a mutant so it was hard for me to find any sympathy at all. So one day I stole from a woman, who I like to call Miss. North, the siege of attitude and bitchyness. She took me to America and broke me down; and breaking a gypsy of her spirit is horrid and rotten. Miss North had done many horrible things besides that though. But after "The Incident" I never protested against her commands ever again. It wasn't until a memorable day in my life came that I had been pushed into this direction that I am traveling now. So without further a due, let me begin my tale…
I scrubbed at the plates hard. The grease was sticking on, with no intention to let go. Besides the quiet scrapes, there wasn't another sound in the orphanage. All the children were upstairs in their rooms being as quiet as possible. No one was to make a sound during Miss North's nap hour.
Soap gushed into the holes in my hands and my eyes watered with grief. Yes, I have holes in my hands. They allow me to read things. I mean, I can touch something-anything-and I can know everything about it or anything that's happened to it. I can also do this with people. But anyway, like I was saying, I was washing the dishes.
"Susan." said one of the orphans. "I'm hungry."
I sighed and wiped my hands on a smelly old towel. I reached into my pocket and picked up the banana.
"Is this alright?" I questioned.
The boy nodded quickly. "Thank you." he whispered.
A small grin appeared on my face. "Now hurry to your room before-"
"-SUSAN!" Miss North screeched from the upstairs room. "Start my tea!"
"Yes Madame!" I called. Right, my name is Susan Foresture.
There was a knock on the door. I hurried to get it, but something stopped me, Miss North.
"Foresture!" snapped Miss North "You are never allowed to answer the door and you know that you filthy-just go back to finishing my tea!"
I turned away in a hurry. Crazy Bitch. I thought.
I was just into the kitched when Miss North called me once more.
"And put on your gloves!" Miss North announced.
I hurriedly shoved my hands into the scratchy wool gloves, concealing the holes. After, I walked to the door to find a man in a wheel chair, and another man next to him.
"This is Professor Xavier and Logan…What was your last name?" Miss North inquired gently.
"Didn't say none." the man named Logan answered.
The other man, who I assumed to be Professor Xavier, smiled at me. "Hello Susan."
I made a small smile back.
"May we talk to her alone?" Professor Xavier inquired.
Miss North shook her head. "No."
Professor Xavier was shocked. "But it's about-"
"-Fine fine, just make it quick." she finally said.
The two men led me outside to the sparse front yard.
"So Susan, you must be wondering why we're here." Professor Xavier said.
"I know why. It was your house I drew on, and I'm sorry about it. If you'd like I'll repaint it and-"
"-No my dear." the professor grinned. "That's not why we're here. We're here because we understand why you drew on the house."
My palms started to sweat under my gloves. No one should know my secret. I've been too careful.
"Excuse me?" I managed to fumble out.
"You know everything in an instant by touch. And you have visions you draw out.." the professor exclaimed. "I have a school, an institute if you will, that will be able to hone those skills of yours." he turned to Miss North, who had followed us out and was listening on the porch. "I will be more than happy to-"
"You're all freaks!" cried Miss North. She shot a piercing stare towards me. "You contacted them didn't you!"
"No Madame I didn't!" I answered.
"Don't lie to me!" she spat. She shuffled towards me, with her meaty hand lifted, ready to strike.
I closed my eyes. It would all be over soon. But my reprimandment never came. I looked up to see Miss North frozen in time.
"Now Susan. It's your choice." the professor began. "If you would like, you may come with us to my home. There, you will meet many teenagers like you. But if you want, you may stay at the orphanage."
I looked from the professor and his companion to Miss North, who had regained consciousness.
I swallowed hard. "Will I-"
"Ya won't be no trouble kid." Logan said. "Already have lots of other kids. One more ain't gonna do much. Especially since your powers ain't pyrokinesis or something crazy."
I smiled lightly.
"But you'd have to adopt her!" Miss North said, jumbling her words.
The professor smiled. "Where do I sign?"
I was left at the orphanage that night to settle the other children with dinner and appoint a new cook. I was also to pack my few things. I only took my gloves, coat and the Box. The Box is a regular, ordinary cardboard box. What it contains is special to me, and I'm not about to reveal what's in it just yet.
So I said my goodbyes and the next day I took a train to Penn station, where I met Prosser Xavier. He drew a cab and then we were on our way to the institute.
"I bet you're nervous." he commented.
I truly was, but I wouldn't let my nerves get the best of me.
"You shouldn't be nervous." the professor continued. "You'll be staying with people very much like you. And you'll be learning to control your powers and you'll attend school at a local high school."
I nodded slowly, taking it all in. Attending school? I had never in my life attended school, public or private. Madame Foresture had taught me my arithmetic and Melinda taught me how to write. Miss North could care less whether I learned or not.
"Today your new roommates are at school so you can tour around the manor for a while." he explained.
We pulled up to a beautiful building. It was laid out across a huge plot of land. The house was two stories high, probably more. Ivy and beautiful plants grew about the grounds and the walls of the manor. The front door was grand, and as I walked in I felt out of place.
"Come Susan, let me show you to your room." Professor Xavier said.
I nodded and followed him down hallways and up elevators. Finally, he led me to a quaint little room. There was a large bed in the center of the room. It was covered with pale yellow sheets and a white comforter. On the right wall stood a towering wardrobe and next to it a full length mirror. To the left of the bed there was a large balcony with glass doors that overlooked the city.
I almost dropped my box in contentment. This was better than what I've ever slept in.
"Thanks." I murmured.
"Not a problem." he smiled. "I want you to meet some others that live here. I set my box down and followed him to an elevator, where we met a woman with long, white hair waiting for the elevator.
"Hello Charles." the woman said. "Where are you heading off to?"
"Going to see Hank, Ororo." Professor Xavier answered.
I stepped behind the professor. Yeah, like he was going to hide me.
"Ororo, may I introduce you to Susan? She's come to live with us for a while." he said.
"Well hello there." Ororo said like she was talking to dog. "You can call me Storm."
We all got in and Storm looked at the Professor. "Charles? Have you heard from Evan?" she asked nervously.
Professor Xavier sighed and wringed his hands. "Now Storm, I know the holidays are coming but that shouldn't mean-"
The elevator door opened and the conversation ended.
Computer screens blinked. The air smelt of an odd smell, sort of like leather. There was a man in a lab coat who was turned to us.
"Hank?" Professor Xavier muttered.
The man turned around. I wasn't scared, just shocked. This was like a big blue gorilla. He had blue fur that contrasted with the white lab coat. he also had blue skin. His feet were bare, and were like another set of hands.
He smiled just as his eyes set on me. "So you're Susan?" he said. "You can just call me Hank, or Beast…what ever you prefer."
"Hit." I answered.
"Almost done Ororo." Hank said. "Just give me a half an hour."
Storm nodded. "I'll be out in the Greenhouse."
"Hank?" Professor Xavier inquired, as Ororo left. "would you mind helping Susan get her forms ready? I have to tend to something upstairs." Professor Xavier asked.
"Of course." Hank nodded. He handed me a few sheets forms. "These are for school." he explained. "I would fill out for you, but I don't know much about yourself."
I smiled and started filling out the forms with what I thought was valid information.
"So what can you do?" he inquired.
I set down my pen and looked at him. "I can show you. It's a lot harder to explain than it really is."
"Of course." he smiled.
"Can I?" I questioned, holding up a sheet of blank paper.
He nodded and I pulled off my gloves. The holes in my hands opened and greeted the air. For a few seconds, I readied myself, and then my eyes flickered, like in a movie, to a scene in the laboratory. My right pointed finger dripped with ink and I began to draw a scene from exactly two weeks ago. There had been much chaos; things were flying everywhere and I could barely keep up with myself. But I finally fished and I looked up at Hank.
"Marvelous." he murmured. "Absolutely marvelous!"