Chapter 1: Strangers
A/N Hello! I am YourWeeklyApple! I have always loved fanfiction, and was tempted to get an account here. So I did. Please know I'm new so I'm not book perfect obviously, but i had a good friend of mine, McDragonRider, edit this for me. So please R&R. I love your words of wisdom! Now please enjoy!
I do not own any X-Men or marvel characters, they belong to Stan Lee and Marvel. I only own Rose, Tyreese, JC, Thomas, Chance, and Shaun.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A loud, heavy knock was heard throughout the manor making the once peaceful tone completely fade away. Immediately the house became spooky and ominous. There was nothing, but that simple sound echoed. And yet, who was it?
A tall man with shaggy brown hair and sunglasses covering his eyes arrived at the manor's entrance, yelling, "I've got it!" right before opening the door. What he didn't expect to find was two strangers, soaked to the brim and shivering madly.
The taller man was holding the small girl close to him, trying to keep her warm. His dark eyes were shining, reflecting the golden glow coming through the open door. A hint of terror and hatred also shone within them, yet at the same time a pleading look, begging for him to let them in. The small girl was unlike him. She raised a shaky hand and wiped a strand of her white hair away from her face, placing it behind her ear to reveal her bright, red eyes. They weren't like any cheesy cartoon characters red eyes however. They were kind, revealing her true personality: love.
She shivered, her lip quivering from the amount of days she had been stuck in the rain. She stared at the tall man for a long time before pleading out softly, "P-please sir… help…"
A voice rang through their heads; calm and subtle, protective and kind. "Scott… let them in… quickly."
The man, Scott, glanced at the two strangers. The one with pitch black hair looked at him, his neutral look now forced and pleading to be let in. Scott shook off the look and quickly gestured for them to come in. Both the two strangers waddled in; the girl shivering with her arms wrapped around herself while the man had his arm wrapped around her shoulder.
Scott quickly closed the door, all the while staring at the two odd people. He paused, another thought ringing through his head making him quickly say, "Follow me."
The two strangers looked at him, starting to notice the growing crowd around them, their eyes lingering on their odd grey forms. The man looked around at the crowd, his annoyance starting to grow before quickly walking off with the girl under his arm. They rushed through the halls, following Scott.
They soon arrived at a small door where Scott stood, waiting patiently for both of them. Once they appeared, he opened the door, letting them into a modest office lit by a couple of lamps. Inside sat a man in a wheelchair who was wearing a nice suit. His eyes lingered on the two of them for a moment. The man with black hair didn't like the feel of him; he felt like he was looking at more than just his appearance… more like his mind.
The older gentleman smiled and said softly, "Why hello there."
The small girl's red eyes glanced up at him. Her once terrified, pleading expression disappearing off her face, now replaced with safety and thankfulness. She spoke softly, "H-hi…"
The man smiled, then looked over at the dark headed man. His expression had the same look to it: thankfulness. The older gentleman said kindly, "My name is Charles Xavier. Who might you two be?"
The younger girl looked up at her companion waiting patiently for him to say something. He took a moment before finally clearing his throat, revealing his full crisp voice, "My name is Thomas Daniels. This is Rose Shlen. We have traveled far to get here."
Xavier took a moment, contemplating his thoughts before giving a smile and looking back out towards Scott. He said in a soft voice, "Scott, why don't you take Rose and get her dried off while I talk to Mr. Daniels here…"
Thomas flinched at hearing that. Rose could feel his arm tense around her and she looked up at him, her eyes trying to make him calm. He looked down at her; he knew that she could fend for herself. He smiled down at her and whispered softly, "Alright, go on Rose. Keep to yourself and be safe."
She smiled and walked off still holding her shivering self while Scott looked down at her and smiled, gesturing for her to follow him. When she did, Scott closed the door. Thomas watched him walk off, but then suddenly he heard a voice, "Thomas, would you now kindly like to explain why you came from the Prison in New Jersey?"
He quickly spun around on his feet looking at Xavier, surprise written on his face; he was flabbergasted. Xavier only chuckled and tapped his head. He spoke, without moving his lips. "I have telepathy Mr. Daniels. Now if you please..."
Thomas sighed with relief. So they were here. He looked down at the ground for a moment before saying, "You may want to relax, it's a long story."
…
Five years ago…
The five men stood in the prison cell, chatting among themselves. One of them, was Thomas himself. He was the skinniest of the five and his four companions all varied in their looks.
One was fairly tall and bulky; his frame at least 6'7". His shaggy grey hair covered his dark steel blue eyes. His jaw had a long deep scar along with some on his bare arms.
Another was small and rather pale; his skin grey and lifeless, yet at the same time living. His spiked silver hair covered his own orange eyes and he had a giant smirk plastered onto his face.
The next was the second tallest. He had the same type of frame as the first man except that he was filled with life and very energetic. His brown hair covered up the friendly amber eyes he owned. Tattoos of all types of weapons covered his arms.
The last was the scrawniest of them all, yet taller than the second. His grey hair and odd skinny body made him appear weak. The strange metal sheet-like wings connected to his back said otherwise. A giant scar slashed across his eye, yet it wasn't enough to cover up his kind emotions.
They stood about conversing with one another; discussing themselves and how they had gotten there. They were all good friends now; being stuck in one place with the same people for three years can create the most unlikely of friendships. Especially among some of the others who had been there even longer.
Cuh-Clunk!
They all looked to the cell door where a prison guard stood, taser in hand and a small person with a bag over its head.
The guard shoved the poor child into the cage letting him fall to the ground with a thud. The guard smirked and spat, "There, be with your own people. You freak."
He slammed the door closed earning a few sickened faces from the other prisoners. Particularly from the ones in the current cage. The guard laughed and walked away, gaining a few screams and curses too.
The tall man with fair grey hair took a step forward towards the trembling child on the ground. He knelt down and couldn't believe the sight before him: a child in this horrible place? It sickened him. He sighed and grabbed the child gently, trying to calm him while saying, "It's okay, kid, you can calm-"
He took off the strange sack on his head, revealing that he was actually a she. He stood there for a moment in quite a shock; the girl's crimson red eyes looking up into his own. She was trembling and tears stained her face. The tears didn't even scratch the surface of how petrified she was.
Everyone gathered around, staring at the child in shock. The first to speak was actually Thomas, he knelt down and looked into her scared innocent eyes. "It's okay… the others are gone."
At those words she burst into tears; her eyes flooded with terror and sadness. She clutched onto the large man's shirt and sobbed into it making him flinch. Not really knowing what to do, just going by instinct he slowly raised his hand and stroked her back trying to get her to calm down.
Her sobbing stopped and the next to speak was the one that was rather scrawny, "Hey, kid, what's your name?"
Her sobbing came to a halt. She looked up and stared with her now even more reddened eyes. She sniffled lightly and replied with a stutter, "R-rose… Rose Shlen."
Two years later…
It turns out the tallest was named Tyreese, the second tallest was JC, the scrawny one was Shaun, and the final one was Chance. They found out that Rose had mutant abilities and that was why she was there.
The only problem… she was weak. No one liked her there except for a few people: her cell mates, whom she considered family, and a few others. They enjoyed her and Thomas had vowed to teach her, given the fact that she was only twelve. Why the prison guards had put her with the men was still unknown and every time they would ask, the guards would just turn the other cheek.
So life was normal, until one day...
Everyone sat in the cell, patiently waiting for both JC and Rose to come back from talking with one of their other friends.
It wasn't till they heard a loud moan and heavy thud that drew their attentions. They looked towards the open cell door and saw the familiar white haired girl walking towards them with a limp. JC stepped heavily behind her then slammed the door and came to the others angrily. He roared ferociously, "Freaking Fernando and his gang jumped her! I had to come and get her before they almost killed her!"
Shaun rushed to Rose, looking her over before saying in his raspy voice, "Rose, come here, I'll fix you up."
She nodded weakly, and limped with Shaun to the corner while Tyreese looked after her, his mind racing angrily. He looked back at her and turned saying, "Rose, tomorrow morning, we're waking up early."
She looked up from her wounds and asked, "Why?"
A year later…
The whole group sat at lunch. Rose was talking to Tyreese about how to flank someone while everyone else actually ate. At one point, she spotted Fernando watching her and she smirked, earning a frightened look from him and his gang.
She looked back to her food before staring at it for a moment; something was speaking in her mind.
"Look at her…"
She looked up, a bit confused. She looked at her family and asked, "Did you guys say something?"
They looked up, confused by her comment. They all shook their heads and watched her oddly. Chance asked, "Rose, are you alright?"
She was lost again; the voices were coming back.
"Her and her freak friends…"
"That freak…"
"Why is she even here?"
She said suddenly, "Stop. Stop saying that."
Everyone went silent. Rose had a migraine coming on. She rubbed her temples and moaned. Tyreese asked, "Rose, you okay?"
Rose felt the pain increasing. She rubbed her temples harder. She could hear the voices get even more harsh and sinister.
"That freak…"
"She's a freak of nature…"
She stood up, her eyes glowing. She screeched, "SHUT UP!" Everything around her rumbled and backed away from her, making the room go silent. She trembled for a moment; everyone's were eyes on her trembling form. She wasn't shaking from the comments, she was shaking because of herself.
She felt something more and screeched as her monster took over.
Two years later…
Rose sat in her cell. She was reading a book and her right hand played with the collar on her neck: the only thing keeping her inner demons out.
Outside the cell, the others at dinner were discussing an important topic.
"Fernando huh?" Tyreese said first. All of the others nodded. Then Thomas spoke next.
"Yes, people are disappearing from each cell block. Our's is next. From what I hear they should be here next month. I also know they take the strongest first." Everyone's face paled. Did that mean Rose would be the first?
JC spoke quickly, "We can't let that happen. You can see what happens when they come back. They're just… lifeless."
Everyone nodded in agreement. After a moment, Shaun said, "We have to do something…"
Everyone sat in thought until Thomas said, "I may have an idea…"
…
"And that's it…"
Thomas had just finished telling his story. Xavier sat there, a bit in shock. He asked quickly, already knowing the answer, but doing it just for safe measures, "What are your powers, and your friends'?"
Thomas adjusted himself in the seat that he had sat down in. He began to list off every power, "I have the power of sound. I can pick up the soundwaves and use it against people. Tyreese has literal iron skin. It didn't appear, but his skin is unpierceable and he used to be a soldier, before the mutant hunters caught him.
"Shaun is pretty obvious: he can fly. His wing aren't actually metal though. They're strong like it though and they are grey, like crows' wings. He was originally a pilot as well, but when his squadron was shot down he was the only one alive. They found him with his wings wrapped around him, protecting himself. The others thought he was a monster so they sent him to the prison, while he was still wounded. Tyreese helped him and they have been good friends ever since.
"Chance was a gangster except he originally wanted to be a surgeon. When he learned his powers consisted of transforming, his own gang betrayed him. Turned him in. He has the power of transforming his hand into knives and saws, all types of medical equipment.
"JC was a construction worker; he's great with hammers. His power is that he can create a hammer out of light. Unfortunately he used it as an easier way to do work and when his boss found out, they turned him in as well.
"I was caught in NASA. I was originally a chief scientist before I got in an accident and had to reveal my powers. They were tempted to dissect me, but the hunters came before they could; capturing me and taking me to that prison."
He ended finally and Xavier nodded. He asked, "What about Rose?"
Thomas's look faltered. He breathed heavily and said, "I don't think she would want me to speak of it."
Xavier nodded, understanding. He looked at Thomas and said, "How did you find out about this place?"
He stayed silent for a moment, trying to figure out how to best answer the question. Finally, he spoke, "Many of the men who would come to the prison would talk about your institution and how they got their children here before the hunters could get to them. We all believed this would be the best place for Rose to be raised; especially given the fact that her powers continue to grow."
Xavier nodded, searching Thomas's mind for any hint of dishonesty. He found none. Thomas didn't want Rose to suffer. These men had done nothing wrong, they just wanted their girl to be safe. Xavier smiled and nodded, before saying, "I guarantee she will be safe here."
Thomas let a smile come to his lips. He sighed with relief before he froze, glancing up towards the ceiling and saying, "I can feel the soundwaves: they're approaching. I need to leave, to lead them away."
Xavier nodded and before he could leave and say goodbye he asked, "Is there anything else I need to do, quickly?" Xavier chuckled, while tapping his head making Thomas smirk. He nodded and said finally, "Please… take care of her. For her and our sakes…"
He left and saw her sitting on the couch, now wearing some warm, grey clothes. He came to her and leaned down, grabbing her hands and smiling. He felt Rose's happy mood fade away. She shook her head and choked out, "No… please… don't go now…"
Thomas' emotions fell. He brought her into his arms, letting her her sob into his shoulder while Thomas stroked her back saying softly, "You don't let go… you keep fighting. For our sakes. These people are going to take good care of you. I promise we will meet again I swear."
Rose nodded and choked out, "I-I promise… I will try… I will…"
Thomas smiled and backed away, looking at her reddened eyes before walking away towards the entrance. He opened the door to reveal the heavy pouring rain and thundering sky. Lights flashed in the distance and the sounds of yelling could be heard. A crack of lightning illuminated the night with a single flash of light. Thomas stepped out of the door and he was off, like the flicker of a candle.
He was gone.