Second X

Prologue

In the aftermath of M-Day, many have taken drastic steps to ensure humanity's survival. Mutants across the globe are being hunted. Anti-mutant groups have banded together, determined to exterminate those mutants who still possess their powers. Tension between humans and mutants is greater than ever. Clarity, a mutant with the gift of foresight, has recently had a vision predicting the deaths of the X-Men and a war between the species. Now, she gathers other displaced mutants in the hopes of preventing her vision from being fulfilled.

Disclaimer: The X-men characters either mentioned or appearing in this story are owned and copyrighted by Marvel Comics.

Prologue

December 23, 11:13 pm

Abraham's Mental Institute

"Anna," Christina whispered. "Please... I'm not crazy."

Christina crossed her arms together. She hated the hospital gowns the doctors gave her. They didn't provided much to keep her warm. Especially with the back of the gown open. Luckily, her long black hair helped hide anything that might get shown.

Anna smiled, politely. "I'm sure you think that sweetie, but the doctors say otherwise. Hey, why don't I see if I can't get your parents to visit you this week. They doctors did say that you're well enough to start having guests!"

Anna was a night nurse. She knew she shouldn't be letting patients out of their rooms at night, but Christina didn't seem to be as disturbed as the rest of the patients. Besides, she hated working such late nights and talking to Christina helped the hospital seem a little less creepy.

Christina sighed. "My parents haven't attempted to visit in over a year Anna, you know that."

"I'm just trying to help, dear. I know you don't want to be here. I wish there was something I could do."

Christina fumbled with her wristband. This was the opening she was looking for. "If I could in some way prove to you I'm not crazy, would you help get me out of here?"

Anna's smile faded. "I don't like where this is going. Listen, I enjoy our little talks. You seem like you're all together. Really! But I'm not a doctor, I'm just a nurse. And the doctors say that you're not well enough to leave. I'm sorry. Christina, its bad enough I allow you to walk the halls at night when you're not supposed to. Do you want me to lose my job?"

"Of course I don't," Christina responded. "But if I don't get out of here, I'll die. I've seem some of the patients here. The ones who's been here for year's and were abandoned by their families. Their nothing but shells of what they were. All I'm asking is that you give me a chance to prove that I'm not crazy. At least let me do that. Then you can decide what to do."

Anna sighed, deeply. "OK. But I'm not making any promises to you."

Christina smiled. "Thank you for trusting me. At least, as much as you are now."

"Don't thank me yet," Anna laughed lightly. "You still have to prove you're not psycho."

"Alright," Christina said. "Give me your hands."

Anna held her hands, palms down, in front of her. "I can't believe I'm doing this," she said.

Christina took Anna's hands into hers and closed her eyes. "You're at home. Still in you're nurse uniform. There's a child. A boy. With curly brown hair. He's wearing superman pajamas! That's so cute." Christina smiled. "You bought them before he was born. You always wanted a boy. He's sad. He's telling you that he lost his toy. Some dinosaur. You tell him it's alright and you'll look for it tomorrow. And..." Christina opened her eyes and let go of Anna's hands. "Look under the chair by the Christmas tree," Christina said.

Anna stared at Christina, confused. "How did you know I had a son?"

"I already told you. Believe me." With that, Christina turned and walked down the hall to her room.

December 24, 4:25 am

The Miller Home

Anna set her keys on the kitchen table. She hated those late night shifts. Especially tonight. She couldn't get what Christina told her earlier. Maybe she told her about her son before. She and Christina had had many conversations since they met two months ago. She could have brought up her son then. So why did she doubt that she did? Anna sighed.

"Mommy?" Her son was standing in the kitchen doorway, rubbing his eyes.

"Charles?" She was surprised he was up this early. "I'm sorry, did I wake you sweetie?" She picked him up. "All right Superman, lets fly back to bed. She opened the door to his bedroom and laid him on the sheets. "Here we go. Let's tuck you in."

"Mommy, where's my T-Rex? Daddy and I couldn't find him?"

"I don't know honey," Anna said, tucking the sheets under him. "Just go back to sleep and we'll look for him tomor..." Anna paused. "I'll be right back sweetie."

She walked into the living room. The room was lit by the lights she had on the Christmas tree. She knelt down at the chair nearest the tree and reached under it, pulling out her son's toy dinosaur. She looked at the toy with surprise, "I don't believe it." Then she remembered Christina's words. "Believe me."

December 24, 11:17 pm

Abraham's Mental Institute

Christina was laying in her bed when she heard the door to her room open. She looked over to see Anna standing in the doorway, holding a small bundle of clothes.

"Anna?" Christina was still a little groggy after the medication the doctors gave her earlier that night.

"Its me," Anna said softly. "Here, put these clothes on. We don't have much time. There's a new security guard on shift, but he'll only be alone while the other guard is eating in the lunch room."

As soon as Christina was dressed, Anna led her down the hall. At the security door, she swiped her badge and walked through. Christina followed.

"Time to go home already, ladies?" The guard asked, smiling.

Christina looked down, she was so groggy getting dressed that she didn't realize she was wearing a nurse's uniform.

"Not soon enough, if you ask me," Anna said. "Merry Christmas!"

The guard smiled, "Merry Christmas, ladies."

December 24 11:43 pm

The Miller Home

"Here's some money and the keys to my husband's van," Anna looked at Christina. "It's not much, but it will get you where you need. I want you to head to a New York. Westchester. A place called the Xavier Institute. You should have enough money to get there. Do you understand?"

Christina nodded. "Yes, thank you. You've done so much. I wish I could repay you somehow."

Anna gave Christina a hug. "I know now you're not crazy. Before I decided to free you, I went through your file at the hospital. You're not crazy, you're a mutant. Your father heads the local Friends of Humanity here. He must have realized what you were and sent you to the hospital. The drugs were meant to shut down the part of your brain controlling your mutation, but you resisted them somehow. I'm so sorry to tell you this."

Christina looked back at Anna, "I know you are. Just like I knew you were the one who would get me out. I saw it in your mind when we first met."

"Then you already know its not safe for you here. If you didn't see it in my mind already, nearly all the mutants across the world have lost their powers. Factions like the FOH are making their move to exterminate your kind. Head to Xavier's. It may be the only safe haven left." Anna's eyes teared.

Christina held Anna's hand closed her eyes and concentrated once more. "I know your husband is a mutant. And I know you haven't seen him since M-Day." Christina opened her eyes. "And I know he's still alive. Take your son and head to Chicago. He's gathering other survivors of M-Day. You're phone has been tapped, that's why he hasn't called."

"Thank you." Anna wiped the tears from her eyes.

Christina got into the van and drove way from the Miller home. She knew, from Anna's mind, that things for mutants were very bad. But she couldn't shake the feeling that things were going to get much worse. A blurry image she saw in Anna's mind. One in which the X-Men are killed, and a war begins.

End Prologue