The Secret

Chapter One: Jean

Jean was falling, face first, toward the ground. She reached out with her powers but they didn't respond, and the earth continued to rush up towards her.

An insane fear swept through her. She was going to die.

She locked her fingers around something in her left hand and reached up to wipe her eyes with her right. A breeze ran through her and she realized it was raining, and she was drenched.

The world was coming faster now, a majestic expanse made fatal by gravity. I am going to die!

For a moment everything seemed to go quiet. Then, with a brilliant flash, the thunder tore around her on all sides and it shook her strait through to the bone.

As she lunged forward, she woke up.

The Dream came to Jean once a year on the same date. It had for years now, almost since she discovered her powers.

After that, if she fell back to sleep, she would find herself safely on the ground. Still in the pouring rain, but traveling by foot and exhilarated, occasionally taking a moment to watch as distant lights played through the dense forest night. Somehow she was aware that they were searching for her and that it was funny.

Once a year she would wake like this and once a year she was convinced – These were real memories, just not hers.

Then, the next day, her faith would waver and her mind would turn to other matters and the dreams, if dreams they were, would be forgotten for another year.

And so it was that, once again, Jean awoke with a shock. Her heart raced and the sheets were wet with sweat. She exhaled slowly and laid her hand on her rapidly beating heart.

She had felt similar exhilaration in the memories of Wolverine. This memory felt like him too; Nothing to loose and acting out. But there is a more reserved air to the dreams. Maybe he was younger then. She reasoned.

A moment later she was in the bathroom, splashing warm water on her face and then toweling off. She leaned back against the wall.

She closed her mind to all distractions as she closed her eyes and she felt herself begin to resonate with her internal power. The soft internal hum was a comfort to her. She disliked the dream. It made her feel weak.

She rose silently from the floor and hung there in mid-air. No, she need not fear the fall.

Telekinetically, she was in control. But telepathically, she wasn't sure. Where had she picked up this memory? Why did she still have it?

Maybe it was time to admit she needed help. Maybe it was time to talk to Xavier and ask his council.

But somewhere inside her a small knife began to turn. Haven't I tried that before? She wasn't sure. She didn't remember.

If she had, it obviously hadn't merited too much attention, hence the current dilemma.

"Okay Jean, pull yourself together." She said, straitening herself in the mirror.

She took two deep breaths, lowered herself back to the floor and put on a sly smile, just in case anyone was in the hall outside. She need not have bothered. They were all still asleep.

Or so it seemed.