Phenomenon
Chapter One- Voice in My Head
(This is when she was 11. When she first heard the voice in her head)
The floor was cold, the air hurt to breathe, this damn collar they make me wear is too tight, I can hardly breathe, and these fucking doctors are talking too loud. I was laying on my side staring at the plain brick wall listening to the conversations that the doctors continue to have like I wasn't there. It was rude; I know I never have been out of the laboratory, but I still know what manners are and things like that. Today, I get another doctor. Dr. Rella has been informing the new doctor, Dr. Ki, about me. I always like to listen to them when they talk about me because then I know things about myself, things they won't tell me if I ask.
"Dr. Ki, Welcome to project Phenomenon. As I assume you guessed she goes by Phenomenon. She was 'born' January 20th, she's an Aquarius-" Dr. Rella was interrupted by Dr. Ki.
"I don't see why you're telling me her sign. It's not scientifically relevant," Dr. Ki said. Dr. Rella glared at him, annoyed.
"The boss says tell you everything about her. And if you don't like it then tell the Boss that and don't complaint to me about his orders," she growled. He sighed.
"Okay. Keep going."
"Good. Anyways, she goes by Phenomenon. Her irises are, if she's not using her abilities, lime with a forestgreen ring around it. Name- Forestgreen Hex-228B22 RGB 34, 139, 34; Name-Lime Hex-OOFFOO RGB-0, 255, 0. When she is using her power they turn an aquamarine, Hex-7FFD4 RGB- 127, 255, 212. When she uses her powers when she's mad they turn darkred, Hex-8B0000 RGB- 139, 0, 0," she stopped and waited for him of finish writing it down.
"Okay."
"Her hair color is Name- SaddleBrown Hex-8B4513 RGB- 139, 69, 19. She sickly pale because she's not aloud outside the compound. She small for her age- height 4 foot 2 inches or 127 centimeters- weight 86.3 pounds or 39145.02 grams."
He nodded for her to keep going.
"Okay. We've done several tests on her which you're going to copy from my notes… later. Her hands must be restrained behind her at all times unless it's meal time. Ankles chained together at all times and she must be blind folded when we take her too different places. Understood?"
"Yes."
"Good now help me sit her up, I need to do her hair and wrap it."
"Why do you need to do that? Can't you just cut her hair?"
"No, it'll just grow back if she wants it to. So I braid it and wrap a scarf around the top of her head and most of the braid."
"Oh"
Slowly, they walked over to me. I haven't moved, I hardly breathed, I always felt cold especially in the room. I heard their footsteps right behind me now, I felt Rella's delicate hands on my left arm, the one that I've been laying on all night. I felt Ki's large rough hand grip my right arm and yank me up in a sitting position. I grunted in pain as he did so, mostly because all my muscles were stiff from not moving all night.
"Ki! Be careful! She's 12 and bruises easy!" Rella yelled angrily at him.
"Why? Do you care about her? I thought she was just a project to you." Ki sneered at her.
"Boss doesn't want her hurt. I don't care about her and she is just a project," Rella growled.
"Whatever. What do I have to do?"
"Hold her up and don't let her fall over. She's not strong in the mornings."
Ki sat on the ground in front of me with his hands on both sides of me. Carefully, Rella began to brush my hair. It reaches to the small of my back. She French braided it and began to wrap. It went over the top of my head and under my braid. She tied it there, wrapped my braid down then back up, and wrapped it around my neck like a scarf was actually used for.
I knew Rella actually cared for me like I was her own child. That's why she didn't switch projects; she wanted to make sure I was okay and not dead. She'd never admit to it because if she did she'd be terminated like Dr. Onna was. Rella reminded me a lot of Onna. Onna was older than Rella but once Onna showed me a picture of herself when she was Rella's age. They both had long black hair, same caring brown eyes, the sad looked they both would get when they had to do tests on me or hurt me. They'd both protect me from the new doctors who would hurt me. I missed Onna she was like a mother to me but considering her age I guess I would consider her more of my Grandmother, she was in her late 50s early 60s. Rella she was around 35 so I guess she was more of my mother.
When Rella was done she stood up, walked over to Dr. Ki and pulled him up to his feet, and away from me. she came back and took off my cold metal cuffs. I whispered quietly but loud enough for Rella to hear me, "Thank you, Miss Rella." She turned half way around so Dr. Ki wouldn't see her; she smiled and mouthed the words, 'Don't worry about it, hon'. I gave her a half smile, turned back to the wall and just stared at it.
I've been staring at the wall for several hours now but suddenly.
'Phenomenon… Phenomenon…' I heard a voice from what sounded like it was coming from behind me. I turned around to check if anybody was behind me. No one was there, not a single thing same empty room. My breakfast was lying on a tray on the floor just a few feet in front of the door. I sighed and turned back to the wall. I thought about the mysterious voice. It was male, he sounded kind of old and weary. The way it had spoken my name slowly it left goose bumps traveling down my arms.
I crawled over to my tray and pulled it back to the wall with me. Every morning slimy scrambled eggs, cold sausage, and hard bland bread with no butter. Slowly I ate the food. It tasted much worse today, actually I think it was yesterday breakfast, but I was hungry so I ate it trying to ignore the taste. When I was done I threw the tray across my 6 foot by 6 foot cell. It slammed into the wall with a thud and clattered to the floor.
I curled up in the farthest corner from the door of my cell. My knees pulled up close against my chest; I wrapped my arms around my legs, put my head on my knees, and squeezed my eyes shut. It was almost time for my routine tests. They always hurt but they hurt less now I've been have these tests done for 12 years now. I dozed off. I heard the voice again. It repeated again and again,
'Phenomenon let me in… let me help you… I can help you if you let me… aren't you tired? Tired of the pain?'
'Yes…but who are you? Why can't I see you?' I thought quickly.
'That does not matter who I am yet… but I can teach you… how to control your power… so you can escape… in the coming years… will you let me help you?'
'I-I guess… what do I do first?'
'You know… Phenomenon… it's hard to understand… you when you… talk that fast… long distance telepathy… is difficult and draining… so please my dear… talk a little slower…'
'How far way is long distance?' I thought slower.
'Thousands of miles…'
'Do you have… a time when… they take that… collar off of you?'
'Umm… yeah… around noon to… about 3 after… testing…'
'Okay I'll contact you then…be waiting…' the voice faded in the end.
Suddenly, the heavy metal door flew open and several men stormed in and tried to chain and blindfold me. I might be small but I am strong. Non succeeded but then Miss Rella came in and said calmly,
"Phenomenon, honey, why do you continue to fight them? You know it won't help."
She took a step closer to me.
"I don't wanna get hurt anymore," I answered quietly.
"I know, but you can't stop the inevitable," she whispered as she walked closer to me.
When she was about a foot away from me she pulled me in to a hug. When she released me one of the men instantly cuffed my hands behind my back. Another man cuffed my ankles together. I stared up at Rella with my sad puppy dog looked then I looked from face to face of the men and back at Rella. They all looked guilty and sad now especially Rella. Whenever I used that face it made everyone feel horrible. From behind me one of the men slowly blindfolded me.
Two men escorted me out with Rella walked a few feet in front of me. They took me to one of the labs and strapped me to one of the cold metal tables. As usual they did several tests consisting of genetics, resistants, strength, and intelligents. There was a new test today… how merciful I was… if I could harm a living creature and kill it even.
They unstrapped my hands from the table and sat me up. They brought in a small box and gently placed it on my lap. They untied my blindfold; I looked down at the box curiously and glanced back up at them. Dr. Ki made Rella leave the room. She gave me one last worried glance and left. I stared at the box dumbfounded.
"Open it," Dr. Ki demanded. Slowly, I opened it. A baby dove stared up at me questionably; I stared back at it the same way and at Dr. Ki.
"Kill it."
"…No…"
"Phenomenon, I want you to kill it, now!" he barked angrily.
"Never! I will never ever kill something that has done me no harm, but if it were you I would consider!" I growled angrily. I pulled the little bird out carefully. I protectively held it to my chest. He glared at me. Quickly he walked over and wrenched the little dove from my small hands. He handed it to one of the men and turned his attention back to me. He slapped me full force across the face. This mad me angry. I could feel my eyes turn dark red; I gingerly placed my hand on my cheek, my rage began to build up, several idioms began to float in the air, and every single person except for myself and the one holding my dove began to freak out. I knew what I was doing; I was making them live their nightmares inside their own minds. I wasn't sure how I was doing it though.
The one man that wasn't hallucinating was rummaging through a drawer, he pulled out a syringe filled with a transparent liquid, jammed the tip into the back of my neck, and injected all of it. Everything was getting dark and blurry. Darkness was surrounding me, swallowing me whole. It was hard to breath.
Before I fell into unconsciousness I snatched the dove and held it close to me. I didn't want it hurt because of me and for all I know they were going to kill it since I didn't.
I knew I was still unconscious; I was in my head I think. Actually I'm pretty sure I was in my head considering I was standing in somewhere I have never seen or been. Huge oak doors stood tall behind me, several bookshelves on every side of the room. Two large windows, one to the left of me, and one behind the oak desk. The oak desk was neat with a bald elderly man behind it in a wheelchair. His hands were folded on his desks fingers intertwined, staring straight at me.
I stared back at him,
"Who are you?" I asked.
"I am Charles Xavier or as my students call me Professor X," he said causally. I recognized his voice right away. The voice from earlier, he was in my head again.
"You're the voice that said you'd help me get outta here… Wait, why don't you sound far away and fading in and out?"
"I'm not fading in and out because you in a deeper sleep. It's easier to inter your mind that way."
"Oh"
"Anyways, Phenomenon, I have devised a plan to get you out of there… it won't transpire for 4 years though… but that's not why I'm here for now though. I need to know if you really want to leave."
"Why would you ask me that? Of course I want to leave. They killed Onna and I'm pretty sure they'll do the same thing to Rella just because they cared about me! I don't want that to happen to anyone else," I yelled.
"Calm down, I did not wish to anger you. I just needed to be sure. Since you're sure I would like to introduce you 2 of the teachers at my institute."
"Okay," I answered uncertainly.
Two people entered the door behind me. I didn't turn around to look at them though. They sauntered over to either side of Mr. Xavier. A short-ish hairy man stood on the right side of him and a thin dark skinned woman to the left of Charles.
The short-ish hairy man had sideburns and hair slightly unkept or maybe he just styled it that way. Though he didn't come off as someone who would take the time to style their hair in the morning; but it was a very dark, dark blue almost black. He looked very unfriendly. He was wearing brown cowboy boots covered by his blue jeans, a black t-shirt, and a brown light jacket. He's brown eyes were calculative and judging.
The thin dark skinned woman hair long snow white hair held her out of her face with a purple scarf thing, gold hoop earrings and gold bracelets on both her wrists, sandals, a choker, a white shirt, and a long purple skirt that matched her scarfs. She was also wearing blush and light purple eye shadow. She unlike the man looked very friendly and caring… maybe too caring. Her light blue eyes reminded me of the skies I've seen outside my window. It made me sad that I wouldn't truly get to see the skies for 4 more years. I looked down at my socked feet.
"Hello child, my name is Ororo Munroe or Storm. What might your name be?"
"Phenomenon."
"That it?" the guy asked.
"Yeah, got a problem with that?" I said instantly looking back up at him.
"No just thought a kid like you would have a name." I was angry now I not sure why, maybe it was the phrase 'a kid like you'.
"'Kid like me?' What's that supposed to mean?! I've lived in a lab all my life!" I abruptly turned around a shamed of my sudden outburst. My face buried in my hands trying to hid my shame. I heard the woman yell, "Logan, leave the child alone!"
Suddenly, I felt someone's hands on both of my shoulders and then pull me into a tight hug. When they let me go I expected to be cuffed but the cuffs never came. Then I remembered that I was in my head and I shouldn't have expected them.
The room started to blur and spin, I fell to my knees, and whispered loudly, "Mr. Charles what's happening?!"
"You're waking up, just relax," he answer faded into the spinning room. Then he called, "I'll contact you twice a month!"
When I woke up I was back in my cell, with the little baby dove nestled in my hands that for once were now bound in front of me. I smiled at my little friend and held it close.