Kingston, New York, US
17 years ago
"I don't understand." said a woman, as she looked between the woman standing next to her and a baby sleeping soundly in her crib.
"You want to purposely make our baby girl a mutant?" said a man, wrapping his arm around his wife's waist.
"I know it sounds crazy, but your daughter has a special gift. She is the only one who can do this." said the other woman, looking sweetly at the sleeping child.
"No." said the man.
"Mark, maybe we should talk about this." said the first woman, looking up at her husband.
"You want to take our daughters' chance at a normal life by turning her into a mutant, Clare." said the man, backing away from the two women. "I will not let my little girl become a mutant."
"I understand what your reasoning is, but she is already a mutant. That's why she was chosen. We wouldn't ask to take her choice away if it wasn't necessary." said the second woman.
"Jean, we trust you." said Clare as she brushed the back of her hand across her daughters' cheek.
"Will Emma be safe?" Mark piped up, walking over and grabbing his wife's hand.
"For now." said the second woman, staring down at the little child.
"What do you mean?" asked Clare as she looked up at the woman with a look of fear on her face.
"At a certain age, she will face some challenges but she will never be alone in them. I promise. I will take care of her." said Jean, smiling reassuringly at Mark and Clare.
"Fine. We will leave you to it then." said Mark, leaning down and kissing the baby's forehead and pulling Clare by the hand.
"Thank you." Jean called after them.
She looked down at the peaceful little girl, a pink teddy bear tight in the baby's grip. Gently, she reached down, making sure not to jolt the little girl, and lifted the baby up into her arms.
"You are going to be a hero one day, little Emma." said Jean, rocking the baby back and forth lightly as she brushed baby Emma's hair from her adorable face.
Jean put Emma back into her crib and she stood beside the crib, raising her hands over it. Soon, a red light shot out of her body and took the shape of a small bird, flying around the room freely. Finally, the red light flew into the tiny chest of the sleeping baby and she awoke with a start and began crying her tiny little eyes out. Emma's eyes fell onto the face of the red-headed woman and she stopped crying abruptly and just stared at her as though she could see right into her mind.
"One day, you will save many people." said Jean, smiling kindly at the baby as her eyes widened as if to say she understood what Jean was saying to her.
Jean then took a small locket out of her pocket and placed it on the dresser with an envelope and she walked out the door.
"When she gets older, give her the locket and note I've left her on the dresser please." she said as she walked to the door.
"We will." said Clare as she stood up and walked into the baby's room.
"I still don't agree." said Mark, standing and walking Jean to the door.
"I know." Jean said, opening the door and nodding a goodbye as she walked out.
Mark could have sworn he saw a red gleam in her eyes, but he shook it off and followed his wife into his daughters' room.
