I sat in professor X's office again. The last time I was here was over a year ago. The last time I was here, it was under very different circumstances. I wasn't trying to save my own life, but my sister's. I waited for X to come back into the room. He had been gone for nearly an hour, and though my body was physically exhausted and wanted nothing more than to fall asleep in the overstuffed chair I was sitting in, my mind wouldn't slow down long enough to allow the luxury of rest.
I closed my eyes and all I could see was last night's events.
Over a year ago, a new band of mutants had taken my sister, to get to me. They knew I would sacrifice my life to save hers. They didn't want me dead, they wanted me and my powers on thier side of the playing field. This time it wasn't Magneto. It was a man who called himself Fox. He and his band of following mutants had found ways to take powers from one mutant, and give them to another. He was creating a super army. Or trying to. They were still in the testing phase when I was there. They wanted my powers, Fox wanted them. An army of 100 with my abilities could do major harm, let alone if he added other mutant powers to that army.
Fox said they would let my sister go if I joined him. I sat in X's office, crying, asking him what to do. I hated these people, I still do. But at the time, I didn't have much of a choice, he knew that. He advised me to go, to be on their side. He told me that should a moment ever come when I needed to hold my cover, to shoot at one of the mutants on his side, I would have to use my best judgment.
Sure enough, that moment came. I had joined Fox. I didn't want to, but I didn't want my sister to die even more. X promised that he would do his very best to get my sister out, and then come for me. The moment Fox was supposed to release my sister, he held her, making sure I would obey him. This carried on for an agonizing year and a few months. Until last night.
All hell broke loose last night. I knew X had my sister. I'd overheard Fox in his study one night, raising hell about how X had gotten her. She was safe. Within two days, I was thrown into a fight with many of X's mutants. He knew what he was doing. This was payback for getting my sister out. He wanted to kill as many of the Professor's men as possible, and he wanted me to do it. There came a moment where my gun was aimed at a friend, and I couldn't bring myself to shoot, no matter how many times the friend mouthed it was ok. I blinked trying to forget. It was all a blur after that. Fox's suspicions were confirmed, and I became the main target.
Now I knew too much. Now Fox wanted me for a whole different reason. X came rolling back into his office and I sat up a little straighter. I owed this man everything. He had saved my sister, and my life. I had always respected him, loved him in a fatherly sort of way, now even more so. Seeing all that he did and risked over the last year. I appreciated it more than I would ever be able to express.
"Snow is going to take you away, far away from here. You will have to go into hiding."
I felt tears forming in my eyes.
"We have already taken your sister and brother-in-law away. They are fine and under our very close watch, ready to run in a moment should they need to. Though I don't think it will be necessary now. You're the main and prime target."
I nodded. It hurt. But I knew it was for my protection.
"We have our people sweeping your house, pulling out anything Fox could use, grabbing your clothes and sentimental items you left on your list."
Ahh, the list. X had me make a list of sentimental things in my home, things to be given to my sister should anything happen to me.
"Thank you. I know I can't begin to thank you, for everything that you have done, but please understand that."
He smiled softly at me.
"You may not be thanking me so much when you find out who will be living with you, to watch over you. Someone who can protect you."
I was baffled by the cheeky gleam in his eyes.
"I can't imagine. May I ask where I'm going?"
"I once heard you mention that you were fond of the mountains," he said, rolling for the door and indicating that I should follow.
An eight hour plane ride was what awaited me. We reached the hanger and off we went. I was flown eight hours away, then we landed, I was transported to another airport, and flown another two hours without Snow. They were doing everything imaginable to cover their tracks and give me the best fighting chance. I got off of the plane in a tiny town. I picked up what little luggage I had and walked through the airport. A man began walking my way, I saw this coming. He's on my side. I knew it.
"Chris," I greeted him with a friendly hug.
He would after all be my cousin now, or at least that was our story.
"Good to see you, cuz!" He embraced me and we began walking towards the parking lot. It was cold here outside the tiny airport. I was hoping to find my sweater collection when I arrived at my new home.
Outside I found a beautiful two door blacked out jeep wrangler. Ahh, X, I would love him or whoever set this up for me. Chris tossed me the keys and told me to follow him. It was a two hour drive into the mountains. We passed through a tiny village, if it could even be called that. It was close to two am now. I downed the last half of my redbull as we began up a windy mountain road. It was another twenty-five minutes up the damn windy dirt road before we finally reached a clearing that held the home I would now inhabit. I was so tired and bleary, yet it was so nice to be somewhere that would be my new home.
I climbed out of the jeep, jumped really, and walked up to Chris.
"Wait, what about bears?" I asked.
He laughed.
"Don't worry, you've got protection living with you, he'll be bear enough."
"Joy, I can't even begin to imagine who you keep talking about."
Chris opened the door to the cabin. It was nicely decorated, a few of my personal affects were here already. I prayed my clothes were here. The heals of my boots clicked along the light wooden floor.
The inside was definitely done up like a log cabin. All wood. I was in love. My grandmother had a mountain cabin growing up, I had always dearly loved the place. I owed X way too much. He had given me so much comfort in this beautiful cabin. The main floor of the cabin was wide open almost. I walked into the living room, to my left were stairs that led up to a beautiful open little loft. Behind the tiny living room that only had room for a love seat and an oversized chair was a sitting area that led out to a beautiful porch. To the left of the dining area was a kitchen, separated only by a counter. I walked around into the kitchen. There was a full bathroom off of the kitchen, another bedroom, and a separate door that swung open, startling me a bit.
The door closed and there was Logan. In his normal attire. Jeans and a white shirt. This one had short sleeves tough, it was cold up here. I rolled my eyes. Of course.
"God," I groaned.
"I'm not particularly happy about the arrangements either," he gruffed at me, walking over to the sink.
I looked at Chris and rolled my eyes.
"Well, I'm sure you're tired," he had no clue. "so I'll let you get settled in. My number is next to the phone, if you go into town, don't forget you're my cousin and you're new to the area. Drive careful on the roads,"
"I grew up driving roads like that," I yawned.
"I'm at the base of the mountain before town if you need anything," he said, nodded and was gone.
I shivered and crossed my arms over my chest. I didn't bother Logan, he went back down stairs, to wherever he had been. I could hear the faint sounds of a tv, I assumed there was another room downstairs. I hit the bottom of the steps, sure enough, a basement. A canoe, paddles, life jackets, a few other odds and ends, a washer and dryer and a small tv Logan sat in front of, in an easy chair.
"Um, I'm going to bed. Good night, Logan," I said and went back up stairs.
I didn't care that I needed a shower. I was too tired. I probably should eat too, but I also didn't care about that. All I wanted was sleep. I walked back through the small cabin and up to the loft. My things were all here. Mostly. Some of my things would be taken to another two locations and the school, to try to fool anyone watching as to my actual whereabouts. I stripped my clothes off and crawled into bed, pulling the blankets up and trying to warm up.