I'm back! Hey lovelies! This is part 2 of 3 of the trilogy, The RisingIf you haven't read the first one, you might enjoy this one more if you read it first. It's called The Rising: Part 1. If you have read it, you're all set to go, so please read and enjoy and let me know your enjoyment by REVIEWING! thanks much all! 3 ali


Prologue

The night was one of the darkest Chloe had ever seen. Invisible clouds blanketed the stars and the moon was hidden from view. The feral crept across building tops above the quiet city. She was meeting a member of the Dominion – the place that owned her.

It hadn't always been like that. Chloe had been free, at least during the time she was with Michael and the rest of her old mutant team. They had been killed by her old captor – Morgenstein, creator of Genomex. Chloe had escaped – only to find herself in the hands of the Dominion. So, now she had a new team, and she liked them well enough – not that it mattered.

Taylor March was nineteen years old and an ice elemental. Even though Chloe had only known her for a few months, Taylor was constantly looking for her acceptance. She admired Chloe, and Chloe hated it. Before everything had happened, she would have been pleased to have such a sweet girl look to her for guidance, but now…well Chloe would never wish her hell on anyone.

Scott Harding was an adorable eighteen year old telekinetic. He was extremely good with electronics, and very soft spoken. Scott had a quiet confidence about him that Chloe liked.

That left Adam Kane, the thirty-something doe-eyed idealist that the Dominion insisted she take along for the ride. Chloe knew that he couldn't keep up his happy-go-lucky-I'm-going-to-save-all-the-mutants shtick forever. The Dominion would drive it from him.

At this thought, Chloe sighed and clucked her tongue. It was upsetting really, but that's life. She lowered herself down the fire escape into a dark alley. Her contact was supposed to meet her there. A long black car drove up to the entrance of the alley and a bulky man with a dark brown beard got out and approached her.

"Ms. Anderson," he greeted.

"Mr. Mysterious," she returned, putting her hands on her hips. "What can I do for you?"

"Now that "Sanctuary" is complete it is time to mobilize your team."

"My team is not trained and is incomplete," Chloe reminded him.

"You will have to find this fourth mutant you desire yourself," he told her. "As for your team's lack of training – well, that's also your job."

Chloe rolled her eyes with a sigh.

The bearded man took an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to her. "This will establish a direct link with the Dominion from Sanctuary. I'm sure your computer kid can figure it out."

"Yes, I'll give it to Scott," Chloe took the envelope from him and stuffed it in her jacket pocket. The cool winter night air was beginning to make her shiver. "Will that be all?"

"Yes, that is all." The man returned to his vehicle and disappeared.

Chloe turned to start her journey back to Sanctuary. Suddenly, she felt another's presence – a familiar presence. She stealthily moved deeper into the blackness, her orange cat eyes covering the ocean blue of her normal eyes. She saw him – yes, definitely a him – in the corner of the alley. With ease, she streaked towards the figure and pinned his gigantic body to the wall.

With a low growl, she threatened, "you better be careful with whose conversations you choose to listen in on."

To her surprise, the man began to laugh. "Chloe, it's me. Nick."

She stepped back in shock, releasing him from the wall. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you again," Nick stepped forward and laced their fingers together, drawing their bodies close.

"Nick, I don't want you involved in my life," Chloe protested, but was drawn closer by the warmth of his body.

"Chloe, we had something at Genomex."

"What we had was feral attraction," she disagreed fiercely.

"So, you are a feral then?" Nick grinned.

"Obviously," she spat. "Nick. We cannot be together. This is black and white."

He tucked his arms around her waist, pressing her against his chest. "Don't you feel it Chloe?"

She did feel it. Her body was trembling and her heart was pounding out of her chest. She felt an aching deep inside. She wanted him so badly it hurt. That's why she was so angry. She didn't want to feel anything. She knew what happened when you became attached to people. She felt the pain every day. Chloe refused to give into that again.

Just as she ripped herself away from Nick, his lips descended upon hers. They shared a rough, passionate kiss for a few brief moments before Chloe fled for good.

"I'll find you Chloe, damn it, I'll find you," Nick shouted after her.

A few blocks down, Chloe huddled against a wall on a lonely rooftop. Her salty tears froze on her cheeks courtesy of the chilling winter wind. She couldn't stop trembling. She had to pull herself together.

"Stop feeling this way," Chloe chided herself. "Stop. Nothing affects you."

With a final shaky sigh, Chloe hoisted herself up and boarded the Double Helix, Sanctuary's new plane, for her journey back.