Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men. I do own Brooky, Marina and Marcus.

If you want to learn more about Brooky or Marina read my stories "The Difference" and then 'Defining Normality' its all there!

Chapter Two

Screams attract people. Even from birth, a child knows that screaming gets it what it wants. When Marina saw him in the mirror she had screamed in shear terror, not thinking of the attention her actions would draw. Marina was looking around the steamy bathroom with wide eyes when Logan burst into her room, his sensitive hearing having picked up her distress.

"What's wrong?" asked Logan, seeing nothing in the bathroom amiss. "If you tell me that it was just a pimple or something, I swear to God 'Rina I'll-"

"He was here, I swear he was here," said Marina still franticly searching the bathroom, while clutching her towel tightly around herself.

"Who was here?" Marina didn't answer but instead shivered as she pulled on her bathrobe. Logan tilted his head to the side and his eyes seemed to glaze over. "Get dressed, the Professor wants you to come to his office when you're done." Logan pulled the bathroom door shut and walked out of the room, leaving Marina to do as she was ordered.

When the water mutant arrived down in Professor Xavier's office, she was taken aback by seeing the entire school faculty had been gathered to hear her explanation.

"Take a seat, Marina," said the Professor, his voice calming. "Logan has recounted what aspired in your facilities, perhaps you could now explain your alarming actions."

Marina shifted uneasily in her chair, staring at her hands that rested on her lap.

"Wh-when I first became a mutant I stayed with a boy, a mutant named Marcus Brown. We were young and impressionable, his cousin made us do things for him. Illegal things. We knew we were being cheated so one day we decided to do something about it…but we weren't strong enough…Marcus died, I watched him fall to his death. Then I left." Marina looked up and gratefully accepted the bottle of Gatorade that Brooky handed over to her. Marina downed half of the blue liquid before she continued. "I-I-I-I've been seeing him again…Marcus, I mean. I can't do anything at night without seeing his ghost. And today I saw him in my mirror, that is why I screamed."

The room was silent as Marina finished. It was a very hard story to believe and they all needed to process all the information.

"A ghost?" asked Rogue, looking unsure. "The only ghost around here is Brooky."

"I'm telling the truth," cried Marina, flinging her bottle across the room.

"Calm down, Marina," soothed the Professor, wheeling towards her. "We will get to the bottom of this."


The students knew something was going on, they could feel the tension in all of the leaders, everyone but Brooky of course. She had her diary spread open on the table and was humming merrily to herself as she added and entry with a bright yellow Sponge Bob pen.

"Hey Brooky, what are you doing?" asked Ronny, sitting down beside her. He was hoping to get some information out of the woman he considered his guardian.

"Writing in my diary."

"Have something big you are writing in it?" question Ronny, trying to catch a glimpse of the pages.

"There is always something big to write," said Brooky, looking up with a grin. She swiveled the book around so that Ronny could see it, and pointed to a paragraph.

"See, right here I have recorded how Tinkler was mauled to death by Thrasher. I think Mrs. Golly is heart broken by it. If you ask me I think she was cheating on Mr. Wally."

"Wow you're gold fish live pretty exciting lives," said Ronny, pushing away the diary, disappointed that he hadn't uncovered any secret information.

"Yes a soap opera in a fish bowl it is. Listen Ron, I am throwing a little funeral for Tinkler at 1:00 today and I want you to be there. Tinkler would be happy to know that all his friends were there." Brooky's face showed completed seriousness as well as expectancy. Ronny couldn't refuse.

"I wouldn't miss Tinkler's funeral for anything. Where is it being held?"

"Second floor bathroom on the west wing. Thanks Ronny, this means a lot to me and the Tinkler." Brooky kissed Ronny on his cheek before scooping up her diary and disappearing into thin air. A few minutes later Rogue wandered into the room looking dazed.

"I just got invited to the funeral of a dead fish," she said in puzzlement.

"I didn't know you were friends with the late Tinkler," remarked Ronny, as he started to raid the cabinets for a can of Dr. Pepper.

"More like distant acquaintances, but Brooky thought it would do the other fish some good to see their departed friend supported by many," said Rogue, the sarcasm evident in her voice. She was never as good as Ronny when it came to playing along with whatever whim took Brooky's fancy.

"Well consider yourselves lucky," said Marina, walking in on their colourful conversation. "I think Brooky wants me to write up a speech for the occasion."

Ronny choked on his pop, breaking into a coughing fit. Rogue laughed whapped him softly on the back until he had caught his breath.


As the last few people headed off to bed, a feeling of uneasiness settled into Marina. She walked quickly throughout the first floor of the manor, keeping an eye out for the ghost or Marcus. She was surprised, however, to find Logan sprawled on a couch drinking beer from his secret stash.

"Hey, what are you doing up?" asked Marina, leaning in the door. For the most part she looked calm, but her darting eyes gave her away.

"Hey. Just thought I'd stick around awhile, see how things are."

"I really appreciate this Logan," said Marina, knowing that he was forfeiting sleep to keep her safe. Logan just shrugged and moved over so that Marina could join him on the couch. "So I saw Brooky just before bed. She was in a huff about something again…heard her mutter your name a few times along with some choice expletives."

Logan grunted and took another swig of his beer.

"She's mad at me cause I wouldn't attend her fishes funeral." Marina grinned and tucked her legs up on the couch.

"Well you know Logan, when you are in a relationship its important to support …" Logan glared darkly at Marina she stopped short even though she couldn't hide the large grin on her face. However, it immediately disappeared when on the black tv screen Marcus's marred face flashed.

"Woah!" exclaimed Logan, starting. "I guess you were right after all." Logan sniffed the air around him and spent countless moments standing still, listening for any sounds.

Marina had grabbed onto to Logan and was clinging to his arm for dear life. "Uh, 'Rina I'm gonna need that arm back." Marina dropped his arm but continued to stand so close to him that they touched.

Throughout the night, Marcus' corpse made four more flash appearances but did not stay put for more than a few seconds. Logan found this unnerving, but Marina found it refreshing. It sure beat the long nights of haunting.

The following few nights Marina always had Logan, Blink, or Bobby stay up with her. They all saw the ghost, but it never stayed as long as it did when Marina was alone. It was obvious that the corpse made her three guards anxious, but her son Bobby had the most problems.

It was not quite two years ago that Bobby discovered that Marina was his birth mother. Since then he had grown close to her and even lived with her and her ex-boyfriend Toad for a short few months.

It had been very trying for him to watch as Brooky tried to assassinate Marina, and then watch as the two woman became best friends. Having his mother now haunted by a ghost of some kid was just as trying for him. He managed to keep calm until the next X-Men meeting.

"Is anyone trying to solve this mystery? I mean it isn't exactly normal for the ghost of a dead kid to be roaming around the school at night!"

"Try to calm down, Bobby," soothed the Professor, rubbing his baldhead.

"No I wont calm down! Our lives are in danger… can't anyone see that?"

"We're not in danger," giggled Brooky, softly smacking Bobby's shoulder. The ice mutant glared and edged away from her. He had never warmed up to Brooky and as far as he was concerned he never would.

"Why are we not in danger, Brooklyn?" asked Doctor McCoy, raising an eyebrow. Brooky giggled again, as though the question was incredible funny.

"I've seen him too, and he is just an apparition, a figment of the imagination so he can't do any harm."

"You've seen him? Why didn't you say anything?"

"Didn't think it was important," said Brooky, shrugging her shoulders. " Some crazy guy somewhere is trying to scare everyone with an illusion, it seemed rather pathetic if you ask me."

The room went still at this new information. They really shouldn't have been surprised at Brooky's sudden knowledge but they couldn't help it.

"How do you know all this Brooklyn?" asked Dr. McCoy.'

"It is common knowledge, my good doctor." Brooky's reply was said in all cheerfulness but it was also apparent that she had also just ended the conversation.

"So someone with the power to create illusions is trying to scare Marina," said Scott, frowning. " But why?"

"We will find out," said Professor Xavier, his brow furrowed. "Marina, I'm sorry my dear, but you must try to contact him."

Marina breathed deeply and closed her eyes. Everyone must face their demons, but she wished it was not her time.


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