~ Chapter 2 ~

During the few days that Lauren had promised Andy she had faked being ill so to get out of school. This was she had the whole house to herself so she could gather whatever she needed without being questioned.

She had found an old duffle bag and had started packing everything that she thought she might need; clothes, obviously, a few toiletries, a first aid kit and some extras from her mom's own nurse kit. She did manage to sneak out one night and buy a new disposable cell that would work as her communication with Andy. She also packed easy to carry food: a few packets of noodles, not that she knew how she would make them when the time came. Once she was all packed she hid the bag in the back of her wardrobe for the night that she would leave.

She still had to find a place to go. Lauren ended up googling the mutant underground. Not that it would do her any good, knowing that her family's searches are watched, thanks to her father working for the government. "There has to be somewhere I can go" she sighed. In the end she gave up the search. "I'll just go and find somewhere. I might get lucky" She was talking to herself. Great, she thought, I'm defiantly a freak now, talking to myself and with mutant abilities.

When the night came for her to leave, Andy snuck into her room at about 1am. His eyes were puffing and red as if he'd been crying for a few hours.

"Andy, it's okay, I'm going to be fine." Lauren grabbed her brother in a hug and tried to soothe him.

"Where will you go?" he asked looking at her with wide eyes full of concern.

"Anywhere but here I guess" Lauren shrugged. "Here," she pressed a piece of paper into Andy's hand "it's the number you can use to contact me. Whatever you do, don't save it under my name and do not give it to mom or dad."

"Don't worry, I'm not that stupid Lauren" Andy exclaimed. "Now go," nodding towards the window "And take this with you" thrusting notes at her.

"Andy, where did you get this?" she questioned.

"Well I thought dad wouldn't mind you having it, seeing as he's the reason you have to leave. Don't worry, I'll take the blame." Andy looked at Lauren with sad eyes and walked from the room, clutching the piece of paper with her number on it.

Lauren watched him leave then went to the wardrobe to get the duffle and swung it over her shoulder. Making her way towards her window, she grabbed a picture from her bed side table, a picture of her family and shoved inside her bag. Even if they didn't love her after this, she still loved them.

A few nights after Lauren left home, she found herself hiding in a booth at a bar called Tex's Lounge. A man with long black hair approached the booth and sat down opposite Lauren, looking at her expectantly. "And what, young lady, can we do for you?" he asked.

"Nothing" she replied, "just a quick stop before I move on." Lauren looked up at the man, and noticed that there was no one sitting in front of her. Her face must've been a picture because the man reappeared and started laughing. "Yo- you're a mutant!" she exclaimed. "I need help" she looked down to her lap. "I need somewhere to stay, I can't go home" She could feel the tears burning her eyes, but she would not let them fall.

"Well, today is your lucky day. If you want to hang around for a few more hours, you will see why. My name's Tex by the way." The strange man stood up and walked back to the bar. Lauren watched him from her booth, laughing and joking with the others sitting up at the bar. A few hours can't hurt, she thought.

Three hours passed by, nothing interesting happened. Lauren stood up from her booth in the corner of the bar and wondered over to the counter where Tex was standing.

"How much longer is this going to take? I should be long gone by now" Lauren was tired of waiting and the man could see that.

"Look kid, go and sit back down. It won't be too much longer, I promise." He said. So Lauren did, she went back to her booth with her duffle and sat back down to see why today was going to be her lucky day.

More hours passed and Lauren had fallen sleep in her booth.

Tex looked over at the sleeping girl, the glanced over at the door. The mutant underground should've arrived hours ago. This girl, she needs their help, he thought worried. He was pulled out of his mind when the bell rang above the door. Standing there was a tall young man. Dark hair, tanned skin and a very serious look on his face as he looked around the bar, eyeing the young blond asleep in the corner.

John Proudstar.

He stalked up to the bar where Tex was standing. "Well, I wasn't expecting to see you John" Tex stated, holding out a hand towards the man.

John took it and shook, "well you only called about one person so I thought I'd come alone. Where are they?" he asked looking around the bar. Tex just pointed at the sleeping girl in the corner and left him to it.

John wondered over to the booth in which the sleeping blond had occupied. He lent over and tapped her on the arm. She stirred but didn't wake. He tapped her again, this time she woke with a start, bringing her arms up across her face. In that instant, John felt something shot up around her, like a shield. He couldn't see anything except for a slight shimmer around her. He pressed against it a felt it disappear, as the young girl slumped against the back of the booth.

John lifted her up in his arms and grabbed her duffle bag from where she was using it as a pillow. He carried her past the bar and out into the waiting car.