A/N: I'd just like to say, this story takes place before the movie started, BUT Rogue and Wolverine are there. And Pyro isn't evil. And Jean isn't crazy.
Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men! I've been offering money, but they just won't accept it.
My computer is being a jerk, so I can't use that little line thingy to seperate my Author's Note from the actual chapter so I'll put this thing instead:
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Running. Always running, and never stopping. Being chased by some unseen monster. The monster is relentless, never ending its pursuit. I'm sprinting now, my heart beating impossibly fast as I quicken my pace. My stomach is constricted in fear, a knot in my throat stops me from screaming. Pitch black, unable to see anything, unable to find safety. The monster gains, closer and closer as I became weary. I force myself to keep running now, the adrenaline is the only thing keeping me standing. Suddenly, my legs give out and I begin falling, the monster growls in triumph, knowing he's about to end my life. The knot in my throat disappears and I scream...
THUMP!
"Samantha! Honey, are you okay?"
Breathing hard, I sat up from my place on the floor, tangled in blankets. I rubbed my back where I had fallen, and wiped the sweat from my face with my other hand. "Yeah, Mom, I'm fine. Just the nightmare again."
She nodded knowingly, "Get some sleep, Honey, you don't want to be tired at school tomorrow." She blew me a kiss before exiting my room and closing the door.
I sighed and climbed back into my bed, throwing my covers at the foot of it, too hot to put them to use. I turned my lamp on, the darkness of my room suddenly looking threatening. I shifted in my bed, uncomfortable. Irritated, I got up and looked down at my bed and- what the hell? My bed is singed. Singed in the outline of my body. I repeat: what the hell? I poked it with my index finger, making sure it was real. It was still hot.
Four things happened at once: I started hyperventilating. My lamp surged, flickered, then died. Someone knocked on my window. My two-freaking'-story window. And the most shocking of all, I started glowing.
I stared at my hands. They emitted hot light. There's really no other way to describe it, because that's exactly what it was, hot light. I was also vaguely aware of a bamf sound, my window opening and a woman followed by a blue man approaching me cautiously. Soon, my whole body started to glow, and spread slightly. My clothes started to deteriorate, and my bed was being singed even more.
"You need to calm down!" A female voice warned. I looked up to see a woman with red hair inching toward me, some kind of bubble surrounded her, keeping her safe from light coming from my body. "Calm down!"
I tried to comply, taking deep breaths, but nothing was happening. The light was spreading more and more, until the blue man finally disappeared out of my room to safety, leaving behind a puff of smoke.
"I'm sorry," the woman said apologetically. Confused I looked up at her again, to have a fist pounded into my face. My mind was quickly enveloped in darkness.
When I woke up, I wasn't in my room anymore. I was laying flat on a operating table-like bed in a bright white and silver room. The lights reflected painfully into my eyes as I sat up slowly. I wanted to start panicking again, but I found that I couldn't, that I was ridiculously calm for some reason.
"Finally, you're up! I thought I'd have to sit here forever!"
I whirled around to see a girl around my age sitting in a chair next to the bed. Her dark brown hair curled around her face as she grinned at me. "Who-" My voice was groggy and cracked. I cleared my throat and tried again, "Who are you? Where am I?"
"The names Emily. Welcome to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters." This had to be some kind of joke.
"This isn't a joke, Samantha Reeves," a voice said behind me. I turned to see the woman with red hair.
My eyes narrowed in suspicion, "How-?"
"I'm telepathic," she replied, walking closer, "My name is Jean Gray, and I know you're confused, but Professor Xavier will explain everything to you," she turned to Emily, "Thank you for helping, Emily, I'll need you again to show her around when we're done."
Emily saluted jokingly and started for the door, "No problem, Dr. Gray."
"What am I doing here?" I asked her as Emily walked out into a bright hallway.
"The Professor will explain everything to you, Samantha. I'll take you to him right now," she motioned for me to follow and began walking toward the door.
"Wait! I'm not going anywhere until I get-"
Suddenly I felt dazed, and for some reason, I got up from the bed and started to follow Jean. Unwillingly I paced behind her out into the hallway and into an elevator. I could see what was happening, but I couldn't control it. It was like I was a spectator of my own life. Jean led me down a maze of old-fashioned hallways, until finally she stopped at a door that blended slightly with the wall. Without knocking, she swung the door open and held it for me. As soon as I stepped over the threshold, I was in control of my body again.
"Sorry about that, but I could see that you were clearly not going to come quietly, and the result of your anger wouldn't have been very good at all."
I blinked away the daze and focused on the body the voice was attached to. It was an elderly bald man in a fancy looking wheelchair. I knew almost instantly that this was the infamous Professor Xavier. He motioned to a chair next to what I assumed was his desk.
"Thank you, Jean. You may go, I need a moment with Samantha," the Professor said and Jean nodded before exiting the room, closing the door quietly behind her.
I hesitated before slowly making my way to the chair.
Don't be afraid. A voice echoed in my head, and I jumped. The Professor chuckled, and I stared at him incredulously.
"Was that you?"
He nodded, "I have powers, just like you, Samantha."
Confused I asked, "What powers do I have?"
"Don't you remember?"
My brow furrowed as I tried to remember. Last night... I had the nightmare again, and then... I... burned my bed. And my clothes disintegrated. And I almost killed someone. Remembering my clothes, I looked down for the first time since I awoke to see what I was wearing. My attire was simple sweat pants and a t-shirt, slightly baggy. I made a side-note to thank Jean for them.
"So I... burn stuff?"
The Professor laughed outright and replied, "Something like that. But not really. You more or less... kill things-"
"Well, what a pleasant power that is!"
"Not all mutants get good powers. Not to say that yours couldn't be good, with the right amount of control. Your power, Samantha, is radioactivity. You can kill things, if you wanted, and electrical things are affected by your power also." Which would explain the lamp.
"How am I supposed to learn to control this?" I asked, distressed. I find out I'm a mutant, and to make it worse, my power is that I can kill things with radioactivity. Isn't that great?
"It could be great, if you tried hard enough. And as for the teaching, you happen to be in a school at this very moment. A school for mutants to be exact. In this place you can learn to control and use your power to great extents, but only to be helpful, not destructful," he said sternly, "We do not create monsters here, Miss Reeves."
"So, you want me to stay here? For how long?" My mom must be worried sick!
"You'll have to stay here for as long as it takes for you to get a rein on your powers. Right now, you are a danger to everyone around you. Your mother, your brother, your friends at school. Going home would risk them. Every time you get mad, depressed, frustrated... it triggers the radioactivity, and it will be extremely hard for you to get under control. Here you'll learn to use it at will and keep it dormant during emotional times. As for your mother, we have already talked with her. As far as she knows, you are now at a boarding school that was completely paid off by your school because your grades were exceptional. Whether you want her to know you're a mutant or not, is your choice."
I let it all sink in. I'd have to stay here, or else I'm a risk to everyone I'm around. But... I'm around people here, too. That's hardly fair. If I stay here, I'm a danger to these people, but if I go home, I'm a danger to them.
"Don't worry, Samantha. You are no danger to us. Until you are slightly more under control though, I'd prefer you to be around Emily as much as possible," he told me, reminding me about the girl who had been there when I woke up, and I wondered why in the world she had to be sitting there.
"Why-?"
Before the question was even out my mouth, the Professor had the answer, "Emily can manipulate other's emotions. She will keep you calm, therefore, no risk of causing you to become radioactive."
My mouth formed an O. Emily had been there when I woke up, to keep me from panicking and blowing the place up.
"So is that all there is to my power? Becoming hot and killing things?"
"Oh, there's much more to it than that. You will learn soon enough of the extent of your powers. It is a very unique power. This would be only the second time I've seen someone with it," Xavier said, and seemed to ponder old memories for a moment before turning back to me.
"Emily is waiting outside the door here. She will show you around the mansion, and from what I hear, she wants to introduce you to her friends also," he smiled.
I smiled half-heartedly at him as I rose from the chair. I walked half-way to the door before turning, "Thank you, Professor."
"Of course, my dear."
I opened the door and padded out into the hallway where Emily waited, looking bored. She perked up when she saw me, smiling. "Hey Samantha, let's go."
I followed Emily down a long hallway and into a foyer. I admired the decor as walked up a flight of stairs. Emily turned around, walking backwards, "I'll show you your room first. It'll be on a hall with girls only, of course." She rolled her eyes, showing her opinion on the matter.
"My room is there," she informed, pointing at one of the many doors in the hall, "and yours is... here." We stopped next door. Of course they'd put my room right next to Emily's.
"Am I going to have to be around you 24/7?" I asked, exasperated.
"Hey, is that an insult?" She feigned hurt, putting a hand over her heart.
"Yes," I said, lips tight. She looked truly shocked, and I couldn't take it, I burst into laughter.
"Oh, I see how it is," she said, eyes narrowed jokingly, "Come on, let's check out your room."
I trailed after her into the medium-sized room. It was bare except a bed, drawers, a desk, and a closet. I suddenly felt very homesick.
"Don't worry, you'll like it here, I promise," Emily assured me. I gave her a quizzical look. "I can feel your emotions as well as control them." She grinned.
I smiled, and it faded, "I don't have any clothes."
Emily looked around, tapping a finger to her chin and then walked over to the closet. She swung the door open, "Are you sure about that?"
I walked over curiously, and then spotted the inside of my closet. All my clothes from home were hanging up. I backtracked to the drawers and opened them up, finding my underwear. I blushed, hoping whoever did this was a girl.
Emily chuckled, "It was Jean who put your clothes up."
My stomach growled then, and I groaned, "I feel like I haven't eaten in forever."
"I guess I know the next stop on our little tour then," she said, laughing.
We went back out into the hall, and Emily suddenly whirled around, "Let's race! Readysetgo!" She said it so fast I had no time to react before she was running down the hall.
"Hey! Emily, wait! I don't-" but she was gone.
With a sigh I sprinted down the hallway and turned the same corner as Emily. I found the stairs easily, and hopped down them quickly, failing to watch where I was going. Which someone voiced loudly to me as I ran right into them.
"Sorry! Sorry!" I scrambled off of the person and stood. A boy a couple of years older then me sat on the ground, glaring murderously at me. I tentatively stuck a hand out to help him up. He ignored it and stood. A piece of his dark blond hair fell into his eyes, and he pushed it away, annoyed. Wow, he's hot.
"Sorry," I repeated.
"Shut up."
"All I said was-"
"And I said shut up," he said, starting to walk away.
Angrily, I followed him, "What's your problem?"
"Right now, you." He gritted his teeth.
"Mature," I commented.
He stopped walking and swung around on his heal, "Why are you still following me?"
I stopped, caught off guard. I really had no idea. "Whatever." I turned and headed the other direction. The boy didn't say anything, and I looked over my shoulder at him. I could've sworn he had a curious look in his eye, but it was gone before I could tell, replaced with a glare. I returned the gesture and kept walking. As a realization hit me, I stopped and groaned. I have no clue where I'm going. Reluctantly, I turned around to ask the boy, but he was gone. I quickly caught up with him.
"What now?" he asked, irritated.
I clenched my fists, "I need to know where the dining hall is."
He rolled his eyes, "Figure it out yourself."
"Stop being an ass and just tell me where it is!" I yelled. I've had enough of this guy.
He raised an eyebrow at me, "Why should I?"
"Ugh!" I was seething, and I felt myself growing hotter and hotter. The boy's eyes widened slightly. My tight fists started to glow brightly, and the hot light started swirling around me. The boy backed up against the wall as I took deep breaths trying to calm down. I shut my eyes tightly, and when they opened again the boy gasped, and started to back away.
Suddenly, the light disappeared and I was in control of myself again. The boy looked relieved, but still startled.
"Samantha!"
I turned to see Emily jogging down the hall, looking apologetic.
"Sorry, I forgot." She looked at the boy, "Jeez John, what did you do to make her so mad?" John, huh? I expected something a little less ordinary. Especially for someone who is so infuriating.
John blinked, and peeled himself from the wall. After shooting a glare at us, he started walking away.
"Hey! Wait a second!" I started to follow him to yell at him some more, but Emily took care of my anger quickly.
"Let's go, he's not worth it." Emily led me back down the hall. I glared over my shoulder at John, who smirked at me. I stuck my tongue out at him.
"Mature," he quoted me mockingly.
I started for him again, but Emily pulled me around a corner and diminished my fury with her powers.
"Let me be angry!"
She rolled her eyes, and I felt a little madder at John.
"Thank you."
Review, pretty pleeease with Pyro on top?? :D
I'll try to update sooon, but don't count on it, because I have so much homework to do this weekend, it's ridiculous. Uncool. Unfair. Un..nice? Whatever.
I went outside today to get my cat and a bee flew into my hair. That, my friends, is a life-scarring experience. It stung my head! D:
