Chapter two

Glacier opened her sore eyes. She could hear the faint drip, drip, drip of water. Someone was screaming in another room. Again. She lifted her head from the floor of her cell. Or "room", as they like to call it. She sat up, and ran her hands over her ragged face, wincing as her fingers were cut by the four, needle sharp, points of glass that pierced her cheekbones, a thin line of deadly shards. Her skin healed over instantly.

She stood, and walked to the metal door that waited ominously to open. She peeked out of the small, barred window that was set in it. They would be coming for her soon. To take her to that dark, hellish place they called "the Lab". She ran her fingertips lightly over the thin, bloody scar that ran all the way from her hand to the top of her arm. She could heal, but they had cut so often and deep that her body couldn't handle it. The scars would be there forever. She wandered over to the long, plastic mirror that lined the opposite wall. It was two-way, but she could still use it. After ten years stuck here, she had gotton used to being watched. She looked at herself, allowing herself to show no emotion. A thin, pale girl of about fifteen stared back at her, purple circles under the cool, pale, silver eyes. Glacier reached out to touch her hair. It hung limply around her gaunt face, a thick curtain of black, streaked with white that sparkled when it caught the light. Like glass. She rubbed her hands, the places where the shards flew out innocent and harmless. She turned away, unable to look at her own face. So scarred it looked like someone else's. Strategic lines ran from her temple to her jawbone one side, and from her jaw to down her neck the other. She couldn't see the ones on her eyelids, but she knew they were there. Two straight scars running from each side. Faint now, but still deep.

She knew why they did it. To see what was inside her, they had to open her up. Again and again, just to see the same thing. Glass. Smooth and shining, her entire skeleton was made of it. Wait, her veins too. And her heart as well. Come to think of it, she was told her entire insides were made of glass. They told her it made her weak, but she thought it made her strong. Glass doesn't have emotions. It doesn't bend, or flex. It was resilient, and she was made of special glass, she was told. Not breakable, but as strong as metal. They said she was like someone else, with a metal skeleton, but he was made like that. She was born this way, and that made her even more special. She wasn't like anyone else. If anyone said that, she would kill them. Just like she'd killed her brother when she was five. She bit her lip. It was an accident, she was so angry she couldn't see. She forced it to the back of her mind.

Footsteps clanked on the metal floors. They were here, to take her away. She squared her shoulders, and faced the door.

Glacier allowed herself to be frog-marched to the Lab. Her feet barely even had to move, the big, hulking men supported her that much. It wasn't like she was going to run away. She learnt her lesson the first three times, but she'd been young and naive. Any hop or happiness inside her was long gone. She was just a hollowed out shell, without any feeling or emotions. Except anger.

The huge grey door loomed out of the harsh green lights. Hallways were lit like that, but she didn't know why. More importantly, she didn't care. Why should she? Anyone else in this place was meaningless, below her. She was the reason why this place was still going. She knew that she was the most important project. Screams and yells echoed around her ears, but she ignored them. Meaningless.

They had reached the door, and one of the beasts that held her arm swiped a key card through a small panel on the wall. The door opened with a sound like air escaping from a tomb. Glacier's hair blew around her as the men forced her in.

Through the gloom, she could see the object of her nightmares. A large chair, designed to fight around whoever was in it. Heavy metal clasps flopped down the arms, to hold the person down, to stop them from killing the "scientists". There were some on the ankles too. Lastly, Glacier dragged her eyes to the worst contraption of all: the helmet. That was her name for it. A thin, wiry thing that clung to the forehead, and stopped you head from moving. It helped them when it was time to do the "head examinations".

She was marched towards it, and strapped down roughly. Clasps slammed shut, as a man walked calmly into the light.

A pale, wrinkly man, who had the stance that made him look like a praying mantis.

Glacier stared back at his large, magnifying eyes. She hated him, but he knew that. What's more, he adopted a cool, patronising gleam in his eyes when he looked at her.

"Good morning Glacier," he said in a high, reedy voice. "How are you today?"

She glared at him. "Thirsty." She croaked.

He sighed. "You'll get water soon. Once we've run our routine exams."

She looked away, into the corner. She wasn't going to beg for water, that would show weakness, and she knew what would happen then. It was like a subtle game they were playing. If she was good, and behaved, then she would be rewarded. If not, then…more exams. More "trials".

"We're going to start the tests now, unless, you are…not well today?" He smiled at her, without any emotion.

She ignored him, and he nodded. He turned to one of the faceless nurses, who approached him out of the shadows behind him. They moved silently into position around Glacier's body. She gritted her teeth. They turned and grasped one of the many needles, with long, rubbery tubes dangling from them. Glacier didn't flinch as they inserted them into her arms and legs. She didn't move as she felt the liquids that would paralyse her flowed around her veins. Dr Leese pulled on his blue, latex gloves, and fastened his goggles over his eyes. "Now, Glacier, we're going to be doing something we haven't done in a while." He bent over her face, and smiled again. "We're going to see if the drugs we gave you has had any affect on your…skeleton."

Glacier's eyes widened in horror. They weren't…they couldn't! He'd promised her! She desperately tried to move, but her arms ignored her. The needles hadn't given her pain suppressants, just something that stopped her moving. She stared helplessly as he turned away from her, and picked up a shining, cold scalpel off a small tray. "Now, this may hurt, but of course," he smiled again, "you won't be able to stop it."

Glacier's lungs felt like they were going to burst as he delicately slit her old scars down her arms open. She watched helplessly as her bone was exposed. She didn't bleed much, but oh hell, did she feel pain. The bone gleamed innocently back at her, and she closed her eyes, not able to look at it.

Dr Leese sighed. "Well, well. Looks like it didn't help much, did it?" He was talking like she was a dummy, and not able to understand him. He sighed again, whilst Glacier was recoiling and squirming with pain inside. "Ah well." He moved back. "Nurse, close her up, and when you're done, give her half the normal dosage of medicine." He looked into Glacier's eyes, not really seeing the person inside. "Less is more," he muttered. "I'll start the head exams."

Glacier felt her hair being pressed down as her gently pulled the helmet over her head. He stuck three thin tubes into her cheeks, carefully avoiding the glass. "Right, let's have a look." He grasped the thin needles that the nurse handed to him. "Recline her."

The chair dropped slowly to a straight level. Dr Leese carefully jabbed the needles into her face, one by one, until her cheekbones were covered. Glacier writhed with pain inside.

"I think…yes, we will do eye's today as well." Dr Leese seemed to be talking to himself.

Oh no, thought Glacier. She would be seeing red dots for weeks if he did it wrong.

They pulled some extension wires that had tiny ovals on the ends down from the helmet. They stuck them on her eyelids, after forcing her to close her eyes.

"Gently does it," murmured Dr Leese, as he inserted two needles into the middle of the ovals.

Glacier screamed.

The nurses jumped. "Quick, she's over come the drugs again!" Dr Leese squealed.

Glacier couldn't open her eyes, everything was dark. Needles were everywhere, blinding her with pain. She roared with anger, and threw herself from side to side, trying to get free. But she was still wearing the helmet. The nurses grabbed her arms, and held her still, as Dr Leese carefully pulled the needles out of her eyes.

They flew open. Dr Leese watched in horror as the rolling, bloody orbs found their mark. Him. He backed up against the corner as Glacier screamed again, ripping at the metal clasps. One pinged open, and she punched one of the nurses. The woman flew through the air, landing in a heap at the end of the Lab. Glacier ripped open the other clasps, and jumped from the chair. She reached up, and yanked out the helmet, leaving blood trails over her face. She whipped around, firing the deadly shards into everything. The nurses, the walls, the chair, the cupboards. Finally, it was just her and him left.

Glacier stood, panting, her arms rigid by her sides. Blood trickled down her arms, before the skin closed over it. She stared at the frail man cowering before her. He slid to the floor, and held up his hands. "Please…please…I was trying to help you…" He gasped.

She stepped forwards. "You were…helping me," she asked in a low voice.

He nodded franticly.

She tilted her head to one side. "Then maybe you should have my help." She grabbed his collar, and threw him across the room. He landed with a sickening crack against the next wall. She walked over to him, and heaved him up again. "Does this feel like help?" She growled, and threw him onto the chair. His head lolled around as she fastened the clasps around him. "No…no…please…" he gasped.

She ignored him, and picked up the scalpel, twirling it in her fingers. "Let's start with the routine exams, shall we?" she asked sweetly, and plunged the knife into his arm. He screamed, but all Glacier could hear was a roaring in her ears. She dragged it upwards, feeling the veins snap underneath it. She left it sticking out of his arm, and moved slowly up to his head. "We'll do the head now," she said gently and quietly as he cringed and rolled. "But, unfortunately, I've broken the helmet. We'll have to do it without."

"No…"

She turned and picked up one of the needles. "We'll do it bit by bit shall we?"

He gasped as she stuck the needles into his face, but his strength was leaving him. He'd lost so much blood.

Glacier left the best until last. She leant very close to his blood-filled ear. "Did you really think that I would let you see the hell that you've put me through." She turned her back on him slowly, and selected a fine-tipped needle. "You're going to die, Doctor," she said, emotionlessly. "But you know what the funny thing is?" She approached him carefully. He lolled on the table, his face going slack as he stared at her in horror through the array of needles. "I'll tell you." She looped an arm round his head, lifting his face up, tenderly. "You've probably had more life than I have, but yet," She pulled out one of the needles on his cheek. "I get the feeling that you're less prepared to die than I am." She smiled coldly. "Not my best, but" she lunged suddenly, and pierced his eye with the needle. He screamed again, and gurgled into death. "It'll do for now."

She dropped him, brushing her hands off. She thought about escape, but…where would she go? Should she crawl back to her room, like a badly behaved dog? Or should she run, and never look back. She looked at her hands, bloody and trembling. There was nothing she could do. She turned as the door creaked open, and several guards ran in. She knew they would come. She let them sedate her, and drag her back to her cell. There was nothing anyone could do to her now.

Glacier sat, hands wrapped around her knees. She was staring at the large mirror. Just staring at the people behind it. She didn't blink as the door to her cell opened with a loud shift of locks. She didn't move as footsteps walked slowly in, accompanied by a strange sound, like wheels. She didn't look round as the door shut again, leaving her alone with the strangers.

"Hello," a rich voice said. A polite, English voice.

She didn't move.

"It's alright, we won't hurt you," the voice reassured.

She still ignored it.

We're here to help you, the voice whispered to her. She twitched. The voice was there, inside her head. Please turn around. You can trust me.

Glacier got slowly up, and turned around. She was scared of what she might see, scared of what new terror they had in store for her.

Instead, she saw a man in a chair with wheels, and a silent, calm man standing beside him, with red glasses on. How odd. The man in the chair smiled at her. "Thank you," he said, sounding genuine. The man beside him didn't move. Glacier stared at him coldly. Why wouldn't he say anything? She didn't trust him. The man in the chair looked up at him. "This is Scott," he said.

Scott smiled slightly. Glacier still glared at him.

The man in the chair continued. "My name is Professor Xavier."

Glacier's eyes snapped to his face. It looked open and kindly. She felt and explicable…safeness around him. Like nothing could hurt her, ever again.

"Would you like to tell us your name?" he asked gently.

She opened her mouth slightly. She could tell him, he was to be trusted. "Glacier," she whispered. Why, why was it so hard to tell others her real name?

He smiled again. "That's a very nice name," he said quietly.

Glacier looked at her toes. It's alright, you can say your real name. Please don't be scared. She looked up at the professor's face. Was he…?

You know it's rude to poke around in my head without asking, she thought.

He laughed. That's what I would have said. You know, we have more in common than you think, you and I.

Glacier thought of what she had done a few hours ago, killing the nurses. Would you do that? Would anyone do that? She looked down again. No one who did that could be human. Please, go away.

No. I am here because I want to help you. There is a place that you can come to, a place where people like you are understood. Where nothing can hurt you.

I used to think there could be places like that, remembered Glacier. But then my family was killed in it. Now, I know that wherever I go, I'll be a freak.

It doesn't have to be that way. Xavier's eyes crinkled as he smiled. Come with me, and you'll be safe, I promise.

Glacier thought of her father, her mother, and Morgan. Morgan…He was dead because of her. She couldn't leave this place. It was all she knew. She stayed because of him, to make up for the terrible thing she did. Nothing, nothing could ever change that.

I'm sorry. But I won't go with you. She looked deep into his eyes. I think you know why.

You don't have to stay here. Please, I don't want to see you hurt.

What if that's the only thing that I feel makes me who I am? Go. Thank you, but go.

Xavier blinked, and the connection was broken. "Scott," he said quietly. "We have to go."

Glacier watched them go with cold eyes. She wanted to cry, and laugh at the same time. Why didn't she go? She turned her back on the door, and sat back down, staring at the mirror, and instead looking at the girl who stared back at her with murder in her eyes.

Evelyn walked through wood lined halls. It looked like the inside of a stately home, but it couldn't be. She jumped as several children ran, laughing past her. They rounded a corner, and she was left in silence again.

"Hello again."

She turned at the sound of Professor Xavier's voice. "Hello," she replied.

"Walk with me." He started rolling forwards.

She walked silently beside him, the sunlight filtering around her. "Where am I?"

"In a dream that I gave to you," he said simply.

"Is this place real?"

"Yes. This is my school. The place were I offered for you to come." He turned around a corner, as more children, older this time, walked past them, holding books and chattering. They smiled at Professor Xavier. "These are my pupils, mutants, like you. They came here because their families wanted them too, or because they had nowhere else to go."

"It sounds too good to be true," Evelyn said.

"Here you can be yourself, Evelyn."

She stiffened at the sound of her real name.

"Come, there is something more." Xavier led her to her a round part of wall, which slid across to reveal a white interior. "This is the part of my school which is a little more interesting."

Evelyn followed him into a white lined hall, which glowed around her. "What is this place?"

"Follow me." Xavier led her down more halls, before they reached a large round door, with a sleek silver X imprinted on it. A beam of blue light shone into his eyes, and with a smooth "Welcome Professor." the doors opened.

Evelyn looked around the huge round room. "What is this?" she whispered.

"Welcome to Cerebro. This is how I'm communicating with you." Xavier smiled at her. "Have you had second thoughts?"

"Why me?" Evelyn asked suddenly. "What makes me so special?"

Xavier sighed. "What makes you special, Evelyn, is that you have been hiding for so long, you have forgotten who you are. You could be somebody here, be loved and accepted. Isn't that what you want?"

Evelyn looked away. "I get…angry. I can't control it."

"But you can!" Xavier wheeled closer. "I can help you. That's all I want to do."

Evelyn looked at him with narrowed eyes, remembering who she was, where she was in the real world. "Fine, I'll come." She agreed. "But I do it my way. I'll find you. If you get in my way, I will kill you."

"You don't have to kill anyone, Evelyn."

She looked at him. "My name is Glacier."