I am so sorry about the delay in updates! I've just been soon busy with school and stuff, plus at one point, I kinda lost inspiration for this story. But, the gears in my brain have been turning and I know exactly how this story will mould with the storyline of DOFP. But, alas, can't tell you what happens later. To quote River Songs, spoilers.

Anyway, if you don't understand something about the story, or you have a really cool idea of something I should write, PM me. What did you all think of the little Quicksilver cameo in the last chapter? Gonna be a big character in the next story. Oh, and to the review who I think is beginning to connect the dots between the names, if you get what I mean. Look really hard and think about it.

Thanks for all the lovely reviews, and a big shout out to anyone who has fav/followed the story.

Please read, review and enjoy!


She lives in a fairy tale
Somewhere too far for us to find
Forgotten the taste and smell
Of a world that she's left behind
It's all about the exposure the lens I told her
The angles were all wrong now
She's ripping wings off of butterflies
Keep your feet on the ground
When your head's in the cloud

- Brick By Brick, Paramore, Brand New Eyes


Chapter Seven

After another five hours of driving, three more pit stops, seven quickly ending games of 'I spy' and a total number of ten stares at Lyndsey from Alex, the mutants finally arrived and Charles' 'safe house'. Sighing with relief, they quickly scrambled out of the truck, landing on the gravel of a front drive. Lyndsey looked up and saw the biggest looking mansion she had ever seen. It was regal looking, almost like a castle. She had not seen a building like this for a long time.

Beside her, Aiden looked up, awe-struck. Although she was no telepath, Lyndsey could sense he was thinking the same thing as she was. About what had happened. She reached out, took his hand and squeezed it reassuringly. He smiled down at her, sad look in his eye. God, Lyndsey thought, he's grown so much. It made Lyndsey feel old when she thought about he had grown and matured over the last five years. He was no longer that small, scrawny nine year old who had clung to her in fear. Then again, she was no longer that twelve-year-old who was trying to face the world alone, against some of the darkest horrors imaginable.

"This is yours?" Sean asked Charles, looking at the mansion, awe clear on his face.

"No, it's ours," Charles corrected him, hint of pride in his voice.

"Well, Charles," Erik said, his voice slightly strained. "I don't know how you survived, living in such hardship."

There was a hint of envy and resentment in Erik's voice. Charles' up bring was probably much different to Erik's. Lyndsey and Aiden exchanged looks, both fully understanding what it must have been like for Erik, having experienced similar horrors themselves. This exchanged did not go unnoticed by Alex, who looked down upon Lyndsey in question. She ignored him, clear still annoyed by the events of that day.

"Well it was a hardship softened by me," Raven added, moving forward to stand next to Charles. He smiled lovingly and put arm around her waist. "Come on, time for the tour."

…..

"And this is your room," Raven said to Lyndsey, pushing open a door on the corridor with many doors. She stood to the side of the doorway, allowing Lyndsey to walk into the room.

The room was large and lavishly decorated. A four-poster bed with cream sheets and curtains stood in the middle of the room, next to it a mahogany end table. The wardrobe was opposite to the bed, made from the same wood as the end table was. A vanity table was next to it, along with a comfy looking armchair. Large windows on the far side of the room allowed light to filter into the room, making the room light and airy. A patterned carpet stretched across most of the exposed wooden floors, making the room feel cosy and homely.

"Wow…" Lyndsey said softly, her eyes as wide as saucers. She hadn't seen a room this beautiful in years. Raven smiled.

"I'm just next door and the boys are just down the hall," Raven said, looking at Lyndsey's awe-struck expression. She smiled and added, "I'll be in my room if you need me."

Lyndsey turned round and returned a smile before Raven left. Sighing happily, she closed the door behind her and headed towards the bed. Sitting cross-legged at the head of the bed, she plonked her backpack down on the bed, laughing at how soft the mattress was. Shooting a look over at the door, she hesitantly reached over and opened the bag, holding her breath as she looked at the contents.

The first thing she was met with was her battered and worn clothes. Frowning, she folded them so there was no creases in them. Lyndsey placed them neatly beside her, making a mental note to put them away later. She'd go downstairs later to grab the rest of her stuff.

The next item she picked up caused her to inhale sharply. She held the doll in her hand, wondering just how long it had been since she truly was a child. The rag doll stared up at Lyndsey with lifeless eyes, a ghost of a smile on its face. Tora used to love this doll, Lyndsey thought. Shaking her head, she carefully placed it under one of the white pillows on her bed, so that it would be safe.

It was the last item in the bag which caused the tears to whelm in Lyndsey's eyes. Slowly, she took the folded piece of paper out of her bag, carefully so she wouldn't tear it. She sat there, the paper sitting in her hands, still folded as she tried to work up the courage to open it. After a minute of staring at it, Lyndsey opened it, her hands shaking from nervousness. A tear rolled down her cheek when she looked at the unfolded paper.

It was a photo. Of Lyndsey, and Aiden and their entire family. Having been taken five years previous, it was worn and battered, with faded edges. Her mother and father were sat in the centre of the photograph, looking young and smart.

Lyndsey's mother was wearing a dark blue dress, with her blonde hair done up into a fancy updo. Her father stood next to her mother, proudly wearing his Air Force uniform. Next to him stood John, who was smiling widely, his brown hair neatly combed.

Beside Lyndsey's mother was Robbie, who was smirking at the camera, probably because of something he'd done previously. Lyndsey stood in front of Robbie, her hair curling down her back as she smiled toothily.

In front of John was Aiden, who had John's hand placed on his shoulder. Like John, his brown hair was combed back neatly and he wore a blue tie that matched the colour of Lyndsey's dress. Jemima and Tora stood at the front of the photo, wearing dresses similar to Lyndsey's but their hair was styled differently. Jemima's was in a neat side plait while half of Tora's was plaited, the rest flowing down in waves.

A few stray tears landed on the photo so Lyndsey quickly folded the photo back up, brushing the remainder of her tears out of her eyes. Bringing her hands up to cover her face, she signed deeply, and put the photo under the pillow, along with the doll. She looked over at the clock on the end table by the bed. Four thirty. Dinner was at five. Deciding it would be nice to explore the house for a little, Lyndsey got up and headed out of her room.

As she walked down the corridor, Lyndsey marvelled at the décor. The halls were wood panelled, with beautiful paintings hanging. Every door she met led to another endless corridor filled with even more doors. After a while of wandering aimlessly down the corridors, Lyndsey finally found the main staircase.

Lyndsey walked down the staircase and into the large drawing room at the front of the house. It was empty, no one else around. Looking over her shoulder, Lyndsey walked over to where a large, ebony piano stood near to the window. Hovering around it, she sat down on the stool in front of it and lifted the lid. The keys were covered in a layer of dust, showing it had not been used for a long time.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Charles' voice said from behind. Lyndsey's head whipped round, her eyes wide with surprise. "My mother used to play."

"I-I didn't- I can explain-" Lyndsey stuttered, standing up. "I was only looking- Honestly-"

Charles raised his hand for her to stop and smiled.

"Please, continue. I never cared for the thing, it'll be good to have some music in this house," Charles said.

"Y-You're not mad at me?" Lyndsey asked nervously.

"No, of course not!" Charles exclaimed. "Do you play often?"

"Not for a long time," Lyndsey said quietly, looking down at the piano keys. Charles frowned and went to stand by the piano and placed a hand on Lyndsey's shoulder.

"Play something for me?" He asked. Lyndsey hesitated for a second, before her fingers swept over the keys. She played a simple 'G' note first, before playing Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky. The same piece of music she had been planning to play five years ago. It was a little shaky as Lyndsey jittered a few times but other than that, it was good. When she finished, applause came from Charles next to her and behind her. She turned round to see most of the other mutants there, smiling and clapping. Her gaze fell upon Aiden, who was smiling, although it did not reach his eyes. Lyndsey raised her eye brow in question and he nodded, knowing what she was thinking. Smiling slightly, she nodded back.

"Okay then," Charles said. "Time for dinner I think."

…..

Lyndsey was twelve years old. The pain surged through her body as she cried out in agony.

"Please!" She cried, tears spilling down her face. "Please, stop it!"

"Don't worry, Lyndsey," The cold voice mocked her. "This one won't hurt…much."

Lyndsey screamed as the scalpel sliced her arm, her blood staining the white tiles of the Vivisection room.

…..

Lyndsey was thirteen and Aiden now ten. They had been in the prison for a little over a year now but still protested to the way they were treat.

"Lyndsey!" Aiden wailed as the metal door to their cell swung open revealing two guards and Mr Atkinson. The latter grinned wickedly and walked forward, like a predator stalking its prey.

"Aiden," He said, malevolent tone to his voice. "It's your turn."

"No!" Lyndsey cried, pushing Aiden behind her in protection. Mr Atkinson simply raised an eyebrow.

"Really, Lyndsey? Do we have to go over this again?" He questioned. He nodded to one of the guards who moved towards the children. Lyndsey tensed, coiled and ready to attack. The guard went to grab and subdue her, and Lyndsey jumped forward, kicking him in the gut. When he doubled over in pain, she kicked him in between the legs for good measure. The smiled faded from Mr Atkinson's face and he looked at Lyndsey with a cold, cruel look in his eye.

"Well, Lyndsey, I think you just volunteered yourself for today."

…..

Lyndsey was fifteen and her body was covered in bruises and injures.

"Quickly, Aiden," She hurried as they both ran down the corridor. "We have to get out of here!"

Aiden, now twelve, was in a similar state to Lyndsey. Both wore the drab grey scrubs that had been forced to wear. Lyndsey's hair hung loosely and unkempt, framing her face as she whipped round, trying to find a way out.

"This way!" Aiden said, pulling Lyndsey down a corridor. They reached the end of the corridor just as the alarms began.

"No!" Lyndsey cried. "Damnit!"

"Where do we go now?" Aiden asked frantically, his body actions mirroring his sister's.

"Umm…Down here!" She said, gripping his hand and running down another endless corridor. When they reached the end of the corridor, something hard crashed into Lyndsey's temple, the force of impact causing her to fall. Her eyes fluttered, trying to stay open but the pressure from her temple was too much. The last thing Lyndsey saw was Aiden's panicked face screaming at her as the sinister smile filled her view.

…..

When she came round, Lyndsey could feel the thick cuffs of the leather straps were tight around her wrists. She tried moving them but found it was pointless. The clinking of metal instruments could be heard, as well as footsteps on the tiled floor.

"You shouldn't have tried to escape, Lyndsey," Atkinson's voice echoed through the room. A strap across her head prevent Lyndsey from looking over to where he stood, but she could tell where he stood.

"You can't hold us here forever," Lyndsey muttered. She looked up at the ceiling, knowing what was about to come. Atkinson chuckled and moved over into Lyndsey's eyesight.

"Yes, I can. And even if you do, I will track you to the end of the world. You're too much of a valuable specimen to let go of," He said, walking around the operation table, his gaze never leaving Lyndsey's. "You are a perfect mutant, your powers aren't even fully developed yet. Imagine the chaos and destruction I could use them for!"

Lyndsey managed to lift herself up slightly and she turned to where he stood.

"There is no way I would ever let you use me for your revenge. Even if I die here, at least you'll never be able to use me. I'd rather be dead than have that happen," She said. In disgust, she spat on his shoe. "That's what I think of you."

Atkinson, instead of looking angry, only grinned more sinisterly.

"Well, if that's how you feel, let's begin. Oh, and no anesthetic this time."

…..

Lyndsey woke up with a start, her legs tangled in the sheets, her skin wet with sweat. It took her a minute to realise where she was and when she did, she fell back down with a sigh of relief. Just another bad dream. Her hand unconsciously went to doll under her pillow, stroking its woollen hair.

Deciding she needed a drink of water, Lyndsey threw the blanket off of her body. Her bare feet brushed against the cool wooden floor as she walked down the empty corridor. Her footsteps were silent as they padded down the hall. She wandered down the hallways and before she knew it, she was standing in the kitchen doorway.

Lyndsey walked over to a cupboard, pulled out a glass and filled it with water at the tap. She sipped it slowly, and stood by the counter, her free hand clutching it for support. The cool night air prickled her skin even though she was wearing a three quarter length shirt and pair of pyjama pants. Her thoughts drifted back to her nightmare, although she tried not to. She could still feel the coldness of the metal against her skin, the leather straps binding her down, the fear in her heart. The events of her past haunted her very night, and Lyndsey was sure the same went of Aiden.

"Bad dream?" The voice from behind her snapped Lyndsey out of her thoughts. She spun round and saw Alex standing there, leaning against the door frame with his arms folded over his chest. Lyndsey's eyes hovered over his muscled, bare arms before quickly snapping back to his face.

"Yeah, so what?" Lyndsey asked, mimicking his folded arms. "What are you doing up?"

Alex causally shrugged.

"Couldn't sleep," He said lazily. "What was your dream about?"

"Why should I tell you?" Lyndsey shot back. Alex raised his hands up in defence.

"Just asking," He replied. "So, are you going to tell me?"

"No," Lyndsey said, turning away and gripping the counter as though her life depended on it. However, Alex didn't stop asking questions.

"What are those scars on your arms?" He asked, curiously and slightly quieter. Lyndsey's eyes widened in alarm and she felt herself go cold. No, she thought, no one can know.

"They're nothing," She quickly replied, spinning around to face him. She crossed her arms over her body protectively.

"They don't look like nothing," Alex insisted, walking across the room towards her. "What are they from?"

"That's none of your business!" Lyndsey cried coldly, pushing herself further against the counter.

"Okay…" Alex said, slightly unsure and a bit shocked at Lyndsey's outburst.

The two stood in silence, looking at each other. Alex in question, Lyndsey trying to work out of Alex was a threat. After a minute of silence, Lyndsey spoke first.

"I'm going to bed," She muttered, brushing past Alex. Before she could reach the door, however, Alex's hand caught her arm. She turned round, eyes blazing.

"What?"

Alex's face was slightly softer than before, his eyes kinder than before.

"You can talk to me, you know," He said quietly. At this, Lyndsey's accusing glare dropped and a ghost of a smile returned to her face.

"Thanks," She said quietly, looking up into his eyes. They held their gaze for a while before Lyndsey looked away, slightly embarrassed and Alex let go of her arm. Instead of walking away, Lyndsey turned back to Alex.

"Sinister," She said. Alex frowned.

"What?"

"Sinister," She repeated simply. "You asked me what my dream was like. It was sinister."


Please review!