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Summary: The chapter title says it all actually…

Previous Chapter: The moment Marie fainted, Jean's other psyche surfaced into Marie's mind. It took control and walked down the almost deserted corridor, and into Marie's own room. Logan did not hear a soft click or sense anything, for it had no scent for Logan to sniff. Hence, it was able to sneak right under Logan's enhanced senses. Logan had no idea what just happened. He continued prowling along the quiet corridors in the mansion.

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Chapter Nine: Insults and Conflict

The morning sun peeked through the frosted window panels into a dark room. Walls were filled up with numerous rock bands. In the bed and under the blankets, a figure stirred. She was turning and whimpering in her sleep. She dreamt of everyone, who she thought cared about her, had turned their backs on her.

Marie sat up in her bed and screamed, but it was a silent one. Eyes snapped open and she squinted in the dark, trying to figure her current location. What am I doing here? How did I get here? Marie thought to herself.

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When Marie finally came out of her shell, she cautiously walked along the crowded corridors and tried not to cower at the harden glares from the younger students. She turned the corner quickly, hoping to escape them. However, she found herself being surrounded by a group of boys, who cornered her into a wall.

"You don't deserve to be here," one of them said. "Yeah, you should be locked up." Another one chimes in, eagerly while cracking his knuckles. "This isn't my fault!" Marie tried to protest. "But you did it anyway, didn't you? You couldn't control your own power," the leader snarled at her. Electricity sprouted out of his glowing white hands. Lights started flickering and Marie panicked. She wanted to tell them the true cause but was afraid they would laugh. Her world went black as the last thing she saw was the kid's leering face.

Logan smelt fear and trouble coming from the crowd. He ran towards it, his claws shot out of his callous hands. When he saw Marie slumped on the floor, he growled angrily at the kids. Logan gripped her clothed shoulders and shook hard. He looked worried, "Marie? Wake up!" When she didn't respond to his touch or voice, he glared at the kid who caused the mayhem, "What did you do to her?" He responded with an even voice, "She had it coming." The crowd began to disperse with the ringleader walking away with a smirk.

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A few minutes later, Logan came bursting into the infirmary, carrying an unconscious Marie in his arms. Both Hank and Professor Xavier looked up from Jean. They were still trying to figure a way to wake Jean up. Logan set her down on the metal gurney and said, "Trouble at the east wing; Blair's got himself a gang." Hank went over to Marie and attached the monitors to her. "Her breathing's normal. She will be fine, Logan," Hank told a pacing Logan. Professor Xavier moved towards Marie's side. He placed his fingertips gently on his head and concentrate hard. He spoke softly to them, "I'm going to find out what's going in the inside of her mind." "Do you want us to stay here?" Hank asked. "Yes, please do," he replied.

Professor Xavier focused and he found himself, standing, in Marie's mind. What he was expecting to see were crowded psyches in her mind, but this wasn't the case. There was no psyche on the astral plane. 'Marie?' Professor Xavier called loudly. No response. He tried again and this time, an angry voice spoke, 'What gives you the right to enter my mind?!' Marie came up from behind him. 'I am sorry but that day…you weren't yourself. I am only trying to help you.'

'Don't listen to him,' another psyche spoke. 'Who are you?' asked both the professor and Marie. She was confused. Who else did she absorb? Her memory had been a bit of blur lately. She was still trying to get her powers under control. It said, 'You.' The voice echoed and faded into darkness.

Marie refocused her attention back onto the intruder. 'Let me help you, Marie,' Professor Xavier said gently and reached out to her. Marie slapped the gesture away. 'Get out of her head right now!' 'What were you doing with Jean that afternoon?' The professor asked gently.

'Nothing, she was helping me with my biology homework,' Marie lied. However, he saw through her and spoke, 'Don't lie to me, Marie. After all I've done…I brought you in, gave you a place to stay…help you with your powers…' 'Well, thank you very much for letting me stay here, Professor,' she said sarcastically.

'But you did nothing. You didn't teach me to control my powers. This is your entire FAULT!!' 'Why didn't you tell anyone Jean has an alter ego?' Marie ranted at him. 'Did you absorb the particular psyche?' The professor was alert now, watching Marie carefully for the signs.

'No, I discovered it in Jean's memories,' Marie replied. She noticed him sigh in relief and continued the rant, 'BUT you couldn't wait like everyone else, can you? You had to use your telepathy on me. What happened to the "I am not going to use my telepathy on others" lecture? You're such a hypocrite!'

With that, she pushed the professor out with so much force that he and his wheelchair went crashing into the medical cabinet. Hank quickly helped Charles back into his wheelchair while Logan just watched him with a raised eyebrow. He walked out, carrying his leather jacket behind him, and said loudly, "Wheels, if I were you, I would want to watch my back. Looks like you've got yourself an enemy." Logan walked away, chuckling.

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"What happened?" Hank asked. "I think Jean's powers were a bit too much for young Marie to handle. She still has some of her powers. Marie would be waking up soon," Charles replied. "I think I'm going to rest. Call me when anything changes?" Hank nodded affirmative and walked into his office, which was next-door to the infirmary. No one noticed a smile forming on Marie's mouth.

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'Did you tell him?' The psyche finally spoke.

Marie scoffed, 'If I did, he would just poke his business further into mine.'

'You still didn't tell me who exactly are you?' she asked, curious.

'It's simple. I'm a part of you, Marie.' It said. Marie couldn't see the psyche. It seemed to like being in the dark.

'You're part of that Phoenix in Jean's memories,' she stated.

'Not quite I am only part of the essence. I am not the Phoenix. The connection you made with Jean…that is how I became a part of you.' She was still confused, it could see that.

'Think of it as another voice in your head. I won't take control unless you want me to.' It spoke slowly.

'You won't…' 'I won't,' it confirmed. 'I like that,' Marie smiled.

'Then you understand that you can't stay here,' it said. 'Why?' she asked.

'This is not your destiny. It awaits you. Accept it,' the voice echoed again and faded into nothingness.

'I accept.'

To be continued…