As the train pulled up to the station Aliana followed the crowds of people to the entrance, heading through the ticket barrier.
It took all of her will power to use the skills she'd learnt and created a distraction in the station during which she swiped one man's wallet, pulling the money from it before dropping it on the floor and heading to a taxi.
"Hi, how much is it to Westchester?" She asked through the window to a driver who turned and looked at her dishevelled state.
"$50," He said simply in a rough sort of voice.
"Thanks," She replied, getting in the back of the car and handing over the money before sitting back for the journey. A slight feeling of guilt overcame her from swiping the money from the man in the station but it was her only choice.
The journey took a little under 20 minutes and she got out the car in the middle of a small town, glancing around as she wandered towards a coffee shop, entirely lost now she was there. The file had said something about Xavier's Academy but she didn't have a clue how to find it.
"Hi there, do you know where I can find the Xavier Academy?" Aliana asked the man behind the coffee counter.
"Sorry hun, you have to order a drink or go, manager's orders," The guy replied, looking at her a little apologetically.
"I'll have a hot chocolate then," She replied, figuring she might as well have a drink.
"That'll be $5," He said, tapping it in to the machine. Aliana went straight to her bag rifling through it to see if she could find some change.
"I only have $3," She said after a moment before a guy behind her said, "I'll get it for her."
"Thanks but…" She started before he interrupted with, "you haven't got the money for it, I do," and handed it over to the guy who handed her the hot chocolate.
"Thank you," she said simply, turning to the guy and smiling.
"Not a problem. Did I hear you ask about Xavier's?" He asked, leading her back to a table.
"Yeah, do you know it?" Aliana asked, sipping her hot chocolate.
"Yeah, it's down the road to the right, it's quite a long way," He said as She stood up, her hot chocolate still in her hand.
"It's okay, I'll be fine walking it," She replied as she headed out.
An hour later Aliana stood outside the gates of what appeared to her to be a big stately home. The sign on the side of the gate read 'Xavier's Academy for Gifted Youngsters'.
"So do I go in or do I wait… Stryker will be on my tail by now so I suppose the answer is to go in," Aliana said to herself before pushing a gate open and heading in to the grounds, her footsteps leading her up the driveway to the large building.
It took her a few moments before she plucked up the courage to knock on the door which opened to reveal a woman who stared at her for a moment before standing aside to let her in.
"The professor will want to see you straight away," She said simply.
"The professor?" Aliana asked, her eyebrows raised.
"Yes, the professor, Professor Xavier," she said before looking closely at Aliana, "Do you remember me?" She asked.
Aliana simply shook her head as she looked at the woman.
"Aliana, it's me, it's Jean," She said looking at the every increasingly confused girl.
"I… it…" she started but never finished, looking so confused she was almost upset.
"Let's get you to the professor," Jean said simply, placing a hand on Aliana's shoulders and guiding her down a corridor and in to an office that looked extremely homely. The corridors were quite but Aliana guessed that was because it was almost Christmas and as it was a school, most of the students would probably be at home.
"Aliana?" The professor asked as she walked in with Jean, he appeared almost as shocked as she did confused.
"Why do you keep calling me Aliana?" She asked, looking between him and Jean.
"Because that's your name," The professor said as Jean motioned for her to take a seat.
"Look, I don't know if you're telling me the truth or if this is some sick joke Stryker set up. I don't remember anything from before 2 months ago, all I know is that I found this," Aliana said, pulling out the file and handing it to the professor.
There was a short moment of silence before the professor looked from the file to Aliana.
"This is going to be difficult for you. I'll warn you that now. The people here already know you and have been searching for you for the last 2 months. I believe Stryker may have erased your memories but there is a possibility they are still in the back of your mind. If you want me to, I can have a look but it might take some time. A matter of weeks or months," He explained looking at her.
"Months?" She asked, looking a little dejected, she'd hoped to find out sooner than that.
"Unfortunately, yes. Your room is still as it was when you left it, Jean will show you," He said.
"Okay," She replied standing up and picking up her bag before following Jean out the door and up the corridor towards the rooms.
"It might be a bit awkward for a few weeks, the professor will let people know you're here and what's happened but it still might be awkward," She explained as they walked.
"I figured as much," was Aliana's reply.