The Eleventh Chapter is Called: Ghost Busters part II

He turned it and instantly there was a burst of light and one of Brooky's contained memories threw itself into motion...

The girl with curly black hair sat in the corner of a school playground, singing to herself as she played with a pile of dirt. Around her the boys were playing games of sports and tag, and the girls were playing with skipping ropes or joining in with a few of the boys less violent games. None of them even spared a glance at the pink clad girl in the corner, and she seemed to not notice them either.

A ball suddenly rolled over to the girl and she stopped singing and picked it up. Sounds of feet on pavement told her someone was approaching and she looked up to see a group of four boys standing over her.

"Hello Gentlemen. Lovely day for a recess wouldn't you say?" she asked, squinting at them because of the sun shining behind their heads.

"Give us our ball, freak," demanded the boy. The young girl had quickly been labeled the crazy girl only a day after being at school and she never shed that title, even months into the school year.

"You can call me by my name," said the girl, holding the ball behind her back. "You do know my name, don't you?"

"Weirdos like you don't need names, no give us our ball," snapped another boy, swiping for the ball.

"No!" exclaimed the girl, her eyes bright with determination. "Until you know my name, you wont get your ball back." Moments later, the curly haired girl found herself racing around the school grounds with more than six angry kids chasing her to get their ball back.

The girl dropped the ball but they no longer cared about it, they all wanted to get the crazy kid. The girl stumbled, running out of breath. She wouldn't be able to run for much longer. When she tripped a second time she screwed her eyes shut and wished that she was anywhere but there. Suddenly the sounds of the school ground disappeared and their was a crash of glass.

"Brooky what the hell are you doing here?" The girl opened her eyes and gasped; she was back home! Mr. Cody had dropped his tea cup in surprise when his ward and mysteriously appeared in the house. His first instinct was to throw the child out, but instead an idea stuck him and he beckoned the girl over.

"Princess," he said, taking the girl onto his lap. "Mr. Cody is very proud that you did that. Will you do it again?" Brooky nodded shyly and closed her eyes again, moments later her body disappeared and a short while after that she walked out of the adjacent room. Mr. Cody smiled widely and clapped for the proud little girl.

"You go back to school Princess, Mr. Cody will have some people for you to meet when you get home."


With a rush, Charles Xavier found himself standing outside the golden door again. He took a deep breath and stepped away from the door.

While he had been watching the memory the horses had stopped spinning on the carousel, so it was easier to get off the ride.

"Pssssst!" Xavier saw the young Brooky waving at him a few meters away. She was now wearing a fluffy pink dress and a sparkling silver tiara. She didn't wait for Xavier to approach before she giggled and ran into a near by tent.

Charles went to the tent she had entered. On the outside was a sign indicating that it was the hall of mirrors. He pulled back the flap and entered, preparing to feel another rush of memories. This time however, Xavier entered the tent completely and found himself in a confusing tunnel of mirrors. He looked into one of the mirrors and instead of seeing himself he was once again in a memory.


Professor Xavier saw a much older Brooky in the memory. She was wearing the clothing that they had found her in. She was looking worried and throwing things rapidly into her duffel bag. She shrieked as the door burst open but relaxed when she saw who it was.

A man was was in his early thirties stood in the entrance way, his clothing rugged and tired. He obviously didn't have to much money.

"They'll get you Brooky. Do the job like you are supposed to!" he said, obvious concern for the girl in his eyes.

"I can't Jack," said Brooky, not looking up from her packing. "I can't do it. I wont kill for Tanner, not again." Jack sighed and ran his hands through his auburn hair.

"What about Mr. Cody, Brook? Do you really want him to die because you refuse to do your job?" Brooky spun around and faced Jack, with pain in her eyes.

"I will take my chances, Jack. I don't care if Mr. Cody and I both have to die...I refuse to kill a mother and her children. I'm going and you can stay or come."

"I value my life, Brook," said Jack. He took a step forward and held onto her shoulders. "They'll kill me if they found I let you go. You have five minutes...then I'll tell them that you've run."

Jack pulled Brooky forward and kissed her tenderly on the lips. Brooky closed her eyes and accepted the kiss but as soon as they parted she shuddered and slapped him hard across the face.

"You're an awful friend, Jack." Brooky picked up her bag and fazed out of the building.

In a lush forest, night's darkness swept through the trees, dancing with the wind. All was quiet but for the whistle of the air as the trees brushed against one another. Mingling with the nights music, the thudding of feet could be heard, pounding on the hard dirt.

Suddenly a woman with hair as dark as the night burst through the trees, swatting offending branches out of her face. A look of terror shone in her dark eyes as she struggled to breath properly. Jack hadn't been lying when he said five minutes.

Brooky had hoped to be farther away by then. She yelped as she suddenly tripped over a tree branch, sharp pain coursing through her foot.

"I hear her!" shouted a man, his voice drawing near. The woman's eyes widened in fear as she saw lights flicker through the trees. Abandoning the bag she had been carrying, the woman climbed from the ground and continued running, ignoring the pain in her foot.

She panicked as the angry voices grew closer once again stumbling onto the hard ground. Instead of picking herself up, the woman huddled behind two large trees, hoping that she would go unnoticed by her pursuers. All her hopes were dashed as she heard a loud howl.

They had dogs!

The woman jumped from her spot and ran ahead as the dogs got closer. She gasped for air expecting her lungs would burst at any moment, screaming loudly as a large hound dog pounced at her, grabbing her dirty sundress in its large teeth. She struggled with the beast but the lights and voices were coming closer, They were going to get her!

Brooky clawed franticly at the ground trying to get away. She would not be caught, she would not submit to their treatment. She had to get away. Brooklyn grabbed a large branch and clubbed the vicious dog away from her.

She stood up to run but a hand lashed out from behind a tree, smashing into the side of her face. Brooklyn cried out in pain and clutched her face. To her horror, Jack stepped out from behind the tree.

"Please, Jack. Please don't. " Brooky begged, still clutching her face. Jack looked uncertain but he held his hand out to her.

"Brook, give me your jacket, I'll lead them away." Brooky nodded and quickly shed her jean jacket, handing it over to her former friend. She bit back a scream as his fist was flung towards her head once more. Brooky blacked out and fell to the forest floor.


The memory faded away and Charles found himself looking at his reflection in the mirror. He moved to the next mirror and waited for the next memory to appear.
He found himself looking at the puzzling girl once again. This time she was about fifteen years of age. Instead of the short bob of black curls that she usually had, her hair flowed down her back like a dark fountain, and was wearing a green head band to keep it out of her face.

She was standing in a forest and seemed to be listening intently. There was a sudden snap of a twig and Brooky gasped and fazed away just in time to miss a shot fired at her. The cartridge hit a nearby tree and red paint splattered everywhere.

Brooky moved quickly and silently appeared behind the man that had fired at her. She shoved him against the tree, snatched his gun and fired at him point blank in a matter of seconds. He gasped and looked down at the red mark all over his black clothing.

"You did that too easily!"

"Be quiet Jack. You might be out but I'm still in." Brooky reloaded the paint gun and fazed away. One down, one more to go. Brooky fazed up into a tree and waited.

Moments later she saw what she thought was a bush, start to move, and realized that it was her target. She quickly aimed and fired two quick shots. The first one grazed her target but the second one hit him in the chest.

"Very good, Brooklyn. Your training is almost done," said the man, pulling off his protective mask. "I'm sure Mr. Cody is very proud of his prodigy," said the man, his voice slimy.

"Thank you, Mr. Tanner. I try my best," said Brooky, fazing to the ground.

"In fact," continued Mr. Tanner. "I think its time to go on your first real mission. How does that sound?"

"I don't know, Mr. Tanner." said Brooky, looking uneasy. "What if I'm not able to go through with it?"

"Brooklyn," said Mr. Tanner, cupping the teenager's chin. "You've always had personality, never morals. Besides, this is not the first time you've killed someone...only this time you've been trained properly." Brooky jerked away and stared at Mr. Tanner with wide eyes.

"H-h-how do you know about that? I n-never t-told anyone b-but...Jack." Brooklyn whipped around to where Jack was standing looking guilty.

"Jack you bastard!"

"Language Brooky, " said Jack, nervously backing away from her. He didn't get very far before Brooky ran tackled him to the ground and began to punch him in the face.

Mr. Tanner just stood on the side and laughed; she was ready.


Charles Xavier moved back from the mirror, deciding if he should enter yet another. Each memory seemed to be worse than the one before. Brooklyn had lived a horrific life, and Xavier knew that things weren't about to get any better. He wiped his brow with his handkerchief and then approached the final memory mirror in the tent.
In the last mirror, Brooky appeared to be no older than five. She was standing on a tall chair near a dirty sink, scrubbing a pile of dishes with a tattered brush. As she worked, she wiped a strand of hair out of her face, rubbing a streak of grime across her face. A large plate slid through her small fingers and smashed on the floor.

"What have you done now, girl?" asked Mr. Cody, running into the room. He looked angered at the small girls accident. "Can't you do anything right?"

Brooky wiped away the tears from her eyes and shook her head. She reached for another plate, but it to slipped and broke on the floor. Mr. Cody stormed up to the girl and back handed her. With tears pouring down her face, Brooklyn put her hands on her hips and glared at the man.

"You are a mean man! I don't have to work for you!" she shrieked, stomping her foot. "I don't need you!" Brooky, wiped her eyes and jumped from her stool. She ran out of the house and didn't stop until she was standing on a large bridge.

She leaned on the rails of Brooklyn Bridge trying to see over the ledge to look at the water. She shoved her mop of black curls out of her face as the icy wind continued to tug at her hair and clothing. As she pulled her pink raincoat tighter, Brooky struggled not to shiver.

It was frightfully cold but she was determined not to leave before looking over the bridge. Jumping on both feet, Brooky tried to hoist herself up. She stopped hopping up and down when a shadow fell in her vision. Tilting her small head up, she looked into the face of Mr. Cody. He was a peculiar looking character, with hair was so blonde it looked like he had no hair at all. It made him very scary when he was mad.

"Can you see the water, Princess?" he asked, acting as though there had been no fight between them. If that was the way he was going to act, Brooky had no problems going along with it.

"Nuh-uh. Mr. Cody, I keep trying and I still can't see nothing," said the girl, shyly sucking on her fingers. Cold fingers.

"Let me help you, Princess," said Mr. Cody, a sickening grin curling onto his thin lips. He lifted the young girl up into his arms and held her so she could look down at the torrent water.

"Oh its sooooo beautiful," cooed Brooky, leaning farther over the edge of the bridge.

"Yes it is," said Mr. Cody, his pale eyes glowing brighter. "Here let me give you a closer look." The girl let out a piercing scream as Mr. Cody threw her over the edge, only holding onto her ankles so that she would dangle in the air.

"Stop it!" the girl shrieked, her dark eyes conveying the terror she was feeling. "Mr. Cody!" she shrieked again, her voice becoming hoarse and desperate. Finally Mr. Cody pulled her in, his eyes shining with delight.

The little girls body quivered in terror but instead of running away she ran into Mr. Cody's open arms and he held her tightly, rubbing her back in comfort.

"You see, Princess? That is why you will always need me."


Once again Charles Xavier wiped his face and hurried out of the tent to breath the fresh air. Near by the flap of a tent was fluttering in the none existent wind. On the sign it said 'Tent of Horrors'. Slowly, almost against his own will, Xavier approached the tent, and entered.
Brooklyn must have been about thirteen. She had just climbed off a school bus at the edge of town, and was moving down a long country road. She was wearing a navy blue school uniform and a knapsack of the matching colour.

She was swinging her bag as she skipped along, singing a song that she had learned how to play in music class that morning. She walked down a long forest driveway and entered the small house on the property.

"Mr. Cody? Mr. Cody? I'm sorry I'm late, Miss Heckleton wanted to talk to me about my assignment. Mr. Cody?" Brooky quickly looked through all the rooms of the house but couldn't find her guardian anywhere.

There was a man sitting in the kitchen, but it was not her guardian. It was Kirk, a friend of her guardians that sometimes came over to play poker. Brooklyn didn't like him. He always looked at her funny and whenever she sat near him he would stroke her hand in the most disconcerting way.

"Mr. Cody's gone to get us some beer for tonight, little lady," said Kirk, giving her the look that made her just want to run away and hide. "Why don't you come and sit with me?" Kirk pulled a chair so it was facing him.

Brooky wanted to decline but Mr. Cody always told her that she could not be rude or anger his friends. Brooky slowly set her book bag on the floor and sat down in the chair . They were knee-to-knee and Kirk grinned in delight.

"There now, isn't this nice?" Kirk's hands rested on Brooky's bare knees, starling her. As his hands began to travel up Brooky jerked away and stood up. Unfortunately Kirk also stood up and approached her again. "Come now, sweet pea. I just want to be friends with you."

"Stay away from me," said Brooky, backing away. She screamed as Kirk lunged at her and pinned her up against the wall. When Kirk began to kiss the side of her neck she kicked out her leg, hitting him in the groin. Kirk cried out in pain and dropped his hold on the girl.

Brooky scrambled towards the backyard and ran across the leafy lawn. She shrieked as Kirk ran out behind her and grabbed her, pulling her to the ground. As the perverted man's hands began to roam over her body, Brooky began to cry and her hands grabbed around on the lawn, searching for anything that would assist her escape.

Suddenly her hands hit cold metal and she felt a spark of hope. She had been gardening the day before and had left the spade on the ground. Her hands wrapped around the handle and she swung it so that it his Kirk in the head. The man shouted and rolled away from her.

Immediately Brooky jumped on top of the man and with no hesitation she brought the sharp edge down and drove it into the man's heart. Kirk sputtered as blood spewed from his mouth and his head fell down; he was dead. Still straddling the mans stomach, Brooky held the bloodied tool, shaking uncontrollably. She jumped off him and looked at her surroundings. The lake near by caught her eye.

Brooklyn grabbed the man and fazed both of them to the edge of the lake. She grabbed large rocks from near by and stuck them in Kirk's shirt and pants. When she was sure he was properly weighted down, she fazed him to the center of the lake and let go. She fazed back to the edge and watched silently as Kirk's dead body sunk out of sight.

As soon as that was done, a still trembling Brooky fazed back to the lawn she grabbed the bloody spade and hosed it off as well as her bloodied hands. She dashed into the house and put her bloodied uniform in the wash and changed into fresh clothing. By the time Mr. Cody returned, the girl was sitting calmly at the kitchen table, doing her homework.

"Hi Mr. Cody," she greeted, flipping the page in her text book.

"Hey Princess," said Cody, kissing the girl on the top of the head. "Did Kirk arrive?" Brooky smiled and took a can of beer from the pack her guardian set on the table and took a sip.

"Nope, haven't seem him."


The flap on the 'Tent of Horrors' was thrown back and Charles stumbled out of the tent. Taking deep breaths, Xavier made for the exit of the circus but just as he was about to leave he felt a small hand grab his arm.

"Psst, sir?" asked the curly haired child. She was still dressed in her princess outfit but now she had pictures painted on her cheek. On onside their was a rainbow peaking out behind a cloud, and on the other side there was a black skull. "Sir, you have to see this one!" The girl pointed to the door to the ticket booth. Xavier nodded and patted the girl on the head. He breathed deep as he opened his final door.


Brooky was probably twenty years old, give or take a few. She was lying in her bed sleeping peacefully. Her long waist length black curls were haloed around her head. Suddenly the light in her room snapped on and a much older Mr. Cody walked into the room and sat at the foot of her bed.

"Brooky? Wake up Princess," he said softly. He softly woke her up, treating her like a real daughter.

"Mr. Cody?" asked Brooky, tiredly.

"Get up Princess, you have to get ready," said Mr. Cody, smiling down at her. Brooky sat up on her elbow and glanced at the clock.

"Get ready for what? Its four in the morning."

"I know, Brook." Mr. Cody slid up so that he was beside Brooky, and he tenderly pushed her hair out of her face and kissed her forehead. "You know I've been having some problems lately. Well I needed money and I was given a great offer. I get the money I need in exchange...for you. You now work for Mr. Tanner, he wants you to head over there tonight."

"What!" shrieked Brooky, sitting up, completely awake. "You sold me like a whore! Sell me to the zoo, sell me to the circus, Cody, but don't sell my like a whore!"

"I didn't sell you like whore, Princess," said Mr. Cody trying to stroke Brooky's hair again. This time however, the young woman glared and jerked away from him. "You were trained for a reason, Brooklyn." said Cody, his voice harsher this time. "You will be one of Tanners best assassins."

"You can't make me," said Brooky jumping across the room. She flung her door open and screamed when she ran headfirst into Mr. Tanner. The man smiled cruelly and stroked his mustache.

"You will work for me, Brooklyn," he said, taking her shoulders in his hands. He then moved his lips close to her ear so that Mr. Cody couldn't hear his next words. "If you don't, great trouble will befall your precious Mr. Cody, do you really want that?" bleary eyed, Brooklyn turned and looked at Mr. Cody who was looking at her expectantly. Brooky wiped her eyes and looked down at her feet.

"I need an hour."


As the memory ended, Charles Xavier exited the ticket booth and walked out of the circus ground. Moments later he was back in Marina's living room. Brooky was sitting in front of him her eyes closed and breathing heavily.

"Its over Brooky," Professor Xavier said softly. Brooky moaned and opened her eyes. She met the professor's black eyes with her own dark ones. At first no one said anything but Brooky finally asked the question that she was dieing to say.

"Well?"


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