I'd like to apologize in advance for the spelling and grammar in this one. It's kind of late and I'm too tired to sort through Sarah's writing.
But it's been way, way too long since I updated, so I wanted to get this out for you guys to read :) I'll likely review it again in a couple days.

Carmen was a mutant, just like me, and everyone else at the School. I was happy for her, and she seemed very pleased with herself. She finally felt like she belonged somewhere, even though she already did. I always knew there was something special about Carmen, something more to her then she was letting on, she just never believed me when I told her so, until now. Carmen's power is very neat; she can take away negative emotions and inflict them upon others. She may have be able to take away the pain, but she could never take away the memories.

My memories have been coming back in my dream; nightmares really. I try to avoid sleep, and skip the horror of flashbacks all together, but then Carmen wold find out. I don't want anyone to know what happened to me before the MCA; especially Carmen. I can barely deal with it, I don't know how Carmen would deal with it, especially with her new powers. So every night I lie in bed and feel the pain all over again. I don't scream or thrash around like Carmen does, I cry silently; I learned to be quiet a long time ago.

The first night I came to the school was when they started.

I was in the kitchen, only fourteen at the time, making popcorn for Aidan while he watched his movie 'Finding Nemo'. The pop, pop, of the popcorn in the microwave echoed throughout the kitchen as I waited patiently for the ding to signal the end of the three minutes. My mother was up in her room, as usual, most likely sleeping or hiding from my father. She never left the room unless she was sure he was gone. Lucky for us he had not returned since this morning when he left for work, probably out drinking with his friends, Lucky for us, he didn't return until late at night where we would be safely locked away in out rooms.

The slamming of the front door took me away from my happy thoughts. He was back, early. My spine went stiff as I heard him stagger down the hall towards the kitchen. I watched as he stepped into the kitchen, tripping over his feet; our eyes locked, my soft blue ones meet his cold dark green ones.

"What are you doing up? It's past your curfew." He spat. I stepped back as he stepped closer.

"It's only seven-thirty" I squeaked.

His fist met my face. I gripped the counter for support. "I don't care what time it is. When I say it is your curfew, it is your curfew." He yelled.

"I'm sorry" It was a mixture of a squeak and a whisper, the best I could do without crying.

The ring-a-ding of the microwave, signaling that the popcorn was ready, stopped him from taking another blow.

"Making popcorn?" He laughed, a cruel meaning laugh, "You don't need those extra pounds, you're already too fat?" He was close enough for his spit to land on my face.

"Or maybe you are you making it for you twice as fat mother or that good for nothing brother of yours?"

"Aiden is better than nothing" I said. I didn't yell or scream at him, but just my words, just me speaking back at him made him lose it. He grabbed a fist full of my hair and dragged me to his study, his sound proof study.

I woke up, before the real pain. Carmen screaming and thrashing took me away before the white hot fire poker was pressed against my thighs. That's what he did then, and when I was bad. Usually he would just beat me, with his fist or with objects; whatever met his fancy. Other times, when the usual isn't good enough he may cut me, burn me, strangle me, whip me, and crush me, whatever he thought up. He really liked to mix it up.

Carmen doesn't notice, she is too busy with her thesis, training her powers, or dealing with her own nightmares. I am always there when she needs me to talk about her flashbacks. I don't mind, it would be me or Logan; I don't like Logan, he is arrogant, impulsive, annoying, always has to be right, and of all things he teaches art. I don't trust, but Carmen does; I keep a close eye on her when she is near him.

Sadly Carmen isn't the only one who has taken a fancy to Logan; Harmony especially likes him. She clouds my thoughts, of Logan, everything about Logan, even some mental images of him naked. Logan so far is the only guy she hasn't found a fault in; except his breath smells like scotch, and cigars, but that just makes him sexier. Harmony has also tormented me about Pete, he is very nice and sweet, but I don't trust him. I don't anyone at this school. How are we supposed to know that these people will help us? How can we expect them to help a bunch of orphaned and runaway kids? Sure some of us actually have families to go back to, but how can we go back to them after the MCA?

Harmony Knows I don't trust this place, the people within it. The way people look at us, Mark, Garan, Gabrielle, Carmen and me, they all want to know what happened to us, where we all came from. Their faces say it all, the stares in the hallways, the wandering eyes always landing on us. I don't know how much I can handle of this place, sure it is pretty, a roof over our heads, a place safe from John. How do we know that John isn't afraid of this place? That tomorrow he will burst in here and take us all back, maybe even take some of the other children if the meet up to his standards. Carmen has powers now, she would be useful, but I know Mark is endangered. I don't anyone of my family getting killed. No more death. If someone else's dies, I might just lose it.

"If you lose it, then I can come out. That will be fun. Me and Logan alone in his room, under the sheets, or overtop whichever way he prefers it. We could do both." Harmony said imagining her different sex positions with Logan

"Shut up!" I muttered. People were already staring at me as it was. I wondered if they could hear the voices as well.

"No, they can't, but they can hear you." Harmony laughed. She went back to her imagination.

"Get out of my head." People stared at me as I walked by.

"Honey I would if I could, but can't, so I shan't. Plus if I get out your head that means I am out in the real world with you and everyone else; me and Logan, alone? How fun would that be?"

"Not at all" Students turned to watch me as I passed them in the hallway. I turned toward the dorms. I needed to see to Harmony in private. I didn't want people over hearing our conversation. The room I shared with Carmen was empty, probably off in Art class with Logan.

"Why does Carmen get to spend all this extra time with Logan and I am stuck with you. Why don't we get changed into something more comfortable and get a little artsy with Professor Logan." Harmony winked at me. I watching as she danced around in the mirror.

"My definition of comfortable and yours are completely different. Logan isn't even a Professor." I snapped back.

"Well, I like my definition a lot better. Anyways Tacy it is all about role playing. Have to have a little fun."

"I don't want fun." I yelled.

"I am sure you want a little fun with Coach Pete. I don't blame you, he is H.O.T! But sleeping with the gym teacher, done it! The Art teacher we haven't done yet." Harmony licked her lips seductively.

"I don't want to sleep with Pete! I don't care about anyone in this school. I just want to save our Family and-"

"-And do what? We have no life to go back to, we killed them all remember. There is nothing for us out there. This school has people like us, people we can trust." Harmony reasoned.

"I don't want to trust anyone in this school!" I screamed.

"But this school has some pretty hot Teachers, the Chemistry Teacher, Mr. Bobby, is fine looking as well. The students are okay, nothing special." Harmony laughed. She continued to prance around.

"Once we save everyone from the MCA, and John is dead, or in jail. I am done. We are done. We are gone!" I said sounding confident.

Harmony gasped, "You are not really thinking about it, are you?" She actually sounded worried.

"You should know you are in my head picking at my thoughts all the time." I snapped.

"You want to leave; you don't want to live anymore?" Harmony asked sounding concerned.

I sunk to the floor of the washroom; I hugged my knees to my chest as I spoke. "Have been thinking about it for years, just never had the courage until now." I sat there on the floor, my mind quickly cleared as I took a back seat in my life. It was too late to doing anything when I realized Harmony was taking over. I forced back to the deepest part of my mind and watch my life become a show.

I couldn't do anything, I could only observe. I hated it and loved it when Harmon took over. It felt liked some else was in my skin, an uncomfortable itch that never went away, but I couldn't feel anything. I watched, listened, and processed what was happening around me, but everything I touched felt like open air.

I observed as Harmony went through my closet of donated clothes; clothes I was given by students when I first came. It was obvious Harmony didn't approve of anything I had, long sleeved shirts, oversized sweaters and long pants. I watched as she took the scissor from Carmen's desk and cut a pair of jeans into short shorts. I watched as she ripped the sleeves off my shirts and cut the neck line to show off a good part of my cleavage. Harmony changed quickly.

I watched as she fluffed up my hair and walked down the halls with the same power and confidence she did back at my old high school. Students moved out her way as Harmony came down the hall. Boys wolf whistled, Harmony ignored them, and she had eyes for only one. Harmony remembered the way to Logan's room when I went to get him to help Carmen when she had a freak out in her sleep.

I saw as Harmony politely knocked on Logan's door. When no one answered she let herself in. I didn't remember what Logan's room looked like when I needed him to help Carmen, I wasn't really paying attention. Logan's room was basic; a king sized bed, with red velvet cover and silk sheets, a bathroom to the left, a closet filled with mostly muscle shirts and old jean, and a flat screen T.V sat on the wall across from the beds; an easel sat in the far corner with a blank canvas. It looked like any other bedroom.

Harmony made herself at home; she checked the time to see it at six-thirty, dinner would be finishing in ten minutes, meaning Logan would arrive back, with a beer in hand, in less than a half-hour. Harmony waited patiently by looking through his closet and drawers, she was upset to find anything that interested her. As the clock ticked to five to Harmony lied on the bed breathing in the scent of Logan. Somehow she found it intoxicating.

The door knob buckled, I watched as the Logan closed the door behind, him turning the lights. His face was shocked to see Harmony, or as he thought it was me sitting on his bed with shorts showing my ass and a shirt that clearly showed at least half of my cleavage, I wasn't even wearing a bra.

"Hello there, Professor Logan." Harmony welcomed him.

"Tacy, what the fuck are you doing in my room, and did you just talk to me?" Logan's face turned from shock to confusion.

"Don't act all confused. I have been dying to talk to you; I just haven't gotten the courage to speak with you. As you can see I do know." Harmony leaned forward on the bed.

"I can see that. What the fuck are you wearing? Where the fuck did you get all those scars? Did you get them at the MCA? " Logan took a cautious step forward, he sensed something was wrong.

"Clothes, but not for long. These marks, or scars you would call them, came before the MCA. They are just evidence I like it rough." Harmony smirked, I couldn't see it but I knew her enough to know she did.

"Tacy are you alright. You are not acting like yourself." Logan took a step back. Harmony took a step forward.

"Tacy is somewhere safe, where she can't be harmed. All you have to worry about is me and you." Harmony stepped forward, this time Logan didn't step back.

"Then who are you?"

"Call me Harmony" Harmony whispered in his ear drawing him closer.

"Harmony, I have this thing going on with Storm-"

"You dirty boy, hitting up the headmistress. But I promise you Logan, I can be a lot dirtier." She whispered. Logan was as tense as rock, he couldn't move whenever Harmony spoke. Her voice was hypnotizing. This is the reason why I don't speak, or only to the ones I know won't be affected. It draws people to me, and not always the ways I want.

Harmony took off her shirt, even though there wasn't much of one, and tossed it to the ground. "Your turn," Logan obeyed still hypnotized, "Now your pants." Logan hesitated, he couldn't do it.

"I said take-off you pants" Harmony commanded. Still Logan disobeyed. This time he stepped back, out of her grip.

"This is not the Tacy." Logan claimed.

"This is Harmony, Tacy is gone!" Harmony yelled.

"I am getting Storm; I am getting Carmen, and the rest of your friends. They will help you."

"I don't want any help. I don't need help." Harmony sneered.

"Too bad, I am not falling for your shitty tricks." Logan said, he went for the door to leave, but Harmony stopped him.

"Fine then, you just set fire the school." Just then I felt it, which was strange, I felt the power and heat of flames as they rose from within me and spread throughout Logan's room. Logan opened the door trying to escape but flames erupted on the other end and threw him across the room, hitting the wall separating the bathroom from the bedroom and fell apparently unconscious.

"You got you wish. Now everyone is going to know. Too bad my secret was if you know I have to kill you." Harmony put her shirt back on and exited the room.

Outside Harmony paced the school; she wanted to create a wall of fire trapping everyone inside. The plan was to have the school burn outside in. A sly smile played on Harmony's lips as she watched the flames dance around her and encase the school. Everything was perfect in Harmony's mind, but I was crying on the outside, yelling, screaming for needing anyone to come and stop the monster I had become. Then I saw her, I noticed her before Harmony did.

She was just standing there, a hero in a sweatshirt and jeans. Her brown hair was louse and blowing in the night wind. The sun had set, leaving the full moon and few stars out to witness what was about to happen. Her browns eyes were hidden in the darkness of the night, but I only hope they were as strong and solid as her stance was.

When Harmony finally noticed Carmen her sly smile turned into a full out grin; she was expecting this. She just didn't expect it, but Harmony had planned it all along, and I was too stupid to see it myself. I wanted to call out to Carmen, and warn her of Harmony's plans that just came to light but I was trapped, shut out from the world.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Harmony turned to face Carmen. "The nerd, bad fashion sense and hair too boot.

"I'm here to stop you, Harmony, not trade insults. And if I recall, Tacy kinda loves my hair."

"It was always too greasy for me," Harmony sneered. "I would think that someone as intelligent as you would have figured out by now that I am not Tacy."

"I figured that out a while ago. Christmas to be exact. Multiple Personalties, that's some serious shit." Carmen paced forward, her tone almost challengeing.

"Clever girl. And here I thought you were as dumb as you look," I sneered. To both of our surprises, Carmen laughed.

"You think you're so tough, don't you Harmony? You and Tacy had a rough life, and you put up with all of her dad's abuse. Sure, she remembers it all, but it's your pain, isn't it? Your memories." Carmen eyes had darkened to black, her lips had twisted into a smile that was inhuman in it's sickened glee. I stepped backwards unconsciously, then caught myself, snarling. Flames materialized in my hands, hot and fierce on the tips of my fingers.

"You don't know a damn thing about pain." I cried, not Harmony, but me.

"But you do, don't you Harmony. I can feel it. Every scream, every tear, every shouted curse. He broke your elbow, twice. The second time, it almost resulted in you getting kicked off the cheer squad. Boy, that pissed you off, didn't it." Carmen was walking forward in earnest now, taking malicious strides. "You burned them to the ground, and didn't look back once. And now you think you can burn my home to the ground. You've got another think coming to you, bitch."

"Strong language, girly. What would Tacy have to say to you?" Harmony retorted desperately. She was losing and she knew it.

"Don't even talk to me about Tacy. This is me and you, Harmony, and your pain. Feel it." She raised her arms, and Harmony hurled the flames towards her face, I felt the anger and jealousy Harmony had for Carmen, that I had for Carmen. Carmen ducked, twisting away from the fire just before it collided with the window behind her head, spilling molten glass onto thew floor. She lobbed another fistful of flames onto the ground at Carmen's feet. It exploded into a roaring wall of fire that spread across the hall, blocking Carmen from my veiw.

"Little girls that play with fire get their fingers burned," Harmony taunted loudly over the roar of the flames. From the other side of the hall, I heard laughing. The flames parted as Carmen walked through, her skin covered in a sheen of sweat, but still smiling that inhuman grin.

"You would know all about that, wouldn't you?" Carmen pointed an accusing finger, and I felt the searing sensation of the hot fire poker on my skin again, tearing a line across my back like it had the very first time, when I was 7 and my Dad was drunk. I gasped, crumpling onto my knees as a shard of glass tore into my skin; from the time my father had assaulted Aiden and I with a broken beer bottle. I felt a wave of nausea and fell back onto the floor.

Above my head, I could see Carmen as she slowly walked closer. Harmony snarled in bitter pain, but I, Tacy shone through my eyes in the form of tears, and a look of gracious apology. Carmen knelt and took my hand, holding my warm fingers tightly within her own. Her own tears dripped down her face freely. "I'm sorry, Tacy," she whispered. I blacked out.

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