Chapter 4
If you want to read the legal stuff, it's in the first chapter. Thanks for all the reviews, I really, really appreciate itJ
* *
Frigid rain pattered against the windows and onto the manicured lawn, where Professor Xavier sat beneath a towering maple tree, his fingers steepled and his expression thoughtful. He remained motionless until a young girl appeared, carrying a backpack. As she passed, he called out to her.
"Aileen, I have to talk to you," he said, and the dark haired teen turned.
"What do you want?"
"I have to talk about your special abilities, Aileen-,"
"That's not my name anymore. It's Phobia now. And I don't want to talk to you," she hissed. Xavier tried to move closer, but the mutant backed away, glaring at him.
"I know that you've been hurt," he told her softly, and for a second a look of pain flashed across her gaunt face, "but you can't hurt people back-,"
Aileen sneered.
"I'm only doing what they did to me."
"That still doesn't make it right. That girl you injured is in the hospital," He argued. Phobia's icy expression didn't change. Instead, she whirled around to leave, her reddish dress billowing out from her body.
"Wait. I can help you," the professor protested, and Aileen glanced over her shoulder, her smoldering piercing his.
"Leave me alone."
Xavier could have easily scanned her mind and found the root of her bitter hatred, but he could not abuse his powers like that. He had to make Aileen trust him, like he had with Rogue.
"Darkholme wouldn't be able to take away the pain. She will only increase it," he pleaded, but Phobia continued to walk away, the cold rain running down her face. It did not take psychic abilities to hear her angry weeping, but there was little that he could do at the moment.
* *
"Hey," Todd said, hopping over to Aileen as she walked in, her head hung, "where ya been?"
"Checking out the campus," was the answer.
He grinned at her with those disgusting yellow teeth, but she had never been one to judge another's looks, considering her own dreary appearance.
"Heard about your new code name. Can I call you Phobs?"
She didn't respond, and he puffed out, trying in vain to impress her. When she looked away, her ebony eyes reflecting the raindrops outside the large window, he sighed.
"Ms. Darkholme wants to see you," Tolensky said. He had taken an interest in the girl, despite the fact that she almost scared him to death, and now she ignored him, like everyone else. Why, he couldn't understand-he found himself to be very smooth with the ladies.
Phobia went to the principal's office quickly, wondering what Ms. Darkholme could want of her. As she opened the heavy, wooden door, she noticed the principal at her desk, grinning, and then she saw the tall man beside her, clad in armor.
"Yes?"
Darkholme gestured for her to close the door; she did, never taking her eyes off of the stranger. Once the door was firmly shut, the principal's form melted into that of a blue skinned woman, her yellow eyes almost as ghoulish as Phobia's. Aileen thought little of this; Mystique had showed her true form long ago and explained her own story. It was this man that caught Phobia's attention; a crimson helmet hid his face, and she sensed his awful power.
"Sit down, Aileen. We must talk," Darkholme said, shutting the blinds behind her. Phobia reluctantly did so, watching as Mystique tossed back her mane of fiery red hair and smiled.
"I'd like you to meet Magnus," she told the girl, indicating the burly man behind her. He moved to the front of the desk and watched her.
"So," he finally said in a gravelly voice, "you're the newest member of the Brotherhood. How pleasant it is to meet you, Phobia."
Aileen didn't say anything; he resembled her father too much, especially with that deep voice.
"Tell me, child. Did Xavier try to talk to you?" Magnus asked, taking off his helmet to reveal the face of a gray-haired man, his eyes like ice chips.
She nodded, her eyes darting from Mystique to the new mutant.
"I'm not surprised," he said to the scarlet-haired woman. She crossed her arms over her chest and smirked as he went back to Aileen.
"I was once like you. I trusted the world, and it nearly killed me. I know how it's like to have people gawk at you, like some kind of freak," Magnus told her.
Phobia nodded again, her dark eyes brimming with tears.
"That's why I created the Brotherhood. To get our revenge." The word hung in the air, and Aileen silently savored it.
He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"And that, my dear, is why we need you."
Darkholme moved beside her, her motions as liquid as that of a serpent's. Her dark golden eyes were filled with reassurance as she spoke.
"Will you help us?"
Aileen gazed up.
"What do you want me to do?"
* *
"Only eleven more days until spring break!" Kurt whooped, disappearing a thick cloud of smoke and then reappearing near Scott.
"Great, man. Chill," he said, and Kurt frowned.
"What's the matter vith you?"
"Nothing. You just need to calm down."
"And you need to have fun!" His blue furred friend scolded.
"I can-," Scott started, before Logan rudely interrupted their important argument. The short man stepped into between them, holding both back.
"Vhy don't you live a little?" Kurt demanded.
"Would you two stop that bickerin' for a second? Geez, it's givin' me a headache," Wolverine snapped. When the two finally stopped struggling, he let go of them.
"Now, if you two keep fightin', I'll knock yer thick heads together," Logan said, obviously in a foul mood. As he turned to stalk away, Kurt pulled out a small brochure and waved it in front of Scott's face.
"Hey, I have a cool idea! Ve should go here!" He said excitedly. Scott took the annoying brochure and looked down at it; some kind of weekend trip aimed at students. There were several glossy pictures of people goofing off at pool, hiking, and over an open fire. It looked like something Kurt would adore.
"Looks like that other outdoor trip we went on," Scott replied, tossing the brochure on the sofa.
"No, it is much better! It vill be fun!" Kurt tried to persuade him.
"Wait, you want me to go?"
"Yes! Evan already zaid that he vould too!"
"I have too much to do-,"
"You are being boring again!" Kurt protested loudly, and then shut his mouth when Wolverine peeked in.
Scott sighed, loathing Kurt.
"C'mon! Rogue is going too," he said, grinning.
"Uh-huh. And has the professor approved this?"
"Yes, and Ororo vill be our chaperon."
"Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?" Scott asked, raising an eyebrow.
Kurt shrugged, his tail lashing like some overgrown cat's.
"Whatever," he responded, defeated.
"Great!" Kurt shouted, running around the room and laughing ecstatically. Scott just shook his head, disgusted at himself for being tricked. Neither noticed the gray faced boy watching them from the window, his long tongue running over his yellowed teeth in triumph.