Okay, my first chapter was my longest. So, don't expect the others to be that long! I'm making them short so I can get them out faster.

You know the drill. Me own nothing. So me will shut up now. You, read story.



Out of the Shadows- I Believe

Why is propaganda so much more successful when it stirs up hatred, than when it stirs up friendly feelings?
- Bertrand Russell

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X-mansion

Kitty Pryde sat down at the lunch table, brimming with gossip. John Allerdyce looked her up and down, a smile on his face. "So, Kitty. What exciting news do you have for us today?" he asked mockingly. Missing the sarcasm, Kitty bent over conspiratorially." Did you see that freak Remy was with yesterday?"

Piotr Rasputin glanced disapprovingly at Kitty. "What do you mean 'freak'?" Kitty blushed as she realized how rude she sounded. "No, Peter, I wasn't saying that to be mean...it's just that he *looks* like a freak! I mean his hair and skin are green and his eyes look like a frog's!" she giggled," Maybe his nick-name should be Toad!" John shook his head. Kitty sounded like a real bigot.

Kitty glared when she realized no was agreeing with her. "I wonder why we haven't met him yet. Maybe he's a psychopathic killer or something!" John rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on Kitty! If he was a psycho killer than why would he be here?" Kitty didn't answer him, though. She'd had spotted Remy amongst the students and was calling him over.

"So, Remy!" Kitty said as he sat down. "Who was that freak you were with yesterday?" John shook his head as Remy glared at Kitty.

It was going to be a *long* day.
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Jean collapsed in her chair and began massaging her temples.' I *still* can't believe he was sleeping on the floor!' She sighed. She had gone into Mortimer's room that morning to ask him something and she had found him fast asleep on the bedroom floor. It had been all she could do to keep from flipping out.

Instead she had woken him and firmly told him that from now on, he would sleep in the bed. Then she had asked *why* he been on the floor. His answer had been these simple words. "I've never had a bed before."

Jean sighed. Her heart broke for Mortimer. The things people had done to him...they had kept him away from the students, because there was no knowing how he'd react to them and how they would react to him. Mortimer had told her that he didn't know how to read or write. He was very skilled at math, though. And drawing.

Jean smiled to herself as she remembered how she had found the rolled up sketches in Mortimer's coat pocket. They were had been done in pen and ink. Some were of scenery and beautiful people, sketched lightly and other were of monsters and demons, gaunt children crying, darkly shaded, obviously depicting his feeling during different times in his life. They were amazing.

Scott entered the room, followed by Logan and they both simultaneously fell back onto the couch. Jean cocked an eyebrow at them. "Busy day?" Logan just grunted while Scott took it upon himself to explain.

"Remy came to the Professor after lunch today and told us about a rather bigoted conversation some of the students had about Mortimer. They know about him now, thanks to Kitty. The Professor had Logan and myself talk to her and the others. We were there for two hours." At the last two words, Scott's shoulders slumped and he leaned back into the couch. Jean made a 'poor baby' face at him.

Then what he had said hit her.

Thing were starting to get worse.
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Mortimer's pen moved quickly across the paper, marking here and there, shading once or twice. His large eyes studied his work. Just a few more smudges and...there. Finished. He smiled slightly. Drawing had always been his reason to live. He didn't think he had any real talent, but he enjoyed it. And during his dark and painful life, it brought him a freedom he could never experience without it.

He looked up from his position on the floor as he heard a knock at the door. He sprang to his feet and opened it. Remy stood in the doorway; his face set in a frown. Mortimer frowned as well. "What is it?" Remy suddenly developed an acute interest in the floor. "Um, dey know you're here." "Who?" "Everyone."

Mortimer stepped back a step and his pen fell to the floor. His bright eyes grew wide with horror. And fear.

"Oh, no."
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John looked up as Piotr walked towards him. "What is it?" he asked, noticing the worried look on his friend's face. Piotr closed his eyes for a minute, then said. "It's Kitty. She is starting to think that we shouldn't have 'freaks' like Remy's friend around here. She's saying that visibly mutated kids shouldn't come here because it will risk us being found out. And the worst part is: people are starting to agree with her." he said, his voice low.

John's jaw dropped open.

"What?!"
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