The warm morning sun shone down on my face, I rubbed my eyes, and looked around

The warm morning sun shone down on my face, I rubbed my eyes, and looked around. I was still in the park from that previous night. The streets of New York were bustling with its typical businessmen and women. When I stood up, I felt a pair of eyes, full of hate and almost fear burn into me. I turned around and there was a group of those stuck-up business people at a bus stop, gasping and pointing in horror. Damnit, above ground, in broad daylight, without any kind of covering, smart Sarah, real smart. Hurriedly, I made my way into an alley, safe from anyone's disapproval.

I walked down the alley, contemplating on my life, how it had all changed so quickly, and left me with…nothing. What was I supposed to do now? I couldn't go back to Dark Beast. He'd ask me why I left, and I'd have to tell him. I'd never live down his irony. And, even if he did except my reason, I'd go back to the life I lived before. I wouldn't be able to do it, there would be no way.

"So this is my punishment?" I screamed aloud speaking to who some believed was God, "No where to turn, no chances for a fresh start. Gee thanks!" I lashed out on a dumpster in the alley, kicking it.

"On the contrary Sarah, there is a way to make up for your previous life."

What the hell? Some telepathic mutant was sneaking around in my mind. I shook my head; Get out! Whoever you are, get out!

"Listen to me Sarah, I have a proposal to present before you."

Get out of my head! Leave! I grasped my head with my hands. Now!

"Sarah, breath, calm down, please. I will not hurt you."

I drew in a breath. You may not be evil anymore, I told myself, but you still got your guts. "What is this proposal anyway?" I asked clearly and defiantly.

"Sarah, this will not be something easy to come to terms with, but this is Professor Xavier…"

"Of the X-MEN?!" No way! I'm outta here!" I started walking away.

"I'm afraid you will not be able to escape me that easily. I know that you want to compensate for the deaths you've caused. You forget I can read your mind. It would be hard for you, and my X-Men, but I would rather have you on our team than have you wandering the streets of New York. You would be a great asset to the X-Men, so please, think about it. If you decide to accept my proposition, then you are more than welcome to come to my mansion, of which you already know the location. With that, I will leave you."

"Wait! I have questions…" I sighed. Now I was faced with another predicament; to stay and roam New York, or join the X-Men, the people whom I've hated for so long. But, that was before, when I hated almost everyone, when I was full of evil. So was it really this me who hated them. Did I even have a reason to despise them? They rid me of the sin inside, but then again they put me in this situation.

I rubbed my temples. It was too much to think about.

"Mommy, look at her!" I looked up and saw a little boy, about five, hand in hand with his mother walking down the street. What surprised me was the fact that the boy didn't look at me in disgust, but in awe. He waved at me before his mom pushed him forward.

"Michael! What have I told you about things like that? They are bad, horrible creatures. And you don't pay no mind to them, now listen to mommy next time." They hurried off, out of sight.

I heaved a sigh as I slouched against a hard cold, brick wall. Is this what my life was destined to be? Trying to hide from humans, being looked on as a beast? It wasn't fair. None of this was. Living like this wasn't an option…meaning there was only one thing I could do.

***

"Xavier Institute For Higher Learning" the sign read. Dense forests surrounded the place. There were a few dirt paths leading away from it and into some bigger cities. But for the most part it was secluded, cut off from the outside human world basically. How else would they have it though? If it was known publicly, it was cause all sorts of trouble.

I stepped through the iron gates, and into a place I'd been before. The difference was, I wasn't here to kill now. To my own surprise, I was here to join the people I once despised. Life sure is full of a hell of a lot o' surprises. I mean, damn, who would've predicted the course of my life up to this point? I know I wouldn't have. But oh well.

The gray steps leading up to the mansion's main doors were decorated with pots of flowers, and many other plants. The railings had twines of ivy coiling around them. This sure was a group of happy-go-lucky people. Which is why I doubted I would ever fit it.

A blast of noise ran through my ears as I entered the actual mansion. All I could see was young people…no, young mutants. They all seemed in high spirits, and they had such a joy that I never had. Immediately, I envied their life style, how they were able to be carefree teenagers, able to laugh at the stupid things in life, to have fun. It was something I never had. I glanced once more at the students' smiling faces before knowing that I didn't belong. It was a mistake to come here in the first place. I turned to leave, but then I heard a familiar voice behind me. I knew by the distinctive accent exactly who it was.

"No, dis cant be can it?" I stopped dead in my tracks, "Sarah? Is dat you petite?"

I slowly turned around, and discovered the face of the man who had once saved my life, Remy LeBeau. It was a memory I had tried to forget because of the fact that he was an X-Men, an enemy. But I never really could overlook the fact that I owed my life to him.

"Da Prof told me you was comin' but not dis soon!" His face was aglow with his ear-to-ear, almost mischievous grin, "So how about dis! We gonna be on da same team, weird how tings work out, eh?"

I shrugged. Why was he acting like I was a friend. After all these years of me trying to destroy him, he was acting like I had done nothing wrong. Would everyone be this understanding?

"Eh? What wit dis no talk act o' yours. Sometin' wrong? Maybe you be nervous, no?"

"Yeah, right, me? Nervous? You got the wrong girl buddy." I drew in a deep breath, and looked around. The truth was, I was more nervous than I had ever been in my life.

Remy laughed, "Let's get you to da Prof's office. He be wantin to see you." He began to walk off, and I followed him, a new ambtion building within me. I wanted to fit-in, to be part of this team, to prove myself wrong. Then I heard the all too familiar sound *snikt *. The voice of the older X-Man shattered my newfound courage.

"What're ya doin here Marrow," He spit out my name with such hate and insolence that I almost cringed. And it was then that I knew the other X-Men wouldn't accept me like Remy had. I had to earn their respect, no matter how long it took.

"Lay off her Wolv'rine. She come to be one of us." Remy faced his teammate. But I could feel a tension between the two, a definite competitiveness.

Logan smirked, "Oh is that so?" He casually strolled toward me, and pointed a finger in my face, "Lemme get this straight Cajun. Little miss bad-to-the-bone Marrow wants to be an X-Man­? She wants to all o' sudden team up with us? Ya sure she ain't gonna stab ya in the back with one o' them of hers?" He turned his back and began to walk away

All of a sudden I was swept over by this feeling of anger, and rage. And once again, something inside took a hold of me, some sort of evil I spun around, face to face with him. I quickly snapped off a bone from my shoulder and pointed it into his back, almost stabbing him, "I don't think I'd stab him, but I'm not really sure about you." I snarled.

Before he let me do anything I'd regret, Remy grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

Unfazed, Logan briskly walked away, "What'd I tell ya Cajun, she'll never be one of us. We cant trust her."

I sighed. Great first impression Sarah, threaten a teammate before you're in the mansion for not even an hour.

Logan's words ran through my mind as Remy and I walked to the Professor's office, "never be one of us, never be one of us, NEVER be one of us." He was right and I knew it. I was an outsider whether I liked it or not.

"You trust Gambit petite, every ting'll be alight." He winked at me before he nudged me into the Professor's office.

I saw a polished, bare head, peering over the top of a wheelchair. The Professor turned around, facing me, "Ah, Sarah, I see you have decided to join us."

"That's why I'm here."

He propped his elbows up of his desk, his hands pointing upwards, and his fingertips pressing against one another, "Yes it is. And tell me, how do you like it so far?"

I shrugged and sat down in a small chair in front of his desk.

"I know this must be difficult for you Sarah."

You have no idea, I thought.

"I believe I do."

I jerked my head up, staring at him, eye to eye. He smiled at my surprise. I could see a small glint in his eyes.

"Let me help you Sarah, please."

Could I trust this guy? Ah, what've ya got to lose anyway? I nodded in agreement for his request.

Professor shook my hand heartily, "Welcome to the team Marrow."