Hello… I am returning once more to the pages of fanficdom.

Look. When I cough up the deed that entitles me to be writing this stuff… I'll finally feel safe, and not have to worry about getting sued by Marvel. Until that day, I will have to remain an insecure fanfiction writer, begging the readers, (and any marvel staff who might be reading this) to refrain from turning me in, THANKS. (Unless you have decided to sue me, in which case, *sticks tongue out* THERE!)

Chapter 11

Gambit stormed out of Professor Xavier's office, his red eyes glowing bright in the darkened hall. All of his scruples were screaming at him to go and find Sarah right now: tell her the truth.  Tell her the truth about how HE had been the reason for which she had to live through hell as a child: had to witness the creation of hell on earth. He was the reason for which she was a hardened, seemingly uncaring, emotionless living creature…  she had already seen so much… and at her age, Gambit was not sure that it was entirely healthy for her mental state.

Sarah watched him be swallowed up swiftly by the shadows at the end of the hall, her mind in a solid state of numbness.

I didn't hear… that can't be… not… possible…

Years ago as a child, Sarah had learned that there were other ways to vent sadness than through the salty tears that fell swift for most others. Sarah had learned that anger could deal with anything. Besides, the adrenaline rush that you got in the midst of your fury was far more bearable than the tired heartache that came from weeping. You might say that Sarah was addicted to the adrenaline, the way that some athletes become addicted. She needed her fury, and after going through life harboring wrath close to her heart, this fury was becoming entwined within her… becoming a part of her soul, no matter how much all of her other senses protested and screamed out against it.

Ororo walked up behind, her bare feet making no sound on the luxurious plush carpeting of the mansion. Knowing better, at this point in her relation ship with Sarah, to touch her while she was quite obviously musing over one thing or another, when Ororo spoke, it was in a voice no louder than the mew of a kitten.

Nevertheless, it still managed to make Marrow's head whip up, and shift her weight ever so slightly into a fighting position.

"Oh… Ms. Monroe… sorry, I didn't hear you."

"I said the professor will see you now, Sarah."

With a nod, Sarah mutely pushed the heavy oak door forward, creaking on its hinges. Of course there was no need to knock… not in this part of the house.

Actually, no one knocks in this house at all.

            "Professor… you sent for me?"

Steepling his fingers underneath his chin, the professor regarded Marrow carefully, obviously deep in thought.

            "Your incident with the mauruders when you were a child caused you a great deal of pain?"

"Rhetorical question."

            "And this pain… you would obviously wish to kill the people…. Or person… who inflicted it."

Marrow looked into the professor's blue, probing eyes for a few seconds while she gathered her thoughts. When she spoke, her voice was low, and dangerous, so quiet that you would have had to strain your ears to hear her in an empty classroom.

"No. I would not kill him. I would scar him slowly… scar his mind so deeply that the only sane thoughts that he would have would be of killing himself, because that would be the only escape. I would then proceed to scar his body… very slowly, years and years this could take. When he is at death's door, and the happiest that he has ever been since meeting me, I would CARVE OUT HIS ORGANS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER!"

Professor Xavier regarded the young girl sitting before him. Her pale face had become flushed with passion, her eyes were flashing in anger. The tendons in her neck stood out like cords, skin stretched so tight that you could see the vertebrae poking through the back of her t-shirt, which had a "Spear Britney" motif on it.

            "Marrow. Listen carefully to what I have to say now, for it is the key to your staying here at the mansion. No more shall I hear of your violent tendencies: towards yourself, or towards others. If you decide to openly practice these… habits… I will classify you as a danger to the cause, and will have no other choice than to turn you back out onto the streets. Do you understand what I am saying?"

            "I'm not stupid. Of course I understand… you do not want any MORE blood on your hands… do you? No more… the blood of the morlocks already weighs far too heavily on your household… and all of your formerly clean, sparkling consciences."

            "…"

"Yes PROFESSOR. The dirty sewer rat knows all about you… but do your students? Ah… I can tell they don't. If they knew… I might actually have a few more FAKE friendships… instead of the one that you send your top murdering thief, and life sucking gothic wench out to try to build. Toss me out? Yeah. That'll solve the problem. Toss me out on my ass… wipe my mind, and then send a hit man."

The sound of the professor's study door slamming echoed throughout the quiet mansion. Had Marrow been seeing any color other than red, or hearing any sound other than the mixed pounding of adrenaline and blood in her ears, she might have noticed that it was far TOO quiet for a mansion filled with adolescents. Had her fury not struck her dumb, she might have cried out after the heavy object hit her upside the head, knocking her unconscious. Had the rest of the x-men been in the mansion at that time, they might have heard the thump as Marrow hit the floor, only to be spirited away in a rush of wind.

***

I know that it was awfully short for the amount of time that you had to wait… but hopefully, my muse will come up with some way to add length to upcoming chapters. REVIEW…. REVIEW… REVIEW!! It's a two minute process folks…