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A/N: By popular demand I've put in "subtitles". I really, really, really didn't want to interrupt the flow, so I need you guys to tell me if they are a nuisance. Also, I didn't add them to the French that is obviously explained. How's my storytelling? Leave a review!

ALSO: sorry for the anti-climatic chapters…it'll pick up…I swear!!!

Chapter Two ~ Informational Arrival

That phrase still sticks in my head and on the way to my new life, I couldn't stop thinking about it. Prennez la! Nous ne la voulons pas! Take her! We don't want her! I can't think of a better example to sum up our relationship, and as much as I'd like to say I left and never thought about him again, I can't. He will always be with me, haunting me, and for that I hate him more every day.

The beginning of the car ride was painfully silent. Jean tried to make small talk, but she soon found out it was all one-sided. Then, after an awkward pause, she started talking about the school. Her explanation was interesting, but I knew she was just talking on automatic to make the silence go away. Up until the point she started talking, I had a very dim idea as to where I was going. She reiterated that I was 'gifted', but after that, I'm disappointed to say, I stopped listening. Her speaking got too confusing. I had been studying English since elementary school, but after so much of it I got a headache and my brain's English function just shut down. At one point she looked in the rear-view mirror at me and said "Comprenez-vous?" [You understand?] I automatically nodded, even though I had no idea (nor did I care) what she was saying. Sure, she rescued me from Hell, but she sure talked a lot.

Luckily, the car ride wasn't too long. When we reached the premises, the school instantly grabbed my attention. We entered through huge, mechanical, decorated iron gates into what is quite possibly the nicest building I've seen in America. It was grand, like a château, and had all the elegance of a palace. I no longer cared if this woman talked for days without stopping; this was my new home.

My feeling of awe didn't appear for long on my face. I had learned years ago that other people didn't care what I was feeling, so they didn't need to know. I pulled on my face of perfect passiveness and slight detached interest as we walked in, and it was everything I could do to keep my mask on. For a moment, though, I felt like I had walked into a fairy tale and everything was going to be right from now on. But memories have a bad habit of sneaking up on you and pouncing at such moments of hope, and I came back to reality.

Jean pulled the car into a garage that could not possibly be a garage. Everything was so clean and orderly that it almost looked like a livable room. Jean cut the engine and popped the trunk as I got out of the car. She started to get my suitcase out, but I waved her out of the way, politely, I might add, and retrieved my single piece of luggage myself. As I got out my suitcase, Charles managed to get out and get situated. I shut the trunk and followed him as he bid.

"This is the mansion, Audrey. This is my school for gifted children. Only the garage, of course, but I trust you got a nice look from the outside. There are many students like you here." I raised a questioning eyebrow. He stopped moving and turned around. "You, Audrey, are a mutant." At this I cocked my head. Like a dog, I know, but what else was I supposed to do? "Vous êtes très differente. Vous avez des énérgies que d'autres pas." [Essentially, "You are very different. You have powers that others don't."] Okay, I understood that. So I'm different? I knew that already…but énérgies? How did I come to have 'powers'? "You see, Audrey, some people are more…evolved than others. They contain something tentatively referred to as the 'X-gene'. This gene gives its carrier a unique gift; no two gifts manifest exactly the same way in any two people. These powers are generally very powerful and, if used incorrectly, can be deadly. My institution helps teenagers such as you learn to use and manipulate this power. We teach our students to use their powers for helping people, and to never use their powers against another human being." We started moving again and Charles let me think on the topic. What power could I possibly have? I've never destroyed anything…just…fixed things, I guess. After my step-dad would hit my mom, I would put my hands on her swollen face and the swelling would go down. I never thought anything of it, but…

"So, I'm sure you're assuming, as well as I, that you're power is healing." I looked at him, letting some shock into my face. "I have telepathic abilities; I can read your thoughts. But don't worry, Audrey, I have morals. I will not read your secrets or anything of the sort. I merely open up this form of communication for you to use, since you will not talk." I thought about this for a moment. This guy seemed really wonderful. I mean, he took me when my parents didn't want me. But the question was whether or not I trusted him to stay away from my thoughts. After a moment of deliberation (and the fact I had no where else to go but here) I decided to use this new form of communication.

Okay, I thought. It was the first word I had spoken to anyone in the past four years.

Good, he replied. Then he continued to explain out loud what this school included without skipping a beat.

My first day at the institute was very informational, though I didn't see any other kids. The Professor (that was his title, I learned) told me they were out on their free time, probably in town. I did meet other teachers, though; it was a little awkward because I don't like shaking hands. There was Scott Summers, who thought his flirtatious glances towards Jean went unnoticed; and Ororo Munroe, who was a beautiful, dark-skinned lady with silvery hair. Of course, she was also introduced with her alias, Storm, which is a heck of a lot easier to say than Ororo.

By early evening, when kids started to filter back in, I was exhausted. It takes a lot to be in a new place meeting new people and deciphering a second language. Storm showed me up to my room, which I'd be sharing with two other girls. When she left, I closed the blinds, got ready for bed, and fell asleep before dinner.

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So, what do you think? Is Audrey a believable character? Please review, I need all the feedback I can get! Thanks for reading this far!