Ailsa walked slowly down the row of cars and vans, ducking slightly to stab her claws into the tire of each one she passed, then finally retracted her claws. Roughly brushing tears from her eyes, she sniffed lightly and listened to the soft hiss of air echoing about the garage. Once she reached the end of the row, she paused by the large pane-less window and stared out at the city. Placing her hands upon the cool concrete surface of the ledge, she leaned out and closed her eyes, breathing in the fresh air deeply. Blood was still splattered about her clothing and hands, drying quickly. Absently watching the sky, her dark eyes clouded over with hidden emotion. The sound of a car coming closer awakened her from her day dream and she whirled around, claws extending involuntarily.
A deep green SUV was heading up the hill of the garage, coming ever closer. Ailsa's eyes flashed a flourescent yellow in the darkness and she stared blankly at the car, the bright, invading headlights that flicked on causing her to blink rapidly. Brushing dark hair from her eyes, she sniffed again. The SUV stopped, and the door opened. Tensing as this happened, she mentally prepared herself for the worst; it was rather late, after all. A red-headed woman stepped out of the car, a calm expression upon her face. "You must be Ailsa," she said with a warm smile. Ailsa's eyes widened in fear and she opened her mouth to reply, though no words could come out. The woman shook her head, stepping closer and keeping a watchful eye on the girl's claws. "Don't be scared. I've come from a place called Xavier's Institute for Gifted Children; mutants, actually, like you." The girl narrowed her eyes. "Mutants?" She asked slowly. "Like on the news..." Shaking her head, she backed against the wall. "I..I'm not a mutant."
Jean Grey sighed lightly, the smile staying. "Yes you are, honey. It's okay, you don't have to lie." Choosing her words carefully, she attempted to comfort the girl by speaking in her mind. See? I'm a telepath; I can speak with my mind. Something pulled at her mind, and Ailsa reluctantly stepped closer. "What do you want?" She asked cautiously, narrowing her eyes. "I have come to bring you back to the Institute, where you will be safe," Jean explained copiously. "This 'Institute'," Ailsa started. "it's one of those psychiatric wards, isn't it? You think I'm crazy, don't you? No," she shook her head. "I'm not falling for that, lady." Jean laughed slightly. "Well, as a matter of fact, we do offer psychiatric help if it's needed, but we like to think of it as moral support. And no one thinks you are crazy, we just want you to be safe. Now, come on. Just come with us, and if you don't like it, then you can go." Jean knew they would never let a student that age leave, though she didn't want to make the Institute seem like a prison. Ailsa paused and thought for a moment. "Well," she said slowly. "I guess so..."
The next thing Jean knew, the girl was in the backseat of the SUV, curled up contentedly against the cushion and asleep. Glancing back to Scott, she smiled and raised an eyebrow. "Well, that was easier than I thought." Scott cast a backward glance at the sleeping girl, then returned his gaze back to the road, smirking. "Almost too easy." Jean sighed and leaned her head against the back of the seat, closing her eyes. Scott looked to her, worried, though he said nothing and glanced back to the road. "Scott, I'm fine." Jean said in a soft tone. "Just tired."
A deep green SUV was heading up the hill of the garage, coming ever closer. Ailsa's eyes flashed a flourescent yellow in the darkness and she stared blankly at the car, the bright, invading headlights that flicked on causing her to blink rapidly. Brushing dark hair from her eyes, she sniffed again. The SUV stopped, and the door opened. Tensing as this happened, she mentally prepared herself for the worst; it was rather late, after all. A red-headed woman stepped out of the car, a calm expression upon her face. "You must be Ailsa," she said with a warm smile. Ailsa's eyes widened in fear and she opened her mouth to reply, though no words could come out. The woman shook her head, stepping closer and keeping a watchful eye on the girl's claws. "Don't be scared. I've come from a place called Xavier's Institute for Gifted Children; mutants, actually, like you." The girl narrowed her eyes. "Mutants?" She asked slowly. "Like on the news..." Shaking her head, she backed against the wall. "I..I'm not a mutant."
Jean Grey sighed lightly, the smile staying. "Yes you are, honey. It's okay, you don't have to lie." Choosing her words carefully, she attempted to comfort the girl by speaking in her mind. See? I'm a telepath; I can speak with my mind. Something pulled at her mind, and Ailsa reluctantly stepped closer. "What do you want?" She asked cautiously, narrowing her eyes. "I have come to bring you back to the Institute, where you will be safe," Jean explained copiously. "This 'Institute'," Ailsa started. "it's one of those psychiatric wards, isn't it? You think I'm crazy, don't you? No," she shook her head. "I'm not falling for that, lady." Jean laughed slightly. "Well, as a matter of fact, we do offer psychiatric help if it's needed, but we like to think of it as moral support. And no one thinks you are crazy, we just want you to be safe. Now, come on. Just come with us, and if you don't like it, then you can go." Jean knew they would never let a student that age leave, though she didn't want to make the Institute seem like a prison. Ailsa paused and thought for a moment. "Well," she said slowly. "I guess so..."
The next thing Jean knew, the girl was in the backseat of the SUV, curled up contentedly against the cushion and asleep. Glancing back to Scott, she smiled and raised an eyebrow. "Well, that was easier than I thought." Scott cast a backward glance at the sleeping girl, then returned his gaze back to the road, smirking. "Almost too easy." Jean sighed and leaned her head against the back of the seat, closing her eyes. Scott looked to her, worried, though he said nothing and glanced back to the road. "Scott, I'm fine." Jean said in a soft tone. "Just tired."
