Part two

Emory, who was Emory? Rogue paced back and forth in her room. She was sure that she knew her, but how. Who was Emory to her? Questions, more questions and still no answers. Rogue was becoming more frustrated as she paced in her room. She just had to remember who the little girl was and what had happened to her. Rogue stopped pacing and headed out of her bedroom. She was going to find the only person she was sure that could help her, Professor Xavier. She walked down the stairs and straight to the Prof.'s study were she was sure that he would be. Rogue walked into his study and to her surprise there sat a very worried looking Remy with him. She stopped in her tracks and looked at both of them.

"Oh Prof. Ah'm sorry ah didn't mean to interrupt you two", she said turning around to leave.

"Rogue you are not interrupting us. Actually you are the person that I want to see. Please have a seat." Xavier said motioning her to sit down.

"Remy told me about your dreams Rogue. He's quite worried about you and frankly so am I. Can you tell me exactly what you remember?"

"Chere, Remy will leave de two of you alone, if you want."

"No, please stay sugah." Rogue took a deep breath and begun telling the Professor her dreams. The first one was very vague. A bunch of screaming children and me tryin' to reach someone bein' carried off in a strecther. Someone was keepin' from getting to them . The second one….. She took another deep breath. Remy reached over and held her hand. The second one ah could see the person, a little girl layin' on the floor. Blood streamin' out of her head. Ah was tryin' desperately to get to her and I couldn't. Someone was still holdin' me back. Ah was screamin' as the EMTs carried her off. Ah remember her name. It was Emory. Rogue lifted her gaze from the floor with tears running down her face she looked at Xavier. "That's all ah can remember Prof. Ah've tired to remember and ah just can't." Xavier looked at Rogue he could feel her pain and he wanted to help her.

"It sounds like suppressed memories Rogue. I can try to help you if you want me to."

Rogue nodded her head, "Please, ah need to know. Ah can't take this anymore"

Xavier rolled his wheelchair in front of Rogue, "I need for you to close you eyes, relax and concentrate on what you remember."

Rogue closed her eyes and Xavier put his hand on her head. She once again seen herself as a child. She and Emory were standing in front a large building with their suitcases in hand. They made their way up the numerous stairs in front of the building. As Rogue got closer to the front of the building, she could read the large sign that hung beside the double doors. The sign read, "Nelson Family Children's Home". She and Emory made their way inside and were greeted by a rather large woman named Mrs. Nelson. They were shown to their sleeping quarters that they would share with the other children that lived there. It was an Orphanage. Rogue had spent a few years there before she was adopted by Mystique. That's why the place felt home to her. Rogue remember that she and the strawberry blonde girl haired girl were very close. There was something unusual about Emory's hair, unlike Rogue's single rather large white streak, Emory had small white streaks throughout her hair. They had many good times at the children's home and many bad ones as well. Mr. Nelson was an alcoholic and at times could be very abusive to the children as well as his wife. Many nights he would come home drunk and beat on his wife. When he was done beating his wife, he would make his way upstairs to the children's sleeping quarters. Emory and Rogue were his favorites ones to beat on. They were different than other children and that disgusted him to no end. Mr. Nelson always remarked rudely about their hair and how it was different than the other kids. The beatings they suffered at his hands were terrible. They always had bruises covering their bodies. They were not allowed to go outside to play with the other children for fear that they would be seen by an outsider. The last beating that Rogue witnessed Emory take was one of the most horrific things she had ever seen. Emory had gotten up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. She was making her way across the floor of the large room, when Mr. Nelson walked in. He came in every night about that time for their routine beating. Emory stopped in her tracks when she seen Mr. Nelson standing in front of her.

"Where do you think you are going freak?"

"Mr. Nelson please, ah was jus' gonna go to the bathroom."

"Ah was jus' gonna go to the bathroom." mocked Mr. Nelson. "I don't think you'll be going anywhere!"

Mr. Nelson drew back his hand and struck Emory across her face. She fell to the ground screaming. The screaming woke the other children up. The children gasped at what they saw. Mr. Nelson was on top of Emory slamming her head on the concrete floor. There was blood pouring out of her head. One of the children ran out of the room and down stairs to get Mrs. Nelson and call the police. Rogue was screaming at the top of her lungs, STOP IT! PLEASE LEAVE HER ALONE! Mr. Nelson just looked at Rogue and told her that she was next to join her sister in the after life. Mrs. Nelson came running up the stairs with a base ball bat in hand and whacked her husband hard in the head. Mr. Nelson slumped over and hit the floor. Mrs. Nelson kneeled down beside Emory horrified by the site she beheld. There was blood all over the floor and a huge gash on the forehead of the little girl. She stroked Emory's hair and said, "Hang on child. Help is on the way." Rogue stood in shock, as much as she wanted to go to her sister, her legs wouldn't work right. Minutes later the EMTs busted in and started working on Emory. Rogue knew she needed to get to her. She forced herself to snap out of it and her legs started working somewhat wobbly. As she was making her way across the room to get to her sister. Mrs. Nelson put her hand on Rogue's should and pulled her back. "Please Mrs. Nelson let me go. Ah've gotta get to her." Mrs. Nelson's grip didn't release. "Child please they need to work on her. They need all the room that they can get." Mrs. Nelson didn't want Rogue to see just how bad her sister's condition was. In her own way, Mrs. Nelson was trying to protect her. The EMTs placed Emory on the stretcher and started to carry her out. NO!NO! LET ME GO! AH'VE GOTTA GET TO HER! That would be the last time she would see her sister.

Rogue opened her green eyes and the tears started falling. Professor Xavier looked at her with his own eyes tearing up. Remy looked at Rogue. He got up out of his chair, walked over to her, squatted down beside her. Once again he held her hand.

"Chere, are you alright?"

"Mah sister. Emory is mah sister. Why didn't they bring her back?"