Chapter 1

The night air was icy, thick with rain and cold and filled with the sounds of thunder and shrieking wind.

The stars weren't visible, covered tightly by clouds, hiding from the dreadful storm ensuing below.

The rain was pelting my arms and face mercilessly, soaking my clothes and hair and causing them to stick to my skin. The wind drove sharp needles of cold through my bones, but I didn't whimper or make a single sound of complaint.

I kneeled next to my mother obediently, holding stark still and trying to stop my teeth from chattering.

I was barely nine years old, still small and childlike, the memories of life-before-Mystique completely goner from my mind.

My sharp eyes watched the building before me carefully, tracking the many movements of the soldiers and dogs that guarded it.

My mother leaned over and whispered in my ear, "Rogue, you just keep quiet and follow my lead, alright? Don't get us caught or I'll have to hurt you."

I nodded, "Yes, Mama."

I knew she'd never hurt me.

She loved me too much.

But she was still scary, and I wasn't about to test her words.

Mama was not as she normally was; I wasn't used to her new look. Today she was a tall, slender woman with long black hair and dark eyes that pierced through one's very soul. It was hard to stay next to her, she seemed so strange in this appearance, wearing a tight, cutoff shirt and revealing leather pants.

I didn't even recognize myself in the old, worn jacket and dark shorts; I was used to jeans and T-shirts.

However, even though I was freezing and hated the outfit, I dared not disobey Mystique, or even utter a single protest.

I didn't want to get in trouble.

Mystique glanced at me, "You cold?"

I looked up at her, face white and lips turning blue, "I'm ok, Mama."

Mystique smiled slightly as she turned her eyes back to the front gate, where a medium-sized truck was pulling through the gate.

"It's almost time," she said quietly, "You just do everything I say and don't sass me and everything will be fine."

I nodded again, the familiar feeling of anxiety washing over me, "Yes, Mama. I'll listen. I promise."

"Good girl."

I looked up at my mother, shivering, "Mama...?"

"What?"

I bit my lip, pushing my sopping bangs from my eyes, "...will I have to hurt people again?"

Mystique turned to face me, "Baby, I told you, it's not hurting them."

"But...but they always fall down and look like they get hurt when I touch them."

Mystique shook her head impatiently, eyes once again tracked on the truck before her, "You're being silly. They don't get hurt. I told you, it makes them sleepy is all."

I swallowed, inching closer to my mother as my skin began to go numb, "Mama? Do...do I have to go?"

Mystique jerked around, eyes flashing, and I stepped back uncertainly and quickly said, "I just don't...don't want to slow you down, Mama. You...you said I was too slow...and I don't wanna make you go too slow..."

Mystique's livid expression softened somewhat, "Just keep up with me, Rogue. I'd rather you slow me down than stay here."

I slowly reached for my mom's hand, tears starting to bloom in my eyes, "Mama? I'm scared."

Mystique sighed softly and cupped my face in her hands, "What are you scared for? I'm right here. You've never gotten hurt before. Why do you always get scared?"

I sniffled, fighting to keep back tears, "B-because. I don' like doin' this. I don' like hurting people and running and listening to the screams."

"Rogue, would you rather stay out here and make me go in alone?"

My eyes widened and I shook my head quickly, "No, Mama!"

"Would you rather me be all by myself and go in there and get killed because I didn't have help? Do you want that on your head?"

I stifled a sob, letting my head hang in shame.

Mystique shook me lightly, snapping, "Do you?!?"

"No, Mama," I replied softly, tears running down my cheeks.

"Good. Stop cryin', now. Don't do that."

Mystique wiped the tears from my eyes and hugged me briefly, "You're stronger than that."

I wrapped her arms around Mystique's neck, smiling slightly; Mystique hardly ever hugged me, and when she did it was wonderful to feel loved.

The embrace ended quickly though, when Mystique stood abruptly, eyes keenly glued to the building; I recognized that look.

It was time.

Inhaling deeply, I ignored the stinging slap of cold on my face and followed Mystique towards the building, struggling over the wet ground.



The tunnels were wet and dark, echoing every light drip of water or the slightest breath of an intruder.

The guards were already alert, the news of someone attacking the front gate having spread to them relatively quickly.

They were all marching through the catacombs, the stank water rising to their knees, their startled heartbeats reverberating around the room.

None of them sensed the small hand reaching out to touch their wrists, and when a slight spasm shot through them, they had only enough time to turn and see a little girl before they fell over.

I looked at the two men, feeling horribly blameworthy as Mystique kneeled by them and took their weapons.

A wave of guilt washed over me and I swallowed back tears, remembering to be good for Mama

I felt much better, though, when Mystique glanced up and smiled at me, "Good job, Baby."

I forced a grin, "Thank you."

Mystique straightened and, after sliding a revolver in her waistband, took my hand, "Let's go."

As we traveled down the dimly lit sewage pipes, I clutched Mystique's gloved hand tightly, looking around at the rats and other dead things floating in the water.

"Mama?" I whispered, "Where are we goin'?"

"We're goin' inside. You keep quiet, now. No more talking."

I obediently shut my mouth, ignoring the exhaustion I felt as I struggled through the waist-high water.

Finally, after 'stunning' several more soldiers and being half-dragged through the water by Mystique, I saw a concrete pathway and a ladder that led to a large, metallic door.

"Here we are," Mystique said softly, eyes scanning the ladder cautiously.

"Mama? Can I come in?" I asked softly, the idea of staying with rats and who-knows-what-else beginning to panic me.

Of course, as always, Mystique shook her head distractedly, cocking her gun, "No. Stay here. I'll be back."

As Mystique started to climb the ladder, I rushed forward and grabbed her pants, tugging on them, "Mama? The water's gettin' higher."

Mystique glanced down at me, irritated, "Then stay on the ladder. It'll only take me a second."

I hesitated; I knew Mystique was getting angry, but I was scared.

Eventually, I let my hand drop down and I watched Mystique disappear through the door.

I scrambled up the ladder and sat on a rung, watching nervously as the water continued to rise and the drowning rats screeched and squealed loudly.

Soon, the water had reached my legs, and although I was on the top rung, it continued to rise.

I've always been a pretty tough kid.

Mystique raised me to be brave and to never cry, so I sat obediently on the run for a while, refusing to feel nervous, waiting patiently for Mama to come back.

I was considerably collected, until I saw the bodies floating by.

As any other child would do, I then panicked and stood, pushing at the heavy door above me; it wouldn't budge.

I sat again, kicking at a rat that had been swimming towards me, "Get away."

My breath began to come sharply and painfully as the air around me became moist and odorous.

Slowly, mostly to calm my pounding heart, I softly sang, "You are my sunshine...my only sunshine. You make me happy...when skies are gray..."

The water was up to my waist and still going up.

I swallowed the burning nausea in my throat and choked, "You'll never know dear how much I love you."

My voice echoed innocently through the chamber, hovering softly back to me.

I felt tears rolling down my face as the freezing water reached my chest, "P-please do-n't t-take...m-my sunshine...aw-away..."

My teeth were chattering so hard that my vision was becoming blurred.

The cold on my flesh began to sink in to my blood, coursing throughout my entire body as I clutched at the ladder.

I whimpered, stretching up to keep the water out of my mouth, "Mama!"

I pounded desperately on the door above, gasping for breath as my brain finally lost all serenity and I panicked, "MAMA! HELP MAMA!"

I tilted my head back, the water beginning to close over me.

"MAMA PLEASE!" I sobbed, "DON'T FORGET ME MAMA!"

The water shut over my head and I choked, stagnant water rushing through my mouth and nose to my lungs.

It was at that second that a pair of hands reached down and snatched me up, jerking me out of the water.

I gagged, coughing and spitting the dirty water out, rubbing my eyes and still crying softly.

"It's ok, Rogue. I'm here. I'm right here..."

I looked up and ceased crying, "I thought you left me."

Mystique shook her head, leaning back on her arms, legs still dangling through the opening in the floor, "No, I didn't forget you."

I sighed, the bitter taste of the water still in my mouth, "Can we go home now please, Mama?"

Slowly, Mystique nodded, lifting me out of her lap and standing, "Yes. We can go."

She took my hand and started through the large room, the sound of rushing water all around.

"Mama, did you get what you needed?" I asked.

Mystique nodded slightly, eyes flicking around the space, "Yes. I did."

"Did you get hurt?"

"No."

"Did Nana?"

Mystique gently placed a hand over my lips, stopping.

I held perfectly still, ears intently listening for any sound.

Footsteps.

Heavy ones, like boots.

Also, the clanging of weapons.

Mystique swore and drew her weapon, grabbing my wrist and running down a nearby hall.

I fought to keep up, glancing behind me for any sign of soldiers.

At one point Mystique dropped my hand and reached into her pocket, pulling a handful of bullets out.

As she raced through the halls, she shoved the bullets into her gun, cocking it loudly.

Of course she was too busy to notice that I had lagged behind, my small body simply not built to take the strain of constant running.

"Mama! Wait!" I yelled as Mystique turned a corner ahead.

That drew some unwanted attention.

Instantly, the sounds of shouts and running men came closer, and in the next instant three guards appeared at the start of the hall, guns in hands.

Mystique skidded to a stop, cursing under her breath as she swerved around the corner and tackled me down as bullets flew over her head.

I was crying in agony and Mystique, worried I'd been hit, hauled me into her arms and, after warning me to keep my eyes closed, turned and shot a man between the eyes.

I held my face against Mystique's chest, wailing loudly in terror.

Mystique rested her free hand over my ear and shot again, turning and speeding into the next room.

"Rogue, I can't hold you up. Put your arms around me," she ordered loudly as she readjusted my weight to her other side.

I obediently wrapped her arms around my mother's neck, crying into her shoulder, "I wanna go home, Mama! I wanna go home!"

"Yea, me too!" Mystique snapped, turning and firing more shots as several more guards appeared behind her.

She whipped around, listening as an uncountable amount of banging footsteps sounded behind her, and, spying a window, she raced forward, closing her eyes as she yelled, "Cover your head, Rogue!"

In the next instant, I could feel myself being smashed against something that shattered on impact, and I held my arms over my head tightly, trying to ignore the sudden feeling of my heart leaping to her throat.

We were falling.

It was only a short distance, really, but it was enough to make me feel sick.

When we landed, Mystique struggled to her feet, tossing her weapon on the ground and using both of her arms to hold me to her chest.

The men above were shouting, firing out of the broken window, but always missing their targets by at least a foot.

When Mystique reached the truck parked at the front gate, she slid into the passenger side, slamming the door shut as she shrieked, "GO!"

The car revved up and sped off, the squealing of tires piercing my ears as we jolted forward.

After a few minutes, I felt Mystique's tense body relax, and I looked up, eyes still shut, "Can I open my eyes, Mama?"

Mystique chuckled, "Yea. Go ahead."

The first thing I saw was Mama, not in disguise at all, but in her true form.

I grinned in relief, "Hi."

Mystique brushed her hair back and leaned against her seat, sighing, "Destiny, hand me a cigarette, I have a migraine."

I slid from her Mama's lap into the seat between Nana and Mystique, buckling myself in, "Hi, Nana."

"Hi, Rogue."

Destiny turned onto a wider road, obviously more relaxed, "Did you get it?"

"Course I did."

Mystique lit her cigarette and took a long drag from it, placing her arm around me and hugging me to her, "Thanks to Rogue, everything went great."

I beamed proudly, cheeks burning slightly from embarrassment, "Thanks, Mama."

In an instant, my near-drowning, the bullet that had nearly ripped through me, and the leap through the window were forgotten; they always were, once Mystique gave me a compliment.

I'd do anything to make Mama proud.

Sleepily, I leaned against Mystique, closing my eyes as I yawned, "Night, Mama."

"Night, Baby."