Cassandra?

Leave me alone. The girl whispered into the shadows.

It's okay, we're here to help.

Go away. She buried her head deeper into her arms, trying to push herself through the wall.

Shh. We'll get you out. The voice was followed by a deadly thick red laser beam. The girl just cowered closer into the wall. The cold wet walls had stopped bothering her a while ago. The fear that kept her eyes closed tight against the world stopped her from breathing as well.

Logan pick her up. Just before the two strong arms could lift the girls' shrunken frame she jerked up right, breathe coming in short gasps.

Honey are you all right? My mom asked through the door. The sky was still dark outside and my single cotton sheet was wrapped tightly around my legs.

I'm fine mom. I tried to slow my breathing, to not hyperventilate.

Are you sure?

Yes mom I'm fine. Honest.

Okay, well try to get some sleep.

Hurry up. A slurred voice called from down the hall.

I'll be there in a minute. My mom hissed down the hall.

No, now.

Honey?

Go mom. I said, urging my mom to go back to her room.

Okay. I'll see you in the morning sweetie.

Get in here! My father roared, finally pissed off. I heard my mother scurry down the hall back to the master bedroom. I slipped out of bed and pulled my headphones over my ears, cranking the sound up. I fell asleep to Good Charlotte's Anthem' pounding its way into my subconscious mind.

Did you finish your math homework? Amy Warbeck asked, not really looking at me but through me. I went back to my book.

No I didn't.

You? You didn't do your homework? Little miss bookworm, little miss nerd? She sneered her words, making them sting.

I had better things to do.

Like what? She asked, finally looking at me but in anger. My eyes never left the blurred page.

Catching up on sleep, reading, practicing my-'


Did you hear? Amy's best friend Liz Donahue bounced up and started talking instantly. You know that dam that broke up in Canada? Yeah, well apparently this really important government guy was tied up by mutants and was ripped to shreds when the water crashed on him. Said he managed to get out and float downstream. Spent the last eight months recuperating somewhere.

Yeah so? Amy, unlike the rest of the world, could care less about mutants. She wasn't one and she didn't know any, or so she thought, so they weren't her problem.

He's started a vendetta of sorts against mutants. Got kicked out of his government office, after they heard, and he's been cut off from all funding. Isn't that just stupid?! I mean, he's practically announced he's gonna destroy all mutants and they stop him from doing that.

Come on, let's get to class since my study buddy seems to have had a brain fart. Amy glared death at me once then left. I waited a few seconds before I reached into the desk and pulled a sheet of paper out.

And the answer is 42. I muttered, writing down the last answer to the one problem I had been unable to completely finish last night. I smirked at Amy's rapidly retreating figure through the glass.

Sit up Sandra. I gritted my teeth at my math teachers annoying command.

Cassandra. I corrected under my breath. A few of the girls in the room started giggling.

Now who can answer problem ten? The class continued on, I slumped back down into my seat.

Mom? I asked tentatively, sticking my head in the door, looking carefully around. Heaving a sigh I took a single step in the door before the hand grabbed me by my book bag.

You little brat! A harsh, drunken voice yelled. Slowly but surely I lost consciousness, the blows continuing in brutality. I fell into the comforting blackness as I felt my life's blood flowing out of me.

Logan, pick her up. Two strong arms wrapped themselves gently around her body. Her muscles clenched even more as she tried to make herself smaller.

Shh, shh, it's okay. We ain't gonna hurt'cha. A gruff voice whispered into her ear.

Leave me alone. She whispered against cool, comforting leather.

We're gonna get you out. Cassandra... Cassandra... My mom's voice drifted down to me. I winced against the bright light above my eyes and tried to roll over.

Shh honey. Don't move. Jesus. My mom breathed. The one word caused me to be still and evaluate my wounds. Mom thought using the lord's name in vain, or the lord's sons' name in vain was as bad as you could get. Which meant I was worse off than I thought.

Mom?

It'll be all right... everything will be fine. Don't move. Mom's presence left my side and I couldn't twist my neck enough to follow her progress. But I could hear her end of the phone conversation.

Yes... This is Alyssa Pierce... Yes, I called a few weeks ago... It's gotten worse... Yes, please come pick her up... Of course... Thank you sir. I heard the phone click back into it's cradle.

Mom? What did you tell them? What's gotten worse? Dad will be so mad that you told someone. I tried to keep the desperation out of my voice but it was no use.

It's okay sweetie. Everything will be fine. Everything's going to be all right. Mom sat back down with me and held my hand. I managed to move around and curl up before going back down into that comforting black abyss.

What do you want? Cassandra looked at the girls in front of her and sighed in her head. It's not fair!'

We want the swings. You are sitting in the swing. The girl's eyes flashed with fire.

There are other swings. The girls in front of the elementary student grinned wickedly.

But we want all of them. And we're just one short. A few girls took a step forward. Cassandra gritted her teeth.

I was here first.

But we want the swings. And we actually have use for them. Everyone was smirking, thinking they had won.

I was here first.

With no one to talk to. Go back to your books little worm. Cassandra was shoved off the swing and into the dirt. Glaring daggers at the laughing girls, Cassandra stood up and stormed away.

I'll show them, stupid humans!'
Cassandra stopped in her tracks. Humans?'

She's right here. Just take her and run, please. My mom's voice was begging, I could hear it through the haze that was blood loss.

Logan pick her up. The words and voice struck a note deep in my subconscious. Logan pick her up.

NOOOOO! My body jerked forward quickly as my eyes flew open, scrambling backwards away from the voices.

Shh, it's okay sweetie. These people are going to help you.

No... just... just stay away from me. I had backed into a corner, just like the last time I had heard those voices.

Looks like she can move on her own.

Logan, look at the child. She'll never be able to make it to the Jet much less outside of this house without help.

What tha hell are ya doin' in mah house! A male voice slurred from somewhere close behind my head. I was brought suddenly into a very perceptive understanding of my surroundings and the people in them.

I managed to get about two feet before a thick, sweaty hand wrapped itself around my ankle.

Where do ya think ya're goin'? He slurred, pulling me back along the wood floor to him. Tears started to stream down my face.

Kevin, stop it, please! I looked up at my dad and pleaded with him. He looked like he was staring at a ghost.

No. He said, letting go of me and stumbling back into the wall. Yer dead, ya can't be... yer dead!

You're killing me! I practically screamed at him, sitting up painfully. Dad ran from the room and I fell back onto my back, flipping over to my stomach.

Shape shifter? Logan asked, suspicious as always.

Yep. I muttered through an approaching sore throat. I started to slip back from the world of the living.

Up you go. A different set of arms picked me up this time but I didn't have the energy to argue.

Thank you. My mom whispered as we passed. I heard the woman from before talking to her.

Are you sure you'll be all right?

I'll be fine. Just get my daughter out of here.

Are you sure?

Storm, let's move. The one named Logan' called. I slipped farther into that comforting black realm I was growing so fond of.

Stay with us, Cassandra. The voice got fainter and fainter. The last image I saw was of a huge black jet.



~~~~~




A/N: Here's the first chapter, I hope everyone liked it. It came out okay, I thought, considering I wasn't real sure where I wanted to go. Thanks for reading and tell me what you thought.