Get out of our way! Cassandra's body was shoved into the lockers. No one seemed to notice that the football players, running wildly through the hall, had just cut the girl's arm on the open locker door.
Screw this! Cassandra ducked into the library to get away from the cheering crowds. Our schools' version of a pep rally. She muttered sarcastically pulling a square of white cloth from her book bag and wrapping it around the gash. What the hell was on that locker!' The cloth was soon dyed crimson, but it didn't drip all over everything.
Hello Cassandra. It took Cassandra a few seconds to locate the voice but when she did she wished she hadn't. Carl Montgomery was one of the few people she avoided at all costs. First string running back on the best football team in the county, everyone loved him. Everyone but Cassandra and two or three other girls.
What do you want? She realized subconsciously that her back was against a wall.
Just you. Cassandra's mind registered that he didn't say your homework' or your conversation', he said you'. Everything in her body was screaming for her to run away or do something other than stand there as he got closer. Don't worry. It won't hurt. Come on. Carl's voice slowly changed as he moved closer. Come on, everything's going to be okay. Cassandra wake up, we're here. Wake up. My eyes fluttered upon as I tried to control the panic that causes me to wake up screaming at nights.
Come on sweetie. Just wake up for a moment so we can get you into the lab. Then you can go back to sleep. The same muscled arms from before picked up my body and carried me into the lab'. I really didn't like the sound of it.
Put her down over here. The sight of a very big, very blue man off to the side of my vision caused me to jerk in my position. The leader tightened his grip so I wouldn't fall to the floor.
It's all right, Hank isn't gonna hurt you. A needle sticking into my arm suggested otherwise. I felt my body trying to change and succeeding in some points before it settled back into my original form. The first time in years I didn't dream.
Will she be all right? The voices reached my ears but I refused to open my eyes. I liked not dreaming.
She should be fine. Extensive blood loss, a few bruised ribs. Most of the injuries she sustained were merely bruises. Look worse than they really are.
That's good to hear. Any idea when she'll wake up? The voice was definitely female, and the only female voice I had heard so far was Storm so that's who I assumed it was.
Right now actually. Wake up kid. Logan's gruff voice right next to my ear caused me to roll off the bed, taking the clean white sheet with me. Stomach down on the cold metal floor I instantly started shivering. Sorry. He apologized, looking under the bed instead of bothering to get up.
Yeah right. I chattered, trying to work up the will to get my legs under me. A helping hand came and pulled me to my feet. It was the same guy who had carried me from my house.
I finally got my first good look at him. His brown hair was neatly combed into a look straight from the fifties. His clothes were neat, tidy and pressed. He had also switched out the visor for a pair of thick ruby red sunglasses that just looked so sweet.
Come on, up we go. He managed to help me get back into the bed and then pulled the railings into place on each side. I frowned at them but didn't complain.
You're a very brave girl. I snorted without thinking.
Tell me another one. Storm jumped in with a different topic.
Who did you change into?
My aunt. Dad thinks he's to blame for her death, which in a way he is.
How? I frowned at her this time. I wasn't fond of people knowing too much about me.
Does it matter? I snapped without meaning to. I instantly regretted it the by the way she straightened up, angry.
No, I was simply asking a question.
Can I just go to sleep? I asked, making sure to concentrate very hard on sleepiness.
You just woke up! Logan practically yelled.
I'm still tired. You trying losing a bunch of blood and then shifting to and from one shape to another. I argued, trying to keep up the countenance of sleepiness yet not lose the debate. I was actually starting to fall asleep with how hard I was focusing on it.
Okay people. Everyone out. The blue-haired doctor said shooing all three X-men out. If you need me my dear, I shall be just down the hall. I smiled, then stretched and yawned. I had caught sight of my clothes on a chair when I had fallen off of the bed. Snuggling down into the stark, white sheets I closed my eyes and registered that the blue man had shut off the light and padded down the hall.
Waiting less then a minute I sprang up lightly, pulling my jeans and shirt on and grabbing the small tin of jewelry and items in my pockets. Slipping my watch on, and my ID into my back pocket I crept silently to the door.
I thought you'd try something like this. A voice said from behind me once I had managed to get into an elevator and onto the main floor. A few students were passing by and glanced in my direction curiously. More were coming from the doors in the hallway.
Try something like what? I asked innocently, trying not to look the leader in the glasses.
Try to leave. I licked my lips and tried to think about what I was doing. But I couldn't because the old panic was kicking in again. My mind instantly went into survival mode' as I had termed it. I took a deep breath, looked at the guy standing in front of me and then bolted, shifting as I ran. I jumped about halfway up to the second story, clinging with all my might and pulling myself up the column holding it up.
One end of the hall was blocked by Storm and the other by Logan, both taking slow cautious steps towards me.
No... please... I closed my eyes as memories rushed through my head. I didn't even realize that I was backing into the banister until I hit it and tumbled over. The pain in my back was excruciating but by morphing into Logan it slowly went away, progressing to a dull throb and then into a mere memory.
What the hell were you thinking! Scott, I had found out his name, yelled not five minutes later. You could have been killed!
But I wasn't! And it wouldn't have happened if you hadn't tried to pin me in! I screamed right back, more than willing to lay all the blame on him.
You broke your back! You're lucky that you acquire a mutant's abilities when you morph into them. I tried to slow my breathing by closing my eyes but it didn't work since I had the image of Scott burned into my eyelids.
Why did you change into Logan? Professor Xavier had been silent up until this point after Scott had all but broke the door down and thrown me into a chair.
I... I don't know. I change into what I think will help me most.
Why did you pick Logan? He pushed, trying to get me to think.
Yeah, why did you change into me? Logan asked. I could tell he was freaked to see himself lying on the ground a floor below with a slowly healing broken back. Even if he knew it wasn't really him.
I knew your power was healing, I thought it might work. I shrugged, trying to work out an escape route that wouldn't end with me dead.
Don't even try, Cassandra.' Professor Xavier's voice echoed in my mind and I instantly brought up carefully constructed walls for this exact case. He winced in pain as I shoved him through the wall. I glared daggers at him.
And why did you think that? You could have killed yourself! Scott insisted on making that very clear.
You ever think I might want to be dead! Huh? Maybe I freaked because I was being blocked on two sides without an escape route and the last time something like that happened I lost two pints of blood, broke a rib and got a concussion. I spat out bitterly. We'll take care of you. We'll put you in your place. I shivered at the memory. That seemed to shut him up. For a moment.
You didn't even know if changing into Logan would save your life. Why risk it?! I stood up.
Rot in hell. I morphed into a figure of my father, strength and all. I managed to get one good hit in before I was too tired to stay in any form but my own. Imagine getting hit like that on a daily basis. THEN tell me what to risk. Now someone show me where my goddamned room is. Scott stood, glaring death at me and then turned and walked out the room. I raised an eyebrow and started applauding in my head. This guy had balls.
We managed to make it all the way inside my room before he retaliated.
I'm in charge of the X-men, I'm also the senior teacher. I will not tolerate a snip of a girl like you back talking. Understood? As tired and weak as I was, I could only nod my head and try to inconspicuously back away. I'm glad we agree. Classes start in the morning.
I made it as far as the edge of the bed before I collapsed onto the floor.
Just you. Cassandra's mind registered that he didn't say your homework' or your conversation', he said you'. Everything in her body was screaming for her to run away or do something other than stand there as he got closer. Don't worry. It won't hurt. Come on. Carl's voice slowly changed as he moved closer. Come on, it's not like you having anyone to save it for.
I'll scream. Cassandra threatened, fear coloring her voice.
I hope so. Carl's sickening smile stayed in place as he pinned her to the wall with his body. I'll make sure of it. Screaming my throat out I sat up in bed panting.
How'd I get on the bed?'
You okay? I heard a voice from the corner ask. It was Storm. I bristled instantly, realizing they had posted guards on me.
I'm fine. My voice grated out past my now aching throat.
You don't sound fine.
Just leave me alone. I rolled over trying to ignore the woman in the corner but the images of what had transpired that day kept flashing behind my closed lids.
Sure you don't want to talk about it?
Go to hell. I said into the pillow.
Been there, done that. No thanks. She said cordially. I could tell she was smiling. I hate people like that.
So are you guys just going to watch me sleep for the rest of the time I'm here?
No, just until we're sure you won't bolt.
Why can't you people just leave me alone? I asked quietly, almost positive she couldn't hear.
Because we care. I was wrong. We want to help but we can't if you don't tell us.
Why should I trust you?
Because- She was interrupted by the door opening.
Shift's up Ro. Sleep tight. I shrank deeper into the soft mattress, praying that Storm wouldn't tell the gruff man that I was awake. I'd had plenty of dealings with people like him.
Good night Logan. The man sat down in a chair and almost instantly went to sleep, snoring right there in my room. It was interesting to listen to someone else's nightmares. It made me wonder if that was what my mom heard when she would wake up in the middle of the night.
I drifted off to sleep about one, after Logan settled down into a somewhat peaceful semblance of sleep.
~~~~~
Styster: Hope you liked this chapter as much as the last
Canadian-Lynx: Hope the end is as great as the start (I tried)
Morph: Good question. In a way she changes like Mystique does, but unlike Mystique, her normal, natural form actually looks human. I have an idea for another story with a shapeshifter that can only change like what her skins made of. It's really weird.
Thanks you guys for reviewing and for the comments. For anyone else reading this, please review and tell me what you liked or what I've done wrong because the reason I post stuff on this site is so I can get constructive criticism on my work.
