A Past Forgotten

Author's Note: Remember me? Yes, I'm alive... PLEASE DON'T KILL ME! Okay, I admit, that last cliff was evil of me... but I won't leave another cliffie... that's that major. Hey, everyone does it, okay? I'm just a bit more forgetful than most people.

I STILL need that reviewer! Anyone interested in yelling at me for a full week just to make me continue writing?

Random Comment: Place five dimes (10 cents) in a circular shape... I say circular because its not possible to truly make it a circle. Anyway! Attempt to make a heads-tails pattern with the dimes. Getting frustrated yet?

Those of you who made that pattern with ease either have to a) put the dimes in a 'circle' or b) recheck the pattern.

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Gambit calmly made his way towards the observation deck, knowing his employer would be in there. He sighed, wondering what he was needed for. Being a slave to a strange genetic research facility wasn't exactly his forte. As the doors opened, his eyes became wide with horror.

He should be used to the sight of his own species being tortured just for the sake of science... but he just couldn't harden his heart enough to feel passive.

Judging by her appearance, the girl was no younger than him. About seventeen or eighteen, maybe nineteen max. It pained him to see another victim in his employer's sick facility.

"Ah Gambit, good to see you've arrived."

He turned to face the owner of the deep voice, and was eye-level to a man in his early thirties. He had dark brown hair, and brown eyes that seemed to hide a big secret. He wasn't exactly was Gambit would have categorized as 'muscled', but he knew the man was strong enough to break most of his ribs.

"M. DeVillago," Gambit greeted monotonously, nodding politely, though inside he was seething with anger. "Dere a job y' need me t' do?"

DeVillago nodded, and turned back to the plexi-glass. Gambit took a deep breath, and did the same. They watched as doctors wheeled in another girl into the room. Gambit watched as the two-tone haired girl was continuously beaten.

"What's de point o' bruisin' de fille?" Gambit inquired, not enjoying the silence in the dark room. "Gambit t'ought dat y' be experimentin' on her?"

A deep, throaty chuckle filled the once silent room. Chills of foreboding ran down Gambit's spine.

"Keep watching 147, my boy," DeVillago replied.

The men left the girl alone in the cold room. She crawled towards the far corner, and began to cough blood. Gambit winced, seeing green and purple blotches all over her small frame.

Through the same doors the guards went through, men wearing white suits dragged another woman inside the girl's cell. Gambit assumed they were also doctors. They had brought in with them a brunette woman who looked to be about ten years older than who DeVillago numbered '147'.

"Cecilia Blanche," Gambit whispered, remembering the woman's face in one of the files he had reviewed.

DeVillago nodded. "Yes, or number 25."

She was one of the earlier mutants taken for their powers. Hers was one of the frequently seen mutations. She took on animalistic attributes, one of which were her stunning cat-eyes. As with other animal-like mutants, Cecilia was also a fast healer.

Gambit felt bile rise in his throat. No one below the 50s were ever recorded to be kept alive for so long. He had a sneaky suspicion that she wasn't going to live for far longer.

'Jus' hope Remy won' have t' be nex'...' he thought.

He continued to watch, and noticed that DeVillago had a small rectangular object in his hand. As Cecilia stirred, DeVillago had pressed one of the device's many buttons.

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Marie woke up to find herself back in her dark cell. She tried to stand, only to find that her body had fallen asleep. As time passed, she tried again, only to feel the sensation of tiny needles prickling her skin.

When she was back in high school, she often felt them after going through school assemblies, but it was usually only her feet. But now that her whole body was 'waking up', the pain was unimaginable.

She moaned in pain, as she finally sat upright. Suddenly, two men came through a door that she hadn't even noticed until then. The men wore attire similar to that of the SWAT team, only they lacked the hats and guns. They walked towards her with malicious smiles on their faces.

"Wh-what are ya doin'?" she asked, her voice hoarse from lack of use. They kept advancing, and one of the two revealed a large bat from behind his back. Her eyes went wide with fear. "N-no... pl-please d-don't!"

She clenched her eyes shut, and began to pray. Tears sprang in her eyes as the first blow came in contact with her back. She bit her lip to prevent herself from yelling out loud. No matter how hard they hit, she would not give them the satisfaction of hearing her scream.

Marie could feel her bones crack, blow after blow. They had made an effort to keep from hitting her head, but they had no qualms about the rest of her body. One of the guards hoisted her up and began to punch her stomach as the other began to practice baseball with her legs.

It seemed like hours before it all ended. The pain was mind-numbing. She didn't want to move, but she needed to sit. Despite the pain she was in, she reached forward, and began to drag herself towards the corner. Ignoring the pain in both of her legs, she sat in the corner, hissing in pain as her back came in contact with the wall.

Something warm was trickling down her throat, and she assumed she had salivated on herself. Once again, she ignored the pain and wiped it off with her arm. As she put her arm down, she noticed that it was blood.

She had nearly bitten off her lower lip.

Marie closed her eyes as tears threatened to fall. It wouldn't do her any good to cry. She wasn't in a dream. It was real, and she was going to die in a place she didn't recognize, not knowing why.

Suddenly, another pair of men came through the doors. Marie didn't bother opening her eyes. She heard footsteps advancing, and something being dragged. Then the footsteps became more distant, and she heard the door close once more.

"You must be 147, hein?" Marie heard a soft voice say.

She opened her eyes and found a pair of green cat-eyes staring at her bruised body. The woman before her had long, curly chestnut hair, which kept her breasts covered. Her nails were long, and seemed to Marie to be cat-like. They were sharp, and dark.

" I'm 25... I've been here for so long, I've already forgotten my name," the woman said softly. "What's your name?"

Marie took a deep breath. "Marie D'ancanto," she whispered jaggedly, the pain in her ribs preventing her from saying any more.

Cecile looked at Marie with pity. "I'm sorry I have to do this, Marie... but I'm so desperate to leave..."

Cecile advanced on Marie, holding out her hands. Marie closed her eyes and raised her arms, vainly trying to defend herself. The woman grabbed Marie's arms, ready to tear it off, but nothing happened.

Marie could feel something strange happening in her body. She saw flashes of memories that she knew were not hers. She saw herself in a competition in Paris, having odd jobs to get sufficient rent money...

Something was wrong and Marie knew it. Cecile watched in horror as she felt her life being drained from her. She tried to let go of the girl, but her hands wouldn't comply with her commands. She saw her veins on her arms, and her mouth was formed into a silent scream.

Before she blacked out, Cecile smiled, knowing she would no longer have to stay in the facility.

'The doctors didn't lie after all...' she thought. 'Bastards'

Marie could feel her tears streaming down her face. She wasn't in pain, but she could feel Cecile's sadness. She could remember her memories, and her pain as the doctors tortured her for nearly four years. And she cried, knowing she would have to go through what Cecile had to go through.

Cecile's hold on her loosened, and Marie knew that the woman was dead. She didn't have to be a doctor to know that.

'I'm sorry, Cecile,' Marie thought, feeling guilty for taking someone's life.

But another voice replied in her mind.

Don't feel guilty, sweet... It was my fault for believing them... I should be apologizing to you for trying to take your life

'Cecile?' Marie thought, in both wonder and fright. She expected an answer, but nothing came. She was alone once more in the cell, with the body of a woman she had just absorbed. 'What is happening to me?'

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Author's Note: I changed a few things... Marie knows she a mutant... but she doesn't know her powers truly yet. I mean, in the movie I was surprised that she wasn't confused about her powers.

She had only absorbed the guy once, and suddenly she knew what she did? I don't think so. Sorry for the late update. I don't want to botch it up. I want to make this a memorable fic... which I hope will be up to both my standards and yours.

TBC