An explanation was lingering on Toad lips as she patiently waited for him to answer. What could he possibly tell her to make him seem like less of horrible person? Nothing. And he knew that, he straightened up and got up from his chair, and leaning his forehead against the clean window nearby he marveled at how cool it seemed on his skin. No, passed cool.

Cold.

That's what he was. Nothing more than follower of bad people who did bad thing to good people. It was simple. He wasn't part of anything important or special, the brotherhood wasn't going to be something kids learned about in schools containing mutants and humans. He and the others weren't going to be part of some kind of historical event that was going to change the world. He wasn't a hero or a model...

He was a terrorist.

Kidnapping people, killing people, destroying the innocent things in the world just to get some definition of a voice. The Brotherhood wasn't doing anything that any other insane organization couldn't do with the right resources.

He wasn't any better than them...

His mind continued to drift until a distant coughing noise came from the corner of the room. He frowned deeply at how Eva struggled to catch her breath and he made his way back to her side of the room.

"I'll explain everything later luv...I promise."

She wasn't exactly satisfied with this answer but a deep exhaustion had settled itself in her joints and the longing of rest entered her mind. She adjusted herself steadily back into the bed and observed her surrounding with a certain uneasiness. Eva closed her eyes gently finding them hard to open again, but as sleep took over she heard the specific sound of a chair pulling up and the feeling of webbed fingers joining hers.

She smiled in spite of herself.

VXVXVXVX

The rain had long since stopped but the grounds were still wet and a certain lazy atmosphere had come in with the afternoon fog. The students were bored as usual but most found themselves watching t.v or reading, and with the staff in similar positions the property appeared to be quiet and steady. Everyone was so obviously in fact, that only one student, no older than ten noticed the black SUV passing the back roads several times before parking several feet away from the property line. Only three people got out of the large car, each seeming to be secretive and quiet as they disappeared into some hedges close by and remained still talking amongst themselves...

VXVXVX

When Eva opened her eyes again she could tell that a large amount of time had passed since she had closed them last. She blinked several times before attempting to sit up, the pain she had found in her sides earlier had nearly left. Yet she still could not rid herself of the dizziness that caused her to reach for her head in confusion. But the previous day's events came back to her: each picture and sound connecting together like they belonged with one another and the direct memory was clear and defiant causing her headache to surface once more.

"Hello." Said a steady voice at the doorway. Although her vision seemed to be abandoning her as everything else her sight was still nearly backed out and blurry.

"How are you feeling?" Asked the same voice as it moved closer to her. Blinking several for several moments made the appearance of her visitor a little easier yet everything still appeared a little out of shape. Yet still from what she could tell the woman now sitting next to her had a lovely colored, dark shaded skin, which contracted perfectly with her long white hair that clung happily to her shoulders. Her smile was honest and a sincere feeling of safety quickly entered the room.

"Weird." She replied with nothing else to say. Eva still had her hands on her head and held them there as though they were they sole source of keeping her neck straight.

"I would image so." Said the woman who now seemed taller as she approached. She laid a small green tray on the table nearby and it wasn't until then Eva noticed the lacking presents of someone in the room.

"Um... Where's ...um?"

Her smile stayed patient as she responded. "I believe your friend is downstairs talking with the professor."

"Excuse me?"

"Oh how silly of me." She said before continuing, "The professor is the benefactor of this institute he tends to take care of situation like this."

"What exactly is this institute?" Eva asked suddenly feeling nervous.

Her new friend stared at her confused with the question then a look of realization came to her face and she sat down in the previously occupied chair.

"This is a school for mutant. Mostly we try to give an average education to the kids here, help out some of the runaways that kind of thing. But a lot of young mutants have a hard time controlling their abilities so we try and assist in help them keep themselves and others safe."

Information sunk deeply into Eva's brain as she thought of those words. Of course she had heard of this place...but it actually existed? Horror stories had of course been passed around her school about mutant training facilities where they taught mutants how to hurt humans and use them to their advantage...but this place was real? But no wait... not exactly. It was a school, it had to be just that right? I mean she was human and they had helped her out and everything, they had to be honest...right?

"So you work here then?" Eva asked.

"I teach mostly science and sometimes cover for the lit teacher. My name is Ororo." She extended her hand and Eva was surprised to find how cold her's was compared to it. And a shiver ran up her spine at the realization. She retracted her fingers from her new found firends and folded her arms across her chest and sighed deeply, but sensing her Ororo's concern she forced a fake smile and later explained that she was just tired but as the minutes dragged on she was more and more sure that something was seriously wrong.