Disclaimer - I do not own X-Men: Evolution in any way, shape or form. I will not make any money off of this story.
A/N - A warm thanks to all that reviewed and to all those who read it as well. Italics are used for flashback scenes etc.
Chapter One
She opened her eyes slowly and waited for the sudden assault of light to hit her. Every time it was the same that now the days were just a blur. She could barely remember her past and was scared to think of her future. The only thing that she was sure of was her name. Kitty Pryde.
She drew her knees to her chest and hummed to herself, waiting for them to come and get her. She began to rock gently, trying to calm herself and keep the bad memories away.
When they didn't arrive Kitty began to worry; it wasn't like them to be late. They were always punctual when they were performing their tests. She stood up after a while and began to pace around her room. She brought her hands up to her mouth and began to chew on her nails.
Kitty looked around her small room and tried to recall why she was there. The ghosts that had tortured her over the past months were still trying to break her but on this morning something was different. The fog that seemed to cloud her brain was straining to lift.
"Hey, I'm still in here" she yelled sharply and banged on the door.
She was startled when her hand went right through the door. Her mind was reeling as she backed away from the door and lost her footing. She fell in a heap on the ground and looked at her hand as if it was not part of her.
"Shadowcat" she whispered under her breath.
Real memories were starting to clamber for attention in the caverns of her mind.
"Hey, goddamn you. Let me out of here" she jumped up and starting banging on the wall again, hoping that her hand would go through.
The door flew open after five minutes of her yelling and it threw her back into the wall. To surprised to think let alone try to phase her hit hard and fell to the ground gasping for air. Before she could register who was in the room she felt a sharp pinch in her arm and the world began to swim.
"I must apologise for being late my dear Katherine. I hope you weren't too worried" she heard a familiar voice whisper into her ear.
"I'm a free person. I shouldn't be here" she tried to say but her mouth felt as if it was full of cotton.
She felt someone lift her up and then the ghosts returned in full force.
"See ya Kurt. I'll be late to school and unless you are willing to let me drive your car I have to walk" Kitty said with a grin.
"Well you better start walking then" Kurt replied with a laugh.
Kitty frowned at him before laughing and making her way to Bayville High School. It was Friday and tonight she would be going home to Northbrook and seeing her parents.
Feeling on top of the world she skipped to school. She breezed through the classes and even had a good session in gym.
"It must be the looming holiday's" she mused to herself.
It was strange being the oldest of the X-Men at high school. Jean and Scott were off at university, Kurt was training at the Institute and Rogue was travelling.
"Hey, Kitty wait up" she heard someone yell.
Turning she saw Amara running towards her.
"Amara, what's the rush?"
"Haven't you been listening to the news?" Amara said as she slowed to a walk.
"Nope, I've been having to good of a day" Kitty smiled.
"The whole mutant thing has been obtaining a lot of votes. I don't think there are a lot of mutant friendly people out there" Amara frowned.
"Yeah. Things are definitely going down hill" she heard another voice behind her.
She saw Ray, Sam and Roberto now walking beside her.
"I think we better skip class and make our way back to the Institute. Things are not looking good" Bobby interrupted as he ran towards them.
Kitty's eyes widen as she took in their worried faces.
"Um...yeah I guess" she frowned not quite understanding what was going on.
"Do you want me to call Kurt or Dr. McCoy?" Amara said, wielding a cell phone.
"Sure, we'll start walking towards the Institute as you talk."
The small group of them quickly made their way towards the Institute.
Kitty felt her elation begin to wane the closer they got to the Institute. Everywhere she looked she saw anti-mutant signs and angry looking people.
"I see what you mean" Kitty muttered.
It had been a couple of years since the world had learned about mutants and most of them had thought that people would forget about the so-called 'mutant threat'. Everything had settled down after the initial year although many people still harboured a stupid fear of mutants.
"How did it get so bad so fast?" she heard Sam's soft voice drawl.
"I think it has always been quite bad but we just didn't realise how bad until now" Roberto replied.
"Hey, Kurt's coming to get us. The Professor agreed that it would be a good idea for us to stay away from school for awhile" Amara told them as she shoved her phone back into her bag.
They kept walking and kept an eye out for Kurt. Kitty felt her skin crawl and realised that someone was watching them.
"Don't look now but we are being followed" Bobby said in a hushed voice.
Kitty felt her back tense up and she watched as everyone else seemed to change their posture as well. She was very worried now and she didn't like the way her day had turned.
When Kurt came roaring around the corner she relaxed visibly until she saw the look on his face. He pulled over and they all piled in.
"Hey all" he said, grinning slightly.
"Hey Kurt. What's wrong?" Kitty asked as she hopped into the passenger seat.
"Rogue's back at the Institute. She's in a bad way" was all Kurt said.
The ride back to the Institute was quick and barely under the speed limit. Everyone jumped out and they all wore equal looks of worry.
"Kurt, where is she?" Kitty demanded.
You could not share a room with someone without becoming close.
"In the infirmary but the Professor wants to see you first, Kitty" Kurt explained.
Kitty rushed into the mansion and went in search for the Professor.
"Professor, what's wrong?" Kitty asked when she found him sitting in the study.
"I was wondering if you still wanted to go home to visit your parents?" he asked, staring intently at her.
"I have too, Professor. I promised them" Kitty said, trying to sound brave.
"That's fine. I will arrange for Ororo to take you to the airport. The other students are staying here for their holidays and you are welcome to come back at any time. I must caution you however as mutants are becoming a strong topic in the news once again."
Kitty paced around the room for a moment, thinking about her situation. She didn't want to leave the Institute at the time being but she had promised her parents that she would go home for a visit.
"I understand Professor. I will call you when I get home. Can I please go and see Rogue now" she asked before running out of the room without waiting for an answer.
She phased through the floor straight down into the infirmary to find Kurt sitting next to Rogue who was propped up in bed. Her face was pale and her eyes held a pain that frightened Kitty.
"Oh my god Rogue. What happened?"
"Ah don't want to talk about it" she said softly.
Kitty sat down in a chair next to Kurt and they talked about random things until Dr. McCoy came in a told her that she had to get ready to go.
"See you later, Rogue" Kitty said in a sad voice.
Rogue hadn't said anything about what had happened to her and Kitty hadn't pressured her. She was just happy to see her friend.
Running to her room she threw some clothes into her bag and rushed downstairs to find Ororo waiting for her in the X-Jeep.
"Sorry Storm. I was talking to Rogue" she explained and watched as Ororo lifted and eyebrow before getting into the jeep.
Twenty minutes later Kitty found herself sitting on a plane on her way to Chicago. Glad to be next to a window she shoved her headphones on over her head and listened to some of the Diva's. She hummed a few notes and nibbled on the stuff that they called food.
She was glad when the plane landed and was relieved to see that there wasn't a large crowd at the airport. She looked for her parents and couldn't see them anywhere and that was when she felt as if she was being watched. It was the same feeling that she had had earlier in that day.
Turning around in a circle she tried to see if anyone looked suspicious. Pulling her jacket tightly over her shoulders and grabbing her bag she made her way to the front of the building. She found herself suddenly wishing that there were more people in the arrival bay.
She avoided eye contact and stood out of the way. Feeling really uneasy she went to the phones and was fishing about for some change when someone tapped her on the shoulder. Turning sharply she found her mouth covered with a strange smelling cloth. She tried to phase through the cloth but her senses were getting fuzzy. She tried to shout for help but her mouth wasn't working. The world began to spin then darkness descended.