Chapter Two: The Sun Comes Up

Honestly I didn't know what was going on. Then again, my throat currently felt like it had been crushed, which wasn't really helping with the pain in my lungs. The moment the blue skinned woman grabbed me and told me "you can't refuse this offer" like in some bad mafia movie, Frank went unglued.

Sometimes it's really nice to have ghosties for friends. One moment she was lifting me off the ground by my neck, the next moment she dropped me in surprise, and was being attacked by Frank, who very honestly hadn't moved at all. He was just using one of the many powers that older ghosts have mastered. He was throwing her against the wall with just a simple thought, while I tried to not pass out from the pain I was currently experiencing.

Sometimes it really sucks to be me. Things didn't look like they were going to get any better when a few more people showed up in the hallway. Clad head to toe in black suits, I had to wonder if they were exactly good, or if they were coming to crush my throat and take me with them as well. I couldn't get that good of a look at them seeing as I was currently on my knees while Kelly fussed over me. I couldn't stop coughing, and it honestly made me wonder if that woman and her crushing of my neck didn't start a chain reaction of pain that would lead to my death.

I already knew what I was coughing up. And for the time being, other then my one glance towards the men that came up the stairs in the freakishly weird suits, I wasn't paying much attention to my surroundings. Since Frank didn't start on them, I assumed he wasn't getting the 'evil-vibe' sometimes I really wished that I could sense stuff like Frank. It would really save me a lot of trouble in the end.

"You're killing her." Was pointed out by one of the men, I didn't bother to look up to see who was doing the speaking, instead I let myself have another coughing fit.

"She started it." Was all I could get out before I had to cough again and let whatever was in my mouth get spat out onto the floor. I'll just tell the landlord (if he ever even bothers to enter the building to check on things) that I was redecorating with red paint. Yeah, that will go over smoothly.

I could still hear the sounds of the woman being tossed onto the wall. I could feel the vibrations in the ground that were caused every time Frank let her body rest on the ground for a moment before starting up again with the throwing of her. I could also tell by sound alone that she was being killed, slowly. If Frank kept things up like that, for maybe another ten minutes or so she'd probably have a rib puncture a lung or something. I'm a bad person though, and I could care less if she died, even if that meant she'd probably come after me in the form of a Ghost.

"Kid ya really need to stop that." Another one of the men spoke, this one sounding more gruff then the other voice. Also closer then the other voice was.

I thought about it for a moment, as I stayed there in my doorway coughing. I thought about just letting Frank go at it. He wouldn't hesitate in killing for me. He would keep throwing her until she suffered enough and he killed her some other way, or he'd keep throwing her until she died just like that. I really could have cared less if he did kill her…but then he'd have to kill the witnesses, because apparently they thought I was doing it. And of course, I understand why they think that, I'm the only one other then them in the hallway with the blue lady – at least on this plane of reality, so of course they think I'm the one doing it.

More blood is pumped out of my lungs. It's not a lot from what I can tell, and trust me I do know what a lot of blood looks like. However, it was still unnerving seeing as I was coughing up the blood. I didn't want anymore problems then I already had…

"F..frank, stop."

As soon as those words were said, the blue woman fell to the ground one last time with a groan. I could hear Frank give a frustrated sigh, and could only offer a twisted and bloodied grin to the three men that didn't want me killing her. "Stopped, li…like you as..asked."

Stupid coughing. It really ruined the effect of that.


Remy had to wonder what was going on. The situation in the hall looked far to horrifying for his tastes. The girl, was killing Mystique without so much as lifting a finger. Then again, she was on her hands and knees coughing. Even though sunglasses hid his eyes from view and shaded the world, he could still see that there was blood coating her lips when she informed them between coughs that she stopped hurting Mystique.

While Logan stalked over to crouch next to Mystique, Remy took that as his cue to go towards the girl. He had a soft spot for girls, especially girls that were bleeding, and living in quarters that weren't the best they could have. He was a ladies man after all. He didn't like his ladies to be in pain.

As Remy approached the girl he could hear Scott call out for Ororo and Kurt through his com, checking on how they were dealing with the others. Being a thief, Remy had a natural finesse about him that let his boots easily step on the floor without creating any noise as he made his way to Anna's side.

"Petite?" He let his voice slide out in a calm and even tone, he didn't want to be next to get tossed against a wall several times. It didn't look like that much fun.

She looked up at him, pale green eyes had a slight glossy look from an obvious lack of sleep, there was also blood dripping from her lips, she fell into another coughing fit before she could even try to respond to his voice. Remy glanced back towards Scott who was still on the Com link with the others, Wolverine meanwhile had Mystique over one of his shoulders.

"De' femme is coughin' up…a lot'o blood." He told them, his voice more breathless then he wanted it to be. Remy was no doctor, and he didn't know what was wrong by looking at her, other then the fact she was coughing up blood. For all he knew she could have a rib that punctured a lung or something, or some serious internal injury that would cause her more harm if he picked her up.

Scott blinked, turning away from his Com for a moment. Obviously the man either didn't notice the blood before, or like Remy hadn't thought that it was just from a punch to the lips or something.

"I'm fi..ne." Came the voice of Anna, who very obviously wasn't fine. She was currently trying to stand, and swaying because of it. It also was a sight to see her wiping the blood on the front of the shirt she wore.

"Gambit t'inks not…coughin' up blood is painful no?" He couldn't help but give a smirk, before looking back towards Scott to see what he should do. While Remy was new to working on a team he still knew enough to ask the leader what to do – even though there were certain times when he didn't…this time wasn't one of them.

"Grab her, we need to get her to Hank. He should be able to stop the bleeding…wherever its coming from." Scott said, and the girl gave another cough as she tried to speak, obviously not at all wanting to go with them.

Logan was already heading down the stairs with an unconscious Mystique, and Remy offered a small frown to Scott who stood at the edge of the stairs waiting to help if the Cajun needed it. "Petite, y' need help…dat's all we offer. Gambit would hate to see y' bleed to death."

For a moment she was silent, not coughing at all, not speaking, not doing much of anything. Pale eyes glared at him for a moment, before she swayed, and Remy barely had enough time to catch her before she fell to the ground.

"Dat made things easier…"


The Blackbird wasn't that far off from where Anna's building was, and quickly Scott and his team made it towards the jet to get back to the school before anything else could disturb them. Mystique was hurt, and while she wasn't on their team, they couldn't leave her to die…no matter how much Logan would have liked to. Not to mention Anna herself, currently in Remy's arms, currently still coughing up blood while she was unconscious.

Ororo and Kurt were empty handed, both Pyro and Quicksilver having got away. Thankfully neither of the two X-Men were hurt too bad, although even Scott knew Ororo was fuming over Pyro…she had wanted so much to help him in the beginning, and now seeing him for who he truly was…hurt.

It was still early, so by the time they would get back to the school the students would only just be starting to get up. Which would leave them with less questions to answer in the long run. Although Scott was sure that Rogue would have Logan tell her what happened, she had the ability above all others to make Logan talk, and generally do things he didn't like doing.

For a moment Scott grinned at that thought, rubbing a gloved hand through his brown hair before entering the jet. It was a good day…a working day. A saving someone's life day. Even though the life they ended up saving was one of their enemies, it was still…nice. Not to mention, it was an easier mission then he thought it would be.

Although while today's mission was easy, the next one could leave someone dead. Scott knew well enough to count his blessings. While Logan went about securing Mystique down "Just in case" Scott went about helping Remy with the girl, who very honestly didn't look like she was fairing to well. Her skin was a shade of white that Scott was positive wasn't healthy, and blood covered most of the bottom of her face thanks to the coughing.

"I don't think Mystique did this…" Scott stated finally to Remy as the man laid Anna down on one of the beds kept on the jet for those that became injured during a mission. Remy frowned for a moment, looking from the girl over to the unconscious Mystique.

"Remy dun't know about that mon ami, femme's jus' dun' start hackin' up their lungs fer no reason." Scott could only roll his eyes, Remy made a good point, but Scott was right. Or at least he thought he was.

"But, Mystique would want to take her as easy as possible right? I'm sure that Magneto would be a bit annoyed if she brought back a girl bringing up blood."

It was simple enough to point out right? Which led Scott to the simple question, what was the reason for the girl to be coughing up so much blood? Maybe it was just a side effect from her mutation? Or maybe that was wishful thinking, because that would be the much more easier conclusion…and things were never that easy.

Scott quickly gave a pat to one of Remy's shoulders, and stood from his crouched position. "Watch her okay? Make sure she doesn't choke or freak out if she wakes up before we get to the school."

"De homme's wish is Remy's command." The Cajun offered a grin that would most likely draw most of the teenagers at the mansion into a fit, and went back to pulling Anna's stark white hair away from her bloody face.

Scott nodded, easily making his way up to the controls of the plane next to Storm. It wasn't until they were in the air and heading rather quickly towards the mansion when Scott thought of it. It was such an obvious thought to have given the power Xavier said the girl had. She could see the dead right?

Would she be able to see his Jeanie?


Xavier gave a thoughtful nod, his hands clasping together in his lap, while brows knotted in consideration. "Well, after all Cerebro wasn't able to get a clear reading on the girl…but still, her powers are supposed to be completely passive. Your sure you saw her throwing Mystique against the wall?"

Scott gave a nod, standing next to the Professor they were both near the girls bed in the medical wing of the school. Hank McCoy, another new resident, the replacement for Jean as the schools doctor, had managed to get the girl stable, and help her from coughing up that blood. Currently the large, furry, blue doctor that resembled that of a rather large overgrown cat was hunched over at his desk, trying to figure out what had caused her internal bleeding.

They had already ruled out Mystique who lay in the Hospital bed nearby, secured, and knocked out thanks to pain medication. Sometimes, having someone that can read someone's mind really came in handy. Although Xavier was hesitant to dive into Anna's mind, even if that was what was probably going to happen in the end if Hank couldn't figure anything out.

"It's the only obvious choice we have to go on. She was the only other person in that hall. Maybe her powers are telekinetic in nature?"

Xavier shook his head slightly and moved forward towards the teenager. Scott however kept his distance. Something about knowing that the girl seen the dead, that made him rather uneasy. Especially when his only thoughts revolved around 'if she could see Jean'.

"It's possible doubt, anything is possible when it comes to mutation…but, we'll find out in a moment I suppose."

"You're going into her head?" Scott asked, a brow raised.

"What choice do I have? I hate to do it, you know I do…but it would help us understand what happened in the hall, and understand maybe why she was coughing up that blood when you found her."

"Not to mention the child will probably be a bit less 'freaked out' so to say when she wakes up." Hank chimed in, making his way towards the other two, with what looked like an X-Ray in hand.

"Is she stable enough for me to speak with her?" Xavier asked, his concern showing. He had morals, and honor, something that most people this day and age didn't have. While other telepaths would just jump into the poor girls head, Xavier would ask, make sure it's okay, and if he couldn't make sure it was okay with her, he'd feel pretty bad about it if he upset her while wandering among her brain waves.

Hank nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "At the moment she is stable, yes. You see, I think I might have found the cause of the bleeding." He lifted the X-Ray he held in his hand up towards the light, so that Xavier and Scott could get a look at it. "This is a simple lung X-Ray, and needless to say, these dark shadows don't belong there."

"What do you think they are?" Scott asked, tilting his head slightly. He seen the world in red, and the slight shadow in the girls lung on the X-Ray really didn't show up for him, so he'd just have to take Hanks word on it being there.

"Burn marks." The furry man said with a frown, showing off his fangs – which for most who didn't know him would look rather menacing.

"Burn marks?" Xavier asked, he himself frowning as his blue eyed gaze strayed from the X-Ray towards the teen with the lungs in question.

"The question is…how did she get them." Hank said simply, and Xavier gave a deep sigh in concentration.

"And that is what, I will hopefully be finding out."


For the most part I was pretty positive that I was unconscious. My dreamscape was fairly simple, I was just sitting in one of the various pews in one of the churches from my neighborhood. A rundown simple thing, that other then me was filled with shades, shadows of ghosts. Which for the most part was unnerving, because ghosts don't usually go into churches. I mean, some do. Frank goes to Mass with me on Sundays, sometimes Kelly comes but for the most part she stays home.

My body feels uncomfortable in the pew, I'm tired, my throat aches, and likewise I know I'm dreaming, at least I hope I am, because if not I'm living one hell of a surreal life. I let my eyes drift closed and leaned my head back ever so slightly, wondering to myself if it was possible to fall asleep in a dream before a voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

"What are those things?" I blinked for a moment, glancing towards where I head the voice. There was a man standing at the edge of the pew I was in, dressed in a suit, bald head shinning in the candlelight, and glancing around rather uneasy. I arched a brow, rather surprised. I've never met anyone that could see the shades.

You see shades are different then the usual ghost, they are like I said, shadows of a ghost. They have no rhyme or reason when it comes to things, and drift along as they please. Unlike a ghost that retains thought and emotion, shades have nothing. Just shadows of people that once were, that for some reason can't move on. Shades are tricky creatures, sometimes they are bothersome, knocking things over, pulling drawers out, that sort of stuff. But, like I said, for the most part they don't really do anything.

"I call them shades." I told him. This was a dream, so I had to wonder why my subconscious dreamed up some bald guy…why couldn't my damn subconscious give me Billy Idol to dream about?

"Shades?" He asked carefully, looking around the church with a curious look on his face. "Are they ghosts?" The man finally asked after awhile, and I gave a shrug, stretching out in the pew I sat in, my own eyes glanced around to watch as the shades moved in the candlelight, kind of like those little globs of gel in a lava lamp.

"No, these things are just shadows of people that can't pass. I think these are what happens to ghosts once they stay here too long."

The man gave a thoughtful nod, before glancing towards the empty space next to me in question. I gave a nod, and he took a seat. The man, glanced over at me once, and I arched a brow before turning my attention back to watching the floating shades. The man smelled like what I'd assume a grandfather would smell like. Peppermint and…something else, maybe it was just the fabric softener he used. I wasn't really positive.

At least this fragment of my imagination wasn't trying to kill me. That was a plus.

"I'm Charles Xavier." For a moment I frowned at that name. I should recognize it. It sounds familiar, but I simply shrug it off.

"Lucky."

"What?" He asked, with confusion that made me give a small grin.

"My name, is Lucky."

"I thought it was Anna Pierson." He told me, with a knowing smile on his face. I could only frown. Then again, he was something my dream made up…so of course he'd know my name.

"I prefer Lucky." I told him, giving a small grin. Hey, he wasn't trying to kill me, I was happy. Not to mention that pain in my chest was gone while I was unconscious. Can't complain there now can I?

"I'm a telepath."

I nod.

"Currently you are at my school, in the hospital wing. My people brought you here after you passed out after being attacked by Mystique."

I blinked, well…this was interesting news. Or maybe my subconscious was making this up too? "Mystique?"

"The blue woman. I do believe she was trying to take you to help a man called Magneto."

"Isn't he that weird guy that decided to try and take over the world or something in New York?"

Xavier gave a small grin, looking highly amused by what I just said before nodding ever so slightly. "We believe that he might have wanted you to create some sort of mass army of ghosts…"

I snort.

"You wouldn't be able to do that?"

I shook my head, letting my eyes wander back towards the shades for a moment. "Not that I'm aware of. Ghosts…well, in general they'd rather ignore me then anything. Some I get along with and will help me, Some want my help to move on to the next life, and others try to kill me."

He blinked, and stayed rather silent for awhile as we simply sat there looking over the shades. I really didn't mind the situation, telepath or a simple dream, I wasn't about to have a fit about things.

"How did you throw Mystique against the wall?" He asked me finally, in my opinion it sounded like he was choosing his words carefully, which meant he didn't want to piss me off. Why would I get pissed off over that? For a moment I just roll my eyes.

"I didn't."

"You didn't?"

"Frank did. That woman decided that she had made an offer I literally couldn't refuse…like some dumb crime movie. When she grabbed my throat, Frank came unglued, and well—started with the throwing." I explained, as simple as if I was talking about my favorite flavor of ice cream.

"Frank is…"

"A ghost."

"Oh." I gave a small nod as he looked as though he had fallen into some kind of deep thought. So, I just continued speaking. After all, it wasn't often I got to talk to someone alive, even in my dreams, about the dead.

"He's one of the ghosts that live in my apartment. For a dead guy he is pretty cool, so is his wife Kelly who is there as well. They were both killed in the twenties and have yet to leave. I could help them along, but they don't seem to have wanted it. So they stay, and Frank helps me stay safe when he can."

"So, ghosts can actually hurt people?" He asked me, rather taken aback by the idea of the undead harming the living – which honestly is kind of creepy, seeing as most of the time the undead are invisible to most people.

"Some can, I mean…it's not exactly like they have to worry about being caught or anything. It takes them awhile after death to be able to kill someone though, unless they are really angry. Most of the time they have to learn how to be able to touch things and stuff like that, because like in the movies, they are rather…what's the word?"

"Transparent?"

"Yeah. But some, have mastered their ghostly powers…like Frank, he's pretty much able to just appear wherever he wants to, he can do some wicked things with telekinesis…"

"—Ghosts can leave where they haunt?" He asked, suddenly interrupting with a rather confused look on his face.

I nod, shrug, and lean back…note to self: Never dream about pew's again.

"Pretty much, I mean some prefer to stay there…but they can leave if they want to. Most people go about their daily life for a long time without knowing they are dead."

"Why do they stay here?"

"Beats me. Some stay because they have something to do and can't move on until they do it. Some stay because they don't want to leave—afraid of where they might end up…and well, other then that I don't know why they stay."

He nods, and I give a shrug and turn my attention back towards the moving shades while Xavier is silent next to me. I'm still unsure if this is a dream or not, but either way I didn't mind the company.

"How did you get burnt in your lungs…if I may ask?"

"Wha—how did you know that?"

"Like I said, you are in the medical wing of my school. There was a chest X-Ray taken that showed burn marks…"

I gave a slight grin. Well, its good to know that lung cancer from smoking isn't setting in this early—because really now, that would just suck. "Burning building."

He raised his brows, as if asking me to go on. For a moment I frown. On the off chance that this guy isn't a piece of my imagination, and I go into too much detail, well that would kind of be like telling on myself. I mean, right out saying that I committed arson really doesn't sound like something I should be telling some guy who "is housing me at his school" if that is the case. What can I say…I'm a cynic.

"Burning building. I was helping out a Ghost, and I ended up getting a really big breath of the smoke—or something like that."

"Why didn't you go to the hospital?"

"I don't have much medical coverage, and I didn't feel like having to pay off hospital bills for the rest of my life." For a moment I paused and glanced his way for a moment, "Why are you asking me all of these questions?"

He gave a small grin, and stood slowly. "Just trying to figure out things. I am sorry that I had to enter your mind without asking first however. It is not something I usually pride myself on doing."

I shrugged. "No skin off my teeth if you pop into my mind. Don't get live visitors often enough."

He frowned at that and I could only grin as I went back to watching the shades.

"Is seeing the dead all that your mutation is? Usually it would be easy for me to tell what someone's mutation is…but yours is…"

"Different?"

"More or less."

"As far as I know, I can only see the dead. Which in itself is a sucky power to have. I looked into it once…because as far as I know, there have been accounts in the past when people 'claimed' to have seen the dead. I think I might see on a different plain of reality. That makes more sense doesn't it?"

He gave me a grin, "Yes my dear that does make more sense. Your mutation lets you see a different plain of reality then the rest of us, and it causes you to see the dead. An interesting, and intelligent conclusion."

"Intelligent? Me?"

I gave a laugh, and he disappeared from view.

Well, just me and the shades I guess…


Quick AN: Okay, I'm well aware that Xavier can't walk…so I'm going to point this out before anyone else points it out. When he is in someone else's mind, he can walk. Okay? Okay.

Next Up: Xavier muses on Lucky's mutant ability, Mystique escapes, Lucky wakes up, and She gets a shock thanks to all the ghosts around the school.