Beyond Evolution

Chapter 2: Ohio is for lovers

Woot! Second chapter everyone! Once again, thank you to everyone at the Beyond Evolution RPG for their wonderful ideas, and Nick for letting me use hie site title as the title for my story. You guys are wonderbar! Hah, well, onto the chapter.

Oh! And before I forget again, please visit my profile and preferably my homepage, which will give you a like to Beyond Evolution the RPG. We really need characters, and would love if you gave us your best!

Subject: Marie Cameron -aka- Rogue

Location: Dayton, Ohio. Train station

Date: June 12

Marie stood at the train station, her hood pulled over her head, her overly stuffed duffel bag over her shoulder. Inside were all of her belongings, from her Cd player to her clothing and shoes. The bag was an overly large Addidas bag that she carried on her back like a hiking bag. Her green hood was pulled over face, ticket clutched in her hand. She had to sell some of her jewelry to get it, but she could always come back for them. If she wanted to that is. All of that jewelry was given to her by her parents and everyone who had ever abandoned her because of her power.

'Oh quit your blubbering...' She rolled her eyes at the voice, which was Carroll. She had been forced to absorb the woman after she grabbed her hand and wouldn't let go. Therefore, she had gained her abilities. Which were flying ans super strength if she wanted to use them. Which, she didn't. Not until she got some training. But Logan was the only one who could train her in those things, controlling her strength...and he was gone.

Soon enough the train rolled into the station. Its breaks squeaking in a high pitch as it rolled to a stop. Marie advanced on it as soon as everyone who was getting off got there, and everyone who was getting on got on.

"All aboard!" The conductor called, and she approached him, handing him her train ticket. The man checked it, giving her a warm smile as he nodded in approval. She kept her face neutral as she stepped up the stairs, taking the opportunity to use Mystique's abilities she had absorbed to change her hair red, even the bangs, and her eyes a ruddy brown. There was no need for anyone to have to know it was her, especially since she knew Mystique and Magneto were looking for her. And no doubt the Professor had people out looking for her. Well, at least she knew it wouldn't be Logan. After all, he had been gone for almost a year.

'QUIT BLUBBERING!' Mystique's voice cut through her head, making her wince. Whenever she put her input in, it was always in a shriek. 'Remind me again why I absorbed the blue wench...?' She wondered to herself as she took a seat in the very back. Everyone else was towards the front. Instead, she curled up in the deep maroon chair, her arms cross over her stomach. It was June, but she was wearing jeans, a green hoodie and jeans. No wonder people were staring at her now red headed self.

The train started to move with a jolt, and she reached for her bag. Taking out her Cd player and her CD binder, she flipped through the CDs, trying to decide which to listen to first.

'My Chemical Romance? No. The Used? No. HIM? No. Evanescence? No...Hawthorne Heights.' She quickly pulled the disc from it's respective sleeve, opening the walkman and popping the CD inside it. She put the headphones over her ears, pulling her hood back up. She didn't want a single person bothering her on this trip. She sighed, switching the disc to number seven, Screen Writing An Apology. She mouthed the words as they rang loudly through her ears, mentally singing along with the disc.

'She called last night still waiting for a reply. The static contact is pulling us apart. Please hang on tight, I'll see you through the night. You have me still because I'm breathing, although it has slowed down. Please don't cry because I'm leaving. I hope I see you soon. Exchange the sunshine for brown and dark skies, replace this dull life with you. I know it's tomorrow, she's waiting for something to feel alive. You know me to well, she's sorry and I can tell. Scene missing, fade to black. You're acting all this out again, just wake me when it's over, when the curtains raise, it's time to move on. Exit now, credits rolling, the girl who stole my heart. The one that got away...'

Subject: Logan -aka- Wolverine

Location: Xavier Institute, grounds

Date: June 12

Logan sat outside on the grass, watching everyone train. He hadn't brought out Marie's diary because, well, isn't it obvious? There was no way he'd be caught reading someone else's dairy, much less a diary in itself. He didn't need any training, having survived in the wilderness for almost a year by himself. He watched Scott and Bobby train. Scott sending lasers at Bobby as he tried to block them with ice. He growled slightly, knowing that things weren't exactly in his favor with the X team. After all, it was sort of his fault that Marie left.

Ororo had seen him on his way out and they had a short chat as per usual. She was mainly making sure he knew of the urgency of the situation with Marie. As if he didn't know it already. He stood up;

"Alright everyone, that's enough for today." He barked out gruffly, starting towards the institute. He wanted to read more into Marie's diary, the spot where he had left off was less then convenient . But it was Ororo's fault, she had come to get him for training. He walked alone towards the school, a bit faster then usual. The urge to read more into her thoughts was getting stronger. He had gotten pretty far last night, reading up to about a month before Jean's death and his leaving. It was starting to get interesting now.

"Hey Logan! Wait up!" Bobby's voice registered loudly in his sensitive ears, causing him to growl in irritation. What did ice cube want with him anyway?

"What?" He asked gruffly, stopping and turning towards Bobby, who was jogging to catch up with him.

"Professor X told me he had you on the mission to find Marie. Have you gotten anything just yet? I mean, we're all worried about her..." His voice got smeller at the last part, as if it was hurting him to say the words. Well, he had to give the kid a break, after all, he had kissed the girl. Though, they could only tell by the fact that Marie was breathing ice for almost an hour afterward.

"No, I haven't yet. Her scent isn't even in the building." Logan told him in a matter of fact, short tone. We went to turn around before Bobby started talking again.

"Wait Logan! Is there anything we can do to help?" He seemed eager to know, but Logan still regarded him as a kid. Plus, he didn't need everyone 'helping' him anyway. It would be more like getting in the way.

"No. You'd just be getting in the way." He said, ending the conversation and turning to walk to the institute. Scott didn't seem to happy with the answer though, because he sprinted to where he was in front of Logan, standing in a very defiant manner, arms crossed over his chest.

"What do you mean, we'll just be in the way? We're Marie's friends to, we could help find her more then you, seeing as you ran off for a year!" It didn't help that there was already sore feelings between the two, as Logan felt his blood pressure begin to pound in his ears again. He let out a growl from deep in his chest, not even bothering to answer Scott. Instead, he put a hand on his shoulder, shoving him roughly out of his way. He wasn't about to deal with that. Not now, not ever. The group watched Logan stomp off and into the house, slamming the door when he entered. Ororo looked at him when he did so, jumping slightly at the glass rattling in the door. She did ask though, because she knew she'd get a snappy answer.

He stomped straight up to his room, throwing down his sweat drenched shirt before picking up Marie's diary. As a second thought, he locked the door before stretching out on his bed, opening to the date of the entry he hadn't read yet. Her writing was shaky, as if she was scared, maybe crying.

May 1—3:30 AM

These dreams are getting to be to much. Each of them are flashes from one of my subconscious's life, but they always seem to be their worst moments. Gory and gross, and I always wake up to something being on the floor that wasn't there before. I never understood this before, btu it's starting to make sense. I'm losing it, I'm freaking losing it. But no one can know, because I don't do the whole run for help from everyone else thing.

It makes you look weak. Like you can't handle your own problems. Well sorry, but I handle my own problems. We've been training a lot lately, it's sort of weird. I don't know what Professor X knows, but he's sure making sure we're prepared for whatever is coming. I can't help but get an eery feeling thinking about it, so I have to stop. I had thought of going and telling someone, maybe Bobby or Logan, but then I realized that they would both have to report It to the Professor, and I don't want that to happen. Then I'll have to sit there while he tries to get me to open up and listen to him quietly ask me what's wrong over and over again. I did that when I first came here and I don't plan on making it a habit. But my eyes are dropping, so I had better go back to sleep. I don't want to look tired at morning training.

God knows I'll be getting drilled with questions then...

Logan grunted slightly when the end of her entry came, thinking about what had been said. It was true he only knew about te entire thing with everyone in her subconscious, but them coming out and trying to control her was another thing. He decided he would have to read on to find more out, then he could make a decision. With that he flipped the page over onto it's back side, she never seemed to write an entry and continue it on the very same page. It was a bit confusing to him, but then he realized that Marie was a very neat person. So she must have done that to keep her journal neat.

May 3—2 PM

Today I'm sick. Not because I caught a virus or a cold, but because the blue wench is trying to take over. Sometimes my skin turns blue, but I hold her back from taking full control while I can. I've already woken up in a different place then I remember falling asleep. This is to creep

Listen up X idiots, we're coming for you, and soon. You had better hide whoever you want to keep us away from.

Love,

Mystique

Ignore that. Totally ignore that!...

Subject: Marie Cameron -aka- Rogue

Location: Caldecott County, Mississippi

Date: June 13

"Excuse me miss, we've arrived." Marie about jumped out of her skin when someone started shaking her shoulder. They automatically jumped back, apologizing like mad as she went to hit whoever it was. It turned out to be a young conductor, he couldn't be more then fifteen years old. She just gave a weak smile, putting her arm down. She quickly stuffed her CD Player away and threw the bag over her shoulder. The train she had gotten had been the late train, an overnight trip. That had ensured she could hide while the sun was down.

She emerged from the train into bright sunlight, her brown eyes squinting. This was home, sure enough. Deep southern drawls were all around her, filling her ears like music. Very sweet music. She pulled down her hood to get a proper look around. Women were walking with their husbands, children following most of them. Street vendors could be heard far off in the distance, talking about a bowl of jambalaya for a $1.50. She approached the vendor, taking out two dollars and buying herself a bowl. He could keep the change.

The spicy taste was a definite welcome home, but now she had to find a place to stay. No doubt she'd receive a less then friendly welcome home form her parents, if they even answered the door. They had never excepted her powers, and probably never would. Instead, she headed for an alley right off of Heights Street, where she had heard there was a group of Mutants who lived underground.

Here there was an old sewer system that hadn't been used in close to 100 years since new ones had replaced them. It was a perfect mutant haven. She walked into the alley after making sure no one was paying any attention to her. She reached the sewer cover and bent down, pulling it up with ease not that she had Carroll's powers. After she had shoved her bag through, she went through, shutting the sewer cap as she did so. No one needed to even know she was here. Especially not the X-Men.

She picked up her bag, light shining into the sewer system by holes that came in through the streets. Rain water gutters still were attached to here, so when it rained there was always fresh water to be had. Really, they had it made down here as long as they had money to buy food. She made sure her bag was secure on her shoulder, just in case anyone got suspicious of her and decided they wanted to attack. All that was to be heard were a few far off voices, and a trace of music. She followed the noise until they got louder. There were a few distinct female voices, a few distinctly male. Before she entered, she finished off her bowl of jambalaya, that way there was no jealousy to be had. She secretly had about a thousand dollars tucked in her bra. She rounded the corner, and everyone froze.

"Hey! Who are you!"

Subject: Logan -aka- Wolverine

Location: Xavier Institute

Date: June 15

Everything with Marie's journal was really starting to get irritating. He had heard about what happened when basically every one of her subconscious personalities took over. Only a few succeeded, which were the strongest ones. Mystique and Carroll. Carroll took care fo her, while Mystique tried her best to bash and bruise Marie's body. Oh he'd strangle the blue wench if she were in front of him right now. He had now reached the point where it was after Jean's death. Her entries had grown very spaced apart. He knew that pretty soon the entries would stop, because he left nearly a month after Jean's death. And from what Chuckles had said, she left nearly a week after he did.

After a few hours locked in his room, reading, he was finally to the day that he left. June 10, a year ago. Her hand writing was scribbled, hard to read.

June 10

Logan is gone. They went to get him this morning for training and he was just gone. His bike is gone to. Something tells me that he isn't out for a week or less, he's probably going to be gone for a long time...or forever. I don't know how I'm supposed to live around here without someone to talk to. I may have never told him, but I loved the fact that I could talk to him and he didn't question me unless it was a burning question that absolutely had to be answered. And I guess I might never be able to tell him. Bobby is knocking at the door...I had better go. I need to clean up before he knocks the door down...my eyeliner is running from the crying.

Later–

Jesus...everyone has been babying me today. Asking if I'm okay, waiting on me...I DON'T NEED THEIR PITY! I'll get over this on my own, and I don't need them telling me that he'll be back, and that I shouldn't fret over it. I'll control my own emotions, thanks. I may be a bit unstable in the subconscious...but I can control other things.

Logan sat straight up in bed after reading the section of her journal. He had wondered why the page smelled salty like tears. The pages weren't crumpled, but he could still smell the sodium embedded in the paper fibers. A string of imaginative curses came out of his mouth, rather loudly to. But instead of stomping off to find her..he skipped to her next entry. It was written nearly a week after the first one, and he felt his heart start thumping faster. This could lead him to Marie...

June 17

I can't take this anymore. They're babying, they're fake concern over how I am. I'm packing up my things and leaving. I don't know how fast I'll be or how I'll do it, but I'm going to try and get to Ohio. Or...somewhere with a railroad. From there I'll make my way home...Caldecott County Mississippi...watch out. Rouge's coming home...

Logan jumped up, snarling. How could she be so stupid! Hitch hiking, then riding a train home? Home to a place where everyone pushed her away and didn't except her? Over his cold, dead body! He quickly burst through his door, scaring the students outside, nearly sprinting to Chuckle's office. He was going after Marie...