AN: Don't own X-men, sadly. But I do own the made-up characters present in this story. Enjoy. R&R. Thanks.

Chapter 6

Cage

Water poured from the facet as two hands cupped it, letting it splash onto the face. Droplets fell and the hands leaned on each side of the sink. The girl looked down into the sink then up into the mirror. The image reflected her sixteen year old self, as her twin blue eyes stared at it.

Exactly three years had passed and today was when Angel's life was directed in a new path. Aunt Maggie was already gone to work, leaving Angel home alone as usual. The girl had made an early call that morning. She was waiting for her invited guest. After unlocking the door, she headed into her room and just waited.

An hour later, the doorbell rang. Her guest was here. Angel called out from her room, "It's open! Come on in!"

Slowly, the door creaked open and entered none other than Melody. She had grown up too over the years. "Angel?" Melody called out.

"I'm in here."

Melody closed the front door and walked down the hall, pushing back the curtain of beads. As she passed them, they swung back into position making a soft sound like rain. Angel's door to her room was slightly opened. Melody entered and suddenly, froze into place as her eyes laid on Angel. From the bed, Angel stood up, her wings quite visible from her back.

"How?" was all Melody could say.

Angel stood a couple of feet in front of her old time friend. "Melody, you're the only friend I've had. I couldn't go on not seeing you or not telling you that I'm a mutant. Three years ago, when I stopped going to school, I grew these wings. My aunt and I discussed about it and in the end, knowing during the day that not all people are accepting of these types of differences, I had to stay hidden here at home. Aside from Maggie, you're the only person that I've told. If you hate me because of this and not saying anything to you earlier, I'll understand. But promise you won't tell anyone?"

Melody broke into a soft smile. "Of course, I won't tell, you're my best friend! I don't hate you. You're the first person that actually wanted to be my friend and I'm grateful for that."

Angel couldn't help but smile too. She went over and gave her friend a big hug. "Oh man, I've missed you so much!"

The girls were very happy to see one another again. They sat on the floor, catching up.

"Does it hurt?" Melody asked innocently.

"Well, not anymore. I got use to them. But the first couple of days that I had them, it hurt so badly. But now I enjoy the time I have at night to just fly around. I taught myself to fly," she explained.

Angel and Melody talked for about an hour, chatting on anything that came to their minds. They laughed and enjoyed the same old company they once had and shared. But soon enough, it was time for Melody to go to school. Saying Goodbye, Angel waved to her friend and then locked the door. Afterwards, Angel got a glass of water and returned to her room. Opening a window, she breathed in the fresh air and placed the glass on the small table near her bed. Angel laid down, closed her eyes and fell asleep.

A scream pierced the air. "Angel!"

The sixteen year old shot open her eyes and sat up with a jolt as her own name had been called out. Racing off her bed, she travelled outside following the sound, leaving the front door open. Rocks and rough gravel scratched the bottom of Angel's bare feet. She ran, everything seemed to move so slowly. Up ahead, there was a silhouette of a group of people crowding around one individual. Between the black shadows, a silver light shined then disappeared into the crowd. A shriek echoed in the atmosphere like a siren. The sound seemed painful to Angel's ears as she ran closer and closer to it. Just then, the attackers dispersed, running from the scene and vanished from sight.

Angel gasped for breath as she fell to her knees in front of the stabbed Melody. Tears leaked down. "No. This can't be happening… No. No. It can't…" She placed a hand on Melody's wound trying to stop the bleeding. Angel held Melody, placing her head on her lap. Looking down at her friend, Melody groaned, "Don't cry…"

Angel wiped the tears away. "Who did this to you?"

Melody coughed. "I don't know. It all happened so fast."

"I think I can help you. I haven't tried this in a long time but I can probably fix you." Angel said, hoping, for once, she could help someone using her healing powers.

Melody exhaled, "I trust you."

Angel kept her hand on the wound, closed her eyes and concentrated. Her head started to ache as a cold sensation flowed through her fingers. Something wasn't right. Once she opened her eyes, Melody's wound was only worst and this time Melody was bleeding profusely. Angel's eyes went wide.

"You did all you could," Melody whispered, "Goodbye Angel..."

"Don't say that!" Angel yelled in anger. "Don't close your eyes," she pleaded.

But Melody was so weak now and had lost a surprisely large amount of blood. In Angel's heart she knew it was all her fault. She was the one that made it worst. If only she could have had better control. She looked down at Melody's face as her eyes closed and took her final breath. Melody's body went still, completely motionless. Angel was totally horrified, rocking herself back and forth. She was covered in Melody's blood.

Choking back the tears, she breathed in deep. Her hands shook, as her insides felt numb.

In the distance, sirens were shrieking from police cars and an ambulance. Angel set Melody's head down on the ground softly. She managed to stand unsteadily and then ran, leaving the lifeless Melody in a pool of red.

The sixteen year old girl ran as fast as she could. Her hair whipped behind her, the tears in her eyes blinded her a little. Reaching her driveway, she noticed Maggie's car. Walking up the stairs, Angel caught her breath, nearly stumbling over a step as she entered the house. The door slammed as she closed it.

"Angel? Is that you?" Aunt Maggie had heard Angel's entrance.

"Yes, It… It's me," she couldn't veil the sorrow in her voice.

"Are you…" Aunt Maggie walked into view, noticing Angel and the smears of blood over her. She stopped in her tracks. "Oh my dear! What happened to you?"

Angel's shoulders shook as sobs began to take control of her. "I…I…I killed her!" She paused as she looked down at her bloody hands. "I'm a murderer!" She yelled in fury. Aunt Maggie took a step forward. "No! Don't come near me!" The girl screamed, backing into the wall and slid down to the floor, wrapping her arms around her. Shaking, Angel kept mumbling to herself and cried as she lowered her head.

Aunt Maggie stared at her niece in fear. "It will be ok, Angel. Take a deep breath." She tried encouraging words to quiet down the girl. Angel's aunt couldn't help but think that Angel was losing herself in her own hatred and anger. However, Maggie couldn't give up, she wouldn't let herself lose another family member. It was clear now what she had to do. Knowing she should have done this three years ago, Maggie had been stubborn then, but now it only seemed to be the only thing left to do. She headed over to the kitchen and from a drawer she retrieved a small crumpled piece of paper. Unravelling it, she read the number and dialled. On the other end, Maggie listened to the repeating rings until someone eventually picked up.

"Xavier's School for gifted youngsters. Xavier speaking," an old, soft voice spoke.

"Hello Xavier. This is Maggie, Angel Arden's aunt. I talked to you about three years ago. I don't know if you remember me…" She paused.

"I remember," he said.

"Well, I thought I could handle things and let Angel have a normal life. But things just took a turn for the worst…"

"I see."

Aunt Maggie inhaled. "I think it's time for me to let her go, in order to help her. I know I can't keep her here further, locked up in this house like some wild bird." She was starting to come to terms with the issue. As hard as it was to say it, proving it to herself how much it hurt, she knew this was for the best. "So I guess what I'm trying to say is that I think it's time for her to go to the Institute, where she has a chance to belong before she is engulfed in hating herself."

"Very well. I suggest that she arrive in a week's time. By then, she'll have enough time to calm down and it allows you to have a few days with her."

Maggie sighed.

"Everything will be okay," Xavier tried to comfort her.

"I hope so," she paused. "I promise Angel will be there in a week. Thank you, Xavier." She hung up and was hit by total silence.

Slowly, she walked towards Angel. "Let's get you cleaned up."

Angel flinched as Maggie reached out a hand, but she took it and feebly walked with her to be guided to a hot shower.

The days of the week had passed by quickly and tomorrow was Angel's time to depart. Most of the week, Angel spent her time away in her room just laying down on her bed staring up at her ceiling. Today was no different. Knocking on the door, Maggie opened the door a little. "May I come in?" She asked. Angel didn't respond. However, Aunt Maggie walked inside anyway and sat on the edge of the bed. "Angel. There is something I need to tell you. Tomorrow you're heading off to the Xavier Institute."

Angel sat up. It seemed to catch her attention. "You're sending me away? You don't want me anymore?" She asked sadly.

"No, no… I still love you Angel. But your powers are growing in such a way that they seem to be out of control and I admit I don't know what to do anymore. You need someone who can help you much more than I. You are in need of new friends that are going through the same thing you are, to help you get through this. We can still keep in touch and visit one another."

Angel looked down at her lap, thinking about it. Everything is so messed up. I'm going insane just being hidden away in this place day after day. Maybe I need something new… maybe I do need help... Looking up through the strands of blonde hair, covering her eyes, she said, "Alright, I'll go."

Aunt Maggie was content with such a simple answer. She patted Angel's head and spoke softly, "Okay, kiddo. Well, get some shut-eye. We'll be heading out early in the morning." Maggie left Angel's room, closing the door behind her.

The girl gently fell back, resting her head on the pillow. Her pure white wings wrapped around her shoulders like blanket as she breathed out. Falling sleeping, she thought, I can finally break free of this cage…