Been busy with school of late. This is a shorty but a goody!

Falling to Pieces

Serena had cried herself to sleep that night. She couldn't remember a time she had felt so miserable. Her outburst was soon followed by complete shut down, almost like a light bulb bursting with flash of light right before it blinks out. The next morning found her in a gloomy disposition. She hardly responded to anything, and when she did respond it was in the most limited way. Maybe a head nod or a small wave of a hand. She didn't speak a word to any of the other students, not even Kitty, who had taken it upon herself to try and cheer the poor girl up, but was highly unsuccessful to her dismay. Even the other X-men, who had heard from her twin brothers what had happened, took pity on her and tried to lighten up her spirits. But nothing any of them said or did made the slightest difference.

In the Danger Room, her reflexes were incredibly lax. She could barely dodge let alone destroy whatever was attacking her. When knocked to the floor, she took her time regaining her feet, looking as though it took her all of her strength to do so. Half way through the session she was sent flying by a tentacle landing several feet from where she had been standing. She tried to get back up but found that she couldn't, she no longer had the will to do so. She slumped back onto the ground defeated. She thought she was going to be pummeled but heard the whirring sound of the danger room slowing to a halt. She looked up to see Logan standing over her.

"Get up."

She lowered her head. "I…can't."

"I didn't ask you if you can, I said get up."

"And I said I can't," she said in a tired voice. "I'm done."

"You're not done till I say you are Mermaid," Logan said starting to lose his patience. "Now on your feet!"

"I'm sorry sir, but I just can't do it. I can't do this anymore."

"Get up or--"

"Or you'll what? Skewer me?" She stood up slowly, a derisive smile on her face, and threw her arms out. "Go ahead, take your best shot!"

"Don't tempt me, kid."

"I'm not tempting anybody!" She said a bit hysterically. "This is a genuine offer!"

"Alright, knock it off!" This seemed to snap her out of her hysteria. "What's the matter with you, kid? Used to you couldn't get enough action and now you're letting yourself get knocked around like you don't even care."

"THAT'S THE POINT!" She screamed furiously. "I DON'T CARE ANYMORE! IT'S NOT WORTH IT! NOTHING'S WORTH IT ANYMORE!"

"Kid, I know you're hurting," Logan began.

"Don't you-- I don't care what--" Serena was struggling with her words. "I don't want to hear what you've got to say! You don't know anything!"

"Actually I do, heard it from your brothers. I was sorry to hear about it."

"Sh-shut up!"

"You're not the first kid to get rejected by their parents, human or mutant."

"Shut up! I don't care!"

"You do care. That's what makes you human."

"THEN I DON'T WANT TO BE HUMAN! I JUST WANT IT ALL TO END! I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE ANYMORE!"

"Kid, it's alright to feel pain. All of us do. It's a part of life we just gotta deal with."

"YOU DON'T KNOW HOW I FEEL! YOU STANDING THERE-- YOU--" She broke off as tears began to leak from her eyes. She wiped them away fiercely.

"Kid, just because one bad thing happens doesn't mean you should just give up."

"I-it's n-not just one thing," she sobbed. "It's…it's everything!" Then she broke down and started crying into Logan's shoulder. He did not push her away, but awkwardly patted her on the shoulder. After she had finished he cancelled the rest of the session thinking it better that she have rest. She did not however, go to her room as Logan had instructed. Instead she went outside feeling a desperate need for fresh air. She looked longingly toward the iron gates which seemed to lock her in, making it look more like a prison than anything. She knew she would not be allowed beyond those gates for a long time. She decided to sit next to the pool knowing that water, the purest of the elements, would not betray her as it was the only friend she had left. She sat by the pool looking at the smooth glassy surface of the water. It was so clear she could almost see her reflection smiling back at her. But…she wasn't smiling... A sound of derision escaped her throat and with one swift hand motion the reflection rippled out of sight.

"What are you doing out here?"

"Yeah, aren't you supposed to be in therapy?"

"Knock it off guys!"

Serena whipped her head around to see the new recruits walking towards her. She turned back to the swimming pool and was determinedly trying not to look at them. Jubilee had knelt down next to her.

"You look pretty beat up. Are you okay?" Jubilee asked, her voice sounded a little concerned.

"I'm fine," Serena said dismissively.

Man what is she doing out here? I thought they had locked her up in her room so she wouldn't go crazy again. Were the thoughts that entered her mind, unbidden, unwanted.

She stiffened. The words came as loud and clear as if they had been spoken rather than thought. Now that her mother's dumped her we're probably stuck with her.

"Knock it off." She said menacingly standing up to face them. A couple of them backed away.

"What are you talking about?" Bobby asked.

"We weren't doing anything." Rahne said.

"Serena calm down." Jubilee pleaded sounding a little scared.

What a freak! Came the voice in her head. There she goes again, having another one of her little fits.

"That's enough! Leave me alone!" She pressed her hands over her ears trying to shut out the voices but the messages came as clear as ever. She could now hear all the voices of the students muddled together, thoughts of fear or worry. But only the two stuck out, two that were filled with nothing but ridicule and contempt. And she knew exactly who.

Man, she needs serious help. Ray thought.

No wonder her mother gave up on her. Roberto seemed to add after a moment.

Serena's eyes became green orbs of fury. Flood's eyes. "I said STOP IT!" She shot her hand out and water shot out of it blasting Ray and Roberto off their feet. She suddenly morphed into her aquatic form. She didn't stop even after they had been knocked over. She kept dousing them with water, hoping they would eventually drown. The water blast died when she started to feel hot.

"Stop this right now," Amara rubbed her hands together causing heat to surround Flood. Something started rising from her body. Smoke? Flood's body felt boiling hot. Her skin looked like it was bubbling. Then she realized it wasn't smoke, but steam. She was evaporating. She looked at her self in horror and flung her arms around herself and screamed with pain. She was breathing hard. She glared at Amara.

"You'll wish you hadn't done that." She said in a menacing voice. She rose her hands up in the air and the water in the pool started to rise into a huge wave.

"Run!" Ray screamed as they all tried to move out of the way of the wave that was rising from the pool. They were not fast enough as the entire episode lasted barely three seconds ending with the wave crashing down, forcing them off their feet and drenching them all.

Flood shifted back to her solid form. She was still breathing hard, drops of perspiration hung at the sides of her face. Her body started shaking so badly she lost focus. It was amazing she could even stand.

She looked at her shaking hands. "Again?" She asked herself. "What's happening to me? What…" Suddenly she let out an earsplitting scream as numerous cuts burst out all over her body sending a shower of crimson onto the wet pavement. She collapsed in a bloody heap.

Pandemonium broke out among the students. Some were screaming their heads off, others running frantically around not knowing what to do. It was such an uproar that the other X-Men came outside to see what the source of the commotion was. When they saw the bloody mass that was Serena they almost lost their heads as well.

"What happened?" Scott asked Jubilee.

"I don't know. They were fighting - she just started shaking and… and…" She didn't look like she could bear to finish her sentence.

"We need to get her to the medical wing fast." He looked at Kurt. "Kurt, do you think you could…" Kurt nodded before picking up her limp body and teleported leaving a puddle of blood where she had lain.

What could've caused this? Stay tuned and find out!