(Just as I am writing this, somebody on the radio read out, "And we've got a text from Kurt in Rotherham, so hi to Kurt!" And I'm just grinning stupidly thinking about Nightcrawler stuck in traffic using a mobile phone.. Eh.. I'm weird.)

Sci-Fi-Reader: Hehe, you got some of the clues, don't forget the white eyes I mentioned! Well, she was semi-Jackie Chan there, she did try. But unlike in the park, the attackers are using bodily strikes and are ganging up. Ooh, and "pigs" is a real slang term for the police! I just shoved it in to 'lower the tone' of the gang, lol.

Legolasfreak2: Thanks, yup, it could well be Storm. Hehe.

Dancing Through Life: Yup, thinks are certainly looking up for Raven. At least she's got somebody there who is not going to try and kill her!

Sych: No, not transvestite Charles! Lol, Sych, go take you ideas and implant them in a story. XD Not in mine, lol. The checklist is invalid (burns) Hahahahahahahahahahaaa! And yes, I did have writers block when writing that. It started off badly.

Happosai: Thank you! Here is the next chapter!

Chapter 13

The area around her was blurry and unclear. A few sudden blinks were made before Raven twisted her eyes around to stare at her surroundings. She was sat in a car. The dashboard was in front of her; it's black surface gleaming from polished care. Trimmed with strips of walnut that ran along the underside of the dashboard, shining in the overhead street lamps' light. Raven slowly raised her head to stare out of the front window, watching the road ahead of her come closer as the car drove. Realising she wasn't actually driving the vehicle, she suddenly spun her head to stare at the person in the driver's seat. It was the woman she had seen just before she fell unconscious in the alley.

"Have a drink," instructed the woman. Her eyes never left the road as a hand outstretched a bottle of water towards Raven.

Raven gently took the bottle out of the woman's hand, quickly opening the cap and drank in gulps heartily. She gasped as she lowered the bottle, feeling immensely satisfied with the cool liquid. She gently raised her eyes back to the woman opposite her. She was sat straight in the driver's seat, arms elegantly poised out to grip the steering wheel of the car. Her wrists gently moved as she guided the vehicle across the dark roads. Shocking ivory hair spilt from her crown, tumbling over the dark suede of her brown jacket. She watched as bright blue eyes turned to look in the rear view mirror, before she felt the car turn a corner to a small lane into the country.

Finally, Raven found her voice. She sat up some more in the seat, eyes still watching the woman, "Who are you?" she murmured softly.

"My name is Ororo," answered the woman, who momentarily turned her head to deliver a warm and kind smile to Raven, "What's yours?"

Raven gently turned to look out of the window, watching the dark surroundings of trees and fields roll by gently, "Raven.." she responded in a quiet voice. She turned her head back to Ororo, tilting it thoughtfully, "Are you mutant?"

Ororo replied in a calm tone, not taking her eyes off the road this time, "Yes."

This struck Raven by surprise. She had always though mutants to be horrible deformities of their human self. Like she was. Blue skin and shocking eyes, not normal, not human. Foul. But this Ororo was a rather beautiful figure, true, she had the abnormality of white hair, but it oddly seemed to increase her splendour. "But.. you don't look like one.." she muttered gently, "You're too.. pretty."

Raven was surprised to hear a gentle laughter come from Ororo, "Well, thank you for the compliment." Her voice still held the kind tone to it, "But I am a mutant. Just like yourself."

A frown came upon Raven's face as she turned away to look out of the window. This only made her feel worse. To know that some mutants could still be good and beautiful people, and she had to turn into the monstrosity that she was.

Serves you right.. came the voice in her head.. you never deserved to look pretty.

"I did," muttered Raven fiercely.

"Sorry?" said Ororo as she turned her head at the rather vicious hiss coming from the passenger.

Raven just shook her head gently, refraining from divulging her mind's conversation. "Anyway.." she began, "Where are you planning on taking me?" She peered out into the dark fields, watching the tall looming trees go by.

"Somewhere safe," answered Ororo, her hand moving as she pressed the indicator to turn left, she continued to speak, "If you prefer not to, I can always take you back to that alley," she made a faint smile as she glanced over to Raven, "But I can promise you the place I am taking you is much better."

"Why are you helping me?" suddenly asked Raven, staring across at Ororo with obvious confusion in her eyes, "Why are you bothering?"

Ororo sharply turned her head at the words and held a surprised stare upon Raven for a few seconds before she quickly looked back to the road, "You needed help. I came to help you." She sighed quietly as the car pulled up slowly, "Mutants are far from being accepted in this world, Raven, as you have noticed. Mutants need to help each other."

But now, Raven was entirely listening for she was looking up at big double gates that were parting for the car. As the iron gates slowly moved back, a long driveway could be see winding up through lush green lawns. Trees spread out of the grass and flowers created borders around various edges. It looked like some sort of haven. "Is this the place you are taking me?"

"Yes," answered Ororo with a smile gracing her lips. The car began moving up the driveway.

As the car moved closer to the front of the building, Raven pressed closer to the windscreen to watch a tall mansion loom up in front of her. She made a faint laugh in her throat before looking curiously to Ororo, "What is this place?"

Ororo threw back her seatbelt and proceeded to climb out of the car. Raven quickly did likewise, pushing open the car door and stumbling out onto the gravel with a few crunches beneath her feet. She turned as she heard the car door lock suddenly, she saw Ororo watching her over the roof of the car, "Welcome to Xavier's School for the Gifted."

Ororo had quickly led Raven to the main doorway. The woman lightly ran up the steps to the door before pushing the heavy wooden door open with a faint creak, she held it open for Raven, who shut it quietly behind her entrance. She made a low breath of awe as her eyes rose around the view of the inside. A smooth wooden floor gleamed expertly beneath her in this hall entrance. Two staircases dropped down either side of the room, meeting in a corner motion towards a central fireplace at the back of the hallway. A long ruby rug stretched from this main entrance and up to the base of the marble fireplace. Raven noticed that Ororo was turning down one of the corridor to the right, and Raven quickly began to move after her. Her head turned slowly as she left the main entrance to stare longingly at a chandelier at the very top of the highest ceiling, as it drifted out of view, she reluctantly turned her eyes away to instead view the finery of this corridor.

This was all very bewildering. This time yesterday she had been trudging the streets in the pouring rain with no future, and now, she was inside a very beautiful mansion after being found by another mutant. Raven was surprised she had come this far; she wouldn't normally disappear off with a stranger. But, these were desperate times. And who knew, things could be looking up at last.

Suddenly, she noticed that Ororo had stopped walking and was now entering a room. A large oak door opened slowly and ever so quietly, Raven followed her inside. She was not surprised to see a similar lavishly laid out room. But she was surprised to see a face watching her from a desk in the centre of the room. Bright blue eyes were watching her very carefully as she entered. Then, suddenly, this face relaxed and a welcoming smile spread on the man's lips. From what she could see, he was wearing a dark grey suit with a neat red tie disappearing down the buttoned up attire. His face still held the warm smile, and a pair of youthful eyes sparkled at her wisely. He had a weathered look about him, skin pale from age, head bald. But that didn't stop a disconcerting power radiating from him.

Raven slowly tore her eyes from the man and looked to Ororo for some guidance. The woman smiled as she closed the door and returned to Raven's side, "This is Professor Xavier," she explained, gesturing to a chair for Raven, "He is a mutant too." Raven slowly looked back to the Professor, who still hadn't said a word.

So Raven decided to steer the conversation, "So.. do you own this place?" she asked, slowly moving towards the large chair that was offered.

"I do," he replied politely. His upper class voice held a gentle tone, but at the same time rightly conveyed a power of knowledge and ability, "My name is Charles Xavier."

Raven watched him for a moment before she made a small smirk, "Look, is there a reason for me being here, beside you 'wanting to help me' and everything. Come on, what's your ulterior motive?"

"For a girl who has spent the last four years locked inside her own bedroom, you are satisfyingly vigilant," said Charles in that same calm voice, his English accent making his words sharp and unslurred. He gently folded his palms together and studied Raven over the top of them.

"How do you know?" snarled Raven abruptly, her expression and voice becoming suddenly dark and unpleasant.

Charles still remained calm. He lowered his hands gently and rested them down on the surface of his gleaming desk, "I know a lot of things about you Miss. Darkholme. But please don't be alarmed or frightened. I can help you."

Now Raven made a rather bitter laugh, "Oh yeah?" She shook her head gently, still chuckling to herself, "This should be good. So, tell me Professor Xavier, what the hell am I?"

And in response, without so much of a waver in his voice, he gave her the most honest answer, "I don't know. You are labelled a mutant, we all are. Even when, we are in fact, very much still human."

"That really didn't answer my question," said Raven quietly, giving the man a narrowed-eyed glare.

Charles made a small smile, his bright eyes watching her gently, "I think you'll find it did."

Raven then quickly decided something, "I don't like this," she said aloud, "There's certainly something not normal here."

Charles almost chuckled at her words, "My dear, you are sounding too much like one of the opposing humans. Of course this situation is not normal. We are not normal in their eyes."

Raven growled as she shot to her feet and suddenly slammed her fist down on the desk in front of him, "This is not funny!" she cried, "You know damn well what I mean!" She leant closer, viciously glaring her abnormal eyes into Xavier's, "You know so much about me, so don't avoid my questions!"

"Ask me a question," said Charles complacently, gesturing back to her seat, "If you would be so kind to return to your seat and we will continue this conversation peacefully."

With a displeased grunt Raven dropped back down into her seat, flashing Ororo a small glare before looking to back to Charles, "Let's start again. Who are you and what am I doing here?"

Charles nodded in a satisfied way, "My name is Charles Xavier and I own this School for the Gifted. You have been brought here by Ororo Munroe," he gestured gently to her, "who found you in New York." He watched her levelly as he continued, "I have been aware of your mutant change for some time. I knew you were trapped in your home. I am pleased you got out by your own means. It would have been risky to send Storm in there. Human's would have classed it as an attack."

"Storm?" quickly interrupted Raven, not looking at all ashamed for her intrusion.

"Storm is Ororo's codename. Closely linked to her mutation."

Raven turned in her chair to give this 'Storm' a dark look up and down, "Why, what mutation does she have?" she asked in a rather impolite voice.

Now, Storm spoke up, "I can control the weather and manipulate it," she nodded her head with a smile, proudly placing her hands on her hips as she looked down at the seated mutant.

"Then who froze those humans?"

"I did," replied Charles, "When I was a young boy I discovered I had the power to control people's minds. Make them think or do whatever I wanted. Since then, it has grown, and with my telepathic ability I am able to communicate with mutants and humans. I was able to stop the situation there with these mental powers."

Apart from looking impressed, Raven looked severely disconcerted, "Weather controlling? Telepathy? Is that what mutant's do?" Her hands tightened upon the arms of the chair, "And what happens to me?" She shoved the chair back, exploding to her feet, her eyes glistening to readying tears, "My skin grows scales! It turns blues! My eyes are no longer normal!" She span from the desk, "My mutation turns me into a freak! Not even anything useful!"

"Raven, stop!" whispered Storm, placing her hands on the shoulders of the exiting Raven, "Calm down.." she said soothingly, "You are not a freak. Mutations affect people differently."

With a soft sob, Raven shook her head defeatedly, hands moving to cover her face helplessly, "Why did this have to happen to me?"

"Raven, it is hard to accept the difference and difficulties being a mutant brings. But things will be fine. Here, you will be looked after and protected," Charles said reassuringly.

"But I'm so alone.." she whispered quietly, "It's changed me too much."

"Raven, you can meet some of the mutants that are staying here. There aren't many, but you will see just how it affects us all so differently," murmured Storm softly, gently squeezing the girl's shoulders soothingly.

With a quiet sigh, Raven slowly nodded her head, "Alright," she whispered softly under her breath. "Just one thing.." she turned slowly, looking over to Charles, "You said I had been locked in my room for.." she paused closing her eyes to calm welling tears before continuing, ".. for four years.." she saw Charles nod in conformation, "Well, I know this sounds like a rather dumb question but.. how old am I?"

Charles gently bowed his head to show he understood completely and answered her with no signs of mockery or questioning, "You are 18 years old, Raven."

Raven closed her eyes and looked away from the pair in the room, she shook her head slowly, "God.." she whispered under her breath, "I've lost so much.."

"Unfortunately, that is a common thing with mutation," replied Charles in a sad little smile on his face, "Things are lost.." He made a quiet sigh before leaning back in his seat, "We can talk more in the morning. Storm will show you to your room and help you settle."

"Come Raven," said Storm softly as she guided Raven out of the room, "Tomorrow you can ask all the questions you like, but now you need medical assistance."

"But.."

"You will learn more tomorrow," said Storm reassuringly with a smile before looking back to the man behind the desk, "Goodnight Charles."

"Goodnight Ororo, and you too Raven," he gently turned from the desk, a silver wheelchair coming into view as he wheeled out to the side of the desk to warmly watch the pair leave.

Raven stared at him as she backed out of the room, surprised to see such a powerful sounding man confined to the robotics of a wheelchair. As she began to follow Storm back through the corridor, she knew that Charles was indeed correct. Everybody loses something when mutations are involved..

Thank you for reading! Please review this chapter for me! If you are still feeling a bit unsure about what Charles knows and stuff, don't worry, Raven has plenty more questions to ask D