Chapter One: Weak

I looked at myself that morning. My relfection-my face, but not mine. The eyes were green, not yellow; the skin was smooth and pale; my hair was auburn, no longer red. A prisoner of flesh I was not even born into, I am no longer myself. No longer Mystique. I am, for the first time for real, Raven Darkholme. I am weak.

I'd have killed myself long ago for what I've become, but then, Mystique, that which I once was, who I truly am, though now entombed in this poisoned flesh, would die along with me, vanishing without issuing so much as a wimper. Mystique, I, cannot let that happen. Even if I look like them always now, even if I am as powerless as them, I will not succumb to the humans' mental weakness.

Homo sapiens. Weak, ignorant, hateful. I now am one of them, not by my choosing. I now live amongst those who once rejected me at first sight, who chased me, hated me, tried to kill me like a dog. None of them, none, would suspect who I once was, what I was.

I work as a secretary, an underling. I type, answer phones, make copies and coffee, nine to five, every day. Locked into their world, I am but one of many cogs in a larger machine, perfectly expendable, perfectly replaceable, and utterly forgetable.

I was walking homethat night.Alone. I was always alone.Eric, the others, had abandoned me, rejected me.I seek nocompanionshipfrom these cattle.Whatwould they see in me? One of them. Another mediocrite.

I hadn't eaten indays. I was trying to see how long it would take for this new weak flesh tofail me, or force my will into submission with pain and frailty,forcing meto eat.That was probably why they overpowered me so quickly. Three men, lurching out from the alleyway. San Francisco's a dangerouscity, and I was an idiot to be walking around, starving and sickly, unarmed, alone, lost in my thoughts. Theyclocked me over the head and pulled me into thealley. As thing came into focus, I realised what they were trying to do, and struggled. I tried to call out, but a grimy handclapped over my mouth, and one of the brutes hissed into my ear, spittle flying all over, "Shut up, bitch! Thiswon't take long."

I keptstruggling, but I knew that I was doomed. Ifelt my skirt being pulledup, my underwear tugged down, heard the clicking of a belt.This is how it all ends,I thought. Then, just as the wretch was about to violate me, he screamed, and was pulled into the air. The other two, who holding my arms, looked up, shrieking. I tried to see what had happened, but they still held me. I heard something hit the ground behind me. The two screamed, and let me go. I fell forward against the wall. I turned and saw the body of the the man. His throat was torn open. Something dark dropped down from above. I watched as it darted after the two.

I staggered to my feet. I had to get away. I ran out from the alley, across the street. I was bathed in white light. A car was coming. I closed my eyes. And then...I was flying. Flying? The air was rushing past my face. The city was dropping away from my feet. Claws grasped my shoulders. I felt feathers against my face. My head was swimming. I felt my body go limp, and all went dark.