A/N: So here's another chapter. In hindsight now that Jeanne and I have moved this story into technology (we've been emailing instead of hand writing) we probably should have done that from the get go. But anyway hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 4: Nightmares and Distrust

The ability to become unaware of one's conscious mind is one of the greatest aspects of the living. To just shut off your mind for a few hours each night and step away from reality is the best part of Rhyan's day. She relished the dark, emptiness that was sleep each night.

Except this night.

Slowly as Rhyan fell deeper and deeper into sleep, the void began to brighten. A sort of light at the end of a tunnel, growing larger in diameter until the light was blinding. Rhyan squinted as the light blinded her, her eyes burning from the fluorescent bulbs. It was then she felt the hard, cold, unforgiving surface. A low beeping filled her ears. A heart monitor…? A strong medicinal smell overwhelmed her nose.

Rhyan slid her arms up to push herself up, or she would have if her wrists didn't stop short. Her eyes snapped open as she looked down to see thick metal restraints holding her tightly to a table. Her breathing began to pick up as she panicked, the heart monitor beeping wildly. She tugged at the restraints, frightened whimpers escaping from between her teeth.

Large hands grabbed her shoulders as she was shoved back against the table. Rhyan's eyes screwed shut as she began to thrash, the metal cuffs digging into her skin as she pulled against them. A sharp prick in her arm was followed by a burning sensation that traveled up into her shoulder. Tears began to stream down her face as she realized that there was no where for her to go and nothing for her to do.

She opened her eyes to see a figure silhouetted in the light above her. There was the clinking of metal, echoing unnaturally as the darkness began to creep around the edges. The only thing Rhyan could think as she began to to succumb to unconsciousness was 'Stop. Please stop.'

Rhyan awoke in a cold sweat, her blankets and sheets wrapped around her. Flustered and shaking, she flailed as she unwrapped her arms and wrists as she sat up, holding her head in her hands. The sounds of sirens from the streets below as she tried to slow her breathing. She had had few dreams similar to this in the past. An unknown place with a feeling of familiarity, but never had she felt restrained, felt the sharp pain of a needle in her skin. A soft smoke smell filled her nose causing her to look around. Her sheets were blackened in some areas, a soft stream of white smoke coming from in. Rhyan shook her head and pulled her legs up, wrapping her arms around her. Never had she felt so afraid after one of her dreams.

Reaching for her cell phone on the bedside table, she scrolled through the contacts. Her hands still shook as she hit send. Listening to the ringing she closed her eyes as her heart beat in her ears.

"Hello?" Rhyan's eyes flew open at the unexpected female's voice.

"Ororo?" God, she hadn't spoken to her professor in years.

"Who is this?"

"Rhyan…" She paused for a minute, "Rhyanna."

"Oh, child. Hello, it's been so long I did not recognize your voice. How are you?"

Rhyan smiled softly to herself. She'd forgotten how much she missed her teachers back at the Institute, "I'm…. I've been good." Rhyan glanced around the dark room, quickly flipping on a lamp to chase away the unsettling the dark brought on, "How are things back at the Mansion?"

"We're doing great. Just added on a new dormitory. We were running out of room."

"That's good." Rhyan hesitated, "…Is Jonathan there?"

There was a long silence on the other end, "… No… No he's not. He's been on a leave of absence for about six months now. Rhyan… Is everything alright?"

Leave of absence? Though Rhyan wasn't in touch as often as she should have been, her pseudo father and teacher would have told her he would be gone for one month, let alone six.

"Yeah…" She finally said, "I was just thinking about him and thought I should say hi." A loud engine from outside roared by then faded away quickly.

"Are you sure? I can go get Charles. Maybe you'd like to talk to him?"

"No!" Rhyan said quickly, "No, no…. it's nothing really. Just um… have John call me when he gets back. I'll uh… I'll let you go now."

"Rhyan you know you can talk to us about anything." Ororo said softly.

If only that truly were the case, "Storm, trust me, it's nothing. I'll talk to you some time. Bye." She hung up before the woman could argue anymore. Tossing the phone to the end of her bed she straightened her legs, leaning back against the head board. There was something wrong. Seriously wrong. She could sense it. Never had she felt so alone, so lost, and so afraid. It figured that when she truly needed her father, he wouldn't be there. Suddenly she felt guilty for avoiding his calls. Though she had her own fears about the Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters and the X-Men, her father had never pressured her only sat by silently when she refused to talk.

Her eyes wandered around the room. There was an unease that something was going to jump out at her at any moment. Sighing, her head thunked back against the wall as her eyes slid closed. Opening them again, her eyes landed on a thin red lanyard that stuck out from her night stand. Reaching over, Rhyan pulled the drawer open pulling out the back stage pass she acquired only days ago. Rolling her eyes at herself, she flung the singed blankets off and flung her legs over the side of the bed.

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed that. Thanks so much for the faves I always appreciate them and tell Jeanne when someone likes our story :3 Comments are always welcome. Till next time!

~Whispering Ember