Chapter 5: New Hope! But New Disunion.
Haha. Kinda like my title. Anyways! I just want to do a few things before you go ahead and read this chapter [WARNING: Heavy detail content. If you are impatient to read on, I suggest you skip.]
Firstly some Thankyou's.
Shankyou FutureOlympian! I can't believe it! I didn't think the last chapter was a cure, but suddenly, all these ideas are popping into my head! Chapter 5's content came out of me like...like...flipping fireworks! (Ahaha, thinking of Katy Perry) But seriously! I think just getting a chapter down is da cure! All these words are pouring out of me like crazy. So...Thankyou! For being truly awesome and reading this and faithfully reviewing! Here's a chocolate chip waffle. # (n_n)~
Lol! I love your new name but thankyou EvilBUNNYSPARKLESxoxo! (^^) Your encouraging review really aided in this chapter. I am foreva in your debt! If you need a story for me to read, just lemme know! And I'll review, like, a hundred word review. No lie. =DD
TristeAlma...;) Man, you are soo awesome. I love your reviews, because they are short and too the point and they're never negative! *hands over a gold star* You are totally bomb in my book. Thanks for reading my story. =]
I hope you like this chapter Sorceress Reader! I spent a heck of a lot of time on it. And I want you to tell me what you REALLY think. Okay?
3004Sugarcube? ...8D Where are you? You need to review my story dude or dudette! I'm waiting for your input! It's very important to me. ;)
Last, but certainly not least, Ms. Baaannneee. You are the key to my heart. No, actually, just kidding. But thank you for reviewing girl! ;) I always love reading your reviews and I hope you enjoy my story. You should totally check out the tv series! That's what Youtube is for. =]
Okay. I'm pretty sure you haven't read all of this. You'd be sensible to skip. So! Without further ado...
XXXXX
What a challenge…
Sweet adrenalin exhilarated her boldness, quickening her daring steps, and driving the profound feeling of independence deep within every heartbeat. The entire street around her was deserted. Everyone was at home, sleeping soundly into the dark night, dreaming and resting from a tough day. The temperature of the air around them was so low, every breath hurt to swallow;it felt like knives were cutting into their lunges. In and out. In and out. There was an certain aspect of sneaking out into the night that sent a seductive thrill through Kim's veins. She couldn't repel or resist its advances. She had to act. She had to be foolish in her youth.
Regardless of the sheer pain from the chill that clung to the air, Kim eager inhaled deeply, filling her lungs to their full capacity. Then she released another little cloud of breath. Simply watching the fluffy mist dissipate until it was gone pleased her young self to no end. It reflected the underlying signature of this night. Strange, compelling, and unforgettable.
Kim laughed out loud.
"C'mon Kim. We did it. We've been out long enough. Let's go back to my house. I'm in dire need of a cocoa now."
Kim smiled. She shook her head and kept her eyes peeled on the shadowed street.
"Are you kidding Brianna?" she asked exuberantly. " We could go anywhere! No-one's going to know. While everyone else sleeps in their safe beds, we are out here, doing whatever we want! What an amazing freedom? Doesn't this just kill you? I love it!"
There was a worried silence.
"Kim…"
"Brianna, it's going to be okay. Trust me. We're almost at the park anyway. All we're going to do is swing on the playground. That's all."
When Kim didn't hear a response, she looked over her shoulder to face her friend. From the taught lines on her face, to her firmly pressed lips, and to the rigid fold of her arms, it was clear that her best friend was afraid. Angry and afraid, because Brianna, sweet, kind Brianna, didn't like to be called a coward. Her cheeks were flushed a bright pink, but her eyes were large and wary. Something made her flinch and glance back. Fortunately for Kim, nothing charged out of the sickening shadows. Kim realized that if she intended to bask in Brianna's company, she had better convince the girl fast that this crazy idea wasn't too crazy. It was harmless, a one night fling. That's all.
Kim smiled easily, her excitement fueling her brashness.
"Please Bri? I need you!"
Brianna continued to offer only injured silence. Her eyes dimmed as she looked at the ground. Kim didn't like to see her so scared and she frowned when Brianna hugged herself and shivered.
"I-I don't know K," she finally replied quietly." I'm really scared right now. My heart is going so fast..."
Kim quickly put her hands on Brianna's shoulders. She tried to look at her directly but her friend was having none of it.
"Bri," she whispered. " C'mon. Look at me… Please?"
Swallowing, the girl raised her eyes. Kim saw the fear eating away courage in them; she saw the confidence ebbing. If she didn't say something now, Brianna would reach past the consoling stage. There would be no convincing her.
Kim lowered her voice a measure.
"Brianna, have I ever steered you wrong?"
Wrong question. At once Brianna's eyes flashed and she opened her mouth in protest.
"I- hang on! Hang on, hang on! Whew. No. I meant, when have I put you in like, danger? This isn't so bad! Like. Um, I mean…huuuhhh… I'm messing this up aren't I?"
Brianna looked at Kim sadly.
"Okay. Look…we'll go to the park, walk in and out. We won't stay for even a millisecond. All we have to do, is touch the swings and then we are out of there! Deal?"
Kim waited breathlessly. This would be the deciding factor. And she really, really wanted to touch the swing set…
Finally, Brianna sighed.
"Okay," she murmured. "But that's it."
Kim grinned, thoroughly relieved.
"You can count on me captain! Nothing but the swings! Aye aye!"
Later, the sirens pierced the silent atmosphere like wails. Kim's heart dropped.
Seeing the look on her mom's face and the anguish on Brianna's sealed the decision for good. She never snuck out again.
XXXX
Until now…
There was barely any light. Creeping shadows flowed all about the land, silencing the earth. Their muffling blankets shrouded the mansion as well, giving one an eerie feeling as one noticed the dark windows. The sleeping patrons. The loneliness of being the only one up.
Well, except for two other people.
People who were mutants and mutants who were out to have a good time.
They have no idea…
Her eyes began to work overtime to adjust to the limited lighting. Kim couldn't see more than two feet in front of her face and usually one would feel pretty hindered. It's frightening to walk, one foot after another, into the unknown.
Thankfully, Kim was prepared.
She remembered it. The new exercise that she'd had the privileged to learn because of her constantly proved efforts. She remembered how time consuming it was. How discouraging it had been. The skills needed had taken her weeks to master. Maybe even months.
XXX
Her instructor tied a thick piece of cloth around her eyes, restricting her vision. He spoke calmly, tightening the knot.
"When people become blind, their remaining senses immediately amplify, filling in for that great loss. And it is a great loss. You are most severely dependent on all five senses of the body; sight, sound, taste, touch, smell. And when one goes, the others… Well, I've already told you."
With a tug the knot was set. Inside, her eyes raced back and forth, frantic beneath their black cage. Her ears picked up the sound of footsteps and she could feel the body of her teacher backing away. It was like the air thinned once he wasn't standing in close proximity to her. His voice was on her right side. Or was it more to the left?
"You will do this today and the next, until you have perfected it."
She felt her heart begin to beat faster.
"We begin," he finished.
XXX
Slowly, Kim came back to reality. She was surprised on how vivid, how clear that memory had appeared to her.
Vrrrooommmm.
The noise of a car starting, closely cut out by the whirring of tires on gravel, awakened Kim from her reverie. She glanced up and saw the harsh red brake lights of a car before it took off in an ear splitting screech. For a moment, she could only stare.
You have got to be kidding me. They have a car?
She could hear the engine revving as the vehicle picked up speed farther down the road. Then, it disappeared.
Kim didn't bother to check the groan that escaped her lips.
Okay, I get that I felt totally guilty Brianna. I get that those two could potentially kill themselves, they are being so stupid. But do you expect me to catch up to them! They are driving!
A restless breeze tangled with her hair before passing on. Kim grit her teeth and wrestled with herself mentally.
Something bad could happen. You can't trust mutants out in the real world. People, regular people, could get hurt. Even if they can control their powers.
…Agh! When did I start becoming mother hen?
This is not how a first day in her new life was supposed to start.
Kim stared on after them, studying the empty road. Clouds were beginning to billow in from the sea, and with them came chilled breezes. The night was beginning to get stormy. Worst of all, she was feeling a little worse for wear. Her temples were beginning to drum and sometimes, objects wavered. She should be sleeping, resting, helping her body to heal.
Not chasing down hooligans.
A huge sense of foreboding fell onto the girl's shoulders. She couldn't shake it.
Crap frack, cow dung, mad hatter, sprittle bittle, frang mange, rattle battle, ding dong…
Her sleepless night began to sink into her system, and her usually controlled temper threatened to start simmering.
It's going to rain. If I'm caught out in water, I'm screwed. That's why I came here.
Another small voice, spoke up in response.
But what about them?
XXXX
Kim could feel his presence receding. For the first time in her life she was absolutely calm…near water. She opened her eyes to stare at the glass of water in the Professor's hand and held her breath. The impulsive urge was still there. In fact, at that second, it jumped and fought like a wild bronco. But she and the Professor both blocked it successfully, keeping their minds open and their airways clear. After a minute, once he saw that she was in total control, Xavier retreated completely and Kim watched as he put the glass on the table.
Her headache from the rain was disappearing too.
"Well done," he said with a smile. "I can see that this is making a difference already."
Kim could only sit there in wonder. She wasn't flipping out, nothing was going crazy.
She looked up into his sky blue eyes and felt her happiness bounding.
"I-I don't know how to thank you Professor—Wow."
His eyes practically sparkled.
The more we practice, the easier it will become. Kim, you are coming along splendidly. And this is just the first lesson.
She warmed swiftly at his genuine praise and let herself smile a bit.
"Wow. Really Professor. I feel like a big rock has been lifted off my shoulders. I never thought this could happen and that's-"
Her gaze fluttered to the water. It jumped at her look but quickly settled.
"-that's something I haven't felt in a long time."
He didn't say anything. Instead, he simply nodded, and that was all that was needed.
Earlier, with a lot of hastened mistakes, and after a lot of breathless curses, she found herself in the corridor that held the door to his office. By that time, she was really seeing double. It was frightening. She did not want to end up on the floor, out cold and waiting to be discovered by someone else. From desperate recollection, she remembered Scott, Xavier, Storm, and Logan heading down one particular hall to meet in his office. Then, she appeared before his office entrance. He obviously wouldn't sleep in there, but maybe his room was connected to it?
Fighting through the thoughts that screamed at her to stop and not go on, she came up to the door and knocked.
What are you going to tell him? That one of his students was hijacked from another possible student? That they somehow got a car and now they are on the loose? You know how ridiculous that's going to sound?
I don't care!
"Kim."
She jumped at the surprised tone and looked up to see the professor in a robe, sitting comfortably on his wheel chair. Her throat choked up and the words she desperately wanted to spill refused to surface. The Professor stared into her face and wheeled back.
"What are you doing up? And you look absolutely white! Hurry! Come in, come in. Have a seat and rest yourself."
Stiffly, she followed him into his office, now almost certain that she'd made a mistake by coming here. Yet, there was no turning back.
"Professor," she blurted, her voice hoarse. She cleared her throat.
He waved aside her words, bading her to keep her silence.
"Hold on. Rest a minute. I'm going to bring you some water."
The office lights were motion sensitive, and as soon as he wheeled away, they turned on. Xavier disappeared into a little alcove, probably a place where he kept a refrigerator, and returned shortly with a bottle of water. Kim took one look at it, and almost puked. She saw the horror spread over the man's face as he realized his mistake.
Suddenly, it was like a wave of incomprehensible beauty and warmth swam over her mind. She heard a voice inside her head, and realized how vast the chambers of her mind truly were. His words frightened and excited her. It was an extraordinary feeling.
It's alright. Breathe. Breathe. I'm going to enter into your core, and set a block around your powers. Ready? Here we go.
XXXX
"Professor, I… I think one of your students has snuck out."
The Professor's brow furrowed, alarm slowly sinking into his face.
"Are you sure? Who?-How did you know this?"
Kim felt a lot better now. After what he accomplished, and drinking some water, her dizziness and wariness slipped away. She felt like she could think, and it was all she could do not to completely reflect on what just transpired, blocking everything out. Especially her original mission. Those two girls! A hot blush crept up her neck, filling out in her cheeks. Kim swallowed.
"I-I was up. And I saw her and some other girl sneak out. I mean, I was technically sneaking out too, but I wasn't intending on leaving."
Kim went on to tell him, haltingly, that she couldn't sleep, and that she had run into the two in the hall. Outside, she had heard the sound of a car starting up and driving away. And then she didn't know whether to follow them or not. The Professor listened intently and waited for her to finish. Then he closed his eyes, fingering his temple with his index fingers.
Logan. Wake up Kurt, Jean, and Scott. I need you all to suit up and come straight to my office.
…Agh. Alright Charles. Be there in a sec…
Kim jumped to hear this message in her mind and to witness Logan's sleepy reply. However, she didn't have time to think about it. The Professor opened his eyes and put down his fingers. Gesturing toward one of the chairs, he invited her to sit. Kim hesitated before lowering herself. What was he going to do now? She didn't know.
XXXXX
"So..vwhere are they?"
"The new girl- I mean, Kim- told the Professor they were heading toward town. And that can't be good. Ugh. And I have a soccer tournament practice tomorrow. What I won't do to get my hands on Tabitha!"
"Calm down Jean. We need to get them back. That's the important thing. Then you can let out your anger."
"Oh, don't worry kids. Amara is getting extra time in the danger room. You can be sure of that."
"Jah! She'd better! I hate doing this in the rain!"
XXXXX
Wheeling himself behind his desk and coming around to the other side, to sit exactly in front of her chair, the Xavier looked at her.
"Before they get back, I need to ask you a favor," he began. " I think we should start some of your training now, before the rain hits. I can always have Storm send it away, but I need to see if you can handle it first. -I saw your eyes when you spotted my glass of water Kim."
She was surprised. It took almost all of her energy to keep her face blank, but if she really considered it…
He has telepathy. He can probably sense more than just thoughts.
Kim suddenly shivered violently, her nervousness catching up with her. She brought up her feet, criss cross apple-sauce, and looked straight at the Professor. This was it. The moment she had been dreading.
"Okay," she whispered. All worries of Amara or Tabitha were eliminated.
"Show me what to do."
At his signal, she found herself closing her eyes. Then, he gently held her head in his hands.
"Now, just relax…"
XXXXX
Insert: Present Moment
She sat back as a number of footsteps echoed from the corridor. Someone knocked firmly on Xavier's door and Kim turned to look at it curiously. She was still fascinated by her amazing success and didn't remember why she was there in the first place. The first rays of morning were entering through the large window when the Professor called out,
"Yes? Is that you Logan?"
"Sure is Charles. And I have Miss Magma right here."
"Come in."
Okay so, I noticed a few things.
First! I said Kim was like insanely good at Judo, and I tried to look it up to make sure I didn't sound totally ignorant in my story, but I confess. A lot of their moves are in this language I can't even pronounce and thick detail that would take me forever to write. What I learned (and I'm ready to be corrected) is that they focus on a lot of throwing techniques? So...that exercise with her being blinded, was totally made up by me. I don't know if they did that. And in the future, I'm going to say that other training techniques and skills will also be made up by me. So...I'm sorry if I don't add up to Judo standards. 3=] I had to put some sort of matial art in there. Otherwise she wouldn't be awesomely ninja! Lol. xD
Another thing. I notice that the mutants in the tv show are always doing stupid crap and they never stop! It's like the discipline is missing. So...poor Amara. She's going to get hit hard. (;
Anyway! I think that's about it! So review review!
Oh wait. If you were wondering-
In the dialogue right after the Professor calls some of his top mutants in the fetch Amara and Tabitha, (where Jean was mentioned) the order that they talked was: 1= Kurt 2=Jean 3=Scott 4=Logan 5=Kurt again. :)
-Merlin
.