The School for the Gifted

Chapter I

One

I HAD ABSOLUTELY no idea where I was going at the time. I hopped on a train, hoping that no one would find me. On the way to the train station, I stopped at a restaurant and saw on the television that my parents were looking for me. They admitted that I was a mutant, and that I needed to get help. I was a danger to society. I nearly killed my dad. All the more reason to be on the run, right?

     As I sat in the train, I listened to other people's thoughts. I couldn't help myself. That was part of my powers. Then I heard the voice. The voice that knew I could hear it.

     "Hello, Andromeda Pollitt," the voice said inside my head. It was low and British.

    "How do you know my name?" I looked around to see if the voice was coming from anyone inside the train.

     "I'm not in the train. My name is Professor Charles Xavier. I teach at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. It's a place for people like us. It will keep you safe."

     I almost asked from what, but I knew the answer to that. To keep us safe from the normal humans. "How can I trust you?"

     "I'm the only voice talking to you inside your head. I know you can read minds. I can do the same."

     "Oh. Where is this school?"

     "One of the teachers here will tell you that. She's coming to get you."

     Then I lost connection with him. I didn't know what he meant, but I didn't like the idea of it either.

     About ten minutes after, a woman with white hair sat down in the seat next to mine. She had a black, leather suit on with a cape in the back. The letter X was on the suit.

     "Hello, Andromeda," she said. Her voice sounded cool. "I am Storm from a school that will -"

     "I know," I interrupted. "The Professor already spoke with me, and I can read your mind."

     Her eyes widened. "Oh." She was surprised, and I didn't mean to sound rude, but with recent events, I couldn't sound polite. "This train is headed for New York, where the school is. We will be meeting Scott, one of the other teachers. He'll take us to the school."

     I nodded. "Okay."

     "How old are you?"

     "Twelve."

(X)

We arrived at the school late that evening. It looked like a large mansion on the outside. Same for the inside, but Scott and Storm both had told me that the students were asleep in various rooms. I'd be assigned a room to myself since I was new. They didn't want me to freak out over sharing a room with someone I didn't know. I didn't argue.

     They led me down the halls and to a secret elevator. Then we went down.

     "We're going in the basement," Scott informed me. "The Professor is down here. He would like to see you, and Dr. Jean Grey would like to run some tests on you."

     I nodded. "What for?"

     "Just to see if you've been through any trauma. Boring medical stuff."

     The elevator slowed and then opened. We stepped out. The basement was nothing like upstairs. It was metal and bright and cold. It was also very clean. I almost didn't like how clean it was.

     We walked down the hall. Scott held my arm. He could tell that I was nervous. I know he was trying to be comforting, but I don't like to be comforted unless I wanted it. Right now, I didn't want it.