The next morning, I was jolted awake by an obnoxious alarm blaring through what felt like the entire building. The racket, though it lasted only thirty seconds, was enough to make me wish I were back in the caves, despite having had the best sleep of my life here. Groaning in frustration, I pulled my pillow over my head, desperately trying to muffle the sound. My heightened hearing made the noise unbearable, and I longed for silence.
The alarm finally stopped, replaced by Charles' overly cheerful voice. "Good morning, students! Breakfast will be served in the main hall in thirty minutes. Rise and shine for a new day!" he announced with unnerving enthusiasm. Did people really wake up at this hour every day? I hoped not.
I lay there for another twenty minutes, until distant barking caught my attention. It had to be Gloom, since no one else seemed disturbed. As I sat up, the door swung open, and Gloom bounded into the room, grabbing the edge of my blanket in her mouth.
"Don't do this to me, girl," I joked, but she just whined and tilted her head, waiting for my next move. Reluctant to face the morning chatter outside, I tried to pull the blanket back over me, but Gloom had other plans. She tugged the blanket from my grasp, ran to the other side of the room, and bowed down, barking with her tail wagging. Apparently, Charles had enlisted a second alarm clock.
"Fine, fine! I'm getting up!" I huffed, stretching as I got out of bed.
"She's pretty good at her job, as long as no one is bribing her..." a stern voice said from the doorframe. I turned to see Billee leaning against the frame, arms crossed. My heart sank; I hoped she wasn't upset with me.
"I know, she really is. I'm sorry about last night... Surely you understand," I said, panic rising in my voice.
Billee gave a dismissive "Hmfh" before clicking her tongue. "Exactly what is it I should understand? Just curious, since I was the one who got chewed out by the professor." Her tone suggested that Logan's excuses hadn't won her over, but sticking to the story seemed like the best option.
"You know, Logan just wanted to—"
Before I could finish, she laughed and turned away. "Right... Whatever you say. C'mon, Gloom," she commanded, heading back to the dining hall.
"Whatever you say," I muttered under my breath as I closed and locked the door, preparing to get dressed to face the day ahead.
Logan had mentioned that there were clothing options stocked in my room, so I made my way to the elegant dresser against the right wall by the door. My fingers glided over the smooth, intricately carved wood, and I couldn't help but smile. My mother used to adore delicate wood carvings like this. My memories of home were fleeting, mostly hazy fragments of steel furniture from the labs or rough-hewn wooden logs from the forest. This dresser, however, felt oddly familiar, as if I had encountered something like it before.
I struggled to recall much from my early years—just snippets like playing catch with my family or attending church on Sundays. Beyond that, my memories were a blur, especially after the day Striker had found me, frightened and alone. He had told me my parents were casualties in some fight, and that the X-Men were power-hungry monsters. Yet, as I settled into this new life, I began to question whether his stories were true.
I opened the top drawer and found a selection of tops and pants. After sifting through a few options, I chose a pair of black pants similar to those I had been given yesterday, along with a black tank top that was a bit too short, exposing an inch of skin above the waistband. Groggily, I moved to the small closet, where I grabbed a cozy black zip-up with hot pink stitching that matched the fur at the base of my ears. Typically, I wouldn't have drawn attention to my ears, but everyone here carried their unique features with such confidence, and I wanted to embrace that for myself. Besides, I had noticed Logan's frequent glances at them.
Logan... He seemed kind and unassuming, with a rugged charm that intrigued me. He had been the one to drive off the hunters and carry me back through the icy forest. Despite his strength, I imagined it must have been no easy feat. I found solace in his constant watchfulness, though he and Billee didn't seem to get along. Billee often looked troubled, and I was aware that last night might have jeopardized any chance of friendship with her. Still, I hoped we could find common ground.
After brushing my hair, I eagerly headed to the dining hall for breakfast. The lively conversation and irresistible aroma of bacon and eggs filled the air. As soon as I caught a whiff of the food, I quickened my pace, almost jogging into the room. Scanning for an open seat, I spotted one next to Logan. His head turned from talking to a younger boy, and he flashed me an excited grin as I hurried over. I plopped into the chair and grabbed two pieces of bacon, shoving them into my mouth as if afraid they might be taken.
Logan watched me with a chuckle, his eyes crinkling at the corners. As the room grew quieter, I could feel everyone's gaze on me. My eating halted when I heard a deliberate cough from Billee across the table. With my mouth full, I looked up and saw her pointedly glancing at the silverware and napkin beside my plate.
"Manners, please, Indica," she said firmly. Seemingly upset she had to remind me for a second time now.
I glanced around and noticed everyone holding their forks, staring at me. Though I was sure they didn't mean to be unkind, I felt painfully out of place. My ears drooped in embarrassment as I grabbed the napkin, swallowed hard, and wiped my face. Nervously, I picked up the fork and tried to eat more slowly, though it felt awkward and unfamiliar compared to my usual habits.
"Sleep well?" Logan's deep voice asked softly as the others resumed their conversations.
"Actually, it was the best sleep I think I've ever had," I replied with a smile.
"That's great, I'm glad," he said, though he seemed momentarily uncertain, scanning the room as if searching for the right words. "I hope you're ready for training today! Hank wants to observe you. Something about making you a suit. He needs to see how your power works first." His enthusiasm was palpable, and despite his momentary awkwardness, his support was comforting. I agreed by shaking my head, although I was distraught.
I was far from thrilled about the upcoming training session. The fear of a repeat of that night's incident weighed heavily on me. The idea of harming anyone after their kindness was unbearable, and the thought of getting trapped in that state again was daunting. When she had taken over, I wasn't sure if I'd ever return to my human form. The prospect of turning into a rabid, bloodthirsty creature was terrifying. On the other hand, Hank might be able to help me control the beast within. With their advanced training facilities and cutting-edge technology, I hoped there was a solution. I would need to find out if Hank could provide a way for me to be isolated or contained during training, and if he had a method for reversing the transformation if I couldn't regain control.
After breakfast, Logan asked me to stay put while he cleaned up the dishes and helped Billee in the kitchen. I waited patiently, lost in my thoughts, when suddenly a voice echoed in my mind—one that wasn't my own.
"Don't worry, child. You'll learn in time." The voice, heavily accented and reassuring, was the same I had heard on the intercom earlier. It matched the voice I had assumed belonged to Charles.
"Hello?" I asked aloud, glancing around the empty room. The only sound was the faint creaking of wooden floorboards. Then, a bald man in a wheelchair appeared around the corner, greeting me with a warm smile.
"Hello, Indica. I'm Charles Xavier." His voice was gentle and welcoming. "This is my school, and I can assure you, there is nothing to fear here. That man, Striker, was a vile individual, rotten enough to ruin anyone's self-confidence." His tone grew slightly annoyed at the mention of Striker. "I created this place to protect mutants like you and me."
