X-Men Evolution: Rogue Evolution

Sanctum 2.3

It was a tweeting bird that finally roused Anna from her tentative grasp on sleep. Not that she minded too terribly much. She had spent the last hour or so drifting between reality and the dream world, and, for what felt like the first time in a while, took her time getting out of bed. She rolled over onto her back, stretched, and yawned. For the first time, she saw the room in the sunlight and it was even more spectacular than it had been in the evening. Sunlight practically bursting through the great big window's drapes at the leftmost wall, the pleasantly painted walls rebounded and reflected the light that made it feel warm and cozy despite its enormous size.

After a moment, she rolled onto her side, plucked the phone off the nightstand, and made to check the time, when the display notified her of three missed texts from a 'Professor Xavier.' She opened the dialogue archive:

[9:00 AM]

Dear Anna,

I hope you have slept well! I understand the past few days have been quite hectic for you, so I 'd like to welcome you to take your time today and explore the mansion at your leisure. You're fellow students left for school earlier this morning so you'll have plenty of time to gain a bit of footing for yourself.

When you feel that you are ready, I ask that you stop by my office on the bottom floor in the West wing of the house. You 'll be able to tell which door is mine by the placard next to the door.

Also, feel free to help yourself to the kitchen when you feel hungry. It's always fully stocked.

- X

[11:00 AM]

Dear Anna,

I hope you are feeling well. Please, take your time and get your rest as long as you need. My only concern is that I 'd like you to have some time to yourself before the rest of the students return. But also feel no pressure and do what you feel you need most.

I 'd still ask if you could come by my office so we could talk, I'd appreciate it.

- X

[1:00 PM]

Dear Anna,

I hope you are getting the rest you need, sincerely. I would just like you to know that the others will be back around 2:45 and I don 't want you to feel overwhelmed by all the new faces all at once. Though I do assure you that they are all very eager to meet you.

Please, come by my office when you are ready.

- X

"What the hell?" Anna picked at the crust in the corner of her eye. "Who texts another human like that? This isn't the 1600s, or whatever." Anna checked the time and saw the digital clock just turn over to 1:34. She wiped her face with both hands and sluggishly rose and sat on the lip of the bed. She caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror attached to a vanity on the other side of the room. Her hair on the right side of her head was near standing on end as if a cow's tongue had gone to town on her hair in the middle of the night. She could also feel individual strands caught in the creases of her lips and tickling the tip of her nose. She stood on tired legs, crossed the room over to the vanity, picked up a highlighter bright pink hairbrush, and got to work taming the wild beast on her head.

Once her hair resembled the way a human wore their hair again, she dressed in the clothes offered her - nothing particularly special, just a pair of black jeans and a nondescript navy blue top - and threw open the drapes to the window. The bright light stung her eyes for only a moment before she was finally able to get a full view of the nicely manicured outside. The great green lawn was laid out before her with small trees lining the perimeter of a shallow driveway. She could see now that the drive split. One branch headed towards the mansion, and another towards a large garage that was barely in view of her window on the mansion's right. Far beyond the lawn, was a tall brick fence with spiky iron rails jutting out of the top, containing the lawn and everything within. Only an immense heavy iron gate that permitted access to the drive broke up the impenetrable mass of steel and brick.