The youngest member (X-Men Evolution)

Shadowed Past

It was late at night, or early in the morning depending on how the clock was read. Marigold was in the library of the Institute, her eyes itchy from the tears she had shed while sleeping. She had a book in her hands, but she wasn't reading it. Her mind racing far to quickly for her to focus on the words across the pages. Which was a shame, because usually Marigold was able to distract herself from her thoughts by reading. Maybe that's why she liked it so much....The nightmares were better on some nights than others. But tonight had been one of the worst she'd had sense coming to the institute.

"Marigold, the goal of this session is to see how strong your stamina is. The older you get the stronger you should become. Remember the rules, and you shouldn't have to experience too much pain." One of the doctors said as he used a key to unlock the chains trapping the six year old girls wrists and ankles. He left the child standing in the middle of the woods and she watched him silently. The man walked away, going into the observation area.

"Training session number 14...begin."

It was one of the first times she had been allowed outside without her hands and feet being chained. Although she still had on the shock collar. Men were standing around her aiming guns at her. They started shooting once the doctor gave them the order. She kept her shields up, blocking ever bullet fired towards her. Using the trees in the woods to guard her as well. She was told she wasn't allowed to use her invisibility for this session which was really a shame. It would have made thing so much easier. But things were never really easy for her when it came to training.

Time passed and Marigold did as she was told, blocking the attacks with her shields, partly in fear of the pain of a bullet hitting her, and partly because she knew that if she didn't follow orders there would be much worse pain then a simple bullet. How long had they been shooting at her, reloading their guns each time they got empty and starting all over again. She had lost track of the time. She was so tired. She just wanted it to be over. Maybe if she let one of them shoot her in the leg or something it would stop? No. They wouldn't stop for that. She was so tired.

The sound of a pained howl filled the air and Marigold turned to find the source. The world froze around her when she saw a bird hit the ground a few feet away from her. Blood was soaking the ground around it and it's wings were open wide, lying limp on the forest floor.

She didn't hear the sound of guns firing at her, or anything else. Pain from her left shoulder pulled her out of her shock and she gasped before falling onto her side beside the bird. The bird's head jerked and it's eyes were looking right into Marigold's.

"We're not so different you and I." It said, the voice sounding so familiar to her, before exploding into flames.

Marigold pulled the book away from her face and blinked a few times, trying to stop more tears from gathering. She put the book back where she found it and started walking through the halls towards Ororo's room. They had told her to tell them if she had a nightmare, and while most nights she wouldn't bother waking them up to deal with her own issues, tonight felt a little different. Tonight she was just bothered enough by the nightmare to indulge in some comfort.

 As she walked down one hallway she heard noises coming from one of the other rooms, she followed the sound until she got to Kitty's and Rogue's bedroom door. Marigold pressed her ear against the door and heard Rogue's voice, she sounded scared. Marigold quietly opened the door and saw Rogue tossing and turning in her bed, breathing heavily. "Rogue?" Marigold called out, though not too loud to waken Kitty who was still sleeping in the other bed.