~ Chapter 1 ~

Rain was crashing down around the car that night, making it difficult for Reed Strucker to see a little past the front of the car. The winding country roads weren't helping either. Everyone was silent in the car. Andy had his headphones in listening to some god awful music whilst Caitlin Strucker was gazing out the front window, telling her husband to slow down at every corner. Lauren was observing, like always. Watching her family; watching the raindrops running down the window; wondering which one would reach the bottom first. They were driving back from seeing their grandma, when Lauren felt something. She instantly sat up in the back of the car and looked out the front between her parents.

Coming straight towards them was a black car. The driver had obviously lost control in the rain, not realising how fast they were going. Head lights flashed into the Struckers car as it come spinning towards them. Caitlin was screaming at Reed but nothing could be done. Lauren turned to grab Andy and stuck a hand up in front of them in defence as if it would save them somehow. In that moment, the world in front of Lauren slowed. All around the car she could see a thin film, shimmering in the rain. What? She thought. The car was still coming, but the closer it came the thicker the shield seemed to become. As it hit the shield, it seemed to bounce off and roll over to the other side of the road. Lauren felt the impact of the car, it shivered through her. That was me, I did that. Lauren was mortified.

"Is everyone okay?" Reed asked, slowing the car and turning around in his seat. Lauren and Andy just nodded, both wide eyed at what just happened. He turned back around and carried on driving.

When the Struckers got home that night, everyone was still speechless. No one could quite believe that they were so lucky so be walking back into their home again. As soon as they walked through the door Lauren went up to her room, claiming she was tired, and locked herself in. Honestly, she was tired, after realising that she was the one to have saved her family. "What am I going to do?" she asked herself pacing around the room. "I can't tell mom or dad; dad especially he would hand me over without a second thought" Lauren opened her laptop and began scrolling through her Facebook feed. It seemed like every other post was something mutant related, not what sh wanted to see right now. After a few minutes she closed it down and wondered what to do next.

Andy, do I tell him? She wondered. I have to. Even though he was two years younger, plus she had to tell someone. Lauren sent Andy a text: NEED 2 TALK. COME SEE ME. After a few minutes there was a knock at her door. She walked over and opened it a crack; peaking around the door. Andy looked at her expectantly. Lauren opened the door further and pulled Andy inside.

"What's the matter?" he questioned.

"Andy, you know how we survived that, that thing today? It was me, I saved us…" she didn't mean for it all to fall out like that, she just couldn't hold it in.

Andy just looked at her, not moving, not speaking. "What do you mean? You didn't move from beside me, you had hold of my arm through the whole thing!" He exclaimed.

"Ju… just watch" Lauren held out her hands again, focusing on her bedroom door. She closed her eyes and concentrated on sending something out, she didn't quite know what she was doing, which was obvious to Andy. After a few minutes of nothing happening, she sighed and dropped her hands back down. Andy just looked at her. "I'm telling you Andy, it was me" Andy decided to try something.

Whilst Lauren was doing whatever she was trying to do, he had moved over to her desk and chose something that looked easily breakable. Once Lauren had dropped her arms and opened her eyes Andy dropped the piggy bank that he had chosen. In an instant Lauren held out her hands and everything slowed for her again. That shimming film appeared again around the piggy bank wanting it not to break on the floor. Instead, it just bounced. Andy just stood staring, wide eyed.

He turned and sat on Laurens bed. "It was you" he stated. "You saved us, Lauren, you have to tell mom and dad."

"Are you crazy?! Dad would hand me over without a second thought. And mom, I don't know what she would do… Freak out that her daughter is a freak maybe?" Lauren sighed and sat on the bed next to Andy.

She turned to him, "I'm going to have to leave Andy… It's not going to be easy for me trying to hide this ability. What if it gets out of control?" It was the last thing she wanted to do. Leaving her family, leaving Andy. What if he has this as well? She thought.

A panicked look took over Andy's' face "No, you can't leave. Let me come with you at least."

"Andy you can't, I need you to stay here and make sure no one comes looking for me. I need you Andy, need you to trust me. I'll leave you a number that no one else will have. Ill text you every week telling you I'm fine, where I am, I promise. You just can't tell mom or dad about this and I can't stay here without putting you at risk."

"Fine." He said. "But I'm not letting you leaving right away. At least give it a few days before you go, please" he begged.

"Okay, okay, a few days. But then I have to go." Lauren's eyes started to droop. She looked at Andy and gave a sleepy smile. "I think it's time to go to bed" she stated. Andy got up and walked over to the door.

"A few days Lauren, you promise?" he asked.

"I promise" she said looking at her brother. It'll give me a few days to figure out where to go.