She was conscious for at least an hour before opening her eyes. It didn't see, worth it, after all that had happened. Her head throbbed, her muscles were all sore, and whatever she was lying on was incredibly uncomfortable.

She finally did open her eyes, and looked around cautiously. The landscape wasn't even the slightest bit familiar, and that frightened her greatly. Ignoring the searing pain in her head, she sat up quickly.

She was on the side of the road—a bit close, in her opinion—but in no real danger. She looked up and down the road, hoping to perhaps find some sort of vehicle headed her way, but to no avail.

"I… Where… Oh…" She moaned, covering her face with her hands. She fought the urge to cry right then and there, and instead stood and tried to get her bearings again.

There were woods. Everywhere. Pine trees were all she could see for as far as she could see, not including the road.

She was beginning to despair over her situation when a dull whirring suddenly rang in her ears, and she prayed it was what she hoped it was.

Her prayers were answered as a jeep pulled around a faraway bend.

She waved hysterically as the jeep neared her, and smiled as it slowed upon approaching her. She walked towards it, but it swerved around her at the last minute, honking loudly at her.  She screamed and jumped back, stumbling on a branch just off the road and landing on her rear.  The throbbing in her head erupted again as the pain in her rump ripped through her. She pulled herself off the soreness and onto her feet, leaning her head into her knees and covering it with her arms.

Finally, she let herself cry. She cried for all that had happened, and for all that she could possibly imagine happening in the near future. How long would she be stuck out on this road, waving down unwilling cars and wondering where she was? Why couldn't she remember, or at least get an idea about how she had gotten there, wherever she was?

She was so busy crying the second time a car came through that she didn't even hear it stop. Nor did she hear the door open, or the footsteps approaching her.

"May I help you, mademoiselle?"

Her head flew up to meet the hand of a man who stood over her, regarding her with concern, yet offering a slight smile. She stopped crying immediately and took his offered hand, standing with his aid and brushing herself off.

"Thank you," she mumbled, "I'm Parker Brooks."

"De name be Gambit, but de femmes, des call me Remy, Cheri. Do you need a lift somewhere?"

"I—I don't know. I have no idea where I am or how I got here or…"

"Breathe, chere," Remy interjected. Parker nodded sheepishly and did not say another word. Remy looked pensive for a moment before speaking. "How 'bout I take you into de town, and you see if you recognize anything. We're right outside de Bayville area. You t'ink you live 'round here?"

Parker looked dubiously at the virtual stranger sporting sunglasses and a tan trench coat. She may not know where she was, but she knew it was dangerous to accept rides from strangers. However, she hadn't really any other choice.

Remy watched the emotions flicker across the young woman's face. The chere really shouldn't ever play poker, as her face showed her emotions like they were printed in neon letters on a sign.

Finally, Parker nodded. "That might help. Thank you," she stated simply. Remy opened the passenger door and helped her in, then walked around the other side and hopped in himself. He gunned the engine quickly and shot off towards town/

Parker clung to the side of the car for dear life, coming to the decision that if she could survive this mystery man's driving, she could probably survive anything else he threw at her. This new bit of confidence brought little comfort, however, as living through Remy's hectic driving seemed itself a task worth deeming fatal.

She thanked God a hundred times over when they stopped and he jumped out of the car. She refused to let go of the vehicle, however, until he had opened the door.

"Somet'ing wrong, chere?"

"N-No, nothing's wrong. Everything's… fine…" Parker forced a smile and pried herself from the car, wobbling a bit and nearly falling over.

Remy steadied her before she fell, grabbing hold of her elbows and chuckling lightly. "Whoa dere, cherie. Y'can't be fallin' over like t'at if ya want ta be gettin' home soon."

Parker laughed nervously. "You're right," She replied quickly, "Now where did you say we were?"

"We be on de outskirts o' Bayville. Y'should be nearby; widdin tw'nty miles er so.

"Right. Then I'll just be on my way. Thank you very much, Remy, si—"

"Ah, non, Mon Cherie. I best not be lettin' y'wonder dis town alone. Dere's a special gang around dat don't like certain t'ings about certain people."

"What, like—"

"Ah, here come one now…" Remy quickly muffled Parker and pulled her into a nearby corner, covered lightly by shadows. He himself emerged and approached the arriving "gang member."

"Hey, look. It's that guy," the figure stated loudly, turning around and throwing his head in Remy's direction.

"De name's Gambit, amphibian," he stated smartly, a huge grin on his face. The figure turned back to him.

Parker began to notice strange features this new character. He stood humpbacked, and on all fours, much like a frog would, and was sickly green in color.

"Sorry, Gambit," he replied haughtily, "Didn't know we were on such good speaking terms." As he had said this, he had rolled his eyes.

"We aren't," Remy replied coolly. He had pulled a playing card from his coat and twirled it around between his fingers. It set fire suddenly, causing both the amphibious enemy and Parker to gasp.

"Hey, man. I don't want none of that crap that you're gonna be throwin' at me…"

"Toad, chill out!"

Three more guys had appeared and were standing nearby, arms crossed and faces irritated. It had been the tall russet-haired boy that had spoken. The enormously fat, blond boy next to him spoke next, and with much bluntness

"Yeah man. Let's just get out of here now." Toad nodded and hopped—yes, hopped, as Parker check twice—towards them.  The three began to walk off, but not before the brunette had turned and sent a horrible wave through the Earth towards Remy. He stumbled a bit, but tossed the playing card in the boys' direction as revenge. All three boys scrambled away before the card ignited into a large ball of flames. Parker stared in amazement at where it had done so.

"Dat, chere, is why I don't want you wanderin' t'ese streets alone," Remy stated as he approached her and put his hand on her shoulder.

She pulled from him roughly and turned to face him, pure fear plastered on her face as she asked the question he knew before she had said a word:

"What are you?"