AN: Hey there! I don't own X-men to be clear ;) Thank you for giving it a chance, enjoy!

She was in her dormitory room. Her roommate wasn't present at the moment but she didn't mind. She finally had some time to read. She randomly picked a book, the last Harry Potter. She'd read it already but she still loved it. She just got to the sad part. Fred lying on the ground, his family scattered around him, crying... she found herself on the verge of tears as well. The dormitory door opened and her friend Joanna walked in.

"Hey there, so how was your date?" Mina inquired, wiping off her tears and smiling. She kinda liked Jo but their personalities weren't all that similar. Their relationship had some perks, too. But Joanna never ignored her. Well not that obviously.

"Jo? Was it that bad?" she asked, her smile fading.

Joanna didn't even glance her way. What's wrong with her? Mina wondered sadly. Jo came closer to her, but it was like she couldn't see her. She opened the window right besides Mina's bed without a word. She took her headphones and jacket, quickly scribbled down a note and left. Just like that.

Mina snatched the note and read 'Hey Mina, u weren't in dorm so im writing this here, im gonna sleep at Mark's place. I'll be back for breakfast. -JO'

What on Earth? She was right there! Jo was pulling her leg again. Was it April Fool's Day already? Mina's mind chain went like this... pranks... Weasley twins... Fred. And she was crying again. Goodness, her mascara! She must look like a banshee now.

She quickly made her way to their common bathroom and cleaned her face. On the way back she stumbled upon another one of her friends. The most handsome boy in whole school. Blond hair, beautiful blue orbs, but not her type. That's how they actually became friends. He was hitting on her and she politely declined, few times. Eventually they got to know each other better, mostly thanks to their biology project, it was a bit awkward but she managed and they were good friends now. He had sort of a dating record around there, some jealous people considered him even a man whore. But she knew better than judge by reputation. He was actually a nice boy once you got to know him. That was probably why so many girls liked him. He was a sweetheart. So yes, she considered Warren Worthington her friend and that was why it hurt her to be ignored in such a way. She nicely greeted him with a wave, there was no way he could have missed it but he apparently did. He just walked pass her without uttering anything. She stared at his back, waiting for him to turn around and laugh, what a hilarious joke it was. But nothing of such sorts happened. He turned the corner and never came back. She returned to her dorm. Why would they play this cruel joke on her? She really wanted to understand but she wasn't able to. She took her book and continued reading. She really hoped that Jo would stop ignoring her tomorrow.

She went to bed at around two a.m., let's say she really liked that book and wanted to finish. The next morning was terrible. It was Saturday but she woke up early. What a luck! She was tired but she couldn't fall back asleep. Everyone was asleep by that time, so she took her stuff to bathroom, no one was gonna bother her.

She slowly placed her belongings on the small counter near sink, she took out her toothbrush and faced the mirror. She let out a shriek as she observed herself, her beautiful brown hair! They were no longer a chocolate brown, they were like a candy - pink, purple and blue mixed in waves. What was this? She could take jokes but only to particular level. This was too much. She decided to find Jo as soon as she looked appropriate. She quickly brushed her teeth and hopped into shower. Her heart ache of betrayal. Everyone knew how proud she was. Her perfectly kept hair. How could Joanna or anyone in that matter do this to her?

She was wearing a white tank top, high-waist blue skirt and nice white sandals on high heels. After few minutes of looking at herself, she actually started to like her new hair. It brought out her icy blue eyes. Maybe she wouldn't kill Jo but explaining that to her parents was something else. They wanted her to be a proper lady and colorful hair like this made her more a rebel than lady.

She had no idea where Mark's room was so she waited for Jo in her room. She sat at her desk behind the door and Jo didn't notice her at first. When she did, her eyes widened.

"What did you do to your hair Minnie?" she asked in a demanding fashion.

"I woke up like this!" She was angry now. Jo was acting like she didn't know about it.

"Really Mina? That's a pathetic excuse!"

"What are you talking about? It was one of your pranks, wasn't it?" she sneered.

"Of course not! I know how you love your hair! Do you think that low of me?" Jo was pissed by now as well.

"I don't know what to think anymore! Are we still friends? You absolutely ignored me yesterday!" Mina's eyes were watering. She didn't want to lose her friend over something silly like a joke.

"What the hell are you talking about? You weren't even here when I returned."

"On the contrary! I was here all along. I watched you write that note! I was lying on my bed, reading. I even greeted you! What are you playing at?" The tears were falling from her eyes. This was their biggest argument so far. Why was Jo so cold towards her?

Joanna rapidly took a step back and hit a bed side table behind her, the picture of them together fell down and the glass shattered across the floor. Her face as white as paper. "Mina! Where are you?"

She was still there, standing in front of her. She looked at herself. What she saw frightened her. Her hands, no, the whole body was transparent, she was invisible. That could mean only one thing. She didn't want it. She wanted to be normal but it was too late. She made herself visible again somehow, she was staring at her hands. She glanced at Jo and it made her heart broke. That look. Jo had the same look as her father when he talked about them, full of hate and disgust. But it wasn't the only emotion readable from her eyes. There was fear. A great fear.

"You are one of them! You're a mutant, a monster! Get out! Go away. You hear me, get out!" She burst into tears and stumbled to the door. She was trembling, her legs almost gave up but she made it out of there.

She went out through the back door leading to the alley. She didn't want to be seen, not like this. She wished she could stay invisible forever. Her parents would hate her, all her friends, teachers, neighbors, everyone. They were all going to hate her and she couldn't bear it.

A week later and she was still invisible. She didn't want to return to her life, not like a mutant. She watched her friends from afar. Joanna cried over her, like she was dead. Being dead was apparently better than being mutant. And it wasn't even her fault. She couldn't affect her genes. Her other friends didn't care. That really saddened her. She always thought she had some good friends but obviously she was wrong. Only Warren was really missing her. He even got into a fight with Joanna. He was protecting her and mutants in general, she felt sorry that she was making him go through it. He would forget about her eventually, for his own good.

Her parents were something else entirely. She didn't dare visit them, she was sure they would kick her out, her mother would plead her father but he hated mutants too much. He would never accept her even though she was his daughter.

Another week passed. Warren was desperate to find her, he even went to police station but they refused to help him. No one cared about a missing mutant girl. She decided to leave him a message. While he was sleeping she pushed an envelope under the door. Inside was a letter, she explained to him why she had to leave and that she wouldn't return any time soon. She made him promise to stop looking for her. She stayed there, waiting for his reaction, she needed to make sure he read it. And he did, he abruptly opened the door searching for someone who put it there. He likely hoped to find her and talk to her but she left. She couldn't see his sad face anymore or she would cry again and she really wanted to stop crying already.

She lived invisible for weeks. She usually went to supermarket and stole a food. She was able to hold objects in that form as if she was normal. She slept in a lot of places. Park, hotel, place for homeless but she liked to sleep in furniture shops the most. No one was bothering her there and it was warm inside.

She was gone precisely two months and five days when she heard about her mother's incident. She tried to kill herself. She couldn't live like that, in fear of her daughter's life and with her husband's hate. She consumed a dozen of pills, they found her in time to save her but she didn't get past the next 24 hours.

She loved her mum even though she was very strict. Mina was grieving for a long time, she even went to her mother's funeral and she regretted it later. Her father accused her. He thought her to be responsible for his wife's suicide attempt. She left as soon as he said it. Now, she wasn't eating healthy and she barely slept. She couldn't stop thinking about that accusation. Was it really her fault? Should she run away like that? She cried a lot over her mother, her destroyed life, her friends. She felt so lonely but she didn't want a company. But that was what she needed. She didn't admit it but she needed someone to talk to.

With another two weeks passed, she was skinny, her curves were no longer visible, her skin was of unhealthy pale shade. She was staying the night with some homeless people. They were warming their hands over a fire. She stood next to them, unseen, trying to warm herself as well. She was listening to their conversation, she always passed her time eavesdropping.

"You heard about that school dude? A school for mutants. They should get rid of that freaks not educate them. All mutants together at one place? They're surely planning an attack on humanity or something, I'm telling you man."

"They're only children mate, what could they do?" the other man answered not so hatefully.

"Have you ever seen them, their powers? They are dangerous!"

"Yes, I have. They're mere children. With good example they can be prosper to this world. And that Xavier? I think it was really brave to gather them all."

"Sure. I'm gonna find a better place to sleep."

She was glad that the racist man left. She made sure to remember the name Xavier and to google it tomorrow morning. But before she left she put a hundred dollars into the man's coat. She didn't need them, she could steal easily.

She went to an online cafe, luckily no one noticed the computer screen not even the moving mouse. People were so oblivious sometimes.

She found some works of Charles Xavier. Most of them were related to X gene so she assumed he was the founder of that mutant school. She was correct, it was easy to find it. The Xavier's school for gifted youngsters. It carried some irony. Its address was 1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem center, Westchester County, New York. It wasn't that far, she just needed a map. She obtained one and went to find a ride, one pickup headed that way so she climbed to the back and seated herself with a map in her hands. She had to be careful, one wrong turn and she could get lost, she really hoped that this truck would go as far as possible. It would make things easier. She waited for the driver to get in, she didn't see him. She just heard the door slam shut and engine starting. She unintentionally hid. It was still weird being invisible.

According to her map they were going straight to Westchester County. What a lucky coincidence!

The car suddenly pulled to the side. The man probably needed to use a natural toilet. Uh oh... she was wrong. It was a man, and quite handsome actually with dark hair and all those muscles, his haircut was a bit odd though. But he didn't need to pee instead he opened the small trunk and easily hopped in. He stood there, towering over her, he seemed to be about 7 inches taller. He was searching for something, looking all around. He... sniffed? He came closer, anger plastered on his face. Could he really smell her? That never happened before.

He came closer again, one more step and he would hit her. He intently stared right where she was. Her heart was beating like crazy, he must had heard it, it was so loud. She prayed for him to return inside the car. The God heard out her prayers. The man shrugged and went back to car. She let out a long sigh. That was pretty close. If he ever stopped again she would find a new lift.

He was still checking his review mirror, trying to catch a glimpse of her. The road was empty, he sped up. She positioned herself on her knees to see why but he turned the wheel rapidly, sending her to the side. She crashed into a tool box which gave a loud thud and tools inside rattled. Her hand was scratched and bled a bit. She quickly wrapped her injured arm in her jacket, the blood drops would be probably visible. She jumped out of trunk, her back hit the ground painfully, she gathered herself and ran away from him. She watched him from afar. He searched his whole car then sniffed again, he turned to her direction and stared there for a minute, however hard he tried he wasn't able to see her. He growled loudly and drove away. Well, she was hurt, without car and she left the map in the trunk, just great. She decided to walk on foot. It was getting dark when she noticed the sign by the road saying she was close. Finally. She was so hungry and it was getting cold.

This wasn't school. It was a freaking mansion! She couldn't see the end of it. The gate was open, inviting her inside. She carefully crossed it. No one was there to stop her but she felt like someone was supervising her, she felt vulnerable at this place, unknown to her. She got to the front door, they were closed and she didn't want to draw attention to her so she quickly went to find some back door. She found an open garage. There were some beautiful pieces. She especially liked the dark motorcycle on the left, next to the brown pickup. Pickup, so that man was a mutant as well or it was just a coincidence, but it would explain a thing or two. He was handsome but she didn't wish to meet him again, he was kinda scaring her with all those angry faces, she was sure a smile would lit up his features nicely. But yeah he looked scary.

She pushed the door open quietly, no one could hear her while she was invisible, not even her steps or breath, but old hinges could wake up some people. Fortunately they seemed pretty new and didn't creak. She slipped inside unnoticed. After few turns she was utterly lost. She considered sleeping in one of the long dark corridors unless she found a real room soon and most of all unlocked. The universe was good to her today and she actually stumbled upon a kitchen. With a food. And it was empty, what more could she wish for? The fridge was full of various types of meals, she made five ham sandwiches, she was starving. She ate them all at rapid pace and drank it down with an orange juice.

She put the dishes into the sink, not bothering with cleaning them. She was exhausted, she needed a place to sleep. She passed few more halls and got to the gym. Pretty huge, she had to add. There was all equipment needed and space for like hundreds of children, nothing like a regular school. There was even a huge pool inside and big locker rooms. She decided to stay there, she even permitted herself a shower. It was a risk but she really needed it. Who wanted to smell like skunk, right?

She woke up to someone screaming at children to run faster. What a lovely teacher, she hated those. They always pushed you to your limits and made a fun of you afterwards with a class bullies.

She made sure no one was in the locker room, nor in the showers. All those young mutants together and she had to only one way out of this place, through them. What if some of them had power that would reveal her? She really hoped for the opposite.

She opened the door, she tried to open them only a bit and slip out. Her luck ran out evidently, the guy she encountered earlier, the one who gave her a lift inadvertently, was there, he had a whistle in his hand and a bunch of 15 years old looking kids were surrounding him. He was their PE teacher, she could have never guessed. He immediately stopped with his lecture about proper running, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Kids, gather here now!" he commanded. They all obligated confused. He looked around and watched her intently without actually seeing her.

He started giving orders: "Shadowcat, go find Professor X, fast. You kids make a circle, the youngest in the middle, keep your eyes open. We have an intruder."

What? She didn't mean any harm! Well, technically she was an intruder but she wanted to find the headmaster that morning. She just didn't get a chance.

She didn't know this man's mutation and she didn't want to find out just yet. She made a run for it. He tracked her somehow and ran straight at her, she heard his fast steps, he was really quick, like an animal. She glanced over her shoulder, he extended a long metal claws from his knuckles. Her jaw dropped, she was doomed, there was no way to dodge him when he slashed his claws like a blades at her. She at least put her arms to the front, they took the most damage. She had deep cuts all the way from her wrists to elbows and he even managed to cut her cheek painfully.

That man and kids could only saw a puddle of blood, getting bigger with every passing minute. She was still able to run but she left a blood trail behind her, there was no chance in hiding. Someone knocked her down from behind. It was a strong energy field and it hit the guy as well. He landed very close to her, he growled and stretched his arms as if on cross. His right hand smacked her into forearm. She tried to roll away but he stood up in a flash and pulled her up by her hand, his iron grip crushing her arm. Her blood was spilling over his fist but he didn't care. He found her neck and positioned his claws, if she moved the slightest bit, he would cut her throat.

"You ain't going anywhere, bub," he muttered in a husky voice.