A/N: GabrielsDoubt – you'll see soon, but I don't want to give anything away for now.

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Chapter 3:

The day passed on like any other, I sat in front of my computer browsing various sites, watching videos, and chatting with my friends. But as bed time drew closer, I shut down my computer and went off to bed.

I spotted the same mask earlier as I lay staring up at the ceiling. It seemed to stare back down at me with its mysterious ways until in started to transform into a different shape. I realized my mind was playing tricks on me and I blinked once to try and return the image of the mask.

I continued to stare at the mask till my eyes began to grow weary and I soon fell asleep.

I began to dream, but it wasn't like any I've ever seen before. It felt so real…

Something was across the distance staring at me but I couldn't picture its face. Somehow water was surrounding us and I just stood there staring at the person, only this time it clutched its head as if they were in pain.

A piece of metal shot straight at me till I dove out of the way. I wondered where it came from and who did it, but there was no one around except us.

I noticed a strange glow form around the person as it cried out in pain and I felt myself smile for some odd reason. Perhaps I was winning.

"Where are you?!" She cried, I noticed it was the voice of a female.

"Stop playing games with me!" She shrieked, but my smile grew wider as I seemed to enjoy her cries.

As she continued to scream out in pain, I heard someone run up from behind me. But before I could react, I felt a searing pain behind my head and my vision began to darken until I fell unconscious.

My eyes flew open as I woke from what seemed to be a nightmare. I glanced at the clock and it read 6:30 am, I figured I already had enough sleep since I didn't seem so tired anymore.

I got up and walked over to the dresser and chose to wear a dress for today. As I began to take off my pajamas, I began to wonder what that dream was all about. I figured it was just my mind playing tricks on me again but I pushed the images out of my mind.

Just as I finished putting my dress on the phone rang and I jumped a bit from the sudden noise.

Who could it be this early, I thought. I picked up the phone and gently put it against my ear.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Claire?" It was Becky.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just well… could you come over please?"

"Why so early?"

"Just please come over." I noticed the strain in her voice, perhaps because she was crying. I figured this must be very important and I told her I'd be there in ten minutes.

I shut the phone and quickly put on my shoes as I ran out the door. My mom was up and she was about to ask me where I was going till I cut her short.

"I'm off to see Becky!" I cried over my shoulder.

Mom didn't reply so I ran out into the street and headed straight for Becky's house.

I never stopped running till I reached her house and my legs were sore after a while but that was the least of my worries. I knocked on her door and Becky opened it.

There was tear stains on her face and her hair looked as if she just woke up. She seemed pale all of a sudden and I couldn't help but notice her eyes were a different color.

"What's wrong Becky?" I asked as I came in.

"Follow me."

We went up the stairs and into her a room. Her room was a mess; the posters on the wall were torn apart, books scattered everywhere, and for some odd reason her whole floor seemed to be covered with plants.

"Becky, those are your favorite plants, why would you throw it like that? I thought you loved plants."

"I hate them…" she muttered.

I walked next to her and gave a hug, she weeped softly on my shoulder and I tried to calm her with soothing words.

"It's going to be alright Becky, I'm sure it's not a big problem. Don't worry; I'm here for you..."

Her head snapped back and she glared at me, "No! Nothing is going to be alright Claire! I'm a freak! A freak because of those damn plants!"

I grew puzzled, "What are you talking about?"

She looked down and cried softly. She wiped her eyes and looked back at me with a more serious tone written on her face. "I'm a mutant Claire."

I gasped, "What?"

"I told you Claire, I'm a freak."

"But that can't be! What can possibly make you think that?"

"You really want to know?"

"Well I'm sure it's nothing!"

"Then take a look." She sat at the ground and took a pot full of dirt. Her hands began to waiver above it for a moment till a small plant began to grow out of it. It grew larger and larger till it was about three feet high and then the pot broke.

I stared at the plant with my eyes wide open in shock, it was unbelievable.

"Now do you believe me?" Becky asked.

"I—I had no idea. When did this happen?"

"About a week ago when I was watering my plants; I noticed one of them was dead and I hoped it would come back to life, and it did after I thought about it. And now, it's getting worse! I can't control it Claire, there's plants growing everywhere! What am I going to do?"

I backed away from her in fright, I knew she was my best friend, but she was a freak now.

"I don't know." I replied.

"Please Claire, help me." She came closer and I backed away farther.

Her expression turned sour, "Why are you scared of me?"

"I'm not! But who knows what else you can do with that… thing."

"Well I'm not the only one! The only reason I told you is because I figured you were just like me!" She cried.

"You're crazy!"

"Am I Claire? I saw what that monster was about to do to you, but you just disappeared. And I'm not the only one who saw it."

I laughed, "You're mind is playing tricks on you Becky, there's no way I could've done that."

"Oh really? You knew that monster was going to hit you, but instead it hit the table, right?"

"Becky, that table was right in front of me, I wasn't sitting on it or under. Of course it wouldn't hit me!"

"But Claire you disappeared! Two other girls saw it, including me! Everyone was watching you, and I'm sure they saw it too!"

I clenched my teeth as my anger began to rise, "Becky, I did not disappear. You're mind was just playing a trick on you, like an illusion. There's no way in hell I'm a freak like you."

Becky gasped as she was taken back by my comment, but then she smiled. "Well maybe that's just it then. Perhaps you didn't disappear, you just created an illusion."

"I told you Becky I'm not like you!"

"Yes you are! Admit it, we're both freaks. And sooner or later you're going to find out for yourself! And there's nothing you can do about it!"

"No I'm not!" and I shoved Becky against the wall in frustrations. She cried out in pain as she fell over a glass case.

Becky stared back at me with a surprised and angered expression. I too was amazed at what I just done and I quickly ran out the door. I wanted to be anywhere but in this place.

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