Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Warning this chapter contains Abuse, assault and discrimination. If these things trigger you or you don't like them please don't read.
{Flashback}
The government is always saying that we’re all unique, that we should accept each other for who we are and that we shouldn’t fight amongst ourselves.But that all changes as soon as someone else has more power than them. The Mutant X gene is what started it all. Most mutants stay in hiding, most can easily blend in with the everyday crowd, but others are not as fortunate.
My name is Riley Sycamore but most call me Jekyll. I am a carrier or what most would call a victim of the Mutant X gene. My mutation came in when I hit puberty at the age of 11. I can still remember the pain I felt as my bones shifted and reformed as my body grew and expanded. I grew claws, fur, sharp teeth and a small tail. The Mutant X gene turned me into a humanoid spotted hyena. I remember how terrified my parents looked after the transformation was complete. I was completely different now. No they weren’t scared of me, they were scared for me. They knew now that people would use and abuse me to their dark little hearts content.
My parents did everything they could to protect me from the world and with their jobs they had the connections and resources to do just that. Both my parents were first responders and we lived in a relatively small town so my parents knew practically everyone and everyone knew them. But while they were able to protect me from most people in our town, they weren't able to protect me from the cruelty they spread to the other children at school.
{A young version of Riley could be seen walking down the hallway of her middle school. It was the end of the day and she was excited to get home as her mom would have her favorite snack waiting for her. She was smiling brightly, seemingly untouched by the cruelty of the world. “Hi Lexis, Hi Lana, Hi Lucy!” She cheerfully greets three older girls who are standing huddled together seemingly whispering to each other. “Hey Riley, come here for a moment please.” Lexis, a young girl with blond hair, sun kissed skin and green eyes says becoming the younger mutant girl over. She had a smile on her face but a cruel look in her eyes.}
{“Yes, Lexis, what is it? Is it a present?” Riley asks, her tail wagging fast in excitement. Lexis and her group were extremely popular so to her getting acknowledged by them was like meeting the president. “Oh yes it's a big present too. You just have to follow us.” Lana the Brunette with brown eyes and pale skin says before nodding to Lucy, an african american girl with black hair done up in dreads. They lead naive little Riley into the school's bathroom, upon entering Riley covers her sensitive nose with a hand like paw. “Why would you guys put a present in the bathroom?” She questions walking past Lana who quietly locks the door.}
I will never forget that day, not even after death will this horrid memory be stripped from my mind.
{The three girls smirk at Riley before reaching into their backpacks and pulling out an electric razor, duct tape and dog nail clippers. The child's eyes widened in fear and she turned to try and run but her exit was blocked and she was thrown to the ground and held down as the three girls tied her up using the duck tape. Her muzzle was even wrapped up so tight it caused her to bleed. One of the girls sat on her back as the other too cut up her fur and trimmed her claws so short it caused her fingers and toes to bleed as well. Riley could be heard screaming in pain but they just cruelly laughed at her.}
I had managed to escape them. I unlocked the door and ran out of the school but I didn't run home I don't know where I ran to, I just did and the next thing I knew I was at an old rail yard. I had managed to get all the remaining duck tape off my arms and legs but the tape around my muzzle was just too tight I couldn't get it off. So, I sat there and cried. I cried and cried and cried till I had no more tears left in me and all I could do was whimper.
{Riley sat huddled under a rusted old rail car whimpering, her body and heart hurt. She thought those girls wanted to be friends but they tricked and hurt her. Then she hears it, the sound of footsteps approaching. She opens her eyes to see a pair of legs but before she could a man crouches down in front of her. “Jesus christ are you ok kid? What am I saying you look worse then Beth In the Yellowstone season three finale “The world is Purple” come here let me help you.” He says she was scared and skeptical but slowly crawled out. He sat down with her and pulled out a knife causing her to flinch.}
{“whoa whoa whoa, easy i'm not gonna hurt you I just want to get the tape off. Will you let me?” He tries to relax her and it works as the child nods her head and he gets to work gently cutting off the tape and carefully pulling it off her muzzle, apologizing everytime she whimpered as it pulled at her fur and skin. After he gets the tape off he pulls out a rag from his pocket and gently wipes away the blood. “There we go, right as rain, and see that you're already healing up.” He says spotting the skin closing over the wounds and scabbing up faster than normal, meaning Riley’s got herself a healing factor.}
He was the first human I had ever met that was kind to me and not passive aggressive or outright cruel. He was nice and while he did not have the best smelling clothes his natural scent brought me comfort. It was similar to my dads but at the same time different. He also had this weird smell, it was faint but still there. It was gross and I didnt like it one bit. It in a way reminded me of the smell of death.
{The man then gently lifts a hand to pet Riley's mane as a means to comfort her while they sat there. “So kid you got a name? Mines Wade, Wade Wilson.” She stares up at him for a moment before crawling into his lap for a hug whispering, “My name is Riley, Riley Sycamore. Can you take me home, I don't wanna be here no more.” Wade hugs her back as he stands lifting her up with him. “Yeah kiddo I can take you home and I want you to hold onto this for me ok, it's got my name and number on it. If whoever did this to you or anyone else gives you trouble I want you to call me and I'll take care of them.” Wade states handing her a piece of paper similar to that of a business card.}
He took me home and my parents thanked him profusely. They even offered to pay him for finding me but he declined. He said it was the right thing to do and that anyone with half a sense of decency would have done it. Then he left and I haven’t seen him since.