Chapter I. A New Start
As war waged between two neighbouring countries, dozens got injured with each passing day. Many would have died if it weren't for the doctors, who tried to save them.
Among the many men, was a woman in her late 20s. With a talent for healing, she sacrificed her years, her peace and her sanity to protect those who fought on the front lines daily and risked their lives for the sake of many.
Many had chosen to call her a madwoman, while others chose instead to call her a saint. She stood next to the bed of injured soldiers, doing her best to help them. Many times, she could not, and all she could offer was to deliver their last words to their loved ones and be there for them; in their final moments when they were truly scared of what awaited them to the other side.
Many people who fought there were young, younger than her on some occasions. They had no choice, choosing to fight for the money the government promised them, which would help their families in need. Others were simply caught during their compulsory training and drafted for the front lines, without even a warning or some better training.
The woman hated war and yet, she did not run from it or her duties. She knew there were casualties from both sides, and while each side fought for their freedom...many times she could not help but wonder if that was true. However, she could not leave behind those men and women, who put their trust in her.
Unlike them, she had no one back home. Raised as an orphan, she pushed herself and managed to join the medical school by the time the orphanage kicked her out. She had planned to focus on civilians alone, but, when a veteran doctor gave a seminar looking for future war doctors...she could not help but sign in.
There were many doctors back in the cities, but few chose to take the risk and go help the soldiers. They had a very good reason to do so, and the woman was reminded of that each time she found the picture of a child or a family in the pocket of a dead soldier.
Many told her she would go to heaven for her good deeds and rest among the Angels, but none told her she would have the chance to be reborn into a new world.
The time of Judgement had arrived, when she was awoken in the middle of the night by the bomb alarm. She had sprung into action, helping wounded soldiers and patients to be loaded in the trucks to escape before it was too late.
The other doctors and nurses had left first but she chose to stay. To stay until everyone was safe in the truck. That was the moment when she was truly judged. When she had managed to help those she wanted, a bomb fell on top of the medical centre.
The explosion took her along, throwing her far away while shrapnel got stuck in her body. Her ears rang, her head started to spin and it was fast when the need for sleep came. When she closed her eyes, she accepted death with open arms but it seemed that the universe had other plans in store for her.
She woke up shouting, hazel eyes wide in terror. Her body was covered in sweat and her short brown hair was sticking to her face. Panting, she felt someone hold her hand. She turned to that someone, seeing a boy no older than 5.
"Are you okay, sister? You were having those nightmares again" the boy asked, his innocent big eyes looking at her.
His 'sister' blinked twice, her mind trying to comprehend what was going on. Taking a look at herself, she realised she was in the body of a child...and she had a brother.
"Yes..I...think so..." she said uncertainly, not sure what to reply to him.
The 8-year-old girl had memories of someone else, who was supposed to be dead. No....the memories of a person, who had just died. Yet, here she was. As if life was not over with her yet.
The funniest thing of all? She did not even believe in reincarnation.
The woman had reincarnated into the body of a young girl, named Melinda Xavier. She was adopted by a kind and rich family when they found her starving on the side of the road, in a war-affected city. Being almost the same age as their only son, the kind couple took her in.
Merely a year later the kind people perished, on a day that would forever haunt both kids; especially their true Son, Charles. The days that followed after, made Melinda protective of her new younger brother.
All those questions she had about her past and her new life, were long forced to the back of her head as she focused on looking after him. More questions would soon take their place, as both kids started to develop unique abilities.
Charles, along with his high IQ, had the gift of telepathy. Capable of not only reading one's thoughts but also controlling their mind. Melinda, on the other hand, got the gift of healing. Capable of accelerating the process of her cells, she could heal herself and others either with direct contact or blood transfusion.
Melinda found it ironic, considering the dreams she had of her previous life. Charles got glimpses of them, wanting to help her but all he concluded was the fact that she had memories of her old life.
The years passed and the two mutant kids, as Charles called them, grew. The memories Melinda had slowly got replaced by new ones and any thoughts or ideas about her past life had almost fully been forgotten. On rare occasions, she would have dreams about them.
The two siblings had become three when an unusual visitor entered their lives while they were still young.
It was a rainy night, the wind blew against the windows of the Xavier manor. The two kids residing there were awoken, by the sound coming from the kitchen downstairs.
Equipped with some bravery and the powers of Charles, the two kids made their way down the stairs and stopped by the open door of the kitchen. The fridge was open and a woman was seen bending in front of it, searching for something.
"Mom?" Charles asked, recognising the woman in the expensive dress and short black heels.
"Oh, did I wake you up, honey?" The woman asked in a very sweet voice, looking at them. "I was just making something to eat. Go back to sleep"
Melinda and Charles exchanged a look, a mental discussion between them taking place. They looked back at the woman, who waited for them to leave.
"I will make you your favourite toast" she tried again but failed.
That was when Charles had enough. Using his abilities, he entered the woman's mind.
'My mother is dead. Who are you? Reveal yourself.'
Still not in full control of his powers, his voice boomed louder inside the woman's head, startling her.
Melinda pushed her brother behind her, ready to protect him even though her powers were not offensive. To their surprise, the woman transformed back into a young child.
Blue skin, bright yellow eyes and a patch of reddish-orange hair. The child, being around their age, was clearly afraid and based on what Melinda had noticed...hungry.
Lowering their guard, the two siblings approached.
"Don't be scared. We will not harm you" Melinda said in a soothing tone since Charles might have scared the poor child.
"Are you hungry?" The boy asked. "Take whatever you want from the fridge. We don't need it" Then, an idea came into his mind. "There will be no need. Cause you will not have to feel hungry ever again"
Years now later, the three of them have come closer than ever. Raven chose not to study anything and simply worked on her abilities, keeping a more human appearance.
Charles went to chase his doctorate in Genetics, wanting to find out more about mutants and what made them special.
Melinda chose to go back to medical school once again. Since her abilities worked with healing, she dedicated herself to learning the details of how everything healed, the anatomy she had to know and different knowledge to be able to help someone without exposing her gift.
Now, when everything seemed perfect, their first test was just around the corner...