• [Written for the Gaian community by IloAthe you too] [Theme Song: At The Same Time by I Am Jen]


    Becoming North-Star

    [Part One – Awakening]


    As usual back then I awoke from the smell of burning. I fought to open my eyes, my room was very bare and cold. As most things were with our family. The sun was still as bright as if it were midday, here in Montreal the sun shines for months on end. Snowfall blinded the view out the large window just behind my bed. My body ached, but I had to force myself to sit up, and finally leave the warmth of the sheets. I stumbled down the hall in a state of half-awakening, The wind shook our house violently. The burning smell grew stronger as I entered the sitting room. I looked expectedly at the dark and cold fireplace; guess the smell was coming from someplace else, that got me worried. I scanned the whole house from where I was standing, it seemed foreign and uneasy, a clock in the kitchen shone 3:42 in bright neon green. The storm was growing now, I could hear a loud crash from outside the doorway. Things were definitely being destroyed out there. I concluded that it was just the lingering smell of smoke leftover after the fire had died. I collapsed onto the couch and looked at the ceiling for some time, I hadn't realized it but I fell asleep shortly after. Another hour had past until I would be again wakened by my sister, who let out a scream that echoed down the hall. I ran as fast as I could to her room. I pounded at her door. She always kept it locked, a sort of a mussel memory after fighting with our parents and storming off to her room. “Jeanne are you okay?! Open the door!” I knew she wouldn't hear me. My sister seemed to go into a trance when she slept. I stepped back and tried to kick the door in. At eleven I was still pretty weak. I was determined to break it down. Looking back, it was mostly proving I could still care that drove me. Again I picked up my foot and slammed through the door, splintered wood and pale blue paint chips fell to the floor. I stood there wide eyed, the sheets that were covering her held smoke that was raising from the bed, I could see the heated air rushing up to the ceiling . I could not fathom what was happening. Her eyes were bulging and white, her mouth was opened wide as she let out choking gasps. She started to convulse and her skin was glowing, it seemed to get brighter and brighter. Her skin was igniting in flames! I couldn't think of what to do. I finally thought to rip the clothes down from her closet and try to smother the flames. The plastic straps of her bras and shirts were melting to her, the cotton sweaters and jeans was bursting into flames as they touched her. The room was an inferno now, the light emitting from her was blinding. I screamed as loud as I could; “STOP IT!” Suddenly I could see the light stretching out toward me, like a bomb, I put my hands up instinctively, I could see the flames between my fingers. There was eminence heat and a powerful blast that threw me back against the wall, I smashed into it with a loud crash. My arm had broken and I had lost consciousness. I woke for the third time that day with my sister huddled over me, cradling my head, tears running down her face. She was unscaved as if nothing had happened. That was the first time I experienced how powerful and uncontrollable a mutant could be.

    [Stay Tuned for Part Two: The Power]