“Adeline, I have something to tell you,” Bertille began. The young woman beside her looked over at her curiously, but the curiosity was immediately replaced by concern as Adeline noted the pallor of her older sister’s face. Normally serene and confident, Bertille seemed quite agitated. The girl immediately turned off the television (even though it was in the middle of a very interesting program they both enjoyed) and scooted closer to her sister. “You must promise not to tell anyone! It could… get me… in a lot of trouble if anyone else found out.”

“Have I ever told anyone something you told me not to?” Adeline demanded, sitting up straighter. Though they were four years apart, they had become best friends. Ever since their father had died of a mysterious illness when Adeline was seven, the two of them had become practically inseparable. The suggestion that Adeline would betray her beloved older sister’s confidence after four years of trustworthiness hurt her.

“No, but this is far more serious than what I was doing out so late, Addy,” Bertille explained. Only somewhat mollified by the explanation and use of her pet name, Adeline sat back and waited for the rest of the explanation. “If anyone else knew, things could, no would, be… very bad for me and probably the rest of the family too. I know I can trust you and I need to tell someone.”

“All right.” Bertille sounded so desperate, how could she refuse? She was rewarded by a grateful smile from her sister.

“Well, as you know, I was with Belden last night.” That wasn’t news to Adeline; she had seen his car drive up the night before and it hadn’t come back until that morning. “Last night, we… had sex for the first time,” Bertille announced frankly. Adeline gasped; while she knew what went on behind closed doors between men and women, she had thought better of her sister. The risks had been explained to the 15 year-old so many times! How could she ignore them? What if she got pregnant or sick or…? Belden was 18! He should have known better…

Before she could say a word, Bertille leaned over and placed a finger across Adeline’s lips. “I’m not finished. Please listen! After we were finished, he told me… he told me that he wanted to marry me someday. I was shocked! I hadn’t known he was thinking like that.” She paused and glanced down, trying to muster up the strength to continue. Adeline placed a hand on top of hers, surprised by how warm her sister’s hand felt. “The covers… the covers around me started to heat up... I got out of bed and raced to the bathroom before he would notice.

“I jumped in the shower and turned it on, as cold as it could get. It steamed when it hit me, Addy!” Bertille was practically sobbing and her face was crumpling. “I think… I think I’m one of those mutants we’ve been hearing so much about…” Adeline jumped off the couch and backed away, staring at her sister through eyes wide with horror and disbelief.

Tears flowed down Bertille’s cheeks as she slowly stood and extended her arms to Adeline. “Addy, please don’t run away!” she begged. “I won’t hurt you-“

“You don’t know that!” the younger one replied, glancing wildly around for something to place between her and the… the thing in front of her. Mutants were freaks who used their powers to terrorize humans and get what they wanted, not her intelligent older sister, the darling of her parents. The living room was empty except for the couch. Bertille looked heartbroken.

“I’m the same me, Addy! The same Tilly who lets you stay up past your bedtime when she watches you for an evening, who tells you all her secrets, who takes your side when you are having a discussion with Mother or Gautier…” Slowly, she stepped towards Addy. “It’s still me. Please, please don’t turn on me! Everyone else will when they find out…”

That declaration terrified her. Bertille’s grammar was always so correct; she only used “when” like that if what she was talking about was a certainty. Her older sister looked just as upset as she did. The room had definitely gotten warmer. Adeline took another step back, her eyes never leaving her sister’s face as she backed away before turning and fleeing to the safety of her room. She could hear Bertille sobbing through her closed door.

Adeline merely hugged her knees to her chest and stared blankly at the floor. Her sister was a mutant. She knew what people said about them and she had even agreed with the person who had declared they should all be sent as far away from everyone else as possible. Her stepfather was a good man, but he was also a powerful one; if something like this was to get out, it could drastically affect his future. And her mother… Her mother wouldn’t be able to stand the loss of another loved one.

All she had ever wanted was to be like her big sister. Intelligent, attractive, popular, loved… She didn’t believe she was any of those things. Now, though, her sister had changed drastically and the path she was taking would be one that she couldn’t follow… Unless… Was she a mutant, too?! How would she know? How long would it take to find out?

Bertille came and knocked at her door. “Addy?” Stubbornly, she stared at the doorknob. There was another soft knock, then silence, followed by a sigh as Bertille walked away. At last, Adeline began to sob, mourning for what she had lost and what was to come. Fear for her sister and herself choked her; even if she had wanted to call her sister back, she wouldn’t be able to. She stared at the door, wondering if Bertille’s touch had left a mark on the door.

“It’s not her fault,” she whispered. However, her mind rebelled against the knowledge. Why did she have to know? It was dangerous! What if the staff had been home and overheard or there parents? How was she going to keep this a secret? Would Bertille be able to get control of herself? Was there more she could do? Sick at heart, she crawled under the covers and let tears flow down her cheeks until she fell into a restless sleep plagued by nightmares.