Thunder & Lightning: We're all leaves in a hurricane. (Gifted) (2 page)

After debating the validity of the action to death, Ned finally gave in and agreed that I should go and pick up my belongings before Dr. Michaels rifled through them. When I got to the apartment, I was displeased to find the door ajar.

Chace went in first to check the place out. As he looked around, so did
I. I lived on the top floor of the building. Thank God for elevators. The apartment was small but it was a work of art to me. I had painted it upon moving in two years ago. The color was something like Aboriginal Gold. It was also wall-to-wall hard wood flooring. There was no room difference in my kitchen and the living room, just a few islands. The hallway led to my bedroom and a bathroom, of which was very small. But it was home.

Living on the top floor, I was able to have a fireplace and inside that fireplace I kept some personal effects. I quickly pulled the box from out of the soot and pulled it open.

As I rifled through what little money I had and other personal things, I found a picture of my late mother. She was killed two years ago, right after my powers emerged. I stared at the picture. Her brown skin the same color as mine and her beautiful features, most of which I had inherited.

“No one’s—Am I interrupting?” Chace said behind me.

I ran my fingers over the picture and pushed it into my pocket, “No.” I said quickly.

“The photograph is what you came for.”

“It’s the only thing I really have left of her.” I said quickly. I flashed the cash, “That and I’m low on funds.”

I walked past him into the bedroom. Chace followed me and watched as I moved to the closet and pulled out a duffle bag. Inside were clothes I packed just in case whoever killed my mother came after me. Luckily, or probably unluckily, I was right.

“You know, I’m actually relieved.” I said causing him to stare at me, “I felt sort of alone. Before the accident, I wasn’t sure if I was the only one.”

“You’re not.”

“Obviously.”

“We need to stick together.” He said, “We’re all we have.”

“Are we?” I asked, “I’ve seen this before. We rally, we fight…then what? We gain acceptance?”

“No. If you ask me, we will never gain acceptance.”

“Something
Magneto
would say.” I frowned.

“I don’t know whether that honors me or if it offends me.” He chuckled. Within a second, his laughter stopped, “Someone’s here.”

I felt…heat. Something or someone was here, but it was the police nor was it a regular human. The heat it was projecting warned me of that. I could feel the heat on my skin, as if whoever it was stood right next to me.

I grabbed my duffle bag and headed out into the living room with Chace at my heels. As we entered the living room, I took notice of two people standing in front of the exit.

One of them was a woman with a very revealing black leather corset and matching leather pants. She had long, dark hair down to the middle of her back in a ponytail. The other was a male wearing a flamed vest and dark red leather pants with flames dancing on the side of them. His orange hair was spiked and he wore a pair of matching goggles.

“I’m really not in the mood for entertaining.” I said slowly.

“It’s alright, dearie, we’ve come to entertain you.” The woman, Clap, said.

“Clap,
Sunshard…” Chace said.

“Polar.”
Sunshard said, cracking his knuckles, “Fancy meeting you here.”

“Not really, as I’m sure you have an agenda.” Chace said.

I could feel the magnetic field being toyed with, just like I could feel the heat in the apartment being turned up. I was sure about two things: One, Sunshard was a firestarter and Two, they worked for Dr. Michaels. The only missing piece of the puzzle that I couldn’t identify was:

“You start fires…what do you do?” I asked, addressing Clap.

“You’re about to find out.” She smirked.

With a swift movement, she brought her hand forward in very loud clap that knocked
Polar
back against the window pane, breaking the glass inside. He fell to the ground, with glass falling beside him, and lay there, unmoving.

“Is there something the matter, dear?” Clap asked.

I began to walk towards Polar when I felt the heat rise again. I looked over to the two intruders and frowned at them.

“Get out.” I said angrily.

“We can’t do that.” Sunshard said as he inched closer.

“One more tiny step and I’ll blow you back to wherever you came from.” I said angrily.

He took another step.

“I warned you. You will feel the power wrath of the elements.” I said hovering slightly off the ground. I lifted my hands to them causing wind to swirl through the window and pin them against the wall, “You control but one element, I control nature itself!”

As they tried to wiggle out of my grasp, I felt the temperature drop in the room but mixed with the high temperature, it created steam. A rookie mistake on my part. While the room aired out I took the time to go to Polar and check him out, even trying to coax him awake.

When I realized I couldn’t coax him awake, I found myself trying to pick him up. I dropped him as I smelled smoke and turned to see that the better part of my apartment was beginning to light a flame. The fire spread fast, as if it had a mind of its own.

The exit was blocked by flames and I could see that the flames had taken on the form of a giant snake and were slithering towards me. I turned to the window and raised my hands causing a strike of lightning to shatter every window in the apartment. Next came the wind and it whipped into the room extinguishing the flames leading to the door.

As I dragged Polar out of the door, I felt the strangest sensation of being watched. I ignored the sensation and pulled him to the stairs and to the next landing downstairs as an explosion rocked the building to its foundation.

Leaving Polar, who was stirring, next to the stairs, I headed back into the apartment to see that the flames were no longer there. All of my belongings were burnt to a crisp and there stood a hole facing out onto the street where the explosion had disintegrated the wall. I could hear sirens in the off and turned to see Polar standing at the doorway.

“I believe it’s time to go.” He said as he left the doorway.

I gave the apartment one more look before turning and leaving through the doorless entrance.

When we got back, I went to take a shower and left Chace in the med bay with Erin and Ned. When I returned, he was sitting on the edge of a slab, holding the back of his head. They’d apparently stitched up his cuts and wiped away the blood. I stood at the door, unable to think of anything to say beyond ‘hi’.

Maybe it was because he was shirtless.

I took a step forward, alerting him to my presence and asked, “How are you?”

“I’ve been better. Are you alright?” Chace asked.

“I’m fine, Polar.” I smiled.

Chace chuckled, “Yes, well, I guess you’ve figured out my name.” He nodded.

“I did.” I said walking over and standing in front of him, “It’s a nice name.”

“I should thank you…for saving me.”

“You saved me. I think it’s the least that I can do.” I said softly.

For a second we just stared at each other. It was the moment I knew that there was more between us than just gratitude. I was attracted to him. It’s a bad idea. I had to put it out of my mind.

“Is your picture still intact?” He asked, breaking the silence.

I pulled it out and handed it to him, “It is.” I smiled.

“This is her? She’s quite stunning.” He said handing it back, “How—
How long ago did she die?”

“Two years.” I said softly. I had gotten lost in my th
oughts when I looked back at him, “It was unexpected, I guess. She was a hard-working woman. Raised me without a father. For someone to murder her…”

“Did they ever catch the murderer?”

“No.” I said simply.

“Did they have any suspects?” He asked. I looked up at him but he frowned, “I mean, with the situation being what it is…have you ever considered that Samuel had her killed?”

I stared at him, “That—What? I just met him.” I said quickly.

“Are you sure?” Chace asked. He folded his arms, “Well, maybe I’m wrong.”

I gave a polite smile and nodded.

“My parents were murdered also.” He said quickly, “It was a different…”

I could see the hurt flash across his face and I felt for him. It must have felt like it was just yesterday to him. I moved beside him and sat next to him on the slab. I moved my hand slowly on top of his and gave a nervous smile.

“Doesn’t get better, does it?” I waited for him to move his hand but he never did.

Instead, he shook his head and I thought it best to be very quiet. The silence felt better than talking, not that talking to him was excruciating. I just felt more at ease right now. I stood up and walked over to the door, staring back at him. He seemed so strong but underneath that was pain and hurt.

I turned to walk away when I bumped into Ned. He was quiet as he searched my face. I didn’t have to be a telepath to know that he was searching my mind. I stared at him indignantly and he threw his hands up.

“I was not…I was testing a theory.” Ned said quickly, “Your mind is complex, more complex than any I’ve seen. I can read your mind only with great fervor.”

“What’s that mean?” I asked.

“You have a remarkable will.” Ned said, “Your mind is strong. It is this that makes you even more valuable.”

“I’m not a weapon.” I spat.

“I’m sorry, I seem to be saying the wrong things.”

“Sorry, I just…I’m not used to being appraised.” I chortled.

“I don’t need to be a telepath to know, to see, the attraction between you and Chace.” He said.

My cheeks began to burn with embarrassment. I stared at the floor, trying to come up with the perfect excuse to use against him. Nothing came to me.

“I must tell you that…like all of us, he has a dark side.”

I nodded.

“His is filled with a greater percentage of darkness and violence than most.” Ned explained, “He wants vengeance more than he wants peace. It will divide us all one day.”

“You think I’m in over my head?” I asked as I folded my arms.

“I think we all are.” He said giving a weak smile.

Without another word, he left me and entered the room. I just kept looking forward as I began walking. He was a telepath and Chace’s best friend, so he’d know better than I would. I only returned to reality when I was at my door.

I remembered the feeling of wanting vengeance, wanting the world to pay. It almost consumed me but I came back. I couldn’t stop asking myself if he was weaker than I was. I wondered if he’d been consumed.

I was awakened out of my sleep by a ringing noise. I jumped out of my bed and ran to the control center to see that Ned, Chace and Erin were already sitting at the table, watching the flat screen.

“Are you guys watching
Game of Thrones
? Did another main character die?” I asked with a frustrated tone.

“No, there is an alert.” Erin said snidely. Chace nudged her and she sighed, “A mute has popped up in at
Forskye High
on Liberty Avenue.”

“Mute? As in mutant?” I asked

“For short.” Ned nodded.

“And
High
as in High School?” I asked.

I received nods from all three of them.

“Why do I even wake up?” I asked. I looked at the screen, “Lemme guess, girl just blossoming and…” I saw vines writhing against the wall of the school, “I’ll be a son of a bitch.”

“Something like that.” Chace smirked. He folded his arms, “The best way to take this would be—”

“Pas and I, obviously.” Ned said.

“I was going to say the same, except with me.” Chace frowned, “We need power. Who knows what’s going on in there? You’re an excellent telepath but your telekinetic exploits leave a lot to be explored.

“I’d like to see you try to talk this poor boy/girl down.” Ned frowned.

I looked to Erin, “Are they usually like this?” I asked.

“No.” She said walking to the computer, “Reports are coming in that most of the children have been evacuated, though there are quite a few still inside. One of the labs could not be evacuated in time.”

“We don’t have time to waste.” I said angrily turning to Ned and Chace, “He’s right.”

They both looked at me quizzically. I realized how ambiguous my statement was and corrected myself.

“Ned is going.” I said quickly.

Chace’s face morphed into something that seemed a little hurt. His expression hit a cord in me and I had to explain.

“I need someone with a level head. You are decidedly not a level-headed person.” I walked over to Erin, “Can you please talk some sense into them?”

“Men.” She sighed.

“Fine. I’ll watch.” Chace said as he left the room.

“Why do I suddenly feel bad?” I asked as I followed Chace.

He stopped a few feet away from me and turned, “Be careful.” Was all he said before he turned and left
again.

I ran my hand through my hair and turned, walking back to the command center.

Ned and I made our way into the school under guise of firefighters, thanks wholly to his telepathy. Once inside, we were shocked to see that the whole interior was being crushed beneath great vines.

Along with the vines were hanging moss, some funky smelling pods and other unidentifiable ooze. I cursed as I stepped into the goo and Ned pulled me out of it. As we made our way down the long hallway, I saw that something was starting to affect Ned.

“Are you alright?” I asked as we kept walking.

“I can feel her. She’s in the basement.” He said quickly, “But our first priority should be the students.”

“Ah, high school. Hell in a bottle.” I frowned.

“You didn’t like High School?” He asked, “I would imagine you would love it, Pas.”

“Don’t let the
witty
fool you.” I said quickly, “I definitely hated high school.”

“I was somewhat of a lothario.”

“Lothario?” I asked, “You?”

“England is a different place. There’s less pressure to be
American
.”

“Does that really make sense?” I asked.

Ned laughed, “No, I guess not. But you do understand?” he asked.

I nodded. As I took a step, I felt something was wrong. I turned to see Ned kneeling. I walked over to him and asked him if he was alright but he was babbling about something. He kept me at arm’s length.

It was then that I saw along the walls that the vines were coming to life and taking the shape of humungous men. I frowned to myself and knelt down to Ned, telling him about our problem, but he was still in his own world. The girl was really getting to him. He kept saying how scared she was.

“Good thing I’m a pack rat.” I said reaching into my waistband and pulling out the pistol Chace had given me when we first met.

I clicked the ammunition in as the Titans detached from the wall. The Titan’s had to be around seven foot tall and were made of vines. I took aim and fired a few shots, causing chunks to blow off the titans, to which they began to grow back.

“OUCH!” Ned screamed.

“You’ve got to be kidding!” I sighed.

Apparently, when I hurt the plants, I hurt the girl and when I hurt the girl, I hurt Ned.
I thanked God for those self-defense classes now. There were currently three Titans in my way and I could see past the Titans, seeing heads popped out of an open door.

“Get back inside!” I shouted.

The Titans turned to the door and I ran over to try and grab one but he swatted me away like a bug. I could feel lightning crackle between my fingers as I stood. The problem was that the windows were blockaded by vines. As I stood, I tried to think of a way to get their attention or take them down.

And finally it came to me.

The air grew arid and dry as the temperature dropped degree after degree. I began walking forward towards them. They’d made it to the room and pulled a girl out of the class. They were standing over her, ready to pounce when they stopped.

I could see my breath in the air. They could feel the cold. I felt as if I was in the middle of a storm, ready to let loose and the cold just kept on coming. Ice began to creep down the hall towards them until it was upon them.

As the cold touched them, they began to freeze solid. As I made it to them, they buckled and broke into shards.

“Thank you!” The girl shouted.

“What happened here?” I asked.

My voice was as cold as the air around us.

“Misty, that nature freak, was talking to her plants and some of the kids started teasing her and she went all freako on us.”

I looked up at the students, who ducked back into the room.

“You don’t have time for coy. The exit’s clear.” I said watching them file from the classroom and down the hall.

I walked over to Ned and pulled him up.

“Snap out of it!” I said slapping him.

Ned stared at me and seemed to have broken out of whatever psychosis he’d been in.

“Thank you Pas.” He said, “I’m so sorry. Her fear is greater than I anticipated.”

“It’s okay. We need to get the Hell out of here. I’m having a flashback to this 4-H event I went to once.” I said shaking my head as we began towards the basement.

As we mucked through more ooze and spores, I kept staring back at Ned, making sure that he was able to go on. He never missed a step. He seemed to have something to prove and the more I thought about it, the more I realized that he did.

I willingly trusted Ned and Chace, and even Erin, without so much as a question as to why they’re doing it. Maybe they needed my trust more than I needed theirs. Something about them felt so natural though.

“Thank you.” Ned said as he moved hanging moss from in front of us.

“For?”

“Slapping some sense into me. I’m not sure what happened back there.” He explained, “The girl’s emotions are so overwhelming and so…”

“Out of control? Been there.” I nodded, “Let’s not forget what put me in the asylum in the first place.”

“It wasn’t your fault. In fact, I’m sure that it was no accident.”

I stared at him, taking it all in. I was being pursued by an unknown assailant and the next thing I knew, I was at the center of a hurricane so powerful that it could have leveled the city. What if it wasn’t an accident, like Ned proposed? I shook it out of my mind among the vines.

“Is your real name Ned?” I asked.

He chuckled and explained, “No, my full name is Nicholas Eric Dormer. I allow my friends to call me Ned.”

“I like Nick better.” I said quickly.

Ned looked at me with a smile, “Thank God.” He sighed, “Chace felt the need to shorten my name.”

“Somehow, I thought he was a shallow thinker.” I laughed.

We both laughed as we descended another few stairs and headed into a large room. My eyes flickered with disbelief as I saw something that almost seemed too hard to believe. There was a large cocoon surrounded by more vines. There were also Titans forming around it.

“What is that?” I asked.

“It’s her.” Ned said moving forward. I grabbed his arm and he turned to me, “She’s afraid. I’ll need a few moments with her.”

I looked past him and noticed that the Titans were becoming more defined. There were more of them this time, maybe six. I frowned at him and nodded, telling him that he wouldn’t have much time. I pushed my hands opposite of each other, causing the wind to pick up and part the Titans like the Red Sea.

I nodded to Ned and he moved away from me. He quickly made his way to the cocoon and began running his hand over it while holding two fingers from his other hand up to his temple. The Titans began pushing against the air I was holding, causing strain on my powers. With a flick of the risk, I sent all six Titans flying backwards.

I looked on in silence as I watched Ned trying to make contact. He put his hand down and took a step back as the cocoon began to peel back, each folding out like a petal. A noxious gas spray out, causing Ned to fall to the ground as a woman stepped out of the cocoon. The girl was beautiful, but her time in the cocoon had obviously changed her. She was now green…literally. Her skin and hair were green and her eyes matched the rest of her.

I hurried to Ned and knelt down, pulling his head into my lap, “Hey, what’s going on. What do I do?” I asked frantically.

“My cocoon…he interfered and my cocoon and its defenses—“

“What do I do?” I interrupted.

“The only way is that he get
a cure, one only I hold.”

“Okay, give it to him!” I shouted.

She looked at me, obviously not afraid of my strengthening voice. I looked back down at Ned and noticed that the veins in his face were beginning to become prominent and his skinny was turning green and glassy.

“Please.”

“He tried to do something with my mind. He violated me.” She said angrily.

I grimaced, “He was trying to help you! You were so angry and scared that you broadcasted your feelings. He tried to penetrate your mind to calm you.” I explained.

The girl looked at me with a confused expression. Ned began to cough up a green ooze that, frankly, scared the crap out of me. I looked up to her with pleading eyes.

“What’s your name?”

“Your friend…”

“What…is your name?” I said with clenched teeth.

“Abby.”

“Abby, look around. This is a side effect of your powers manifesting. You’re mutating into what can only be described as the most beautiful rose in the garden.” I said quickly, “That being said, I’m sure that you don’t intend on attending high school like this, even though there is nothing wrong with you. This man can help you. There are others like you.”

“Like me, no.” She hissed, “I am nature itself.”

I pulled my hand up, showing her the electricity crackling, “You’re not the only one.” I spat.

“What am I?” She asked.

“A mutant.”

“Like the X-Men?” She asked.

“Yes. Exactly like the X-Men.” I smiled, “Now please help him.
It’s the first step in helping yourself.”

Abby walked over to him and knelt down. She ran her hand through the air, causing a spore trail and picked out one of them. Without warning, she slid the spore against his skin, causing him to jump up, gasping for air.

“Are you alright?” I asked.

“Yes,” He smiled to Abby, “Thanks to you. Both of you.”