X-Men
The New Batch
Reemergence
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The sun that streamed in through the window made his skin itch. He slumped onto the floor and grabbed a remote off the table in front of him, aimed it at the large window and hit a button. Blinds came down and cut off the light.
"Much better," he thought, "Still, maybe I should see a doctor and find out what's wrong with me like Katie suggested."
Dorian Chambers sprawled on the soft carpet in front of the couch he had previously been lounging in. He ran a hand through his disheveled black hair then pushed himself up onto his knees. The penthouse in which he lived was now bathed in a dull gloom that brought a smile to his face.
It had been several weeks since he had started to notice that direct light was bothering him. A day or two after that he'd realized that it was actually sunlight that made him feel uncomfortable. Since then, any contact with sunlight had made him feel itchy and nauseous, and it had only been getting worse.
His friend Katie, the only person his age he'd ever had any real contact with, had even sided with him against his father when he had asked to stay behind at home instead of accompanying him on his business trip to New York.
"Katie..."
Dorian stretched and got to his feet. He grabbed the remote and began to move around the penthouse hitting the button again and again for each room. Once the blinds in a room were closed he dusted and vacuumed. Cleaning the penthouse in place of the cleaning staff had been a part of the agreement between him and his father that allowed him to stay home.
Finally reaching the bathroom, Dorian gazed into the mirror and again ran his hand through his hair. His once wavy hair had become flat and messy since the sun had begun affecting him in such an odd way.
"Argghh, damnit!," Dorian hit the button on the remote and closed the blinds in the bathroom. "Of course I forget that one," he grumbled as he pulled his hand away from the diminishing light.
Turning his attention back to the mirror he leaned in for a closer inspection. His eyes were hazy and, to his alarm, he noticed a few grey hairs in his bangs.
"And to top it off, I'm going grey at fourteen. Fantastic."
Noticing his watch in his reflection from the mirror, Dorian checked the time and instantly forgot about his premature grey hair. His father was due back from his trip in less than twenty minutes, and as another of the conditions of not going with him, Dorian was to meet him in the lobby of the building when he arrived back.
Running into his room Dorian ripped off his shirt, grabbed the freshly pressed one that had he had ironed himself two days earlier, and forced his arms into the sleeves. Stuffing the bottom of the shirt into his pants and pulling a belt on he dashed from room to room again to open all the blinds he had closed while he was cleaning.
Checking his watch again he carefully tossed the remote onto a couch and made for the door of the penthouse.
"Arghgh!," a yelp of pain escaped Dorian as he passed by a window on the way to the door. Grabbing the side of his face the light had touched did nothing to help as his hand was now in the light. Dorian fell forward onto the floor as the door opened.
Scrambling to get away from the window Dorian looked up in shock as a girl with long blonde hair rushed to his side. With a quick glance at him and then at the window, the girl moved to position herself between his crumpled form and the cause of his pain.
"Dorian! Are you okay?," her look of worry made him feel a bit better, though his hand and face still ached.
"Yeah, I think so. But, Katie, my dad will be in the lobby any minute, I have to get down there to meet him."
"Hrrrm," Katie clearly was not thrilled at the idea of allowing him to go, but she knew Dorian and his father too well to argue, "Fine. Here, take my hand and let's get you up."
Dorian grasped the hand she offered and pulled himself up.
"Are you sure you're okay?," questioned Katie, "I can go down and tell your dad you're not feeling well?"
"No, I said I'd meet him."
Katie turned and exited the penthouse with Dorian on her heels. He closed the door to the penthouse and they both started down the hallway towards the elevator. There were no windows in this hall, much to Dorian's appreciation. When the light had touched his face and then his hand it felt like he had been burned.
His expression must have given away his thoughts as Katie stepped closer to him and put her arm around him.
"Dorian. You didn't go to see anyone about this did you?," her question cut through him almost as sharply as the sunlight had.
"No. I had planned on it, but I -"
"What am I going to do with you?"
Katie Lancaster had been Dorian's one and only friend for the better part of his life. Usually quite airy and easy-going, when she did get mad she was like a force of nature unto herself. It had been Katie who had talked his father into letting him stay home during his father's business trip. His father, a force to be reckoned with himself, had quickly buckled under the pressure of her explanations of how sick Dorian may actually be, and that he may get worse if forced to travel.
Dorian glanced at his friend as she ushered him down the hallway towards the elevator. Her blonde hair was swept back in its usual wind-blown style as if she had been moving very fast or had been struck with a gale force wind. Her cerulean eyes were aflame, her nose scrunched and her lips curled into a scowl of derision at having found him in such a state. He smiled in spite of himself.
They got onto the elevator and Katie pressed the button labled 'Lobby.' Dorian settled himself against the back wall and she turned to face him.
"What are you smiling about?," she threw at him. He realized only too late that he still had a grin on his face.
"I don't know. Feeling better I guess. Thanks for helping me back there," Dorian responded and then rebounded on her "but, what are you doing here in the first place?"
Katie's anger subsided instantly, changing into obvious embarassment, evidenced by her pale cheeks filling with colour.
"I just thought I'd come check on you. I forgot your dad was scheduled to return today." Katie looked everywhere in the elevator, everywhere except at Dorian, before continuing. "That's beside the point! Why haven't you gone to see anyone?! I told you to do that weeks ago, and now your dad's coming back and you still haven't done it. It looks like you're just getting worse and then I come to see you and I find you collapsed on the floor and all I can think is -"
Dorian noticed her eyes become watery and then the fire he had seen earlier sprung back into life. He knew what that meant, but was too slow on the uptake. Katie's fist hit him on his right shoulder, hard.
"If you thought the sunlight hurt you, remember what I can do to you."
Since they had been eight years old they had been like this. They had always looked out for one another, though it was usually her standing up for him, even if it meant it was against him in better judgement. As they had grown older her defence had usually come with a punch to the arm, though he had done his fair share of returning the favour. Now they were both set to go to high school and as much as things had stayed the same, Dorian had started to notice that things were changing. Katie had become somewhat more protective, more impulsive in her visits. He didn't mind. She was his best friend and nothing could change that.
Katie had calmed down by the time the elevator reached the lobby and Dorian followed her out of the small compartment. The lobby was lined with white marble walls and counters at the front entrance, while the floors were a mix of gold and green checkered marble. Dorian noticed that a limo sat idle outside and watched as a doorman moved toward it. Surpassing Katie in stride, Dorian made his way across the lobby and, forgetting the last several minutes, walked out the doors and straight towards the limo.
A tall brown-haired man stepped out of the limo as the doorman held the vehicle's door open for him. Sandford Chambers was a man of average height and build with a constant relaxed expression and a wandering eye. However, his eyes were fixed on the scene in front of him and were held wide with disbelief and horror.
Dorian had exited the building intent on greeting his father as he had promised, and had inadvertantly stepped out into direct sunlight. The pain that wracked him made it feel like he was on fire. He was on his knees within seconds and then onto his side, writhing on the sidewalk.
Katie ran from the building, yelling Dorian's name. Noticing his father standing there she called out to him.
"Mr. Chambers! Help me get him inside! You -," she demanded of the doorman who, like Dorian's father, merely stood there in awe, "Pick him up and-"
Katie was cut off by her own shock at what lay in front of her and the two men. Dorian's hair had turned slate grey, his skin had become a deeper black than obsidian and when he writhed his eyes opened to reveal that they too, had become black, with vivid yellow irises.
"Dorian!" Shouted Mr. Chambers and Katie in unison as black tendrils spread out from all around him as he flailed on the ground. Katie attempted to place her hand on him to help him in some way, but quickly drew back as the darkness that seemed to be leaking from him reached toward the shadow provided by the awning of the building. Dorian, without even attempting it, seemed to be being drawn toward the shadow and pulled closer to it by the tendrils that streamed out from him.
"Dorian?!"
Las Vegas, Nevada
It wasn't just another day to make people laugh or scream, it was picture day.
Laticia De Soto smiled as she rolled over in her bed thinking about the scheme she'd been planning for weeks. Pulling faces during the pictures was childish, she mused, especially since she had done just that for the last few years. Her plan this year was going to be epic, she had even coerced several of her classmates into joining in just to make things even better.
Jarret was on duty to bring and release his pet tarantula Mikey, Sarah was going to wear the skirt she had altered to be able to tear away. The twins, Yvette and Harold, were going to sneak in Halloween masks and Paul was set to flip-off the teacher.
Her friends had some creativity to them thought Laticia as she snuggled her pillow and chuckled softly to herself. Sadly they would all be put to shame when her masterpiece was unveiled. Laticia went through her plan again for what was probably the hundrenth time.
The night before, unbeknownest to her parents, she had dyed her hair in streaks of various colours. To be able to leave the house and attend school she had purchased a wig that matched her natural hair colour perfectly. She opened her eyes and spied the wig sitting on her dresser on the opposite side of her room and began to chuckle again. Beside the wig sat her school bag, filled with mascara, dark eyeliner and a pair of upside-down cross earrings. To accompany the makeup and earrings, Laticia had also delved into her birthday money and bought a low-cut white top, a push-up bra and a pair of stockings from the new clothing store 'Unholy Outfitters.'
A loud buzz informed her that it was time to begin her day of mayhem. Laticia bounded out of her bed, snagged her bag and wig off her dresser and dashed into the adjoining bathroom. Her reflection in the mirror made her drop her belongings. She stared at the mirror and gaped at what looked back at her.
Her tan skin had changed to resemble light grey stone and her dark brown eyes had become pure white. Her newly dyed hair had turned into a rainbow of spikey crystals running from her brow, along the crown of her head and ended, dangling just above her shoulders.
Laticia realized her mouth was hanging open so she closed it. She tentatively raised her hand and brushed several of the crystal strands that had, the night before, been her hair, and she heard a slight tinkling sound as they hit one another.
A large smirk spread across her face as the contents of her school bag were forgotton. She moved back from the mirror to fit more of herself in its frame and gave herself a once-over.
"Everyone is going to freak." Laticia declared with a chuckle. "Happy picture day."
London, England
Two months had elapsed since Kafele had been home. Visiting Egypt with his mother on her business trips was always exciting, but having been gone so long, he was looking forward to seeing his step-brother and getting ready for school.
He enjoyed his visits to his home country, though he had felt like a tourist from time to time. Kafele took pride in his nationality, especially its history. The pyramids, temples and other architecture of the ancients had always fascinated him. The current political predicament on the other hand, was not as interesting, though it had forced his mother's most recent trip to become extended. Kafele had refocused his annoyance at this towards spending more time revisiting the museums and landmarks he had been to countless times before.
Though he had been born to the heat, the sun and sand of Egypt, Kafele always liked returning to England's grey skies and rolling green hills. After spending so much time away he was thrilled to be back.
The flight had been pleasant, except for a bit of turbulence from time to time, but that was to be expected of such a long flight. Kafele sat quietly as the plane taxied closer to the main building. He could just make out a foreign affairs vehicle idling on the strip, waiting for his mother. When the plane had come to a stop Kafele remained in his seat, always the respectable son of the ambassador, as several other delegates disembarked.
Finally able to move, Kafele moved quickly towards the open door. The breeze that rifled through his hair when he stepped dow onto the tarmac was cool and refreshing. He had missed this. Turning, he waited for his mother to come down the short flight of steps and move towards the car before making his way over to it as well.
"Did you have a good flight Ms. Burrage?," asked the driver as he helped Kafele's mother into the vehicle as another man loaded the luggage into the trunk.
"It was fine. Thank you."
His mother was always serious when they went away. She knew when to put on her business face, Kafele knew, but she also knew when to take it back off.
After settling into the back of the car she turned to him and the smile he had not seen in almost two months flashed onto her face. The ambassador was gone and his mother had returned.
"It's good to be back, isn't it?," her smile spread across her face, making her dark brown eyes light up.
"It is," Kafele acknowledged, "It's a shame that Greg and Nathan couldn't come to pick us up though."
"Well, you know how the office is - 'your job isn't over 'til blah blah blah...," his mother stuck out her tongue and made a face that made him chuckle.
"Speaking of them, Greg and I have dinner plans tonight, so you and Nathan will have the house to yourselves."
His mother's voice echoed in his head. What happened next he couldn't quite remember, except that there was a sound of a sudden intake of air and then a blinding white light.
Whatever was under him was cool and hard, like metal. His head swam and his jaw ached. Opening his eyes he realized that he was covered with a white sheet. He swung his feet to the side and ripped away the sheet.
It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dark before he realized where he was. There was one other metallic table beside the one he had been on. He forced himself not to think about what was under the sheet on that table.
Kafele fumbled towards a wall and found a light switch. The shock of where he was made his heart stop.
"A morgue!," he whispered, grabbing his chest, "I'm in a morgue, and over there is a..."
He inhaled and exhaled several times, willing his body to compose itself. It was easier than he thought it would be. Kafele opened his eyes and blinked.
"If I'm in a morgue than that light must have been...," his throughts trailed off, "then why am I still - oh my."
Kafele held up his hands, then looked down at his bare chest and legs. Calmly he moved over to the table he had awoken on and looked at his reflection in the metal surface. His skin was a dim grey-ish green and in places looked as if it were about to peel off. His always neat hair now featured several spikey tufts and he had dark bags under his eyes. He also noticed that he was quite a bit slimmer than he remembered being.
"So am I dead?," Kafele wondered aloud, "Or am I some kind of zombie, or -"
An idea hit him suddenly that made him forget his previous line of thought. He walked towards the door and grabbed a spare labcoat that was hanging from a post on the wall. Pulling his arms into the sleeves and closing the coat to hide his nakedness, Kafele looked back one last time at the other table and left the room.
"Farewell mother."
Chicago, Illinois
The breeze whipped her hair around and forced her to hold her skirt down.
Several of the other girls stared at her from the tennis courts.
"Look!," exclaimed one girl, as she pointed over at Elise, "She's doing it again!"
"Ha. She's talking to her imaginary friends," said another.
Elise Roberts stood amongst several trees on the edge of the school property, her usual spot during lunch. She enjoyed her time there, it was a small little corner of the world that belonged just to her. Her and her 'imaginary friends.'
Kenneth Dawkins sat on the branch of one of the large oaks looking down at Elise, his ruffled shirt and pants staying still as another large gust of wind entered the area.
"Why don't you just tell them the truth Ellie?"
"What, tell them I'm talking to people they can't see? Or should I tell them I see dead people?"
Elise glared up at Kenneth as he continued to sit on his high perch, a slight yellowish glow emanating from him. She turned as yet another gust of wind began to circle and looked down to the older girl who sat cross-legged in front of her, a violet glow pulsing around her.
"No, Kenny. They'd just think she's crazy. I mean, even we thought she was crazy when she first started talking to us."
"Exactly. They already think I'm weird, telling them I talk to ghosts, especially since when one of them is my sister," Elise agreed, "Besides I don't care to explain myself to those stuck-up girls anyway.
Sasha Roberts got up and moved to stand beside her younger sister. The sisters looked almost identical, the same wavy auburn hair, the same dark brown eyes, even the same build. Their differences were just as evident however. Sasha was semi-transparent and was always surrounded by the violet glow that offset her from her younger sister.
Elise had figured that the glow of her sister, and that of Kenneth, meant something about their personality, or maybe how they had died. Her ideas were not founded though, as she herself admitted, since she had only been in contact with Kenneth and her sister. Without understanding how they were able to communicate with each other, Elise had decided to simply call them 'ghosts,' which had been agreed upon via concensus.
"Fine," responded Kenneth, "But it is no good for young ladies to squabble like this. At least let me have some fun with them?"
Kenneth's yellow glow intensified as he dropped himself from the tree to land just off of the dark green grass. He caught Sasha's eye, then looked to Elise with a sad, yearning look on his face.
Elise closed her eyes. She could feel both her sister and Kenneth staring at her.
Sasha had been four years older than Elise before she had died two years previous in a car crash. Elise had not been the same without her sister. She had become quiet, isolated, and had barely spoken to anyone outside her family. The few friends she had had disappeared when Elise had entered high school. A few months later, while studying for a test, Elise discovered that if she concentrated on certain ideas long enough she could see people who had some connection to her subject of choice. Kenneth had been the first person she had met in this way. The test she had been studying for was for history, primarily the American Revolution. It had been a shock to both Elise and Kenneth when he simply appeared standing next to her as she poured over her textbooks.
Being so removed from everything, Elise had dubbed Kenneth a ghost due to his sudden appearance. The fact that he was dressed like he was from the 1700s and that he had the odd yellow glow about him did little to deter this notion. The two spoke at length, late into the night. The next day Elise realized that Kenneth was gone, but, after concentrating on his visage, he appeared again. The both of them decided to become friends, leaving their age difference, and their living status out of the equation. Weeks passed as the two disovered new things about their relationship. Kenneth found that he could pass through objects, but could, if Elise concentrated on something in particular, could touch or even move it.
It had been Kenneth's idea for Elise to attempt to seek out Sasha. After several failed attempts Elise finally managed the feat after focusing on several pictures of her sister, along with the keepsack necklace she had given Elise for her birthday years before.
Elise opened her eyes, a look of devilish motivation filling them.
"Alright. What did you have in mind Kenny?"
"Oh, you know, a random rush of wind, from the opposite direction. And, if Sasha would care to lend a hand, mayhaps a wee bit of haunting?"
"Fine," Sasha sighed with a brief look of exasperation, "I'll suppose you were going to lift up their skirts with that 'random rush of wind'? What should I do, grab a couple of rackets and toss them into the air and make a 'OoooOOoo' sound?"
"All perfect ideas."
Sasha's eyes narrowed into an appreciative look at the plan. Elise looked at Kenneth and smiled.
"Let's go!"
The two ghosts moved off towards the group of girls who still stood talking and laughing near the tennis courts. It was soon to be Elise's turn to laugh as her sister and friend approached them. Elise began to concentrate on Kenneth and the girls' skirts, while at the same time picturing her sister's face combined with a pair of tennis rackets.
"This is sure to be fun," Elise thought. As she concentrated harder and harder the whites of her eyes turned black, while her irises changed to a bright blue on the right and an emerald green on the left.