The Hiding Amaranth
Chapter One: Think of Me
"Come on, Emma, we're going to be late" Scott called through Emma's bedroom door. He looked down the hall, to where the stairs were and thought he heard light footsteps, but when he went for a closer look, no one was there. "What ya looking for?" asked the blue, devilish-looking Kurt Wagner. "Kurt!" Scott yelled with surprise and irritation, "you really shouldn't sneak up on people like that, it's very rude".
"Lighten up, Scott" said Kurt "you seem really on-edge, I was just having some fun" he said apologetically.
"Yeah, you're right" replied Scott "I'm just a tad bit annoyed at how long its taking Emma to get ready for the Bayview High Reunion, I really didn't want to be late for it"
Suddenly, the door opened, and Emma stepped into the hallway looking very svelte in a white mermaid dress with matching heels. Her long blond hair was pulled back with a barrette, accentuating her cat-like face. "Sorry I was taking so long, Scott, this make-up doesn't do itself you know. All you have to do is throw on a tux, which looks just perfect on you by the way; I love how it emphasizes your shoulders." Scott turned to say good-bye to Kurt, only to realize that he had vanished once more. The two then linked arms and proceeded through the hall-way and down the sweeping staircase to the grey marble foyer where they met up with Professor Xavier.
"Hey Professor, we shouldn't be out too late", said Scott.
"Ok, but before you go, Scott, be on the look out for anything unusual. I've been sensing a new mutant close by, one with great power. Emma, if you're close to the mutant, I'll let you know".
"Very well then, Charles" replied Emma
"We'll keep our eyes open." said Scott as he and Emma walked out between the heavy, carved, wooden doors. Once they arrived at the school, Scott opened the passenger door of his dark blue Mazda. He helped Emma out, like a "perfect gentlemen" would, and escorted her to the school gym, where the main function was being held.
Once inside, Scott was relieved to know he was early, so he took the time to catch up with some old school-mates and teachers. He forgot completely about the new mutant that the professor had warned him of.
"Everyone please be seated" the principal spoke into the microphone as everyone was sorting themselves into the rows of plastic chairs.
"Welcome back, class of 1997!" The audience applauded "We have arranged a special show for you tonight, featuring some of your class mates and the teaching staff, many of them I am sure you will recognize. Our first act for tonight, a girl I'm sure you all remember, with her trademark dancing, Jessica Palmer!" and out stepped the nimble-bodied brunette, twirling away on the stage.
Scott resigned himself to watch his class mates display their talents and his teachers making fools of themselves.
When the last act was introduced "And now, I would like to introduce your old music and biology teacher to the stage, come out Miss Amaranth Cullen!" announced the principal.
As Miss Cullen walked on stage, Emma whispered to Scott "Wow, she looks really young, she looks like she belongs in the class of '97, not someone who taught them" Scott noticed that she was right, Amaranth Cullen looked not a day older than when he saw her last, 10 years ago.
There was no wrinkle whatsoever on her pale, translucent face, and where she should have started growing gray hair, there was nothing but waves of mahogany-brown.
He listened and watched closely as Miss Cullen sang her somewhat operatic song, with perfect pitch and tone. He had never heard anything like it, it was simply indescribable, so perfect, so beautiful, he wasn't even listening to the words, just the voice singing them.
Then the song ended, Scott sighed as he felt it had ended far too soon and the night carried on, with everyone socializing in the well decorated gymnasium. Balloons were everywhere, confetti was all over the floor, and someone had ended up bringing silly-string to the occasion.
While Scott was chatting away with some of his old friends and teachers, Emma suddenly received a telepathic message from the professor.
Emma, I'm sensing the new mutant not too far from where you are right now, I'm feeling a power-spike - take Scott with you and make sure no one is hurt - hurry Emma dashed to her date's side and said hastily "The professor is sensing a power-spike in the new mutant, and it isn't far from where we are now".
"Ok, did he say in which direction the mutant was? Can you sense it close by?" asked Scott, almost panicking
"No, but it isn't here, otherwise I would have sensed it immediately, I think it's just outside the gym, near the stage entrance, that's where I'm getting a signal from" Emma replied, very quietly.
"Sorry guys, I gotta go" Scott told the people he was conversing with earlier. He and Emma quickly left the gym. They looked to their right, where the stage doors were, and they were horrified to see a man recumbent on the linoleum floor, impaled by what looked like a stake made from a living mass of solid vines, almost wooden in appearance.
"The mutant", said Emma, in a worried tone. "We were too late".
"Don't panic," responded Scott "We'll just have to go back to the mansion and make the Professor aware of the situation; he'll know what to do." They pulled the man off of the stake and laid him on the ground. Scott used his optic blast to cut the vines from their place in the ground, so no one would suspect a mutant. "Call 911, I think he might still be alive, but we have to leave him here for the paramedics, and go now" suggested Scott. Emma called for an ambulance from her cell phone to attend the scene, and then they left quickly to return to the mansion.