Chapter One: The Beginning.
Kai's POV:
Today, I am seeing the movie 'Les Miserables' this evening with Jet. Alice and Cole are tagging along because they have nothing better to do other than lounge around and pickpocket innocent men and women for some extra coins. Jet and Cole had made enough money gambling this week so that we could all see the musical today. Hopefully, they did not piss off the dealers or the other people participating in gambling. That wouldn't end well and we would more likely be forced to move. Again.
We are only moneyless children due to the fact we've all been orphans since birth. Both of our parents, mother and father, gave us up to a local orphanage when we were born. Unfortunately, no one wanted to adopt any of us. We are all genetically enhanced though. Cole can shape-shift into different mammals, reptiles, or insects along with various items; he also is unnaturally strong. Alice has telepathy, empathy, and is extremely agile and quick. All of Jet's five senses are enhanced greatly and he's able to produce beams of ice from his palms. I can only see electromagnetic waves and create and manipulate lightning and air. We do keep our powers hidden though, because the police and government are out to eliminate mutants.
We were walking on the gray sidewalk down Polar Street. It led directly to the small theater located downtown where all the restaurants and shops were. I looked over my shoulder at Alice, who was very close to Cole. She looked small compared to Cole's buff size. She briefly glanced at me, but she began to mumble to Cole again. I guess that is natural now since they are a couple. Jet's ears were slightly angled towards them and I could tell he was listening to their conversation. His hands were stuffed away in his leather jacket's pockets and his eyes were looking straight ahead, analyzing people in front of him. I was going to ask him what Cole and Alice were conversing about, but the theater came into view and my mouth remained shut. We ordered the tickets at the first window-thing and purchased a drink and popcorn.
I had to admit, the movie made me a bit depressed and sad. I heard Alice sniffling behind me at certain parts, especially the during the death scenes, and Cole murmuring comforting words to her. The seats were also very comfy. Even though the volume on the musical was a bit too loud for Jet and I's ears, the theater was overall good. A drink filled halfway with lemonade sat in a cup holder beside me and I decided to leave it. I heard Alice's seat creak loudly as she got up and Cole snickering. Jet rose from his seat and waited for me patiently. People were already leaving the room, talking anxiously.
"Kai. Hurry up please. My legs are nearly asleep and soon I won't be able to walk properly," Alice's petite voice called to me from her position behind Jet and I.
"I'm trying Alice, hold on. Let me fix my coat," I say as I zip up my jacket quickly.
We left the theater at ten. By the time we were outside, people were already leaving in their vans and trucks. We had to take the bus. A gust of wind blew by all of us, making hair whip around my face annoyingly. Alice had her hair up into a bun, so she did not need to worry. The four of us walked across the dark parking lot and waited at one of the bus stops. The street lamps were on by now and we huddled together, trying to remain warm while waiting for the bus. A blue-ish bus pulled up noisily and all of us got on, payed the toll, and took a seat in the back.
I noticed one man in particular in a suit. He looked very peculiar and too rich and fancy to be riding on a run-down bus around this town. I felt Jet barely nudge me. It was a gesture that meant 'danger' and I knew who the threat was. The man in the suit pulled out his phone and I nervously activated my power. Last time I tried this, the waves became corrupted and I was in a coma for a couple of days. Within a few milliseconds, I could see his conversation and texts to some guy named 'Dir. NF'. I felt Alice probe around in my mind to see the messages.
The Messages:
Dir. NF: You found them?
Suit Guy: Yes. What now?
Dir. NF: Keep an eye on them. We've lost them once. We will not loose them again.
Suit Guy: Of course. Is Phase 2.46 in progress?
Dir. NF: It is being carried out now as we speak.
Kai's POV:
Suit guy snapped his phone shut with a click and I knew both Alice and I figured out who 'Dir. NF' was referring to. Us.
I told Alice to project the image to Cole and Jet, and she did so with no objections. Cole shifted uncomfortably in his hard seat. He was the one to hate it most when we have to move to a new place or when we have to run from the government and/or police. Jet remained in his usual, unemotional state and the bus slowed to a stop in front of our ugly orphanage. We got up, one-by-one, exited the bus slowly, and proceeded to the orphanage's oak door. It was very chilly outside and I shivered as a breeze passed through.
As soon as we stepped inside, I could already tell that Miss Berry was not here. Kids were running around freely and playing games. Miss Berry is one of the woman in charge of this orphanage. The television was on, board games were spread out, food and clothes everywhere, and textbooks filled with homework sprawled out across the floor. Some children were up in their rooms in bed, too tired to play or just not wanting to participate in the games.
"HEY!" Cole shouted and everyone paused to stare at him; he cleared his throat loudly, "Get to bed. Now."
Everyone in the orphanage knew not to disobey Cole. He always got his way, either fighting for it or just arguing. Plus, he looked and sounded a bit frightening sometimes. He had dark brown hair, dark skin but not a full-out African-American color and piercing brown eyes. He had muscles everywhere and his voice was a bit low. Jet however, had slick black hair, hazel eyes, and is more lean that Cole by far. Jet has some muscle, but not as much as most of the teenagers that go to our school. Kids scrambled to their cots and beds as Cole sighed deeply. I heard the doorknob turn and Miss Berry walks in, carrying bags of clothes and a latte. She looked pretty mad when she saw the main room.
"Clean this up right now you four!" she commanded in her high-pitched, nasally voice, looking at us as if she was the queen and we were lowly peasants.
I mentally groaned and walked over to a board game with the pieces thrown everywhere across the room. Cole and Alice started to clean up the food on the tables and shelves while Jet shoved the textbooks around with his foot rudely. I stared down at the grotesque carpet stained with food.
Miss Berry turned on the television and flipped through the channels until she landed on the news. A female fat meteorologist was reporting the weather in a manly voice.
"Breaking news! Stark Tower has just been blown up by bombs!" a reporter says frantically, pictures flashing across the television screen.
That's when our door busts down and men in black clothing burst through with guns, nearly knocking Jet over.