Out of time

Scott Summers was walking down the hall. I knew that without turning around. I had memorized his routine the day after I'd arrived at Bayville High. I'd learned the hard way to be cautious.

Scott didn't say anything as he passed by me. He had no reason to acknowledge me. To him, I was nothing but another teacher. He had no idea that we were not so very different.

I allowed myself a small smile.

Then I heard the main doors burst open, accompanied by loud shouts. Something to the effect of 'Kill the mutants'.

I headed down the hall toward the doors.

There were five of them. Farmers, by the look of them, probably drunk, and eager to do their part in ridding the world of mutants. Summers and his friends hadn't arrived yet, but when they did there was going to be a more than a few humans dead.

I stepped through the students and into the clear space between them and the mutant haters. "What do you think you're doing? This is a school, not a circus. Kindly take yourselves elsewhere."

"No can do, pops. We're here to deal with your pest problem."

"I wasn't aware that there was one."

"I was talking 'bout the plague of mutants. We're sick of them lordin' it over us, and we aim to find out if their 'special powers' make them bullet-proof."

"Hey! There's one of the vermin now!" one of the farmers yelled, pointing his gun at a very surprised Rogue.

I stepped in front of his gun. "Listen, there is no need for this. I want you to leave."

"I knew it!" The leader exclaimed. "You're a mutant lover! You like 'em so much, how 'bout you die whit' them." He aimed at me, a little unsteadily.

Dang it, I'd really liked it here. Oh well, nothing lasts forever. "Look, this is uncalled for."

"Sure it is." The leader said, and pulled the trigger.

I felt the familiar pain of a bullet lodging in my heart as I toppled backward into blackness followed by frightened screams.

I revived seconds later.

Scott and his friends had arrived. Jean Grey was in the act of pushing five very indignant disarmed farmers out the door when I spoke.

"Hey, I wasn't done with them yet."

Everyone froze as I got to my feet.

"Grey, would you please stop pushing my friends away?"

Jean, a little shocked, started to comply.

"Hang on a second, Jean." Summers said. He turned to me and opened his mouth to ask a question.

"I know what you're going to ask, Summers. I'll answer it AFTER Grey stops shoving those five off the campus."

Jean looked at Cyclops, who nodded. She stopped her telekinetic push.

"Thank you." I said, before walking over to the five farmers, who were shaking in terror. This might be mildly entertaining.

I reached out and touched the leader's forehead. His eyes rolled up in his head, and he collapsed in a heap.

I allowed myself another small smile. Then I looked at the other four, who were now even more scared. "Leave. Now."

They did, tripping over themselves as they did so.

I watched them go. Without turning around I answered the unspoken question. "He's unconscious, not dead. When he wakes up, he will need to be persuaded that he still has his left arm attached."

I felt myself lifted into the air and turned around. "Before you say it, Grey, let me guess. You have several questions. Tell me if I miss any. You want to know just who I think I am, what I did to that man, and how I survived being shot at point blank range. Is that everything?"

There was a long silence.

"I'll take that as a yes. Let's start with the basics. You can call me Eternal. My real name is my own, and I do not share it with anyone. I am a mutant. I can cause anyone I touch to feel any physical pain I have ever felt. I also resurrect whenever I die. As a result I am 2,957 years old. Now, could we relocate to the institute before we get blamed for this mess?"