Chapter 2: The death of a family
She had seen the explosion from far away. She had been running nearly for two days without rest. She couldn“t run anymore. She was exhausted but wouldn't stop; couldn't.
Rachel finally got to where the gate used to be. Now there was only broken stones and ash. She knelt and lifted a metal shard. It was all covered in ash but she managed to make out the words Gifted Youngsters. It was a piece of the golden plaque that used to be on the entrance of the school. Rachel left it where it was and ran to where the mansion used to be. For a minute or two she just stood there. One could see the fear, the horror in her eyes. It was all destroyed. The place where her home used to be now it was no more than dust.
Young Phoenix fell to her knees and covered her eyes with her hands. She knew her parents where in the school at the time of the attack. Could they have survived?
"Stand up my child."
She looked up to find a man in a red and purple uniform. He was holding a helmet with his left hand and had his right arm extended offering help to Rachel.
"I know you. You did this! This is all your fault!"
"No my child, I had nothing to do with this. This is their fault; the humans. They have looked down upon us, mistreated us, harm us, ever since they knew of our existence." Magneto's sapphire eyes looked right into her soul. His arm was still extended. "The time for compromise has passed. This is proof of it."
Tears were rolling nonstop through Rachel's cheeks. She tried to stand up by herself but failed. She was shaking.
Magneto knelt in front of her. "I knew your parents. They did more for our kind than anyone ever imagined." He made a pause. Placed his helmet on the ground and with his right hand he cleaned up one of Rachel's tears. "Take my hand and I swear I will protect you. I will end your suffering. I will make sure no one ever has to go through what we've gone through ever again. Take my hand and I swear I will avenge your family. I swear there won't be a day when you feel alone. I swear there won't be a day when you feel unsafe. Take my hand child and together we will change the future of our kind."
She had stopped shaking seconds ago. Rachel took his hand and with his help she stood up. They just stood there, one in front of the other. Suddenly Rachel fell in to his arms.
Magneto held her. She was still crying but her arms where around him. She was hugging him. He placed his arms around her as well and using his power lifted himself and Rachel off the ground. The destroyed construction began moving. Magneto began creating something from it.
"Don't worry child. I will protect you. I will protect all of you."
"We gotta keep movin'" Logan told his wounded partner.
Wolverine had Gambit's arm on his shoulders. He had an open wound form the battle at the mansion. The Cajun could hardly walk; even with Logan's help. He had lost a lot of blood and they had been walking for a while now. The streets were filled with Sentinels. The X-Men had managed to evade them moving through back allies but other mutants hadn't been so lucky.
"I'm sorry Mon Ami. I can't go on any longer."
"Ya better keep it together Swamp Rat. I'm not leavin' ya here."
"Ya don'even know where ya goin' Wolverine."
"Belivie me Frenchie I do."
Gambit turned his face around to look directly at the clawed man.
"Planin'on sharin' these thoughts of yours any time soon?"
"We are gonna follow one of these Sentiles back to its base and destroy it. Simple."
"Ya gotta be shitin' me. Dat's suicide!"
"Ya want to stay here. Fine, stay fer all I care." He let go of Remy's arm. "Pussy." Wolverine said as he walked away leaving the Cajun sitting in the dark.
Logan walked for about a minute when he saw a boy about ten running towards him. The boy ended up crashing into the X-Man.
"What's wrong kind?"
The boy did not speak.
Wolverine looked up to find a 20 feet hunting mutant machine in front of them.
"Unidentified mutants. Target updated. Eliminate."
"Shit." Logan took out his claws and jumped at the colossal machine.
He beheaded the Sentinel and jumped back on to the ground. Two more Sentinels approach walking and another fell from the sky. The mutant boy was shaking in fear. They were surrounded.
The two sentinels in front of them began glowing with a purple light.
Wolverine knew what was about to happen. "Drop down!" He said as he pulled down the boy and placed himself on top of him.
The Sentinels exploded destroying most of what was surrounding them including the other robot. The smoke settled to reveal the wounded Gambit where the Sentinels used to be.
"Are ya stupid! Ya could've killed us!" Wolverine said as he stood up from the ground. All of his back had been burned by the explosion.
"Ya welcome. Now, 'bout your plan"
