1967, 17th April, Round about 2 in the afternoon, The Phillips Academy, Andover
Michael Tyler had never gotten into trouble before, and he wasn't even sure if this was him being scolded. The elderly woman in front of him, who was staying at least two paces ahead had caught him in the biology room down the hallway.
Michael was sure that he had been allowed in the room anyway, but it depended on whether Mrs Perrelle had seen the creature under the table which Michael had been petting.
A creature, probably wasn't the right word for it. Michael didn't even know what to call them, but they made Michael happy, feel like he wasn't alone. His gift wasn't a curse, or something that he wanted to escape from, he enjoyed the life he could bring, almost literally.
The woman opened the door to her office and Michael walked in not bothering on taking a seat, he wasn't planning on being here long.
"Madam I must insist that I have done nothing wrong, so I see no reason for me to be here, using the Biology room is no crime is it?" Michael said confidently.
"Quite right Mr Tyler, but I have not brought you into my office for that. I think you know full well why you are in my office." Mrs Perrelle answered sharply, but her eyes showing a hint of kindness and encouragement.
"I don't know what you could possibly mean." Michael replied coolly, ignoring the woman before him. A woman he highly respected on any usual occasion, but at this moment she was dealing with things that Michael wasn't sure we wanted anyone to find out about.
"Michael," Mrs Perrelle whispered, it was unlike any teacher to call their student by their first name, It was considered slightly rude, Michael raised his eyebrows.
"Mr Tyler…I saw that, Rabbit that you were petting in the lab." Mrs Perrelle said raising one eyebrow to look at Michael. "Apart from it wasn't a rabbit Mr Tyler was it? All the rabbits in the science laboratory are already dead when they arrive…" She said slowly looking Michael in the eye questioningly.
"Then you must have been mistaken." Michael said shortly before exiting the room swiftly.
1967, 17th April, 4:30pm, Creek Bridge High, Marion
"Oi! Toby!" Toby turned to his left to answer the voice shouting his name.
"What Spencer?" Toby shouted back frowning, needing to get home.
"You coming out tonight!" The older boy shouted back leaning on the brick wall which separated their streets.
"What do you think!" Toby yelled back, "My Dad's a twat of course I can't come out…" Toby growled slightly under his breath and started walking heavily again down his street.
Harry Preece lived at the very end of the road, in the dark red brick house, which inside as Toby delicately put it. Was a shit hole, Toby dawdled slightly upon getting home, it's not like there would be any welcome, or any acknowledgement that he was home. But Harry would know, and Harry would knock him out if he weren't back in time.
Toby let a small smile itch his face as he spotted Sarah, the large greyhound which Toby had befriended. Like him Sarah was unloved and unwanted, Toby could remember the first time he had seen Sarah, scrounging around on the street looking for food. He had asked, practically begged Harry to let him keep her, but Harry had just looked at Toby in disgust.
Yes, Toby had named the dog after his mum….he didn't know why, but It suited the dog, she never barked, never growled and was always there when Toby needed someone. It sounded stupid, but Toby hoped that his mum had been like that too.
"What the Fuck do you think you're doing with that Dog again!" Toby heard the scratchy sound of Harry's voice as he stood in the door, his back hunched over slightly as usual, his face covered by the tangled mop of black hair and the unshaved stubble.
"Piss off, It's just a dog Harry!" Toby shouted back, frowning when he saw the clink of the bottle against a barrel of the small shotgun which Harry seemed to always keep near him.
"My god you've been drinking haven't you…Oh yer cuz the neighbours loved that last time!" Toby shouted at him angered by the way the old man was swaying in the doorway.
"Shut up!" Harry shouted and raised the shotgun just high enough, before he pulled the trigger as if it were nothing, smirked and shifted back from the doorway into the darkened hallway behind it.
Toby grimaced at the now still body of the dog, lying sideways on the concrete pavement, it's legs collapsed at an awkward angle to its body.
"Bastard…." Toby whispered under his breath. Kneeling down beside the dog and hovering his hand over it, just so its fur tickled against the under part of his skin.
Toby felt the body shake beneath his hand slightly as Sarah opened her eyes and yelped before scampering away from the pavement. Toby followed her with his eyes, sure that she would come back some time. Perhaps when her blood had been washed off the pavement.
"That's….different." An unfamiliar voice sounded from behind, Toby looked round scowling at the man, Who was tall, a slender frame and dark hair. His face was drawn into a smirk and the spark behind his eye was not one of friendship.
"Erik….Erik Lensherr…" The man said coolly his eyes fixed on Toby's face.
"Yes and?" Toby answered scowling.
The man chuckled, his eyes glinting in the sunlight, "Forget it Toby, forget the dog, forget Harold Preece. Come with me, and I can make you powerful Toby….You know what you can do, it could change the world."
"You don't know me at all, My powers are stupid, The most I've ever revived is a Great Dane…I can't go any bigger than a large dog Erik!" Saying his name in anger.
"I can teach you to be more powerful Toby, let you bring people back….perhaps even your mother?" Erik said cocking his head to one side.
"How do you know about my mother?" Toby shouted at him.
"I do my research." Erik replied simply, moving his hand and opening the metal gate just to the left of him without touching it.
"So….you coming?" Erik said smirking.
Toby scowled at him, but looking over at the house he would otherwise be entering, he walked confidently over to Erik, damning the consequences.
Andover, 5pm
Elizabeth walked down to the bottom of the stairs concern on her face. "Michael, could you come down here for a minute!" She called politely up the stairs not wanting to disturb her Son.
Michael came out of his room and jogged down the stairs smiling at his mother.
"Elizabeth what is it?" He asked, seeing her expression.
"It's nothing son, but there's a man here to see you, something about you transferring schools…" Michael frowned but followed his mother into the Living room, where a young man waited patiently, his hands held behind his back. He turned to Michael and smiled. He had piercing blue eyes and wore a light grey suit, his mop of dark hair pushed back slightly.
"Michael Tyler I presume." He said in a friendly British accent. "Not to worry, I am here to invite you to come and study at my school. Xavier's School for the gifted." He winked at Michael when no-one else was looking, "We think that you are a very bright, very special young man." He said, emphasizing the word "Special".
"So Michael, What do you think?"