Breaking Free Chapter 5, a x-men fanfic

Chapter 5

Scott grimaced as he open his eyes. He had a headache. Again. The bright light coming from the open window wasn't helping it either. His closed his eyes and pulled his blanket over his head. He was glad that it was Saturday and he'd finished all of his homework the night before. School had started two weeks ago and, unlike most of the kids in his class, he was glad. Scott liked school. Sometimes, he even liked getting homework. It was hard, but it he didn't mind. Dad had always told him that hard work was good for people.

"Whatsa matter, punk, got a headache again?"

*Why the hell can't he find someone else to screw with today?* He pulled the blanket off his head, took his glasses from his nightstand, put them on, and looked at David. "Now what do you want?" Scott growled.

David was about to say something when they heard footsteps coming up the hall.

"Scott, you're late for breakfast again. Are you...." Ms. Branson stopped mid sentence as she entered the room, trailing off as she caught sight of David standing by Scott's bed.

"Good morning, Ms. Branson," David said with a cheery smile as he turned to face her. He turned back towards Scott, gave the younger boy a menacing grin and left the room.

Scott sighed as he slowly got out of bed. "I'm sorry, Ms. Branson. I just over slept."

Ms. Branson watched him silently for a moment. "Jimmy said he couldn't wake you up. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Ms. Branson. It's just a headache. I'll get some Motrin from the nurse before I go to breakfast." He paused for a moment, his eyes anywhere but on her. "Um ...could you please leave so I can get dressed?"

Ms. Branson blushed. "Yes, of course." She started to turn to leave then stopped. "What did David want, Scott?"

"Don't know." Scott said tightly. "He didn't say."

Ms. Branson paused in the doorway, her mouth half open as if to say something, then shook her head and left.

Scott got out of bed slowly. He was sure Ms. Branson was going to push the issue and was a little surprised when she left.

Scott went to his closet and pulled out a pair of blue jeans and his favorite t-shirt, the blue one with the jet on it. He dressed as quickly as his throbbing head would allow and went down to the nurse's office. He knocked on the door and waited for a response.

"Come in," Mrs. Timons said.

Scott opened the door and went in the office. Mrs. Timons took one look at Scott and asked, "Another headache?"

"Yes, ma'am."

The nurse nodded and went over to her medicine closet. She took out a bottle of Motrin, shook two into her hand then handed them to Scott. "Sit," she said, pointing to a chair. Scott did as he was told and Mrs. Timons got him a glass of water. "Sit still until it starts to subside and then go eat breakfast. I'll have Mrs. Simpson make a plate for you."

Scott nodded and took the pills. He leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. This was not going to be a good day.

X X X X X X X X X X X X

Normally, Scott loved being out in the sunshine, but today it only seemed to be making his headache worse. He'd climbed into his tree, like he did everyday, hoping the shade provided by the branches would offer some relief. He'd been perched in the tree for over an hour, but his head wasn't pounding any less. *It's just getting worse. I've got to go inside and lie down.* Scott thought as he climbed down slowly. He wasn't even halfway to the house when the pain in his head suddenly increased. He groaned and held his head in both hands.

From a few yards away, David and his friends watched as Scott slowly made his way into the orphanage. *Looks like it's time to play another exciting round of Fuck With The Freak.* David thought. He looked at his watch. *Yup, it's been two hours since I saw him this morning, he's definitely due.* He turned to look at his buddies. "Come on guys, let's go have some fun." The other boys smiled and nodded.

"Hiya, freak." David said as Dean ran up behind Scott and pushed the boy to the ground.

Scott looked up into the faces of the four boys who always seemed to be taunting him.

"What the Hell do you want now? Don't you have babies to steal lollipops from? That's about your level."

"You're gonna get it now, smart ass." David pulled his fist back and swung at Scott, who quickly moved and got to his feet. David stumbled and nearly fell from the momentum of his swing. David snarled at Scott and threw another punch, which Scott managed to dodge - again.

Scott's head was pounding even worse now. He knew he wouldn't be able to keep this up much longer. The pain intensified once more and his knees felt weak. Scott groaned as his head began to spin. David suddenly appeared in front of him and snatched the glasses off his face.

"Give 'em back, asshole!" Scott yelled, instantly regretting it. He clutched his head as he fell to his knees moaning.

"Dude, look at his eyes," one of the boys said.

Scott looked up at David. "What about my eyes?" He asked weakly.

"They're ...they're glowing!" Frank and Lance nearly shouted in unison.

"What...." All the boys jumped to the side as whatever Scott was about to say was cut off as a red beam shot out of his eyes. The blast just barely missed David, his desperate attempt to avoid it knocked the older boy onto his backside.

Fear coursed though Scott and he quickly shut his eyes.

"WHAT THE HELL?" David yelled as he scrambled to his feet. "I told he was a freak!"

"Give me back my glasses," Scott said frantically.

"Here, take 'em." David threw the glasses at Scott. Scott could hear their footsteps start to sound backwards, slowly now, then faster. "Come on guys, let's go tell Ms. Branson," David said, his slightly-higher-than-normal voice fading towards the house.

Scott felt around for his glasses, finding them in the grass through the dark. He slid them over his still closed eyes and pulled his knees to his chest. Leaning his head on them, he tried to keep the hot drops from sliding down his face.

X X X X X X X X X X X X

"Ms. Branson ...Ms. Branson."

Ms. Branson looked up from her desk as she heard her named being screamed.

"What is it, David?" She asked, seeing David and his friends come to a skidding halt at her office door.

"I told you hes a freak." The boy said as he gasped for breath.

"Who?" She asked, looking at the group in confusion. A dawning suspicion hit her and she quickly added, "What did you do to Scott, David?"

"Nothing. His eyes ...they ...they...." Lance stuttered.

"Spit it out, Lance. What did you boys do to Scott?" She demanded.

"Nothing. His eyes were glowing. Then he shot some kinda laser beam out of them or something. He nearly killed us! I told you he was a freak. Now are you gonna do something about him?" David stared expectantly at the woman.

"Where is he?" Ms. Branson couldn't quite keep the fear out of her voice. *If those boys have hurt him....* the thought was cut off as Frank answered her.

"By that stupid tree."

"All four of you go to your room right now. I'll deal with you later."

The look on Ms. Branson's face made all four boys decide that now was not a good time to argue. The three younger boys looked relieved and quickly exited the office. Anger flared in David's eyes, but he said nothing as he turned and went up to his room.

Ms. Branson rushed out of the office and into the backyard. She thought it odd that the boys seemed frightened when they'd burst into her office. Pushing the thought aside she ran faster. She found Scott sitting on the grass rocking, his arms wrapped tightly around his knees. He was starring at something, his eyes curiously blank. It hit her then that the tree that Scott, and at one time, Alex, had spent so much time in was no longer there. All that was left was a splintered, charred stump. There were pieces of bark and wood and leaves scattered around.

"Scott, sweetheart, are you okay?" Ms. Branson kneeled beside Scott, put her hand under his chin and gently lifted his head. "What happened?"

"I ...I don't know. David took my glasses and then Frank and Lance said my eyes were glowing. They felt weird, kinda tingly. Then this red beam came out of my eyes." Scott answered in a shaky voice. "I tried to make it stop, but it wouldn't so I shut my eyes. David threw my glasses back at me and I put 'em on." He paused. "I only just got around to opening them. I was afraid that...."

Ms. Branson could see the fear in Scott's eyes through the red shades. The boy looked absolutely terrified. "It's all right Scott. It's not your fault." The boy didn't look convinced. "Let me see your glasses." The boy hesitated but did as he was told. Ms. Branson gasped as she looked into Scott's glowing red eyes.

"Give them back," Scott said suddenly. "Give them back now, please."

Ms. Branson heard the pleading tone in Scott's voice and moved quickly to the side just as a red beam shot from his eyes. Scott shut his eyes immediately and started to sob quietly. She pressed the glasses into Scott's outstretched hand.

"I'm sorry," he muttered. "I'm so, so, sorry."

"It's okay, Scott. I'm okay. You missed me." *Barely.* "Everything will be fine. I'll call Dr. Essex when we get back inside. Maybe he can figure out what's happening to you." She put his glasses in his hand.

Scott nodded but said nothing as he put the glasses back on and slowly opened his eyes. He really did not want to go back to that doctor. Something about the way he smiled at Scott gave the boy the creeps and sent shivers down his spine. He let Ms. Branson help him up, and the two of them walked back to her office.

X X X X X X X X X X X X

"Thanks again for seeing us on such short notice, Doctor."

"Not a problem, Ms. Branson." Dr. Essex turned back towards Scott. "Well, young man, I don't see anything unusual in your eyes. Give me your glasses."

Scott closed his eyes and removed the glasses. He felt another pair slipped on and opened his eyes. Everything looked red.

"You're a very special boy, Scott, with a very unique gift. Based on what you've told me, I'm assuming that the sun powers your gift. I'm also assuming that the injury you acquired in the plane crash is inhibiting your ability to control that gift." The doctor paused for a moment to let his words sink in. "As long as you keep those glasses on at all times you shouldn't have any incidents like what happened earlier. These have a much higher concentration of ruby quartz and should stop the headaches as well as keeping your gift in check."

"How do you know all this, Doctor?"

The doctor chuckled mentally at the obvious skepticism and sudden distrust in the woman's voice.

"Genetics is also a hobby of mine. I've studied it for years." He smiled as the woman's expression changed and the doubt he'd seen in her eyes faded. Ms. Branson's eagerness to help Scott left her mind open to suggestion and the 'doctor' had taken advantage of that. The eye exam looked like any other to everyone except the 'doctor', but had been far from routine.

"Ready to go, Scott?"

Scott nodded eagerly and got out of the chair he was sitting in. He took Ms. Branson's offered hand.

"Remember, Scott," the doctor said, "never remove those glasses. Your gift is getting stronger and you don't want to hurt anyone, do you?"

Scott shook his head.

"If, for any reason, you have to take them off or they are knocked off close your eyes immediately. Your eyelids appear to be a natural barrier against your gift."

Scott said nothing as he and Ms. Branson walked out of the office. He sighed in relief as he got into the car, glad to be away from the doctor. The guy totally freaked him out. He remained silent the whole ride back to the orphanage. *Things can't get any worse.*

Doctor Essex closed the blinds in the office. In the light from the flickering lamp, his appearance started to alter, change. He slipped from a middle-aged man into something that shadows clung to. He pulled Scott's file from the cabinet, and scrawled 'Alpha Class' across the papers in large red letters. He snapped the file closed, and slipped it into his briefcase.

The grin on his face was one that did not bode well for his enemies or for Scott.

He had, at last, the perfect weapon with which to exact his revenge.

X X X X X X X X X X X X

Things didn't get any better for Scott. Word spread quickly through the home about what he had done. The other children looked like scared rabbits whenever they saw him and stayed as far away from him as they could. Even most of the adults avoided him now, not that he blamed them. He didn't like being feared and felt more alone than ever before, but the fact was that he was afraid of himself.

Ms. Branson was worried about Scott. She had gone to Mr. Johnson's office to voice her concerns. "It's been three weeks since the accident and he's hardly said a word. Everyone is jumpy around him, even most of the volunteers. This isn't good for him."

"I know, but you can't really blame them, Jess. They're scared and with good reason. Scott can literally kill with a look."

"Not the children, no, but the adults should know better. They should be trying to reassure the children, not fuel their fears. Scott would never intentionally hurt anyone, Dan, you know that. They know that."

"Isn't there anything we can do for him? Some kind of surgery or something?" Mr. Johnson knew the answer, but he was praying that perhaps the doctor had called back with better news.

"No." Ms. Branson said the disappointment evident in her voice. "The glasses are the only thing that will help him. That, or never opening his eyes again. Do you know the worst part?"

Mr. Johnson shook his head no.

"Scott said he can't see colors anymore. The glasses are Ruby Quartz. Everything that poor kid sees from now on will be in shades of red."

Mr. Johnson sighed in frustration as he slumped into his chair. The kid didn't deserve this. Scott had been through so much already. He wanted to help the boy, and it angered him that there was nothing he could do to make Scott's life any better.

They sat in silence for a few moments. Ms. Branson was the first to break it.

"So, what do we do now?"

"I don't know. I just don't know."

X X X X X X X X X X X X

Scott held back the tears that threatened to fall. He'd walked into the rec room and once again all the children had hastily left. He flopped onto the couch and picked up the remote, using it to turn the television off. He sat quietly for a few moments.

He knew what he had to do.

Tonight, when everyone went to sleep, he'd leave this place and never look back.

TBC