Disclaimer: Same as always…
I am Death
Chapter 11: Men fights with their fists
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As the morning came, I kind of wished that I'd slept the last hours of the night. Staying awake during the classes today might be difficult, and I always felt guilty if I didn't pay attention to the teacher. After all, he or she was just doing his/her best to teach me something. Since my room lay closer to the classroom we were supposed to be in, I waited outside my door as Pyro ran to get his books from his room. The day was just as beautiful as the last one, but it didn't bring me any pleasure today. I had a strange feeling in my gut, a feeling that something was on its way, something ominous. I had a feeling life would get much more complicated soon.
"Good morning," someone said behind me. Startled, I swung around and found Warren there. He was smiling timidly.
"Yes, a good morning indeed." I replied, feeling a little smile grace my red lips. Just by taking a look at his angelic appearance made me feel a bit happier. Hard to feel worried when you have an angel standing before you. His smile faded a bit.
"You seem troubled." I nodded and sighed a bit.
"Hm, I have a feeling…" He nodded understanding. I liked him a lot. We chatted about a bit of this and a bit of that, and the more I spoke to him, I knew that he was a good man. He was one of those I never had to wonder about what the verdict would be. It was the salvation for him, mark my words. After speaking to him for about three minutes, I found myself smiling, even laughing.
Footsteps behind me announced the arrival of Pyro.
"Come Rose, let's go," he said tugging my arm.
"Okay, I'll see you later Warren," I said and turned to go. I could swear that in the corner of my eye, I saw Pyro throw Warren a blackened gaze.
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Final class was over, and I was heading back to my room. Walking out of the classroom door, I let my gaze wander around, searching for Pyro, but he was nowhere to be found. He usually skipped this class, since he didn't consider math as a, to him, useful subject. Though I knew better, I didn't argue with him. He'd come around some day, I reasoned.
I was happy to catch a glimpse of Warren on the other side of the crowd, and slowly made my way over to him. Since he was new, and a bit reserved, he didn't seem to have made any friends yet. I found it somewhat strange, since he had such good character, but on the other hand, others didn't see people as well as I did. Perceptive maybe, or just gifted, being death sure has some privileges.
"Hi Warren," I called out to him. He flinched and looked around, a dazzled expression on his face.
"Hi Rose. Where's your friend?"
"Oh you mean Pyro? Well I lost the old sourpuss before final class." I laughed a bit. Warren seemed relieved. Those two really didn't get along very well, or to be more precise, Pyro didn't go well with Warren, and they both knew it.
Warren told me he'd come here since his own parents resented him. His father was some big shot who considered having a mutant son, a disgrace of some sort. Warren told me about the time his father realized his son was a mutant. He had tried desperately not to turn into one of 'those mutants', and when he saw the first signs of his own mutation, he'd tried to carve his wings off. His father had come rushing into the bathroom and discovered his son's 'problem'. It made me sad to see the sadness and shame in his eyes as he told me this. His father had always thought of Warren's mutation as a flaw, when it was in fact a gift. People are afraid of what they don't understand, but it's a shame non-the less to see a family being torn apart by something so simple.
We walked down the corridors, speaking of every day manners, and I told him that I didn't remember my past; he seemed sad, not as if he pitied me, no he seemed genuinely saddened. It was more like a sort of empathy than pity, and I liked that. We spoke of what the future might hold in store for us, mutants. I didn't have a future here, that I knew, and it weighed heavy on my heart. Warren however did, and I wondered if he would ever live to see a world where he could live free from guilt and accusations. I hoped so, with all my heart.
As we stopped outside my door, he told me his room lay further down the corridor. I told him I would head there as soon as I'd gotten rid of my books. He smiled and strode away, with his winds folded against his back, white as snow. I stood staring after him for a while, then I turned and stepped inside my room. Pyro wasn't here either, and I tipped my bag over the bed and watched all books fall out before I closed it again and turned to leave. Throwing a last glance around the room I wondered where my friend could be, but decided not to worry, he'd find me if he wished to. If not, then he would just keep on hiding.
I slid the door shut behind me, and began walking. Warrens door would be just around the corner somewhere, and I was headed in that direction. There was some turmoil going on there. The sound of an angry voice came drifting round the corner, and then I heard something that sounded like a struggle. Something was going on, and I felt I better check it out. Running, I skidded the corner. There I found exactly what I'd hoped not to find. Bobby and Piotr holding back Pyro, who was struggling to get loose, and at the opposite wall where Warren who seemed nervous. At the sound of my footsteps, Bobby looked up and saw me. Distracted, also Piotr threw a glance over his shoulder. Pyro used their lacking attention, and slipped out of their grasp. He darted to Warren, grabbing his shirt, slamming him against the wall. I couldn't believe my eyes and just stood there, dumbstruck. Then Pyro punched Warren in the face, with all the strength he owned.
"Pyro! Stop it!" I yelled and was just about to run and pull him away from Warren, when Bobby and Piotr came to my aid. In a turmoil of blood, waving arms and curses, Bobby and Piotr was over Pyro again, dragging him away from Warren. Whilst Pyro was unharmed, Warren bled from his nose. I could see their anger flood from them, like electricity. Then Pyro's eyes turned and found me there. I could see surprise reflecting through his hazel orbs, as if he hadn't noticed I was there.
"Rose…" he said.
"Go," I replied angry. "Get out of my sight!" He tore away from his two friends, and cursing under his breath, he left the scene. People in the corridor scattered to leave his was free as he furiously strode past them. As he disappeared out of sight, I wondered what had driven him to pick a fight with Warren. He didn't like him, sure I knew that, but there was a big difference between not liking someone, and feeling like you wanted to kick their ass.
"Are you okay?" I asked Warren, hence he nodded bitterly.
"Yeah, thanks to these two." He gestured to Bobby and Piotr.
"No problem, but why did he come at you from the start?" Bobby wondered. He and Piotr hadn't been here when the fight started obviously.
"I don't know. I was just about to go into my room when he snuck up behind me and began threatening me. I didn't really understand any of the things he said, but he was upset. Well then, you know the rest."
In that moment, Logan came walking towards us.
"Is there a problem here?" He asked looking at Warren, for obvious reasons. Warren threw a glance at me, to ask if he should tell the truth. I shook my head pleading; I didn't want Pyro to get in trouble. I knew it was much to ask from Warren, but after all, Pyro was my friend, and I was supposed to look after him. Warren sighed.
"No nothing, I tripped that's all."
With one gaze, Logan let us all know he didn't believe that for a second, then the corner of his mouth began to twitch a bit, and he walked away, leaving us behind.
"Thank you, for not turning John in." I said to Warren.
"Sure." He said, and walked into his room, leaving me, Bobby and Piotr behind. I looked to the guys, and found them sharing a look of some sort. Suddenly, I had another one of my little hunches.
"You guys do know why he came at Warren, don't you?" Bobby nodded.
"Yeah, but I can't tell you why. You'll have to ask him yourself."
They left, and I went to search for Pyro.
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