X-Men Evolution: Descendant of Darkness
Chapter 2: When Nightmares Become Reality
Staring at the group he'd once fought alongside the young man was speechless, it was bad enough he'd let that punk ambush him but now they were staring at him with disgust in their eyes. Raising a still clenched fist he looked at the blood red dagger and smiled, it didn't really hurt actually it made him feel even better as if he was borderline invincible. Marching forward the young man was going to ensure his would be opponent regretted their actions, if nothing else a little scar or two might do nicely.
"Dude that's gotta be a mistake right?" A member of the group questioned looking at their ex-leader, it was a understandable response but it didn't make the guy feel any better. Mutants were abominations unworthy of receiving compassion, even so the young man couldn't believe it was really happening. Glaring back at where the young lady had been seconds earlier a thought crossed his mind, it was her fault the young man was in such a predicament and it was most likely her causing such weird powers. Sadly he wasn't going to be capable of discussing it with her any time soon, grumbling as the other men began surrounding him it was pretty clear they wouldn't just give him a free pass.
"I can't explain it but you need to leave." Alex explained glaring at the men he'd once fought alongside, even without powers he could've defeated them easily. Combine the young man's natural combat abilities with his new powers and they were in serious danger, they were probably smart enough to realize it but couldn't just let him go.
"Get the mutant freak." the punk who'd started it all growled stepping closer, it was a shame he'd ruined everything but it couldn't be denied any long. Rushing at him the first guy was caught off guard by a kick in his stomach, since the dagger was still locked inside his fist the young man didn't need to use it. Glaring at the punk he quickly shoved another member into harm's way, disgusting him beyond words the young man sighed in frustration.
"Don't get in my way." Alex growled looking at the other members, they weren't his enemy unless someone was dumb enough to attack him. Rushing at him another guy quickly regretted his actions when the young man grabbed his wrists, suddenly there was a red marking on it and the guy screamed in pain. Despite the look of horror on everyone's face it was actually sorta cool, instead of his normal fleshy arm it was covered in a red diamond like substance.
Glancing down at his wound the young man realized it wasn't bleeding heavily anymore, suddenly it dawned on him exactly what the new power really was and it scared him. Most people when stabbed just bled as the young man had seconds earlier, what didn't normally happen was your own blood defending you. Despite his reservations the young man realized fighting them without injuring anyone would be very difficult if not impossible, as such he'd use the new powers to defend himself.
"Alright if you're really set on doing this at least face me yourself." Alex growled as the punk looked at him with fear in their eyes, giving him a little come at me sign it was gonna be a very telling moment. Considering it for just a minute the guy eventually reached into his backpack, withdrawing a small taser it made his opponent shrink back just a little. Blood control or not it could still injure him and that caused everyone some worry, in all their years of embarrassing mutants nobody had gone this far. Roaring at him the punk rushed forward swinging it, moments away from reaching him a red pillar of the crystal like substance rose up from the ground trapping him.
"Dude that's scary looking, deal with it yourself." A member of the group shouted before he ran away screaming, it was probably the right move all things considered. Glaring at the young man now encased in a red crystal he sighed, it was probably just a matter of time before he ran outta air. Raising a palm he focused on the crystal and dispelling it, moments later the crystal disappeared and the red fluid went back into his palm. Despite knowing it was his own blood it seemed oddly rejuvenating, scared beyond words the punk clawed at the group scampering away from him.
"Get outta here this is your last warning." Alex explained while subconsciously thinking about blood red claws, moments later there was a red diamond like set of claws on both hands. Dropping whatever makeshift weapon they'd grabbed everyone ran away screaming, everyone but the punk who'd started it all clearly dumber than he'd originally planned on. Getting back up the punk rushed at him brandish yet another knife clearly unaware that he'd lost, sighing as he grabbed the little bastard's collar he flipped the guy downward. Smacking against the pavement he looked up and nearly cringed, bringing the claws down he stopped just inches from a scared little boy's head making the guy nearly pass out
"What the hell is everyone screaming about...are your hands encased in red diamonds?" the principal questioned as the young man grumbled in frustration, it was bad enough dealing with his former underlings but this made it even worse. Considering everything he'd done to mutants over the years it couldn't possibly end well, glaring at the young man before looking at his defeated opponent the principal was mere seconds away from exploding. Grabbing his backpack the young man decided he'd leave before anything else happened, making his way outside their courtyard's gates it was just a matter of time before someone called the police.
Rushing past several onlookers he eventually pulled up the hood of his jacket, nobody watching could've known his secret and that would make disappearing much easier. Disappearing into the crowd he was surprised nobody was crying out in pain just yet, gazing down at his fists the young man realized they weren't covered in red diamond like claws anymore. Maybe it was something that only happened if the young man's life was in danger, if that really was the case it meant he could escape undetected.
Making his way outta the crowd he eventually relaxed and the last vestiges of the crystals disappeared, it was something that didn't really make sense but he wasn't complaining. Adrenaline was still flowing in his veins when he finally reached a desolate location, slumping down against the nearby wall it finally crashed down on him.
"Did she cause all this...or was it something else?" Alex questioned to himself looking down at his own fists, right now they looked completely normal making him question if the entire battle was a messed up dream. Doing whatever he could to remain under control the young man figured it was just a matter of time before it started up again, when that happened it could make escaping very difficult and right now getting outta there was more important. Grabbing at the wall the young man slowly regained his footing, their legs felt like jelly right now but it would have to do.
Rushing out into the open he was cut off by a light shining in his face, grumbling at the sudden development he realized it was the police. Considering they normally didn't respond unless it was a dangerous mutant it could only mean they considered him dangerous, as if that wasn't bad enough he could make out a van which caused him to start panicking. Seeing the words Mutant Response Division or MRD for short was enough to make anyone even non powered citizens feel nervous, they were known for overbearing responses even killing mutants who resisted. Maybe if he got lucky they'd be so busy looking for an dangerous mutant they'd completely miss him, walking past their van he knew it could be just a matter of seconds before they figured it out.
Dashing past one guard the young man wasn't feeling very good about his chances, even if he got past them nobody in the young man's life was going to protect him. Scurrying past yet another guard he silently wished it could be a messed up dream, any minute now he'd wake up back in his own room with nobody looking for him. Moments later he emerged from behind a car staring back at the institution he'd once attended, it resembled something from a dream right now although he couldn't tell if someone would even notice his disappearance.
Crawling underneath a nearby grating it was almost enough to make him start crying, everything the young man knew was just ripped from him because of a rogue mutant. Dabbing the sweat on his forehead the young man began looking around the store, they'd probably find him in a minute or two ending his once normal life. Groaning when their car pulled up outside the store he could almost make out a solider reaching for their gun, deciding it was better if he got moving the young man rushed outside the back door.
Sadly it was a bad move as they used a flashlight outside it to blind him, grabbing his wrists the young man shouted doing whatever he could to remain calm. Assuming he could explain it was a big misunderstand they might buy it, unfortunately that would prove impossible if the blood crystal hands decided to act up. Grabbing the young man a solider lifted him up before shoving a device in his face, it started beeping with a red light which said mutant.
"Dang mutant what are you doing out here?" A soldier growled as the young man contemplated running away, despite being handcuffed the young man could still run if necessary.
"I'm not a mutant, there was a girl at school and her notebook ended up in my bag check it yourself." Alex explained silently hoping the bluff might work, growling in frustration the soldier reached into his backpack and pulled out the notebook. Despite knowing it was a fake he carried just in case someone began reading his normal one it might be enough to fool someone, grabbing it the solider began running his device over it waiting for a response. Sure enough it began chirping making the solider grumble, removing the handcuffs it was just a matter of playing it cool then escaping.
"Get back inside there's a dangerous mutant out here." the solider explained as the young man nodded in agreement, grabbing his backpack the young man began slinking away. Since the front was under police investigation the only escape was a nearby ladder, it figured that his only chance of getting away laid in confronting something other than mutants which upset him. Grabbing the ladder he began climbing its rungs dreading each step, ever since his fifth birthday the young man was scared of heights although part of him never really understood why. Climbing up the final rung he was just about free when he looked back down, standing a couple of yards away was the very punk he'd just got done scaring.
"Damn it officer you've been tricked he's a mutant and you just let him go." the punk growled as he started looking around for the young man, walking over to a nearby vent it didn't appear to be working right now. Silently making his way across the rooftop it was just a matter of getting down safely, unfortunately his foot caught against something making him growl in frustration. Giving it a swift kick the young man realized just a bit too late it was actually metallic, doing whatever he could to grab it before someone recognized or heard it quickly proved useless.
Watching it fall he silently cursed both it and himself, if they heard it someone might investigate. Clanging onto the ground it would've been loud enough to wake a sleeping cop, unfortunately the cop beneath it wasn't asleep. Dropping onto the cold pavement it was mere inches from him alerting the cop, gazing up into the sky he caught just a glimpse of the young man. Sliding back into cover behind the vent he knew it was pointless, somebody would be up here in just a minute and he'd be in deep trouble.
Deciding he'd rather chance it the young man started running across the building, seconds away from reaching the edge a shot rang out behind him. Gasping as it caused a shingle to pop free it was mere inches from his foot, swirling around he could make out the officer he'd fooled minutes earlier. Raising both hands the young man contemplated surrendering as if that would make any difference, at best he'd end up in jail and if the cop wasn't quite so nice he might end up dead.
"Stop right there mutant...turn around slowly hands raised and no funny business." the officer explained as the young man silently cursed his rotten luck, doing as the officer requested he was about to explain it was just bad luck when the blood red diamond material covered his arms. Assuming the young man was dangerous it gave him enough cause to fire another shot, everything he'd known was going to be destroyed in a single moment and there was nothing he could do about it. Waiting for the unavoidable end it was just a matter of time before pain ripped through him, minutes passed and it never came making him wonder if something other than a bullet was speeding in his direction. Gasping at the bullet made a loud clinking noise he assumed it was just a matter of time before every fiber of his being cried out in pain, slowly opening his eyes the young man was even more confused when a silver humanoid figure gave the young man a quick thumbs up.