The Lost One
"I'm not dreaming this am I?" Lance said to himself as the animals advanced.
Snarling the creatures circled him. Lance then began to laugh wildly. The ground started to shake. "COME ON!" Lance snapped at the coyotes. "COME AND GET ME YOU FLEABAGS! I SURVIVED MAGNETO! I SURVIVED BEING BURIED ALIVE! YOU THINK A BUNCH OF STUPID MUTTS IS GONNA DO ME IN? HUH? DO YA?" He focused his powers to create a tidal wave of earth. This frightened the pack, which fled yelping in terror.
"THAT'S RIGHT! RUN! RUN!" Lance howled. "I AM AVALANCHE! NOT EVEN MAGNETO AND HIS DRUGS CAN STOP ME! I ALONE CAN CONQUER ANYTHING! YOU HEAR ME? YOU CAN'T STOP ME MAGNETO! NO ONE CAN!" He screamed at the sun above him.
He didn't realize he was being watched. Three figures were watching him at a safe distance. "There's our boy," Dusty spied the action through the binoculars. "God what the heck happened to him?"
"He's on something," Cross-Country agreed. "But by the sound of it, I don't think he took it willingly."
"We've got to help him," Spirit said. He started to move towards the mutant.
"How?" Dusty asked. "That kid's too dang powerful!"
"Yeah and on top of that he's nuts!" Cross-Country said. "He's a maniac!"
"He's lost," Spirit said simply. "Besides we can't just leave him out there."
Meanwhile Lance was dancing around, lost in his own world. "I did it! I beat them! I beat them! I am the Mighty Avalanche! I can destroy mountains with a single thought! I'm powerful! I can beat anyone!" Lance shouted, his voice hoarse. "I can beat the world alone! I'm alone! All alone. Alone…alone…alone…" Lance sank to his knees. He lay down and curled up into a ball. "Alone…alone…alone…"
A shadow fell over his body. He looked up and saw someone standing over him. In a moment of panic, Lance uncurled himself and backed away. "St-stay back!" He yelped. "I'm warning you!"
The man in black took out a canteen. He held it in front of him. "Drink," He said simply.
Lance looked at him. "Are you real?" He asked nervously. "Or am I still seeing things?"
"I'm real," The man said. "Drink."
As thirsty as he was, Lance hesitated. Finally he took the canteen and gulped down the water. It felt so good, so clean and pure against his sore throat. He drank it dry. He looked at the man in black. "I…I was so thirsty," Lance explained.
"How long have you been out here?" The man asked.
"Dunno," Lance brought his knees to his chest and hugged them tightly. He looked at the ground. "A day. Days. A week. A month. A year. I dunno. All I know is that I'm not right. Something….someone did this to me."
"Magneto?" Spirit asked.
"Yeah," Lance's eyes darkened. "I gotta get outta here! Gotta get away!" He managed to wobble to his feet.
"And where will you go?" Spirit asked.
"Away," Lance told him. He started to walk away but found his way blocked by two other men.
"Now take it easy kid," Dusty said softly. "We ain't gonna hurt you. We just need to get you out of that hot sun okay?"
Lance looked around. "Who are you? What do you want with me?" He tried to run, but the other two men restrained him. "Let me go!" Lance shouted. "I'm warning you!" The ground started to shake lightly.
"Do you want more water?" Spirit asked gently. He took out a canteen.
The shaking stopped. Lance debated on whether to drink or fight. His thirst won out. He nodded. Spirit held it to his lips. "Drink up now," Spirit said gently. He gave him a good few swallows before pulling it away from his lips. "Better?"
Lance nodded weakly. A look of fear was in his eyes. "You have to be good now," Spirit told him. "Understand?"
"I…I'll be good," Lance said weakly. He didn't fight the other Joes' hold on him. Spirit gave him more water. "That's better," He said softly as he drank.
"You just listen to Spirit now kid," Cross-Country said. "Just do what he says. Everything's gonna be A-OK."
Lance's knees buckled. He couldn't stand anymore on his own. "Come on Kid," Dusty said. "We gotta get you to a hospital."
Spirit felt the boy's forehead. Instinctively Lance flinched at the touch. "I fear he may not make it that far," Spirit told them. "We'll have to take him to the next best thing. There's a retreat I know not far from here. Call Lifeline. He's the boy's best chance."
"Am…am I going to die?" Lance blinked.
"Not if we have anything to say about it kid," Dusty helped him to the motorcycle. He placed the boy in the passenger side. Lance slumped in the seat, drifting in and out of unconsciousness as they drove off.
