Ch 11

They all went back out to the limo. "Well, now that he's gone, I guess I won't be able to afford this place," said Helen.

"I think I can provide accommodations for now," said Xavier. "And I'm certain that I can help you find a new residence. For now, you're welcome to come back to the Institute while your son settles in,"

They all climbed into the limo, and they drove off.
It was late at night when they returned to the Institute. "Sam, shouldn't you be getting home?" asked Xavier.

Sam turned his eyes down. "I really don't have a place to go," he said. "My mom's away doing government work, and my dad's almost never at home. Do you think I could stay here, just for tonight?"

"I suppose that would be acceptable. And it'll be good for Glen to have another familiar face while he's settling in," replied Xavier.

"Yay!"
Glen had showered, said goodnight to his mother and to Sam, and went into his room. He lay down on his bed and nodded off, exhausted from the day's events.

As he slept, he dreamed. He found himself standing in the streets again, at the same intersection where he had vanished earlier in the day. He heard a chanting sound, and a saxophone playing. He smiled as he recognized the melody, but suddenly the music began to warp, changing keys and distorting in volume. The sky began to turn different shades of color, the music growing louder and more dissonant. Suddenly the music stopped, and the sky locked into a purple color. He felt something on his shoulder. He looked and saw a hand, sitting there, disembodied. The hand clasped around his throat, trying to throttle him. He grabbed the hand and flung it to the ground, and gave it a kick for good measure. It scuttled away, then sat up on its severed wrist, middle finger extended high. It then snapped its fingers, and Glen heard a harsh droning noise. He looked up to see a swarm of fists flying at him. The fists pummeled him from all directions. He tried to escape, but they hounded him relentlessly, raining down blows. He finally managed to get clear of the fists by rounding a corner. He looked across the street and saw Sam being attacked by a strange looking creature. It looked like a giant serpent with arms and a human head. As he looked closer, he could make out the face on the serpent. It was the face of Lance Alvers. The creature hissed, exposing giant fangs inside its Lance head. Sam shrieked as the fangs pierced his throat. "Sam!" Glen yelled and rushed into the street, hoping he could somehow save his friend. He had scarcely set foot into the street when he heard a horn go off. He looked and saw a truck driving towards him, heard the revving of the engine as it accelerated. He could make out the driver in the cab; it was Seth, a look of sheer manic fury on his face. Glen raised his arm to freeze the truck in place. He felt no surge of energy. He again raised his arm, but nothing happened, as the truck got closer. The horn, the hissing, and Sam's cries of pain all blended into one, and Glen added his own scream to the clamor as the truck hit him.

"AHHHH!" Glen yelled, sitting up in his bed. He looked around the dark room. The moon cast a thin ray of light into the room. "Just a dream," he muttered to himself, shaking his head, trying to dislodge the images he had just seen.

The door opened, and Glen looked up to see Sam. "I heard you screaming! Are you all right?" Sam asked.

"Yeah, just a bad dream," said Glen. "Come in,"

Sam walked into the room and sat down on the bed. "So how does it feel? I mean, having this power now?"

"I don't know. I haven't really been able to do much with it yet," Glen replied.

"I suppose it'll take some getting used to," said Sam.

"Yeah. I guess now I'm a REAL freak," Glen mused.

Sam looked at him, puzzled. "Why do you say that? Why should you think you're any different now? You told me that you felt like you were coming out all over again, right?"

"Yeah," said Glen.

"And you said that being gay was no reason to be ashamed. Well, why do you think you should be ashamed of this?"

"You're right," Glen admitted. "But how do you feel about all of this?"

"Oh, it sounded a little strange when the Professor explained it, but it doesn't change the way I really feel. About you, I mean,"

Glen looked at him and grinned. "I knew I liked you!" he said, and leaned forward and kissed Sam on the lips. Sam kissed him back. After a few moments, Glen broke off. "This time, let's make it last," he said. He kissed Sam again, deeply. As he did, a stream of lights began to swirl around the two, and they vanished.

They were gone for a very long time. When they returned to the bedroom, it was still dark. It had been just a moment since they left.

"That was fantastic," said Sam, wide-eyed in amazement.

"I know," said Glen. "I think I may get to like being a mutant,"

They collapsed back on the bed and fell asleep lovingly in each other's arms.