*A/N: Hey! I'm sorry I haven't been updating! I was banned for a WEEK... doesn't that suck? Well anyway, here's the next chapter!
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"Mutant Trial commenced."
John's head snapped up as the mechanical voice split through the stagnant air. He directed his eyes frantically across the room again, checking for some way to escape. None. Suddenly, the room became stifling hot; the air around him seemed to melt. The distinct sound of fire catching made Pyro whip around to face the replica buildings as they burst into flames. One line of fire sprouted from the ground and headed toward the mutant. He noticed that there was a trail of gasoline that it was following. In fact, there was gasoline placed everywhere.
Raising his hand, Pyro backed the flames away, prohibiting them from following the chemical's course. In a single moment, the fire diminished from both the buildings and floor, and Pyro soon stood alone in the vast room.
And that was when he saw it.
Behind an outcropping of fake trees, a green nylon net hung over... a mirror. But John was too smart for that. There were people behind that mirror. People taking notes on him, studying him. They wanted a show.
"Well," he scoffed. "If they want a show... that's what they'll get."
And backing away from the glass, he walked toward the "city" again and arrogantly leaned against a large tree. He waited.
He barely had to wait a minute when a circle of fire spread around him, threatening to encumber his human body. The flames started at one point and then spiraled around him, following the gasoline trail. It circled around him, spun and twisted until it was almost upon the mutant. But Pyro simply stood where he was, in the center of the blaze. Staring at the glass, he waited until the fire almost touched him and then...
Pyro lightly exhaled as if blowing out a single candle. And just like that, the fire had gone. John winked haughtily at the people that he could not see and opened the palm of his hand. Inside was a minute ball of the dangerous element. He rolled it inside of his palm, letting it dance wildly on the tips of his finger and then roll back down. Effortlessly he let it float into the air toward the panel of thick glass.
He could sense the people's interest. They were watching him in horror, interest, and utter fascination. Slowly, he expanded the small sphere and split it into seven identical shapes. Then every shape stretched out and spread across a decipherable distance. Pyro smirked as he spun his finger and made each shape turn to face the panel. The large shapes crackled with anger and burned two words. Behind the glass, a number of scientists gasped as they read his message: 'Fuck you.'
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"He's very far from here," Jean spoke worriedly. "But we could make it there in about an hour." Bobby and Rogue looked at her in confusion, "If he's far away, how could we make it there without speeding?" Jean turned to look at the two in the back seat of the car and caught Ororo's eye and smirked, "Oh, I'm sure we'll find a way." And with not so much as a hand gesture, the car shook and began to rise.
"Holy cow!" Exclaimed Bobby, "The car is flying!" Rogue excitedly leaned over Bobby's lap and peered out the window, "Wow. Jean, I didn't know you could do this." The red-haired woman just smiled and then shrugged, "Well, I've been practicing."
Logan frowned, "Yeah, great job, Jean. Now I have nothing to do! I thought you were going to let me speed..."
"Logan, we wouldn't think of it," Storm cut in. "We have children in the car and we must be responsible adults and set a decent example."
"'Decent example' my ass..."
"What was that, Logan?"
"Nothing," the man grumbled. Instead of verbally arguing, he leaned back his chair a purposefully bit too far and heard Ororo complain, "Logan, You are so childish! Please, raise your seat!" Wolverine only sat back further and replied, "Nah, I dun think I wanna." He was encouraged by the smothered laughter of the two teenagers in the back.
"Logan," Jean said sternly. And that ended that.
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A half an hour had passed. Test after test were thrown at him, and he had conquered them all effortlessly. Didn't they know that he could manipulate fire? What was the point to all of this! Now he sat leisurely against a half-burnt tree and let a small triangle of fire spin around on his knuckles. A small yawn escaped him, but then it grew. He found himself wondering about the people behind the glass.
He knew that they were studying him, yet he gave in to their bidding. He was practically following their orders! Suddenly, St. John felt outraged- his heart beat ridiculously fast, sending thick blood flowing to his brain, which made him even angrier. He had done exactly what they wanted him to do. He had put on a show for them...
'A show all right,' he thought darkly. 'The show of my exact powers.'
They now knew his mutation's abilities, the power, efficiency, the definitiveness. He had bowed to their will and had not even realized it! But maybe... maybe it wasn't too late.
"Mr. Allerdyce, you have been most helpful. Now, there will be one more test and we will release you from this room."
The loud speaker boomed but John pretended not to hear. His mind mocked the woman's voice. This room. Then they'll drag him off somewhere else to die. Probably some rat-infested, flooded, hellhole. He would settle for the blinding padded room if that were the case. He loathed too much water. Some was fine, but too much and you had trouble.
Then without warning, the new trial began. This was the last one and it was no sweat for Pyro. Hadn't they learned enough from him? "Apparently not," he muttered. Nevertheless, he had the strangest urge to acquiesce. But he followed the path that his arrogance so neatly paved for him and he just sat there, not doing anything at all.
John imagined the scientists behind the glass whispering to each other.
'What is he doing?'
'Why isn't he putting out the fire?'
John could puke. He was sick of these people and he wanted them all to die. He felt his temper try to break free from him, but he contained it for as long as possible.
It was time to play a different game.
Slowly, Pyro rose from the hard ground and faced his last test.
The whole room had been ignited and gave the impression of a burning, deadly inferno. The boiling heat was enough to make anyone pass out, but John held fast, using his mutation to invisibly keep most of the heat away from himself. He allowed enough to come through so that he was sweating; the scientists would want a good show. Then, raising both of his hands slightly, he clenched his fingers.
Nothing happened.
Of course this is what he intended. Make them think that his power was limited.
He was exhausted.
He needed rest.
Yes, make them think that. Make them think that his power came and went spontaneously, that it was weaker than anyone could imagine. He wanted them to hate him as he hated all of them. If he saw what any of them looked like, he would kill them; he would burn them all to ashes.
Still playing his role, Pyro flung out his hands one more time- not signaling his mutation. He then gave out a small cry and fell to the floor in a mock faint. Perfectly still, his body was, and he barely breathed at all. And then the door opened and people rushed in and grabbed his still form. The fire disappeared just as rapidly as it had came and John felt his body being raised.
Not sparing another moment, he sprung into action, exposing the flame that he still contained in his hand. He watched as every person erupted into immediate flame and screamed in agony and torture. Pyro ran for the door and flung himself into the hall. More people intercepted him, but a hasty dose of fire eradicated them. They wouldn't be hindering him any longer.
'And no one ever again.'
John felt himself laugh maliciously as he searched for a way out.
But despite his hurry, he did not get far when an eerily familiar voice sounded behind him. That voice rung through his entire body, chilling him to the bone. A sudden flashback of his fight with Bobby entered his mind. Pyro shivered.
This voice was the voice of death.
