Sorry I haven't posted in a while, but I just started a new job and it been taking up all my time.
CHAPTER FOUR: RED LINES
Emma Frost stretched her legs, her breath coming in short puffs. In her mind and through her ears she could hear the sounds of fighting. Close behind her the gym teacher Tom's pounding footsteps only added to the confusing noise.
Time seemed to slow as they got closer to the bright clearing. Emma's eyes followed the line of fallen students strung among the trees until it landed on Jubilee and Husk.
Jubilee lash out.
Emma watched in horror as her crystalline-skinned student slammed hard into a bolder with a explosion of fireworks. A thousand red hairline cracks splintered through the body.
Even as Emma looked on in shock, her mind worked overtime scanning the minds of her students and their enemies. She disabled every one mind that wasn't one of her students.
Then she noticed a tall, pale man running away. She reached out with her mind and twisted. Nothing happened. Mentally she nudged Tom, who turned his stungun on the man and dropped him.
Even as she bent over Skin, who was closest she was mentally calling for Iceman and Beast who were touring as guest lecturers this week.
*I need you here. Now. And bring stretchers.* She cut the connection before either could query her.
Emma barely spared Jubilee a glance when she finally made she way to Husk.
Jubilee didn't even notice. She just sat staring at her hands in mute horror until Tom gently shook her. "We need to check the others." He spoke gently, but Jubilee wasn't listening.
Emma's hand trembled as she gently passed it over Paige, never quite touching the cracked crystal. She slipped a tendril of thought into Paige's mind. It was there, barely. She gently tried to move Paige some, but the red cracks spread, stopping her. There was no conscious form beneath to husk a new form and blood seeped through the larger fissures.
After a brief moment, Emma wiped a solitary tear away, her face falling into its familiar mask. Knowing she could do nothing more for Husk a that moment she moved to check on her other students. Among her students Emma silently raged at her own helplessness to have stopped this. She should have been here, should of done something, but instead she could only wait for help from the outside.
Emma finally came back to Jubilee, who seemed to be the only unhurt one. "What happened here? Why didn't you run." Jubilee just stared at her dumbly, her expression and mind blank. Emma bit her lip in worry and reached down to pulled Jubilee up in her arms. "It's going to be okay. But I need your help now."
Jubilee stared at Emma, dry-eyed. Finally something moved in her eyes and she nodded.
Out of breath and carrying every medical supply they hold Bobby and Hank finally arrived. They were shocked into silence when their eyes fell on the prone children. Only Jono and Jubilee were on their feet. Jono's bandages and chest were torn to shreds.
Hank recovered first, "Bobby, check on Angelo. Tom, see to Everett and Monet. Jubilation, please help them." As everyone began to react to his orders, Hank himself moved over to help Emma with Paige.
Jono moved silently with Emma, recited the events even as the moved to help Generation X.