Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine, except for Aurora, Granite and Serpentine, and the weapons I gave to Orion, plus her name. But the character itself remains Marvel's. Plot is mine though.

Throughout story: " " = Speech ' ' = Thoughts ^ ^ = Telepath

Chapter 37

Sun glistened over a white covered building, snow fell ever so gently from the crystal coloured sky of grey to slowly be carried on by a passing breeze. The sun sat high in the sky, watching over the peaceful scene of the beautiful landscape; a rolling countryside of white, in the far background a buzzing and alive city. A large jet was parked outside the grey-bricked building, which dominated this corner of tranquil suburbs.

If one listened hard enough and tore their senses from the sights and sounds of this picturesque landscape, crying and screaming lingered in the breeze, echoing and mournful. It seemed distant, as if it was carried along in a mysterious dream, calling out to you from a place that you cannot reach, no matter how much your heart lusts and your soul cries.

Inside the building was a different layout. Unwelcoming surroundings of what used to be a human's prison, now free of convicts since standard's for criminal's had risen from such murky and dank conditions.

Cold and damp, narrow corridors lined with unused prison cells, dirtied light bulbs hanging from the grubby ceiling, breeze from barred windows causing them to sway, sending the light over the floor, then the wall then back, swinging back and forth hypnotically. Row after row of these corridors, all alike ran through this building, all meeting up to the centre on the upper floor to a large hallway that was free of prison cells.

"Come on! Get on with it!" Barked Magneto, his arm folded as he waited impatiently for students to line up, 'helped' by the chasing of Serpentine. It was no wonder that it took so long, for there was over a hundred students. However, no matter how much the students tried to resort using their powers, a swift blast of fire from Pyro or a collection of whizzing disks from Orion shut the students up, causing the only sound to be terrified whimpers.

All four walls of the centre room now had students pinned against it harshly by rows of broken bars that were once parts of the prison doors. Magneto watched them all, his expression pleased as he surveyed their capture.

"Welcome!" Cried Magneto, his voice flying off towards the terrified ears of the students, the sound hitting and echoing off the cold walls of the hall.

All crying came to an abrupt halt, most students hardly daring to breath before the man that was well known within their school as an enemy of the X- Men. They had all heard the stories, for the news had quickly flashed around to ears of each student, the tale that had a more violent victory each time, more absurd attacks and more incredible injuries.

"Sorry about the conditions." Added Magneto, glancing around with an exaggerated expression of disgust, "I mean look at the dust on this ledges." He drawled, sneeringly. His hand lifted to press the bars more firmly against the students that surrounded him, each one pinned to the walls, "You'll cope. I'm sure."

"I shall now tell you why you are here! Because you are uninformed children! You have been deprived of facts that Xavier thinks you are not worthy of! He thinks you can't cope with the real true terror that cause this war!" Magneto cried triumphantly, eyes gleaming as his message slammed into the revving brains of each alert student who stared across with fear and awe at the man proclaiming this.

Orion and Granite stalked the edges of the hall, flashing glare to each student that dared to divert their attention. Pyro and Mystique stood firmly by the side of Magneto, whose hand kept a grip over Pyro's right shoulder. Serpentine however lingered in the shadows, sat upon a large window ledge, occasionally glancing out through the barred space then back over the group, her black eyes drifting over each inhabitant slowly, casually.

"But you shall be informed!" He roared, continuing, "You shall know! You shall finally know the truth and join us! Because the fate of mutants is now held within your hands, without your cooperation, it's all over! Xavier has doubted you all for too long! It's - "

"LIAR!"

*** To view pictures and detailed profiles of my created characters, visit: (www.freewebs.com/xwotw)

Ooooh! A bit foolish that. Magneto won't be happy.