Naturally the respite would not last. One day-I think it was a Tuesday- the teachers all had to rush out and save the world again. Very annoying when that happened, since that meant most classes were canceled until they either returned successfully or when we were all dead. I didn't know what the plot was this time, the students were generally not told, but I could easily find out later. In any case we had complete confidence that our teachers would handle everything.

I said that most classes were canceled. We still had what was known among the students as Powers class, which was held downstairs in the Danger Room. Since Professor Xavier taught that class it could continue. Each class had students with similar powers. We were in the comparatively small group of "psi" mutants, or kids with psychic powers. Spirit's abilities didn't fit that category exactly, but it was the closest classification possible. Besides, the teachers had figured out by this point that the best way to deal with the two of us was to keep us together. She seemed most confident when I was around, and I behaved better when she was there. Today, though, things seemed different.

Spirit wasn't acting like herself at all. She wouldn't let me enter her mind to talk to her, and was spending most of her time, while we were waiting for our turn in the Danger Room, hunched over, writing another song. I gave up and opened a new ghost story, and then tossed it aside in disgust when I saw how many clichés the author was using.

~Really,~ I said to Spirit, trying to get her to open up to me again, ~how many ghost stories are about revenge? You'd think an author could think up a different motive.~

No mental words, just a mental image of a safe closing, with a sign saying, "Do NOT open!"

~SS, what's WRONG with you today?~ I asked, exasperated. Suddenly her iron reserve broke down, and she fell backwards onto her bed with a silent sigh.

Her thoughts came out in a rush. ~Sorry, so sorry. I didn't mean to rebuff you, but I feel really weird today, nothing seems right, it's all so mixed up." She bolted up again. ~The teachers need to be HERE! This is where the danger is, but no, no, there's nothing they can do about this, oh dear oh dear.~ I felt her confusion and distress, but had no idea why.

~Do you have PMS?~ I asked her after a while.

~NO! Its, its...I don't know. But something's going to happen. Something bad.~

~Well, that's nothing new. Something bad happens to us every few days. The teachers can handle it.~ I was worried about how panicked she seemed.

She shook her head violently. ~No, they can't. I don't know what it will be, but they won't be able to cope. It's not a physical threat. I can feel it. Evil, evil, hatred, revenge...~ Spirit then moved over to sit across from me. ~You say revenge is a bad motive? Yes, but a very old and strong one. Strong enough to destroy...~ She shook herself like a wet cat. ~I feel really weird today.~

~Yeah, I can tell,~ I commented dryly. ~Sounds like me after I've had visions.~

Silent Spirit cocked her head. ~You have visions? You never told me that.~

I smiled because I'd managed to pull her out of her morbid mood. ~Plenty. Only when I physically see something that is related to it, though. Like if I see a painting of a real battle, I'll SEE the battle happening, as truly as you would see me. Future is rarer, but sometimes it happens. I prefer finding things, though, it's less frightening.~

~So do you ever feel like something's going to happen?~

~All the time.~ I glanced at my watch. ~And it's time for Powers.~

The class passed without incident. Professor Xavier had me try to extend the distances at which I could mind-talk, which left me exhausted. Non- mutants can't possibly understand what a drain trying to control your abilities is. Spirit was working on trying to talk to specific people, and listening to only one person at a time. At the end of the class we compared notes. My friend was still anxious, but being with the Professor had calmed her down. He had that effect on people.

~I was able to block out a whole bunch of people!~ she announced. ~When I really concentrated, like he told me to, I did it! It's so nice to not hear constant disembodied whispering from dozens of people at a time.~

~Congrats. I can now do telepathy with one wall between the other person and me! By the way, did you tell him about your premonitions?~

Sprit nodded solemnly. ~He says he'll tell the teachers when they return.~ Despite assuring me that she was okay, she asked me to leave her mind alone for the rest of the day. I did so, and she returned to her hunched position on her bed, broken arm carefully cradled, for the rest of the day. Her sunglasses seemed like a symbolic barrier between her and me. I eventually left the room to go ask Jim to help me with my science homework, and stayed to talk with him even though his roommate, Arty, the kid with the black forked tongue, got on my nerves. Arty kept making immature kissing noises while Jim was explaining cell division to me. He finally shut up after I threatened to tie the two sides of his tongue together and stick him in a refrigerator. Arty's still very proud of his physical mutation, even though the only actual power he has is that he has the metabolism of a reptile, only having to eat once a week, drink once every two days, and is cold- blooded.

That evening Storm, Cyclops, Wolverine, and Nightcrawler crawled back. All except for Wolverine needed to go down to the infirmary, which was now run by a mutant doctor we knew as X-Ray. Wolverine had of course healed. I saw him sitting in the kitchen and asked him how the mission went.

"Did you win?" I inquired.

He quit chugging his soda and looked at me. "Has the world as we know it ended?" he asked back.

"No."

"Then we won."

"What happened to the other teachers?"

"They're bruised, beaten and burned. That da-I mean darn," Storm was trying to get him to watch his language and set a good example for us, "fireboy nearly burned down the jet."

I grimaced. "Thanks," I said quietly. I felt pretty guilty, sitting back while they saved our futures. And I thought that I'd never be able to save them like that. My powers were of no use for combat.

Wolverine muttered, "Sometimes I wonder if I should really keep doing this." He got up and stumbled towards the hall. "Going to get some sleep. You better go too, Spy. Classes tomorrow."

"Goodnight," I said. ~Thank you so much,~ I added mentally. He turned, then continued on his way.

Spirit was still in the same spot back in our room, only now I could dimly see that she was in pajamas, with her sunglasses and the lights off. Her silver hair glistened enough for me to notice that her pajamas had little bird designs. ~Have you moved at all?~ I asked.

Without looking up from her book, one of my science fictions, she answered, ~You know that I'd have to move to change clothes.~

~Have you eaten anything?~

~No. Felt sick.~

I shook my head. ~Teachers might think you're becoming anorexic, you know.~

~Not if I throw up before I've eaten anything. I'll eat tomorrow, if I feel better.~

~Do you want to go to the infirmary?~

~I'll be fine. I snuck in and took some medicine. Besides, X-Ray will be busy with the teachers.~ In explanation she added, ~Jim stopped by and wrote me a note. About fifteen minutes ago. He said you were worried about me.~

~I was.~

~You can turn on the light if you like. This book's really good, by the way.~

~Glad you like it. Don't worry, your hair is enough light already.~ I changed and brushed my teeth. When I came out Spirit was still reading. I left her alone and fell asleep.

Someone was shaking me. Stop it, I thought. I was dreaming that my parents were on the news, saying what a horrible daughter I was. My little sister appeared next to me, shaking me. "Why did you mutate?" she asked me over and over. I tried to tell her that I didn't want to, but she was shaking me too hard. Then I heard a note of music, sharp and squealing, waking me up with a jerk.

It was Silent Spirit, holding her clarinet in one hand. Her fur was soaked in sweat, her eyes wild. She tossed her instrument back onto her bed. I immediately opened up my telepathy. ~Sorry,~ she said, ~it was the only sound I could make.~

~Bad dream?~

~Oh, if only! No. Please come with me. Where's Professor Xavier's room?~

That thoroughly woke me up. ~What? Why?~

~It's happened. I hope I wasn't too late. Oh crap, what if I was?~

~WHAT HAPPENED?~ I was out of bed by this time, putting on a pair of slippers.

Tears began to squeeze out of her eyes. ~He's attacking them. HIM. Just because he's dead won't stop him! We need to go, explain what's happening. We need to wake the Professor.~

I had a sinking feeling that I knew whom she was talking about. Even so, I asked, ~Who do you mean?~

~William Stryker.~