Samuel sat around the round poker table with four others, smoking a cigar and enjoying the game. It had been a while since he had last had some free time to himself. Erik had always liked to keep him busy. In a way he was glad he had screwed up on the recruiting missing.
He had won three rounds and was about to win his fourth when his cell phone rang. "Hello." He growled.
"You vacation is over. Pack your bags." The voice crackled from the other end and hanged up.
"Shit." He growled again. "I'm going to have to fold gentlemen… business."
"Dat a real shame." The voice of another player spoke up. "Remy was looking forward to clean you out."
"Maybe next time." Samuel spoke as he got up from the table, grabbed his winnings and exited the building.
Charles managed to receive Todd's message. He had been keeping tabs on the mutant since he had left the mansion.
Charles had contacted both Scott and Logan through telepathy and had told them to get Todd out of the school unnoticed.
It was harder done then said. The school was in the middle of third lunch.
Logan had taken his jacket and bike helmet and placed them on the injured mutant. They walked out of the school to the limo waiting for them outside. They had gotten some strange looks, but no one stopped them; Charles was busy distracting the security guards' minds from inside the limo.
Charles couldn't risk going to the hospital again. They had been weary about taking a mutant patient the first time. He would have to mend Todd's wounds himself.
Todd's whole body ached, again, as he awoke in his bed back at the mansion.
"You luck continues to hold out." A voice spoke from across the room.
Todd blinked his eyes a few times, waiting for his vision to fully to return. He saw a man sitting in a chair by the doorway. He looked relatively young, had blonde hair that was combed back and was dressed in a red sweater with blue khakis. "Who are you?" Todd asked.
"A friend." The man got up and walked to the edge of the bed. "My name is Erik Lensherr. But you may know me as Magneto."
"Magneto?" Todd questioned the name. Searching his memory for a reference. "Oh… right. You're the guy that sent me that letter. Something about a mutant strike force."
"Training force, yes. I'm creating a group of mutants strictly committed to fighting for mutant supremacy."
"Really? How many you got?"
"Currently just two. Myself and my associate whom you met in the cafeteria. But you are just one of many prospects."
"Your associate is the reason I am here in the first place."
"Yes. Yes, I am sorry about that. I did tell him to avoid violence." Erik lied. "He has been dealt with accordingly. You need not worry about an outburst like that again."
"Well there is a lot I don't need to worry about seeing has how I already said I wasn't interested."
"In light of the circumstances I was hoping you had changed your mind."
"You think I'm going to change my mind because a couple of jerks acted me in the bathroom?"
"No, I think your going to change your mind because of couple of jerks tried to kill you in the bathroom."
"Do delusions of grandeur mean anything to you?" Todd asked. "It was my fault anyway. I shouldn't have gone back there. I could have visited Jason at his house instead of trying to sneak back into school."
"I can see Charles has already started to plague your mind with false hopes." Erik brought the chair by to door closer to the bed and sat down in it. "How can you lie there and say that those wounds are your fault? How can you just let those fucks go on with their lives with no repercussions?"
"I never said I wouldn't get them back. I just said that I should have been more careful."
"Ah, so you're not as good hearted as you are trying to appear to be."
"You trying to imply stuff I'm not saying." Todd was getting frustrated. His wounds were hurting more from the talking, and he had already decided he didn't like this guy, whoever he was. "I'm not going to kill the guys… just scare them a little bit."
"That would take some time. Seeing as how you're all wrapped up. And do you think that Xavier will let you out of his site so easily next time."
"Maybe it's better this way. I really don't know if I could control myself."
"COME ON!" Erik almost yelled as he jumped up from his chair. "Stop changing your mind. Mutants will never have a place in this world unless they stay strong to there beliefs and take action." He paused, regaining control over his emotions. "Do you or do you not want to see them pay?"
"I… don't." Todd sighed.
"I see. Then it is already to late for you."
"What?"
"You have been locked up in here for to long. You have spent too much time trying to be human. You have grown weak, just as everyone in this house has grown weak." He paused again, letting his words settle into Todd's ears. He knew he fully had his attention now. "I could take care of it for you." He whispered. "Just say the word."
"Are you crazy?" Todd asked.
"Just think it over…" Erik began.
"I don't know how you got in here." Todd stated. "But I think it's time you left."
Erik looked into the other mutant's eyes. He knew he had accomplished what he had come to do. "Fair enough." He spoke softly. "But I find it hard to believe that anyone one has that much forgiveness in their heart. Especially when they have the chance for revenge." He turned to leave.
"Wait." The voice stopped him as he reached the doorway.
Josh Metcalf and his lackeys were exiting the connivance store, already drinking the beer they had bought with their fake ids.
They entered the alleyway that was the short cut back to Josh's house. They had planned a night of X-box Live, drinking and partying while his parent's were gone for the weekend. They didn't expect that their plans were about to change.
Samuel was hiding behind one of the dumpsters in the alley; he emerged from its side when he heard them approach.
"Out of our way." Josh ordered not even stopping.
"How do you plan to make me?" Samuel asked.
Josh laughed as he looked back to his lackeys. "It's just one of those weeks isn't boys?" He turned back around and tried to plunge his fist into Samuel's stomach.
Samuel was expecting an attack; he grabbed Josh's wrist and twisted it back, shattering the bones.
Josh screamed in pain. Samuel gripped his neck with his other hand and lifted him into the air. "What are you doing?" Josh was panicking.
Samuel snarled his teeth in a growl.
"Mutant?" Josh asked, terror in his voice.
"I don't like your kind around here." Samuel growled the familiar words back towards Josh and the others. "I guess I'm going to have to teach you a lesson."
Josh screamed again as the grip on his throat tightened. With one swift motion Samuel snapped it and let the lip body fall to the ground.
The two lackeys, who were previously frozen by confusion, quickly turned and started to run away. Samuel chased after them and quickly over came them.
The bodies of the three teenagers were found later the next day buried in one of the dumpsters, maimed to shreds.
