Chapter 15
The fireworks burst right next to Mystique's head. Her eyes rolled back and her body was left twitching on the floor.
Behind her, Jubilee was dashing in.
Nodding to Layla, Jubilee rushed to Will's side as his lips were turning blue. There was hardly any rise and fall of the chest as he struggled to breathe.
Swiftly, Layla knelt beside him and squeezed his limp hand. She tenderly lifted his head and supported it in her lap, trailing a hand across his face, the other pressing on his wounds, trying in vain to stop the outpouring of blood.
Will's hand suddenly squeezed Layla's. His brown eyes were piercing into Layla and savouring in the sight of her.
"Layla," whispered Will weakly.
He lifted a shaking hand to stroke her face trying to wipe the tears away. A tear drop landed softly on his cheek, mingling with his own.
"I love you… Layla…"
Despite Layla's pleas, his body went limp as unconsciouness took him.
--
The Commander was slowly waking in his wife's arms.
He seemed woozy but suddenly bolted up as straight a board.
"Magneto!" The Commander shouted.
Nearby, Mystique was also waking.
Seeing their enemy awake, Jubilee started to panic across the room. In a frenzy, she was erected a force field around Layla, Will and herself to protect them.
The force field was crackling with energy. The Commander rubbed his eyes and squinted. He could hardly make out the form of his son behind it. "Will!"
The Commander was about to charge when his wife gripped his wrist hard.
"You can't penetrate that force field," Josie said softly. "There's nothing more we can do for him."
Steve locked eyes with Josie. He gave one more glance at the waking Mystique. Then sighed.
"Then we will go find Royal Pain," he said.
"I think you are too late," came Mystique's voice behind them.
As though what she said was prophetic, a loud rumble could be heard.
It was anti-gravitational device dying.
She smiled before leaping away. "One more problem for you to deal with."
The Commander curled his hand into a fist, dashing after her. Determined she would not get away.
Suddenly he staggered. The floor was dropping beneath him as the school fell.
Layla and Jubilee were screaming. The g-force caused Jubilee's heart to sink to her stomach and the force field to disappear.
The Commander cursed inwardly as he realized he had to stop the school from dropping out of the sky.
"Josie!" yelled the Commander. "Help me! I have to stop this thing!"
Josie nodded. She lifted the ultra heavy Commander, carrying him in her arms as she flew outside in the thundering night.
--
"There's nothing we can do!" said Layla. Please Commander and Jetstream, don't let us die, she prayed. Save us.
Flying and supporting the Commander, Josie continued to lift her husband as he pushed upwards. The pair was a miniscule dot beneath the dropping school.
"Josie!" The Commander said. "I don't know if I can stop it… I can only slow it down."
"You've got to try!" Josie yelled through the wind as the school dome continued to plummet.
Against the dark night, they struggling fruitlessly against its inexorable path downwards while in the distance, a jet carrying Mystique, Magneto and Royal Pain powered into the distance.
--
The ground was fast rushing up at them. The Commander and Josie screamed as the Commander pushed with all the remaining energy he had.
Beads of sweat were forming on the Commander's forehead. His arm muscles were bulging, so large, it seemed like his own skin cannot contain them any longer.
"Josie, save yourself!" Steve screamed. He could try to cushion the impact by himself once on the ground.
"No!" she shook her head determinedly beneath him. She only grasped onto him harder, unwilling to let go.
"Josie…"
"Let us… be together…"
The school was slowing down… but they knew what was going to happen was inevitable.
They were going to crash.
--
Entire suburban homes were crushed by the impact. They crumbled as though they were made of dust.
Birds chirped and emerged out of nearby trees, screeching.
With an earthshaking thud, it landed like a giant meteor, creating a choking cloud of dust.
--
The entire gym shook as the school dome came to a thundering stop.
We're still alive! Thought Jubilee silently. Jubilee, Layla and Will were lying on the ground. Will in Layla's arms. Jubilee sprawled nearby.
The night was otherwise silent except for Layla's shallow breathing.
Suddenly, Jubilee sprang into action. She shook Layla violently. "Come on. We have to get out of here."
Layla did not respond. She was staring right through Jubilee as her body shook.
"Layla!"
She was still frozen when sirens sounded in the distance.
--
Warren and his company staggered as the earthquake shook Maxville Metropolis. The cloud of dust assaulted them and they coughed involuntarily. Dimly, they heard coughs, car doors slamming, tires screeching, as any remaining people shouted and fled.
"What was that?" Pyro's voice cut into his consciousness.
"I don't kn –" Warren said. Then his eyes discovered the fallen dome ahead. A look of pure unbridled anger crossed Warren's face as he looked at the fallen school which was more like a gigantic missile. He cursed.
He was frozen. The reality of the situation was sinking in.
Layla… Will… I've got to help them! He thought.
Ambulances began whooshing past, causing strands of his dark hair to blow into his face. Beneath them, his face was the pure embodiment of anger.
Warren abandoned all fear and charged towards the fallen school.
--
Suddenly, a wall of fire materialised before him, barring his way.
"What are you doing?" Warren shouted in hysterical rage as he turned around saw Pyro, this time his arms were energized with intensely wild fire.
"Warren," Pyro said coolly. "This is not our battle. We need to stop Magneto. NOW."
Warren was still snarling. He looked like he was about to roast Pyro alive.
"Warren," came Battle's calm voice. "He's right."
Warren snarl vanished as he turn his head at the sound of his father's voice. His chest was still heaving up and down. His eyes were darting between the fallen dome, Pyro and Battle. Suddenly, the fire on his arms were quenched. And the group breathed a sigh of relief.
"So…" Battle continued. "Where is Magneto?"
Pyro replied a matter-of-factly. "I think he'll be at the center of Metropolis. And that means… Metropolis Tower. It's be where the radiation could be distributed best."
Warren finally spoke. "Well… how can we get there?"
Pyro gave a mischievous smile as he eyed an abandoned taxis nearby.
"I have an idea."
