It still amazes me how many of you are reviewing. You're so much better than the ones who read my Power Rangers stories. I'm lucky if I get four a chapter!
As a very special treat, I decided to post this two days earlier than intended. As I've already explained to one reviewer, the temptation to put the plot on full thrust is massive. I've got SO much planned. I just hope you'll still be here for when the REAL stuff begins!
Any mistakes? Please let me know! Read on!
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'The Demon in Me'
By Sergeant Scarlett
Chapter Three: Not One of Us
Wrapped around his head and over both his eyes was a thick bandage. And that's when it hit Marie.
He couldn't see.
The whole room fell into a deathly silence, many students holding their breath in fear of what might happen next. Marie was almost too scared to turn and face Bobby, and as she did, she immediately regretted it. The Iceman's whole expression was blank, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief. Marie knew what he was thinking.
It's a trick. My imagination is playing games with me. This isn't John Allerdyce. It's not Pyro either. Both of them are gone.
Professor Xavier broke the uncomfortable quietness that held the room. "Welcome back, John. We were just discussing what defines our abilities as mutants. Would you care to join us?"
Finally, John spoke.
"Us?" he said sharply, but with a stammer that shook his voice violently.
"Yes, John," Storm replied carefully. "This is the Professor's Mutant Ethics class."
John did not respond to this, making the class feel even more uneasy. After a while, he merely nodded. Scott led him to a spare seat near the front next to Bobby. Marie held her breath as Bobby watched John be guided into the chair. Unable to fully comprehend that his old friend was sitting next to him, Bobby suddenly shot out of his seat and stormed out of the room, pushing past Logan and Storm on the way.
"Who – who was that?" came John's voice, turning his head to the source of the noise.
No-one dared to answer him. John hung his head almost shamefully.
With a nod of approval from the Professor, Scott, Storm and Logan retreated from the room, leaving the class staring at John.
"If you could all avert your attention to me," the Professor interrupted, "we can resume the lesson." The class did so, though reluctantly. "Good, now, where were we?"
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Feeling completely isolated and alone, John only just managed to restrain himself throughout the lesson. He felt the accusing gazes of his fellow students burning into him, so unlike the familiar feeling of his fire. It was cold and lonely knowing no-one cared if he were alive or dead.
He wondered who was in the class with him. He could count on the fact that Bobby Drake had left in a hurry before, meaning that the rest of the class were the older students: Colossus, Jublilation Lee, Warren Worthington III, Kitty Pryde and Rogue. Three of them had been there at Alcatraz, watching him send fiery vehicles at them, and duelling with Bobby. What must they be thinking?
Pyro betrayed us.
He joined Magneto.
Pyro is a terrorist.
He can't be trusted.
And the worst one of all…
He's not one of us.
For the chance to be accepted for what he was, John had left. He wanted to be appreciated. When here at school, he was held back, put in detention for doing the stupidest things. None of them understood. Drake, Kitty, the others…they were weak. They refused the embrace their abilities. Rogue especially. John wondered if Rogue actually had had the guts to not go through with taking the Cure. Perhaps she was different from the rest of them.
As Xavier was babbling on about using one's powers for destructive means, John shifted in his seat. Although not deliberately directed at him, he felt the class stare at him. The uncomfortable feeling returned.
Pain suddenly flashed across his head. His hand flew to the spot, mentally cursing himself. Ever since they took him into that prison facility it'd be happening. Headaches disappearing faster than they'd appeared. Coming over faint, and then feeling as right as rain. It was disturbing to say the least. Ever since…
The shrill ringing of the bell shocked the pain in his forehead further. And then it vanished. Students were out of the room quickly, some even purposely knocking John's shoulder or desk as they passed. Rage boiled inside of him. The temptation of turning them all to ash was immensely powerful, but it was useless. He had to be a good boy now. It was either that or the death sentence.
That was what the court had decided. Xavier himself had been present.
Pyro was led by two armed prison officers into the stand. Chatter in the jury subsided at once, obviously glaring at him.
The trial continued in a most uninteresting fashion. Many presented evidence: military generals, police officers, the list was endless. All of them said the same thing.
"This boy is a menace. He's a bad-tempered, mouthy teenager with no regard for anyone but himself. He was lazy in school and won't listen to anyone. To top it all, he's a mutant, and a dangerous one. He can manipulate fire into anything he wants. He was a real danger when he joined Magneto. He has no self-control and is a liability in society. He cannot be reprimanded."
Pyro listened to all this with white hot anger. He longed to show them just how dangerous he was. He wanted to burn…to kill…
After hearing all the evidence from witnesses of Alcatraz and the incident at Bobby's house, the jury had made their decision. The head of the jury stood, and read in a clear, controlled voice.
"For the attempted murder of numerous individuals; guilty.
"For the bodily harm of many; guilty.
"For use of mutant abilities against the Mutant Control Act; guilty.
"And for attempted arson; guilty."
Pyro betrayed no emotion at that moment. He suspected he should be feeling guilty or remorseful. He didn't.
The Judge cleared his voice.
"John Allerdyce, you are hereby sentenced to death by lethal injection with immediate effect. Until such a time can be arranged, you will be in solitary confinement. Do you unders-"
"Excuse me, your Honour," cut in an all too familiar voice. Pyro recognised it as Professor Xavier's. "May I propose an alternative?"
He did. Xavier's idea was to bring John Allerdyce back to the school for mutants outside New York. Here he would be rehabilitated slowly into society. If he behaved and kept out of trouble for two years, he would be released with community service. If not, the lethal injection would still be waiting for him.
"Done."
For a moment, Pyro felt like the luckiest guy in the world. He just escaped death, again. Then he really thought about his sentence. Back the school to turn him into a teacher's pet?
It was going to be hell.
"John?"
Analysing the voice, John concluded that it was Rogue. She'd stayed behind.
"John? I was just, um…wondering if you were okay, I suppose."
He imagined her scanning his new physicalities: the scar, the thin frame, the bandage around his wounded eyes. John could feel her repulsion boring into him.
"If you'd like to show John back to his room, Marie?" came the Professor's voice.
Marie?
"Sure, Professor," gushed Rogue. "If that's okay with you, of course?"
John refused to answer.
"Right then, I'll just…help you up…"
John was astounded when he felt not the synthetic feel of gloves gripping his wrists, but skin. Smooth, warm skin, heavenly soft against his. And he didn't feel as though the life was being sucked out him either. As she cautiously helped him to stand, he realised what she'd done.
She took that fucking Cure. No wonder she doesn't go by Rogue anymore…
Rogue led him from the classroom and down the corridor. He very reluctantly held to her, letting her guide him. Once or twice he heard growls of disapproval as they passed people.
John despised it. He hated having to rely on anyone but himself with a burning, fiery passion. There'd only ever been one person to look out for him; himself. No one had ever cared before. And now it wasn't that he wanted help. He needed it. He needed it to survive, no matter how much he hated to admit it. With the loss of his eyes, John felt nothing less than his pride vanish with a painful flash.
"Here we are," he heard Rogue say. "I'll just show get you inside."
He listened as she pushed open the door. She led him to the bed and helped him sit.
"Right, I'll just go then, John."
Okay.
"I'll see you later, I suppose."
Whatever.
"John. John! Please say something."
Take a hint and leave. Now.
"John! Answer me! John! Pyro?"
"Don't call me that," he snarled when he finally found his voice.
"What?"
"Pyro."
"Why? That's your name, isn't it? The one you insisted one being called." He hated hearing the irony laced into her Southern accent.
"It was my name. Not any more," he said through gritted teeth, feeling his chest tighten.
"But…I don't understand!" she exclaimed.
John was seething. "They took it away from me."
"How?" she said incredulously.
His silence was the only answer she needed.
They'd forcibly given him the Cure.