Alex's last reply rang in my head while I fell asleep. He knew, of course, that I shut off my brain for the night. I think he said good night, but I wasn't completely sure. Feelings of security embraced my unsettled ponderings this time. Not feelings of fear or disgust, uncertainty or hatred: just safety and love. My heart swelled for the first time since the death of my mom. Optimism is what she cherished the most because without hope, you're lost and without having a bright out look on everything, you feel abandoned. In turn, I don't know if I made myself do this or not, but I had positive out looks in my dreams. Dreams of my mom happy and proud with my dad and me. Soon, I found myself in our usual place at church. Warm incense filled the air and our hearts, opening them up for the Lord. Serenity appeared here and there hugging me or telling jokes, wearing bright, dancing colors. Mike, clean and unscratched, walked with me in the forest, safe and sound, waiting for the sunset. Discovering that I am a mutant didn't mess with me anymore, I accepted myself.
For once I awakened before the early riser, Mike. He hadn't moved at all, not even a twitch. I slammed him with strong wind. Brown hair flailed in the blast then calmed down. Nothing. He is worse than my dad! I approached Mike with confidence, putting (literally) my best foot forward. Though I did, initially, have a fairly good sense of balance, I tumbled over a gnarled root and my elbow planted into the soft ground, the mud cooling my sweater. Trees prevented the weak rays of the sun from reaching our shriveled bodies. And at that moment, looking over the past week or so, I realized that I am a complete klutz. No doubt about it. That must have been obvious since junior high. I managed to dig my nails into the ground to hoist myself up from the damp smelling grass to shake Mike. Expecting to feel his warmth, I bent down to shake him. But no, my hands had to plunge into him, striking the forest floor once again. Quickly, I flipped over and lay there.
"Why are you waking me up? And why does everything hurt?...Nevermind I remember." Mike talked between stretches.
"I don't think that is the question. I think the question is: Why didn't you wake up?" I rolled over and popped right up.
I never really expected for us to be quiet until now. We've been walking since 10:15 this morning and now it is three in the afternoon. My stomach gave the sensation it was biting itself from within. This made me wonder if Mike was mad at me. Was it because I had run out of snacks? No, it can't be. Whatever, it doesn't matter anyway. The forest thinned out to a few trees here and there, but it is very dark and eerie out today.
"We should be there in a minute or two." Mike croaked. Then it hit me, we have not drank anything since last night. I attempted to talk, but the words and my voice were stuck in my throat. I reached into my pocket and felt around. Gum!
"Here, take this." I offered. I peeled back the silver wrapper and lift it to my mouth, the fresh aroma teasing my taste buds.
"Thanks… Wow this is a big building." Mike mumbled. Seven large buildings lay before our eyes. Rust crusted the buildings creating an old, battered look. The environment surrounding those buildings were dark as night. The menacing clouds swallowed the sun, capturing the radiating heat. What hit us hard as odd is the fact that there are no guards at all. No one. A hand tapped my shoulder and apparently did the same to Mike. A flash of annoyance reflected in his face. No soul could blame him, what we are about to do something is serious and could cause us our lives.
"Remember you guys. You can't use your abilities until you destroy the panels." Alex's voice boomed in our heads.
"Okay, so how are we going to do this?" Mike scratched his head. The buildings are placed strategically in the middle of a painfully open plain. The only cover we have is the fact that it is eerily dark right at this moment. If only we could find some shrubbery.
"Over there Renee." Mike crept up to my side, pointing towards the place I was trying to discover. I obediently nodded and followed him around the edge of the forest. Clumps of trees and bushes gave way to a semi pathway lined with stumpy bushes here and there. We ducked our heads once we reached the "pathway", putting one foot after another mechanically. Our breathing became harsh and blood feverishly rushed to my head. The "pathway", in reality, was not that long: in fact it was incredibly short. However, each step that was taken by Mike and me took thirty seconds minimum. Our cover kept shrinking, forcing us to scrunch down in an awkward position. Sneaking around shouldn't be this hard when you are this young. At least that is what I have always thought. Mike flinched each time a twig cracked or a leaf fell. Finally, we reached the locked door. Red splotches were everywhere on this door that holds the fate of possibly every mutant and human being. Blood, rust, paint? God only knows. One of the biggest moments in my life is about to happen, so of course I am confused and having second thoughts. But something is weighing my heart down.
"Hey Mike. I needa tell you something." I tapped him on the shoulder. No sign of annoyance on his face.
"Yeah." He examined every inch of the door.
"Are you mad at me?" I had to ask. He looked at me confused.
"No. Why would you ask? Did I say something in a wrong way?" He tried making sense of it.
"Well… No, but… I don't know. I feel like your irritated." I admitted.
"Okay. I lied about my family twice to you and I feel bad about it. The truth is that my parents abandoned me when they found out about me being a mutant. I do have a brother in the military, but he abandoned me as well. I have been living alone since I was fifteen. Your dad arranged for me to live in this apartment where he would pay my rent until I was able to pay on my own. I have just been thinking about this these past couple days." He sniffed.
"That is terrible Mike! I am so sorry!" I hugged him. The unexpected sympathy from me at first surprised him and he stiffened. After a couple of seconds he relaxed and returned the favor. Bitter tears dripped onto my head. His heart must be broken, torn into pieces like that.
"We have to go on now. This is what we do. You get into those bushes over there and I will go to the ones parallel from those. We have to draw the attention from the guards inside, so we will have to throw pebbles at the door on my signal. When the guard comes out, I will distract him and you go inside to find and destroy those panels as well as save those people inside." Mike bent over and whispered clearly into my ear. I tried not to trip and fall as I was tiptoeing to "my" bush. Leaves pricked my gunshot wound. I squirmed, biting my tongue. Pain burned my leg up to my eye, as weird as that is. But I had to go on. I needed to buck up. Even darker in the shelter of the bushes, I miraculously found seven pebbles. I poked my head out, wincing at a leaf pricking my eye. Tears formed, sliding down my face. Blinking away the tears, I saw a dirty hand signaling for me to commence in this nearing battle we will soon face. Every single muscle screamed in desperation not to throw anything, but to rest. My mind quarreled with my bones and won. I need to save Serenity and my dad. Taking a deep breath, I threw the two pebbles at the door. Mike followed, but with more strength and grace. The door creaked to reveal a rather scrawny man. From the little openings the leaves allowed, my eyes spotted another object flying in the air and hitting the light skinned man square in the head. He grunted and leaned to the left, making towards Mike. Excitement mixed with the fear of failure, powering my mind to become doubtful. My heart told me different, so I zipped up my sweater and tightened my backpack. I backed up bracing myself for what is yet to come. The shrieks of Mike in pain made me cry, but there was no time.
Looking at the scrawny man, he produced spikes everywhere in his body, puffing him up into a porcupine. Luckily he left the door wide open and I slipped through. The interior was just as dark, but more depressing than its counterpart. Water trickled down the rough stone walls that separate the cries of the innocent lives in this Hell from the unknowing world that may never see this crime. The room that I have gotten myself into stunk of urine and putrid poo. How gross and disgusting, living in this! I couldn't bare it and I have only been in here for less than a minute. What about the people who have been living in this for years? Another door that leads to my dad caught my angered eyes. I rammed my shirt to my nose and picked my way to the door to twist the doorknob. I opened it ever so slightly and peaked. Two other rooms such as this one were situated on the opposite sides of this hallway. As I snuck around, cages came to my attention. Cages that were filled with the young lives of mutants. Spanning from babies to at least eleven year olds, their faces sunk in unable to shed more tears. As I peered closer, I noticed that they had some weird sign burned into them. A snake? Yes that is what it is, a snake. Why would a snake be burned onto these people? A little boy became aware that I was here, peeking at bits and pieces of their condition.
"Help us." He mouthed.
"I am." I whispered softly. Who does this? This is pure torture and inhuman. How can these people just stand and watch? Just then, laughing could be heard from one of the morbid rooms. Thinking quick, I looked around. Nothing, just this hallway of starving children. That is until I spotted a reflection in the dim light. Keys, transparent keys. Smart. I held my breath and snatched the keys. I searched for the "best" cage to hide. The cage that contained the girl was in a darker place, and the corner of it could easily conceal me.
"Shh. I am helping you guys, but you have to be quiet." I informed every one in the hallway, unlocking the cage of girl of possibly ten years old. The girl stepped out of my way as I relocked the rusted door. I scrambled into the corner, grabbing her blanket.
"Hey what is your name?" I tried breaking the ice. I wrapped myself head to toe into the blanket, rolling to the very back of the cage against the wall.
"Missy." She stayed facing the cage.
"I am Renee. Nice to meet you." I mumbled through the damp blanket. The clanking sound of boots marched down the hallway, echoes following the footsteps.
"Where is the key Missy?" A high-pitched voice of a man demanded. Vibrations messaged my back. The panel is in here? Can't anyone of the kids tell?
"I don't know." She lied.
"Do you want to be burned again?" He threatened, grabbing her dress' collar.
"No." Missy whimpered.
"Then tell me where the darn keys are!" He put one hand on the lock, melting it. I kneed the panel, flipping around, unraveling the blanket, and propelled myself forward, bouncing off of the ground with the help of my trusty ability.
"I have it!" I exclaimed. The man's eyes were flared with anger and glowed red with intensity. With a snap, his arms combusted into flames. This should be fun. Automatically, I thrust my hands forward. The flame did not go out this time. I somersaulted out of the prison, kicked the door open. Bright red flames surged at me, but I blocked the blow. Five other men came out from the rooms. Two of which are twins. I couldn't pay much more attention. I ran and jumped off of the wall, jabbing the fiery man. He didn't seem affected by it and kept throwing blows at me. I collapsed to the ground with my barrier still up. Everything was fuzzy and the feeling in my legs went away.
"What? No way!" I mumbled to myself. Coughing was the only thing that could be heard from me. I shook, lifting my fist up, hoping for two results. Slowly, I regained the feeling in my legs and the fuzziness went away. Heat no longer radiated from the red-eyed man, instead he stiffened and died. The biggest man of all, however, still stood, thinking there was no way I was to survive. Another mutant able to control air, someone who could match me step by step. I looked up, the other five people acted strange: they just stood there.
"What are you—" I twisted my head. Two blurs of black passed my sight and landed on me. I huffed without the ability to breath at all. Nor was I able to move, having two fully-grown men crush my lungs. Somehow I was hearing all that was going on. Apparently Mike had come in, stunned by the sight and rushed to rescue me, but was ambushed. I don't know how, but I just know. Fading in and out of consciousness, I could feel pressure building in my head, my eyes feeling as if they were going to pop out at any moment. This is it, we failed. All of a sudden, a bloodcurdling scream rushed passed my ears, muffling the noises of scared children. Air flooded my lungs and I felt light once more.
"Mike?" I stayed down, recapturing my breath.
"I'll explain later." Mike wiped crimson drops from his mangled forehead.
"Mike, look out!" I yelled. A human, crazed and horrified, charged Mike. Standing on one foot, he snatched a pin from my hair. Red pulses of energy rippled along the pin. While the pin charged, the pulses formed into a cross and then two words formed above it: "I am". In a flash it was gone, and I was left with the feeling of hope. Mike saw it too and wobbled then shot the measly scrap of metal, targeting the huge lump of muscle that charged at Mike. No time was available to let out a screech of dismay for the pitiful man. After the ordeal, none of the men that came were alive.
"…Huh?" I lifted myself up partially.
"I promise that I didn't find this out until a few minutes ago." He urged.
"I got the kids." A young girl transformed into a woman.
"This is really her. She has been waiting for this day to come for a long time." The young girl that I shared a cell with tapped me.
"I guess we'll have to trust her." I swapped glances with Mike. Letting out a deep breath, he agreed with some resistance.
"Good luck." The woman shook our hands.
Nothing changed outside, but that is not entirely true. A contorted man lay, fried, on the grass.
"Renee watch out!" Mike warned me. He started towards me, confused, with a pebble in his hand. In a flash, the charged pebble flung out of hands. I ducked drawing up a barrier. The impact propelled me backwards into the air. I flipped, barley grazing a tree stump.
"What are you doing?" I scolded him.
"I am NOT doing this." Mike pleaded.
"Then what do you suppose this is?" I brushed myself off. A familiar feeling swept over me.
"Watch out!" I crouched backwards, bracing myself. I became a puppet on a stage once again. Air erupted from my hands, picking up debris from the ground. Mike stood there, waiting to die. His mind had a different idea: the debris passed right though him. There is no way to kill him, but there is a definite way to kill me. My feet were glued to the ground, I couldn't move at all. Mike twirled a tree branch in his hand then fired it at me.
"No!" Mike screeched. It was to late. The weapon pierced through my abdomen into the surrounding forest. Cries could be picked up from behind me. I shrunk into a ball and clasped my hands to my stomach. No more pain nor was there a mark. Just blood. Stunned, I lifted up my shirt, just enough to reveal my belly. I touched it, only the blood smudged. I rubbed that away and only my skin was there. No wound, nothing.
"Mike!" I hollered. Mike was turned around, not willing to see the sight. I scampered to him and patted him on his back.
"Look Mike." I ordered. He curved around, only to be in awe. Chills streamed down my leg. Pulling up my jeans, I saw the bullet that was lodged in my leg on the blood stained grass.
"But…" Mike coughed.
"I don't know either."
"Could it be?" Mike talked to himself.
"Could it be what?" I insisted.
"I need to test something, but it is going to sting for only a bit." Mike took out his pocketknife.
"Just a sting?" I asked.
"Well, I am going to give you a small cut." Mike opened the knife.
"Hm… Okay, but only if you are sure your plan will work." I had no clue what I had gotten myself into. He took hold of my muddied hand and set the blade on my palm. He cut my hand with precision. Of course I writhed, but observed the wound. As soon as he stopped, the cut faded away leaving no scar.