Jasper, Jack's POV

I sat stark strait, gasping for air.

I then groaned, cradling my head in my hands, ignoring the fact I was soaked with sweat and...blood?

I quickly shoved my covers off and examined myself.

I nearly choked on my own tongue.

On my chest and arms, there were gashes, that looked to be done by claws. I pressed a hand to my neck and found two, light scratches.

I quickly got out of bed, going into my bathroom and cleaning the wounds while trying to wrap my mind around this. I didn't remember anyone, or anything coming into my room the night before.

I set aside the wet washcloth, then looked at my hands as though for an answer.

And I certainly got one.

The tips of my fingers were stained in my own blood, but my nails were coated with it.

I was the one who'd done this?

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down and to clear my head. I then straitend my fingers, allowing them to be stretched out, completely flat.

I gasped, shuting my eyes tightly as a sudden pain stroked over my hands. When I opened my eyes, I found myself staring at my hands, now with not nails, but rather claws.

I understood now how I'd injured myself.

Something completely and utterly strange was happening to me.

I shook my head, standing abruptly. It didn't interfear with my daily life. I didn't have time to worry about this.

There was a knock from the front door, and I rushed to get dressed while mom answered the door. A few moments later, she called up.

"Jack! A couple boys are here to see you! They say their names are Scott and Evan?"

I grinned, rushing downstairs.

Since the day before had been a Friday, and all the 'bots were out on recon, I invited Evan and Scott to come over.

I jumpped the last few steps and ran to the door. Mom stood there, the door open as she talked to Scott and Evan. I grinned.

"Hey guys, ready to go?"

"Whenever you are." Scott replied, and I nodded eagerly, wrestling to get my shoes on.

"Jack?"

I glanced up at mom.

"Don't worry mom, I'll be back before dinner. I'm just showing these guys around town."

Mom eyed Scott and Evan, then nodded with a sigh.

"Fine. Just make sure you have your phone, and be carefull."

"Always am." I replied, standing and kissing her cheek before heading out, Evan and Scott trailing behind me.

"Dude, your mom seems pretty cool." Evan said, walking a bit faster to keep up with me.

"She is, or at least until she makes organic tofu." I replied, chuckling as both Scott and Evan made faces.

"So, what do you guys want to see? Library? Park?"

"It doesn't matter to us, you choose." Scott said, smiling as he shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Alright then...How about we go to the library first? If you need any books for your project, you can get some there." I suggested.

"Sounds good."

I changed the direction we were walking, shoving aside the dull throb of the gashes on my arms.

"So, anything exciting ever happen around here? Like alien sightings?" Evan asked suddenly. I laughed, shaking my head.

"No, sorry to dissapoint you, but nothing ever happens in Jasper."

'Unless you count the fact I'm turning into some sort of freak.' I added mentally.

We continued on, talking about random things. Apparently, Evan and Scott lived at an intsitute, along with other teens and a few teachers. Even Evan's aunt, named Ororo.

"So, what's it like there?" I asked. Scott smiled.

"It's really nice, like one big family. We look out for eachother." He explained vaguely.

"Sounds amazing." I replied, offering a weak smile.

A big family...that was something I never really had.

We continued walking in silence for awhile. Then I heard Evan and Scott gasp and they stopped suddenly, I looked to them, opening my mouth to ask what was wrong.

"C'mon!" Evan said quickly, grabbing my arm and pulling me down the ally between two stores. Scott followed and all three of us pressed up against the wall.

A woman walked past the ally, and once she had gone by, Scott and Evan sighed with relief.

"Guys? What was that about?" I asked hesitantly as Scott peaked out of the ally before nodding to Evan and I and we exited back onto the sidewalk.

"Uh...She's one of the teachers from our school!" Evan quickly replied before tugging me towards the now visable library.

I looked over my shoulder at the woman. She looked like a teacher, with a strict face and glasses framing her scarily hard glare that was sent at everything.

Something about her was dangerous. I didn't know what, or how I could even tell since she looked so normal, but there was something in the back of my mind telling me to stay away from her.

And for once, I knew for sure it wasn't any sort of paranioa.

Later, 3rd POV

Scott and Evan waved as Jack left them in front of the hotel they were staying in. But once the raven haired teen was out of sight, Scott and Evan looked at eachother with troubled expresions.

"What is Mystique doing here?" Evan asked. Scott thought for a moment as they went into the hotel and walked towards their room.

"Magneto must've sent her. They know there's a mutant here too." He finally said, unlocking the door and stepping into the room, Evan in his wake.

While Scott removed his shoes, Evan went to the laptop that was set up on a small desk. When Scott gave him a questioning look, Evan grimaced.

"We should tell Professor X, right?" He answered the unvoiced question. Scott nodded in understanding, going to sit on one of the two beds, the one placed just behind the desk.

Evan sent a video chast request, and it was answered a few moments later by Kitty.

"Like, hey guys! How's Jasper?" She asked, smiling brightly while the others all gathered around behind Kitty.

Scott smiled.

"Going pretty well, considering. But we need to talk to Professor X, is her there?"

"I'm right here, Scott."

The laptop cam was turned to Professor X.

"Mysitque is here, Magneto knows there's a mutant here, too." Scott said shortly.

Professor X frowned, folding his hands together as he thought over the fact of Mysitque's unwelcome presence.

"I see. As long as she doesn't attempt to harm either of you or anyone else, then all we can do is try our best to find the mutant." Professor X finally said. Scott and Evan both nodded in understanding before the cam turned again back to everyone else, though Ororo was in front now.

"So how are both of you doing? Are you well?" She asked, giving a gentle smile to the two teens.

"We're doing great, Aunty O. We even made a friend!"

"A friend?"

Evan nodded, grinning widely while Scott leaned forward.

"Yeah. His name's Jack Darby, sixteen, really nice." Scott explained, adjusting his sunglasses.

"And you're sure he's trustworthy?" Ororo asked, raising a brow.

"Yes, totally Aunty O! He's super cool, he's been showin' us around, he knows all about Jasper. Says that there hasn't been anything wierd happening though, and he should know, since everyone knows everything going on aroun' here." Evan replied.

"Yeah, he's definately not in line with the Brotherhood, just an average kid, though he seems to have a lot more respect and honor then other teens around here." Scott confirmed, smiling.

"He zounds like a nice guy!" Kurt spoke up from behind Ororo, causing everyone to laugh.

Next Day, Jack's POV

I sighed with relief as I walked down the street, glad that my shift at K.O Burger was done for the day.

I wasn't paying attention, so I ran into someone half way across the empty park.

"Oh, sor-"

I began, but cut myself off when I looked up and saw Vince, along with a few of his friends.

He scowled at me, then forcefully shoved me back.

"Watch it, Darby!"

I frowned but kept my eyes on his face, staring him down. If there was one thing I knew, it was to never back down, especialy from Vince.

"Whatever Vince."

He grabbed the front of my shirt and glared at me.

"Don't even try acting like your better then me, Darby!"

"I'm not acting Vince. Everyone is better than you, 'cause they don't make empty threats." I replied sharply.

Vince was stunned for a moment, slack jawed while his friends watched, wide-eyed. He then recovered and drew back a fist.

Again, I felt something akin to a tug at the back of my mind and I realized that the sensation was a warning that definately meant danger was about to come my way.

I didn't think and followed my instinct. While one of my hands tightly gripped the wrist of the arm that held my collar, I drew back my other hand and my fingers curled. I growled and scratched across his face.

Vince yelped in pain, releasing me and stumbling back while holding his face.

When his hands moved, I gasped.

Blood trickled from three, large gashes that went from below his right eye, over his nose to end above his left eye.

I looked down at my hand in horror as I saw the claws from before had returned, now tipped with Vince's blood. I looked up to see Vince and his friends looking at me in horror, one of the girls hidding behind the boys.

"I-I...I am so sor-"

"FREAK!"

I stumbled back in shock, landing with a thump on the ground as Vince and his cronies began to scramble backwards, trying to get away from me.

"Wh-what-?"

I gasped in pain, using an arm to cover my face as two of the guys began to chuck small stones at me. They stung against my skin and I crawled back, trying to put distance between me and them. It wasn't hard to do, since they ran off, scared witless.

I slowly moved my arm away from my face and examined my arms, still trembling slightly, scared from what just happened.

Standing, I went over to a puddle left from the rain earlier that morning and I looked at my reflection.

My eyes glowed an acid green, and my pupils were slit.

I had to get home, or risk having more stones thrown at me.

I'd figure things out later.

Hey everyone who reads this! I need you're help to figure out exactly what Jack's powers are (besides super strength, that is). So either review with what you think they should be, or Pm me what you think, doesn't matter to me. Anywho, later!