I never imagined I would be in someplace so amazing! The professor and Mr. Logan led me into an elevator that opened to a hall so completely different from the cold metal rooms I was in before. It reminded me so much of the art museum the orphanage took me to. All over the walls were nice paintings and sculptures of random things and people I didn't recognize, the floor was covered in a nice reddish brown carpet that looked so soft I could just lay on it all day like a cat! The walls were a nice clean shade of light brown paint that catches the light in such an awesome way that it took my breath away. Just seeing this place made me feel like royalty, so I just had to ask.
"Is this a Castle?" the Professor shook his head with an amused grin on his face. And Mr. Logan chuckled.
"Close kid. It's a mansion." I beamed with so much pride. I never and I mean never, thought I would ever be in a mansion in my whole life! The professor gave me a look of understanding that felt a little strange to me.
"The Mansion was in my family for a long time and after they passed away it became mine. I use it now as a private school for children like yourself and the others you seen in your time here." I felt like he knew what I was thinking and that felt odd but welcomed. It reminded me of some of the teachers from the orphanage…. Wait!
"Like me? What do you mean?" then it hit me. "You're going to let me stay!?" I never felt so happy in such a long time! It was like all of my problems were solved in just a blink of the eye! Ii knew running away was a good idea and I just wished I did it sooner. A soft smile crossed his face as we walked… oh well we walked and he… rolled? What is the less rude term again? Anyway, as we went down the hall into another room he answered my question.
"Of course, if that is what you want you can move in after we have a word with you… ah here we are." We came to a large room with a desk and some very comfy looking chairs. He asked me to sit and went behind the desk while Mr. Logan sat next to me and started speaking.
"Never got your name Kid." I looked up at him confused and then figured it out. I mentally smacked myself and smiled. I can't believe I didn't tell anyone my name.
"I'm sorry! My name is Devlin, Devlin Mercer." He smirked and held out his hand.
"Logan, but the kids call me Wolverine." I shook his hand and blushed a little at his touch. It was such a cool name for such a cool guy. As for why I blushed… I think…. I have a crush…. I mentally smacked myself again and could hear my brother's voice in my head yelling out, 'too old for you!' at the same time the professor faked a cough and spoke with a little blush on his face too… odd.
"And I am Professor Charles Xavier. Now as for why you are here… what do you remember before you awoke in the med room?" I raised my hand to my mouth in my usually thinking pose… not sure why I do that but it helps.
"… I was running because…" I stopped and felt my throat run dry and close. Telling people about the dog always defiantly never went well. Last time I was sent to my room and hid in the closet because it was in the room again… if I told him, what will his think? Will he believe me? Again he gave me a look and smiled reassuringly.
"It is alright Devlin. Whatever you say I will believe you, so long as you tell me the truth." I bit my lip and turned my head... and then I saw Mr. Logan and remembered he saw the dog or rather the dogs and even saved me from them, he will know I'm not making it up. So I told him everything.
"It's a long story, ever since… ever since my brother died and I moved to the orphanage a really big and creepy dog began following me around." I stopped and looked at his eyes for and expression to see if he thought I was lying or something. He nodded and looked sincere so I kept talking.
"At first it was just in the corner of my eye some place hiding in the distance. I would ask others about it and then it would not be there anymore. After a month it started to get closer and closer to the point I would be sleeping and it would be on the corner of my bed… just staring at me. I felt so scared that I told the teachers and caregivers but… no one would believe me." I felt my arms shacking and my eyes getting watery. I felt so pathetic, what would Skylar think of me acting like a baby? I wiped my tears and remembered I beat it!
"I thought it was going to hurt me one day and no would help me so… I ran. My brother taught me survival skills so I took only what I needed and left early in the morning running. I made a good distance away from the town when I ran out of supplies so I stopped at a gas station; I got some new things then asked for a job." I turned my head and smiled.
"That's when I first saw Mr. Logan… anyway after a few weeks I thought I finally ditched it but it found me… I started to see that more and more of the same dog coming after me at once…" then I remembered something off about them.
"They were coming out of some kind of blue fire that just came out of nowhere! I could see the fire in their eyes… literally. I think I was running for a long time because I was starting to feel wheezy and sick, like I was passing out when I saw Logan again… he saved me from them with those knife things and killed a few dozen when more and more just kept coming… I think I fainted then woke up here, and I guess that's about it." I smiled to myself, I knew I was free from the dog and I will now be able to live in peace from it in this amazing mansion slash school! I looked up to see Professor Xavier in a thinking pose of his own.
"That is quite an adventure for a young man. And I'm glad we found you when we did… but you should know that the 'Dog' as you call it is not necessarily gone." My face went pale and I think my heart stopped.
"Ww...What?" Mr. Logan placed a comforting hand on my shoulder as I shook in my seat. I felt so much fear and dread that I felt like I was going to pass out… oh wait.
"Kid!" I fell out of my seat I would have hit the ground but Mr. Logan caught me. I would have thanked him if I wasn't scared out of my mind.
"What do you mean it's not gone!?" I stood up and slammed my hands on his desk. "I saw them die! He Killed them!" I yelled pointing to Logan. Tears started to run down my eyes.
"I thought I was safe…." my hands started shaking and felt warm.
"Please calm down. You are safe." said the professor calmly but I was in a daze.
"I thought I was free…." I felt the room shaking so I opened my tear stained eyes and saw something that made my heart stop. "No…."
'Growl'
There on the other side of the room was the dog!
"NO!" I yelled and it charged me, or so I thought because it tackled Logan to the ground. They wrestled for a moment then it bit into Logan's neck drawling blood.
"No…" for a moment I felt nothing, and the next I was burning with anger.
"DIE!" without even thinking I waved my hand and the dog caught on fire howling in pain then vanishing in a puff of smoke and embers. "… What?"
In shock I looked at my hand, it was on fire too but it didn't burn. The fire actually felt nice and warm like a fire should… but not when it's touching you! Then a small chuckle shook me from my stupor.
"That's a nice trick of yours kid." Logan sat up and rubbed the blood off his neck to show it completely healed as if nothing happened. "But next time you call up one of your mutts keep it in check. Someone might end up hurt." My mouth opened and closed like a fish. I don't have any words for this… except one or four.
"How is this happening?" I heard a cough and turned to see Professor Xavier patting down a small fire on his desk. I quickly grabbed a cloth and started snuffing out the fires. After they were gone he spoke.
"Genetics actually." I looked to see a smile on his face.
"What?" he began again.
"The human body is made up of genes; tell me Devlin, what do you know of them?" I shook my head to clear it kind of confused.
"They are umm…" ugh school work how I forget you. "The building blocks of life?... no wait those are cells…" I was never good at remembering these things. "Umm oh! They are what give a cell... the directions in… which way to grow?" he smiled and nodded.
"Very good Mr. Mercer! And in this case, what is causing this is an in particular gene I have called the X Gene. It unlike the others gives a rather unique "Gift" to the host, with Logan it gave him his claws and the healing factor you just witnessed." He came from behind the desk and pointed out the burned in hand prints on his desk. "And with you, it gave the ability to control a rather uniquely colored fire, also the dog or rather wolf manifestations are another gift the gene provided you." My eyes widened like plates.
"…" I smacked myself hard, not in my mind!
"You're telling me I was responsible for the dog… Wolves the whole time!?" I never felt so dumb. "I could have been just fine this whole time…" I sat on the chair and let out a frustrated sigh then cupped my face.
"My life is pain!" Logan stood up and took his seat next to me he rubbed his neck where he was bit and chuckled.
"You're telling me." Professor Xavier gave him a glare and cleared his throat.
"It is not that simple Devlin… you still can't control your abilities. You would have gone your whole life running from it and never known that it was you." I looked up at him and smiled slightly.
"Your right…" if it was not for them I would still be running or worse. "It could have been worse right?" his reassuring smile faded for an only a moment but I noticed it clearly.
"It's still worse is in it!?" he sighed.
"Yes it is, the powers you were given have in themselves been mutated…" I tilted my head confused. "Your three powers are Genesis, Pyrokinesis, and Umbrakinesis. All of these powers are unpredictable and not much is documented about them so I'm not sure how but they fused making the pack of dark fire wolves you have made when Logan found you. How this is different is that it took a large strain on your mind and body causing your blackouts. I did my best to lessen the strain but if you can't learn to control your powers you could end up in a catatonic like state." My eyes went wider if that was possible. No… if I can't control it I will never live up to my promise! I stood up and bald my hand into a fist and it alit in blue fire.
"Then teach me! I came this far and I won't back down now! Not when I'm so close… please!" Logan smirked and patted me on the back.
"You got it pup! You start tomorrow, until then I'll bring ya to your room. Just try and not to burn the place down." I turned and looked at the professor wide hopeful eyes.
"Really?" he nodded and I felt safe again.
"Like Logan said, you begin tomorrow. Now get some rest it has been a long day and a growing boy needs his rest." And it was just like that, I was feeling on top of the world! Not only was I free… I was powerful! I had powers I didn't even knew existed let alone ever hope to have… if only I knew what it would be like in the mansion. I didn't know any of the other kids inside and what they could do… would they like me? Would they be nice to me? Would they make fun of me because I can't control my powers? Would they make fun of me because I'm gay?... I wish I knew what to expect… I wish Skylar was here. I wish he was still here with me….. I miss you big brother.