Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 06:30:45 -0600 From: Adam Mcdonald Subject: Phoenix reborn part 3 All the disclaimers and warnings from my last stories in this series apply. Skip ahead 2 years It's graduation day, and I sit there with Nick, Cindy and Tim almost in awe of the fact we survived. High school is really hell for us ... And anyone who disagrees either never went through it or was high. We sit in our stands on the football field and Tim leans over to me and whispers, "Never thought we'd survive, didja?" I smile and whisper back,"I had a hunch we would finally make it. But if not, I was willing to give you up." "Asshole!" he replies, "I can't believe I love you! What ever happened to chivalry?" "Well until he can sprout a vagina, it remains to be seen!" Cindy murmurs under her breath. Graduation Day. The moment we are finally free to throw off the shackles of high school and become adults. Suddenly, all the bullshit and worries we put up with for so long seem far away and distant. Over the last two years, I finally grew the balls to come out and admit Im gay. I even told my mom. She was actually really cool ... Well somewhat. When I introduced Tim as my boyfriend, she smiled and greeted him warmly, then took me aside after he left and lectured me about safe sex and made me promise to make her a grandma in SOME way. I promised I would be careful and that YES I wanted kids SOMEDAY. She seemed fine with that answer and immediately became PFLAG mom of the year. I kept my promise to Nick, though; no one aside from me ever learned he was a mutant. I felt really guilty though; here I was, able to be open and free about who I was, yet he was stuck hiding himself. When I voiced my worries, Nick said he had met some people like him online and was learning about this school in New York where mutants were being accepted ... On a very hush hush need to know basis ... And he was hoping to be accepted by the head master, this Charles Xavier. "I don't think you should have to go to this 'mutant school'!" I argued, "It seems like segregation to me!" "No it's fine!" he retorted, "This Xavier guy called me back personally and explained it's all about learning and developing your mutant powers and working to live side by side with humans for the greater good. I'm excited! He seems all about helping us coexist peacefully!" Nick seemed to have his mind made up, so I had to agree, albeit grudgeingly, that this was good for him. As a last ditch attempt, I asked, "What about Cindy?" "She thinks I'm going away to some elite private college. I promised her I would come visit when I could." I wasn't really happy he was lying to her, but I kept my promise. I wouldn't share his secret, so I kept quiet. With the fanfare of Pomp and Circumstance, we all stood as the dean of students approached the podium, and acknowledged our applauding parents and friends in attendence. As it died down, the dean began his speech: "We all come here to comemmerate the passing of these students into adulthood. These young men and women stand here at the brink of childhood and aldulthood. All of us, as teachers and parents, hope they have learned from us how to stand strong and face adversity and challenge with a brave heart and mind. From here, they will start their true journey into life with all the hopes and dreams we can bestow upon them. It is my greatest pleasure to present to you THIS graduating class of our future!" As he ended his speech, all the attendees sprang to their feet and wildly applauded and whistled and cheered! Despite having a small class of only 300, the celebration was deafening! Nick, Cindy, Tim and I threw our hats in the air with the rest of our class despite the fact our graduation had only just begun. Tim turned to me and said, "Oh my God, Ryan! I love you! This made it all worth while!" before kissing me strongly on the lips. BOOM BOOM BOOM! At first the explosions sounded like fireworks, and Tim and I, arms wrapped around each other, looked into the sky for the show! How cool that our high school would invest in a fireworks show for us! But nothing was in the sky. We looked back down, bewildered, to see people in the audience screaming and ducking for cover. Still somewhat thinking it was part of the show, Tim and I glanced around for the source of the noise. "GET DOWN!" yelled Nick and Cindy in unison as they scrunched on the floor, " SOMEONE IS SHOOTING AT US!" The realization of what was happening hit me like a bad dream, and I threw Tim down and lay on top of him to shield him as best I could. Still what I now knew as gunshots pervaded the air. Moments later, the shots stopped, and I finally knew what they meant by the term 'deafening silence'. A voice rang out, "We are not here for the humans! Homo Sapiens are safe! However, the mutants must present themselves within 30 seconds or we will treat you all as enemy combatants! We wish to harm no humans, but if the cowardly MUTANTS do not show themselves, we will do what Is necessary. We ask all homo sapiens to do what's right and present us with those they know to be against our kind. We have been provided with devices that will scan and identify mutants, so if you do not comply, you will be considered as guilty as THEM. You have 30 seconds ... NOW!" We still have our heads down, but I hear motion and sound as people stand up and cry, "SHES A MUTANT! I SAW HER SHAPESHIFT!" Or, "HE NEVER SEEMED RIGHT, HE MUST BE A MUTANT!" Through all of this Nazi trial, I see friend turn against friend and daughter against daughter, yet I cant and WONT say a word. I know I can out Nick and all would be well, but I would rather die than betray my friend. Countless people are turned over, scanned and shot. The cries of misery are torture to me! The death squad moves closer to us. Nick glances at me with the utmost fear and iron in his eyes ... TELL THEM ABOUT ME, he somehow projects into my mind. "DO IT AND YOURE SAFE!" My jaw drops as I hear his voice in my head. He grins and mentally says to me, "What, you think I haven't picked up a few new tricks in the past few years?" "I can't and never will," I send back, "You know I won't!" "Worth a shot," he grins sadly. I'm huldled protectively around Tim, but he doesn't miss the glances Nick and I give each other as we converse telepathically. "Oh my God" he whispers to me, you're a mutant! They won't get you, babe! Not a chance!" "No Tim, STOP!" I whisper as fiercely as I can, but it's too late. Tim pushes me off him, and lunges at the nearest gunman. He almost reaches him before the guard turns and laughs and opens fire. Tim is caught in the leg and falls to the ground; his face a mixture of fury and failure since he knows his sacrifice wouldn't save me -- the man he loves. As the gunman leans over Tim and shouts some horrible slur at him for being a pussy mutant who can't even fight back, I feel an incredible rage rise inside me. A darkness flows through my veins as I see this man tighten his finger over the trigger of his rifle to end the life of the man I love. At that moment, I cry out to God or whoever is out there ... THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN? I black out. When I come to, what must have been less than a second later, I push myself up and stand with a power I can not fathom. "YOU WILL NOT DO THIS!" I yell with a strength and voice that is not mine. The man with the gun snickers and says, "Try and stop me, mutie lover!" He pulls the trigger again, and as the bullets fly from his gun, I see them bounce harmlessly off Tim's body. They make no contact and do no harm. The gunman stops and stands speechless as I rise and point at him, And again speak with another's voice: "YOU PITIFUL FOOL, YOU MOCK THE ALL POWERFUL! DARE YOU FACE THE GODDESS OF CREATION!" The gunman grimaces slightly then wavers and is gone as if he was never there. Shaken out of my trance, I rush to Tim's side and hold him in my arms. He is dying. The shot in his leg hit the femoral artery, and he is bleeding to death. I hear the emergency sirens in the distance, but I know they are too late. "Babe," I say quietly, "Im here and I love you!" Tim slowly opens his eyes and glances at me. "Hey ba ... babe ... I told you we made it!" My eyes well up and my tears drip on his cheek ... "Yeah, babe, we made it. We beat high school!" Tim sighed deeply and smiled, "Good," he whispered softly, "If we didn't I would have blamed you," "Me?!" I ask as tears stream down my face. "Yeah," Tim whispered in the smallest of voices, "You're our only hope ..." And with that, Tim ... My first love ... bled out and died in my arms. Well that's it for this part. Sorry to leave on such a downer, but it sets the tone for the rest. Again please hit me up at ender2155@gmail.com with feedback