Chapter Text
The early spring sun beats warmly on your face while you rest under the shade of a great oak tree. The sound of the children laughing and chatting during passing period is lulling you to sleep until your moment of peace is cut short by a familiar voice, startling you back to consciousness:
“Meet me in my office as soon as possible. There is something urgent to discuss.”
You rub your temples, still not used to Charles’ telepathic skills despite teaching at the school for nearly a year. You brace yourself on the tree as you rise, making your way through the crowds of students and up to Charles’ office.
You can feel the tension in the air as soon as you step into the office, and a wary glance from Jean confirms the severity of the meeting.
“As many of you have noticed during your attendance, Petra has not been showing up to class the past few days,” Charles folds his hands on the desk, looking around the room of staff with a furrowed brow.
You shift your weight, anxiety growing at his words. Petra was an impressively strong student: a fast-learner with the ability to move rock and dirt. You assumed her absences had been due to an illness.
“It is to my dismay that I have gathered you here to alert you of her sudden and mysterious absence from the campus. Ororo and I have been attempting to track her for the past two days, but there is something blocking me from reaching her. We have no reason to believe that she would have left on her own. As far as we know from other students, she wasn’t acting abnormally or expressing any discontent.” Charles continues, nodding to Ororo.
The tension in the air turns into a sickeningly stale breath. “What is it then, Charles? Did she leave on her own or was she…. Taken?” You hesitate to spit out the dark potential.
Charles sighs lightly before answering, “We don’t know yet. This is why we needed to alert staff. Keep your eyes and ears out for anything that could be connected to her disappearance. We are waiting for more information on her disappearance before we tell the kids- just to keep things under control within the school. Panic will only make things worse, and it is important to keep the kids in high spirits.”
You nod in agreement, your heart heavy from the news. Wherever she was, you just hoped she was safe.
<><><><><><>
This Saturday marks one full week since Petra’s disappearance.
Although it is not unheard of for students to leave without warning due to the turbulent nature of being a mutant teen, you have been filled with anxious thoughts since the girl’s disappearance.
You rub the tension building in your shoulders, legs crossed atop your desk as you observe the students outside from your office.
“Are you feeling sore this morning?” Ororo slides open the door to your office, finding a seat on your desk.
“I’ve been worried about Petra. Why can’t Charles track her? It's been a full week since we last discussed her as a group… if cerebro is strong enough to pinpoint mutants on the other side of the world, why can’t Charles find her and bring her back?” You frown, watching the kids setting up tents and activities in the yard.
“Last week is the last time we met as staff,” she corrects you, “we have been carefully pursuing her as X-Men. As a team” Her heavy gaze lands on you.
Charles has been pushing for you to join his team of X-Men before you were even a teacher at the institute, and although he has been gentle since your refusal the rest of the team hasn’t been as patient.
Ororo is the most firm in her pushes to get you to join them, but you know you can’t. It's not the responsibility or the danger, but the violence. The fighting.
“I understand that you can’t tell me everything since I’m not part of your team, but please Ororo,” you meet her unwavering eye, “just tell me that she’s safe.”
Ororo sighs, standing from your desk. “Her safety is something that I cannot lie and guarantee. Charles hasn’t been able to reach her or pinpoint her location but we have a lead. And we have additional help on the way.”
“One of Charles’ friends?” You cock a brow.
“Something like that,” She moves to the door, “I will be on the field helping the students set up for the seasonal festival. Find me if you need me.”
You nod your goodbyes, moving back to watching the students set up on the rolling green fields below. With the end of the first Semester, a small celebration is in place before the students leave for a short break tomorrow morning. The seasonal festival is a time to relax after a long week of exams for both students and teachers.
<><><><><><>
Smoke billows from the dish of fried meats keeping your hands warm on the crisp spring night. Jubilee grabs you hand and pulls you into a goggling crowd of students.
“Here, just think of how colourful and big you could make my fireworks!” She squeals, eyes bright enough to light up the night sky.
Jubilee has been finishing off the events of the festival with bright displays, and combined with your ability to enhance other people’s gifts…
“Count us down.” You nod. Holding her hands in yours.
“One… two…”
“Three!” You both exclaim, throwing your hands up and painting the night sky with sizzling streaks of colour.
<><><><><><>
Laughing at one of Scott’s jokes, the end of a long day makes your body heavy and throat thirsty for a crisp drink.
“This sort of night calls for a round of drinks. Who wants what?” You offer as the others sit on logs and chairs around the fire.
It's clear from the response that your opinion is a popular one, and you're pushing open the old wooden doors to the school before you know it.
The crisp spring air lapping at the nape of your neck stills, and it feels like time stands still within the building. Something is wrong, and you know it. Your gift can feel it. Your gift grasps your body, pulling you harshly up the stairs. You can feel the anger. The anguish. The violence.
Shaky hands push open the door to Petra’s dorm, letting out an involuntary gasp at the sight before you.
The fighting.
The blood.