BZZZT!
The heavy steel cell doors buzz loudly the sound tearing through the metal corridors like a dying cry.
It's time, for CHOW. Whatever phrase they use for lunch in X-PRISON.
Jonathan leaves his cell rubbing his knuckles. Sham trails behind him his fragile hospital gown billowing softly with each step. The hallway soon becomes crowded, with teenagers. A sea of teenage mutants.
Jonathan makes his way past a boy whose skin resembles moss-green. He sidesteps a girl her forearms sprouting feathers. He ignores them entirely. He overlooks the fear, in their eyes. His sole focus is finding his sister.
"Chloe?" he murmurs, his eyes darting from side, to side. "Chloe, where are you?"
"Hey chill out man " Sham says, jogging to catch up.
"I have to find my sister!" Jonathan shouts, not looking.
He pushes the cafeteria's doors wide. The noise loud to him , sounds bouncing off the walls. Then he notices her. She walks next, to another girl who looks just as confused as he feels.
"Chloe!" shouts Jonathan.
Chloe's head snaps up. Her eyes lock with his. A rush of relief floods her expression. "Jonathan!"
They charge toward each other ignoring the guards patrolling the catwalks above with loaded rifles. They collide in an embrace Jonathan gripping her tightly. He observes her trembling. If he lets go he's afraid he might lose her forever.
"Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" Chloe asks, moving back to look over his face for any injuries.
"No I'm fine!" Jonathan replies, panting. "What, about you?!"
"I'm fine. I'm fine " Chloe responds, though her voice wavers.
Positioned behind Chloe, the girl, with the hair named Sophia timidly clutches her tray. Behind Jonathan Sham stands with his hands tucked into his pockets looking disinterested.
"We have to get some food " Sham breaks the quiet. "My stomach feels like it's eating itself."
They make their way through the line gathering helpings of stew. They notice a metal table hidden in the corner and sit down.
SPLAT.
"Revolting " Jonathan murmurs, turning his eyes away. By two mutants are embracing and kissing intensely unaware of everything surrounding them.
"I'm Sophia " the girl says, smiling at Jonathan. Her ebony eyes sparkle, under the lights.
"Hey. Jonathan. Where were yo—"
Sham, standing behind Jonathan stops moving. His fork lingers in the air close, to his mouth. He looks at Sophia.
Sophia's smile fades. Her jaw drops. True surprise replaces politeness.
"Sophia?" Sham whispers.
"Sham?" Sophia's voice cracks.
Jonathan and Chloe look between them, confused.
"Wait a moment " Jonathan says, holding a slice of grey bread. "Do you all know each other?"
"He's my brother!" Sophia shouts, leaping up from her seat.
"She's my sister?!" Sham shouts at the time.
They jump over the table clinging to each other frantically. A plastic cup brimming with water topples spilling onto the metal. Neither notices.
"I thought they had moved you to a center!" Sham says, his tone shaky, hushed against her shoulder. "Mom mentioned you were gone for good."
"I was " Sophia whispers, pulling back to wipe a tear from her eyes. "I escaped… just to be caught again."
Jonathan looks at Chloe and smiles. It is enjoyable to see a reunion in such an environment. Yet when he looks at his sister Chloe is not smiling. She is focused on her meal her face as pale, as a ghost.
Chloe's mind is swirling uncontrollably. She watches Sham and Sophia as the Reflection's voice echoes in her mind like a curse.
"Your parents are alive."
Alive.
She looks at Jonathan. He is laughing at something Sham just said. He seems happy or, at least relaxed despite being imprisoned. If she discloses the truth that their whole life was a lie that the orphanage misled them into believing their parents abandoned or were taken from them it would break him.
Chloe thinks she is unable to tell him now. Not, at this time.
She forces a smile setting it firmly upon her face. "Well " she remarks, changing the subject enough for all to catch. "We're all stuck here. We might well get along."
"Agreed " Sham replies, easing back into his seat appearing relaxed.
Sophia suggests, "The Fantastic Four."
Jonathan sniffs. "Thats taken already."
"Whatever " Sham exhales deeply. "So what powers do you all possess? I mean, in terms of strength?"
The room goes quiet.
Jonathan motions, toward the white collar secured around his neck. "You said before that it causes the pain or something…" He stirs his mush with a spoon. "Doesn't matter anyway."
"Yeah,. What precisely are you?" Sophia asks, moving closer. "I possess the power to turn invisible. That's how I escaped time. I just… vanished."
"Wow " Jonathan comments. "That's fantastic."
"I have powers " Sham proclaims confidently. "I can shift things with my mind. At least I was able to until this device came. Now I loathe it. I wish to show you all what I can do."
Every one of them looks at Chloe and Jonathan.
"I think… I can levitate " Chloe murmurs gently. "I sensed energy. Orange energy."
"And my eyes glowed red " Jonathan goes on. "I felt extremely strong. As if I could break through a wall."
"We need to get out of here " Chloe whispers. She glances at the guards. "If we figure out how to master our abilities we can break free."
"We can't " he replied sharply his fingers pressing against his throat. "Did you forget anything?"
"Have you tried it?" Chloe asks.
"What did you attempt?" Sophia replies.
"I tried to use it " Chloe says. A surge rises in her chest. She remembers the feeling of the orange energy. It was soothing. Powerful. It felt as though it belonged to her.
She closes her eyes. She focuses on the space, in her belly where the energy is stored. She imagines the orange light swirling growing stronger. She channels the feeling trying to raise the muck on her tray.
Come on she pushes herself. Keep moving.
She feels a flutter. A subtle quiver, inside her heart.
ZAP!
"AHH!" shouts Chloe.
An electric current jolts from the white collar down, to her neck. She convulses, jerking forward and slamming her chest onto the table.
"Chloe!" Jonathan shouts, gripping her by the shoulders.
Thin wisps of smoke rise, from Chloe's collar. She gasps for air her neck stinging like a swarm of bees suddenly stung her all once.
"Are you really okay?!" Sophia asks, her voice filled with concern.
"I am certainly not fine!" Chloe exclaims, rubbing her throat. "I can't imagine having to do that "
" Sophia whispers, her eyes fully open.
"Don't say that again " Jonathan declares, his face grave.
"Let me try 'Sham states.' He looks at his spoon. He concentrates deeply as if his life depends on it. 'Shift. Shift your spoon.'"
His skin flushes. A swollen vein appears on his forehead caused by the strain.
The spoon wiggles. Just a tiny bit.
ZAP!
"Yikes! Oh my God—!" Sham yells, grabbing his neck. The electric current crackles, along the edge.
"Okay okay scheme" Sham pants, eyes filling with tears.
"My turn " declares Sophia. She breathes in deeply. She tries to vanish making her hand appear transparent.
ZAP!
She yells, jumping up in her seat. Tears instantly fill her eyes. "It hurts!"
Jonathan looks at them. He sees the marks forming on their necks. Then he looks up. The guards stationed on the catwalk are intently observing their table. One guard softly taps his baton against his palm a warning.
"I don't think I should try it " Jonathan says, glancing at the stains on his friends.
" uttered Sham comments, brushing his hand over his face.
"We must leave this place… we have to find something " Chloe whispers, moving in nearer.
"Sure like I haven't tried that before " Sophia whispers.
Suddenly, a loud siren wails through the cafeteria.
WOOP! WOOP!
"MEAL TIME IS OVER!" A voice reverberates through the loudspeakers. "RETURN TO YOUR CELLS IMMEDIATELY!"
Numerous mutants emerge at once. The sound of benches scraping against the floor reverberates everywhere.
Jonathan looks at his sister and the new friends he has just met.
"This is not over " Jonathan declares.
"We'll figure this out " Sham says, his voice filled with determination.
"Yes," Chloe adds, rubbing her sore neck. "We have to