Ryder woke up to the familiar hum of early morning noise outside his window. For a second, he almost believed he was back home—in his old life, where things made sense. The sound of distant traffic and people getting ready for their day was a constant that made him feel like maybe he hadn't fallen into this crazy alternate reality.
But then the events of the previous night rushed back, and his stomach tightened.
Emma Frost.
The mutant fighting ring.
The way she'd looked at him like she could peel back his skin and see every secret he was desperately trying to keep buried. Ryder ran a hand through his hair, his mind still foggy from sleep, but the anxiety had already started creeping back in. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, staring at the floor as the memories replayed in his head.
Emma knew something was up with him. That much was clear. And while he'd managed to dodge her attempts to pry into his mind—for now—he knew it wouldn't last. She was too smart, too powerful. Sooner or later, she'd figure it out. He had to be prepared. More than that, he needed to get stronger.
Ryder stood up, the early morning sunlight filtering through the thin curtains of his dorm room, casting everything in a soft glow. He stretched, feeling the pull of stiff muscles and joints. Teleporting that much in one night had drained him more than he'd realized.
"Alright, first things first," he muttered to himself, pacing around the room as if moving would help clear his thoughts. He grabbed his phone off the nightstand, scrolling through the few messages he had from classmates. Nothing important. No one had any idea what he'd been up to last night, and that was good.
He tossed the phone back onto the bed and ran a hand over his face, trying to shake the lingering exhaustion. He couldn't afford to waste time, not when Emma Frost was potentially a step ahead of him. His powers had come naturally so far, but he knew he'd barely scratched the surface. The key was figuring out how to push them further. Teleportation was useful—more than useful, actually—but it wasn't enough. Not if he wanted to survive in this world.
Ryder looked around his room, his eyes settling on the small mirror mounted on the wall. For a moment, he just stared at his reflection, a swirl of thoughts clouding his mind. He hadn't changed much physically since arriving in this new reality, but everything else had. In his old life, he was just an ordinary college student. Here, he was something else. Something that shouldn't even exist.
"Gotta get better," he muttered, stepping away from the mirror. "Gotta be faster."
He pulled on some clothes, opting for something loose and comfortable. If he was going to push his powers today, he needed to be ready for anything. Ryder closed his eyes, focusing on that familiar pull inside him—the strange sensation that always accompanied his teleportation. It was like a rubber band stretching, just waiting to snap back into place.
He concentrated, picturing a spot outside the building, and then—
Bam!
He felt the rush of air as his body was yanked through space, reappearing just outside the dorm. His knees buckled slightly as he landed, the abrupt transition always a little disorienting, but he was getting used to it. His surroundings blurred for a moment before coming back into focus, the early morning breeze hitting his face as he steadied himself.
"Alright," he whispered, taking a deep breath. The sensation still amazed him every time. One second he was in one place, and the next, he was somewhere else entirely. But this wasn't enough. He needed more control. He needed to be able to teleport further, faster, and with more precision.
Ryder glanced around, his eyes settling on a building a few blocks away. He squinted, focusing on the rooftop. "Let's see if I can make it that far."
He closed his eyes again, this time trying to push the limits of his range. He visualized the rooftop, imagining himself standing there, feeling the wind from that height, the warmth of the sun hitting his face from a different angle. He reached out with his mind, pulling on that invisible string of energy that connected him to wherever he wanted to go.
Bam!
This time, the teleportation was harder. The distance was greater, and Ryder felt the strain immediately. His body reappeared on the rooftop, but he stumbled, falling to one knee as his muscles screamed in protest. His vision swam, and he blinked rapidly, trying to regain his bearings. The rooftop wasn't as stable as he'd hoped; it tilted slightly under his feet, and he struggled to catch his breath.
"Okay... okay," he panted, pushing himself back to his feet. "That was rough."
His legs felt weak, but the exhilaration of having pushed himself further than before was worth it. He looked out over the city, the skyline stretching in every direction. He could feel his power growing, expanding. But he wasn't there yet. He had a long way to go.
Ryder straightened up, his eyes narrowing in determination. He had to get faster, stronger. Emma Frost wasn't going to stop until she figured him out, and if he wasn't prepared, she'd peel back every secret he had. Worse, she might decide he was a threat. And if that happened, well… Ryder didn't want to think about what Emma would do to him if she considered him dangerous.
The thought made his stomach turn, but it also fueled his resolve. He couldn't let that happen. He needed to be ahead of her, to be ready for anything she might throw his way.
He teleported again, this time to the ground below the building, landing more smoothly than before. His legs barely wobbled, a good sign that he was already adapting. But now came the hard part—pushing his limits further.
Ryder spent the next few hours teleporting from place to place, testing his range and control. He found that shorter jumps were easier to manage, but the further he tried to go, the more it drained him. His muscles ached, and his head pounded, but he didn't stop. Every time he felt himself getting tired, he forced himself to keep going, to push harder.
By the time afternoon rolled around, Ryder was drenched in sweat, his whole body shaking with exhaustion. He sat down on a park bench, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt. His breathing was ragged, but he felt… good. Stronger. More in control.
He'd managed to teleport across the city in one go, a distance that had seemed impossible just a few hours ago. His confidence was growing, and with it, a sense of security. Maybe he wouldn't have to run from Emma after all. Maybe, if he got strong enough, he could stand his ground.
"Not bad," he muttered to himself, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Not bad at all."
But he knew this was only a small step. Emma Frost was still out there, and he couldn't afford to let his guard down. Not for a second.
Ryder stood up, stretching his sore muscles as he prepared to teleport back to his dorm. As the familiar sensation of being pulled through space enveloped him, he couldn't help but think of how much stronger he could become, and just how far he could go.
In this new life, the possibilities were endless.