Sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting striped shadows on the worn linoleum of the classroom. The air was filled with the smell of chalk and sweat mixed with the scent of antiseptic.
Mr. Thompson, a large man with a military bearing and a prickly stare, paced between the rows of desks. His shined shoes squeaked with each step, making some students wince.
- So, children," his voice sounded deceptively soft, "who can name the main threat to our society?
The class stood still for a moment, and then, as if on cue, the children shouted out in unison:
- Mutants!
Thompson nodded contentedly, and his eyes gleamed.
- That's right. And who protects us from them?
- Guards! - The reply came even louder, almost enthusiastically.
In the corner of the classroom, Jake fidgeted nervously with the edge of his T-shirt. His gaze flicked to the poster on the wall, where the huge Guardian towered over the city, his metallic face radiating cold determination. The inscription at the bottom read: "Always on the lookout for your safety."
Jake touched the bracelet on his wrist, remembering the events of two months ago. He'd been afraid of the first signs of his mutation, and he'd avoided the main streets, taking narrow alleys to get to school. On one such day, he was spotted by a strange woman.
He still remembered her appearance: her brown hair, with its unusual white strands framing her face, made her look both mysterious and attractive. Her eyes, attentive and understanding, seemed to see right through Jake. Instead of summoning the Guardians, she approached him with a warm, reassuring smile.
- Don't be afraid," she turned to him quietly, taking something out of her pocket. - This will help you stay safe.
She handed him a bracelet that seemed to be made of some unusual metal. As soon as Jake put it on, the bracelet seemed to come alive, adjusting to the shape of his wrist.
- Tell your parents it was a gift from a classmate," the woman advised. - And never take it off in the street. It will protect you from scary robots.
Jake had never parted with the bracelet since. He didn't know exactly how the device worked, but it somehow hid his mutation from the Guardians' scanners. Every time he passed one of those metal giants, Jake felt his heart sink, but the Guardians never reacted to his presence.
Now, sitting in class and listening to Mr. Thompson's propaganda speech, Jake felt the weight of his secret. He was grateful to the mystery woman for her help, but the fear of being discovered never fully left him. Every day was a test, a balancing act between two worlds-the world of "normal" people and the hidden world of mutants living in constant fear.
Next to Jake, Sarah leaned over to her friend Emily.
- My dad says they caught a mutant in our neighborhood yesterday," she whispered, and her eyes widened with a mixture of fear and excitement.
Emily ahhed.
- Did you? And what was done to him?
Sarah shrugged.
- I don't know. Dad said the Guardians took him. Probably to one of those centers.
Jake, hearing their conversation, shrank back even more. His hand involuntarily reached for his neck, where the barely visible relief of scales lurked beneath the collar.
Thompson continued his lecture.
- Remember, children, vigilance is our duty. If you see anything suspicious, tell an adult or the nearest Guard immediately.
Mike, sitting at the first desk, raised his hand.
- And how do we recognize a mutant, Mr. Thompson?
The teacher smiled, but that smile didn't touch his eyes.
- That's a great question, Mike. Mutants may look like normal people, but there are signs to look out for. Unusual eye or hair color, strange abilities, unnatural strength or agility.
A whisper went around the classroom. The children began to look around at each other, as if trying to find these signs in their classmates.
Thompson clicked the remote control and the image of the destroyed city appeared on the interactive whiteboard. The children held their breath as they looked at the apocalyptic picture.
- What you see, children," Thompson began, his voice low and serious, "is Manhattan. Or rather, what's left of it after the attack by a mutant named Juggernaut exactly eight years ago.
He pressed a button, and a video appeared on the screen. A huge figure in a red helmet was crushing buildings as if they were made of cardboard. Skyscrapers fell one after another, raising clouds of dust and debris.
- The Juggernaut had incredible strength and invulnerability," Thompson continued. - He walked through the city, leaving nothing but ruins in his wake. Police, SWAT, even the army, no one could stop him.
The screen flashed with images of desperately fighting police and military personnel. Their bullets and shells bounced off the Juggernaut without harming it.
- Thousands of people died that day. - Thompson's voice trembled. - Families, children, entire neighborhoods were wiped out.
The children looked at the screen without taking their eyes off the screen. Some of them sobbed quietly.
- When all seemed lost, heroes came to the rescue. - Thompson switched the slide. The familiar figures of the Avengers and the Fantastic Four appeared on the screen. - They engaged in a fierce battle with the Juggernaut.
The video showed epic moments of the battle: Captain America being thrown back by a Juggernaut punch; Iron Man attacking from the air; the Creature engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the giant.
- The battle lasted for hours," Thompson continued. - Finally, by joining forces, the heroes managed to stop the Juggernaut. But the cost was terrible.
Footage of the destroyed neighborhood appeared on the screen. Smoking ruins of skyscrapers, overturned cars, people wandering like ghosts among the debris.
- And here's the worst part, kids. - Thompson lowered his voice to a whisper. - After that battle, the Avengers and the Fantastic Four. disappeared. Without a trace. No one knows what happened to them.
A startled half-sigh-half-whisper swept through the classroom.
- Some say they died in battle. Others believe they were kidnapped or killed by other mutants in retaliation. But the truth is, we don't know. We lost our greatest defenders that day.
Thompson turned off the projector and the class fell into silence.
- That's why," he said after a pause, "we need the Guardians. This is why we must be vigilant. Because mutants are among us, and we must be ready to protect ourselves and our loved ones.
The children sat stunned by what they had seen and heard. Their eyes were filled with fear mixed with determination. Thompson knew that his lesson had hit the mark. A new generation was ready to continue the fight against the mutant threat.
- This is what happened in New York eight years ago. One mutant, just one, did this.
The children stared at the screen, their faces a mixture of horror and shock. Someone sobbed softly.
- But don't be afraid," Thompson continued, his voice softer. - That's what the Guardians are for. They protect us. They're always there for us.
Jake looked out the window. The Sentinel stood on the street corner, its metal body gleaming in the sunlight. The robot turned its head slowly, scanning its surroundings. When its gaze stopped for a moment on the school window, Jake looked away quickly.
- And now," Thompson clapped his hands, attracting the attention of the class, "let us repeat a hymn of thanks to the Guardians. Stand up, please.
The children stood up, straightened up, and the classroom was filled with the sounds of the patriotic melody. The children's voices, tentative at first, gradually grew stronger, merging into a single chorus:
- Standing guard day and night,
Keeping the peace of their native land
Guards of steel, there's no stronger,
Defenders against all darkness.
Thompson conducted, and his eyes burned with enthusiasm. He pointed to Sarah, and she enthusiastically sang the chorus:
- Guards, Guards, you are our shield!
Your power keeps us safe.
From threats and from adversity
You take care of your people.
The class picked up, and the voices grew more confident with each word. Mike, who was in the front row, stuck out his chest, his voice louder than the others.
Jake moved his lips silently, pretending to sing. His eyes flicked back to the window, where the Guardian stood motionless, the silent guardian of the new world order. The words of the hymn echoed in his ears:
- Their gaze pierces the darkness of the night,
Their footsteps rattle, inspiring fear
To those who carry an evil threat,
To those who lurk in the cities.
As the class sang about vigilance and loyalty, Jake felt his throat constrict. He looked at his classmates, whose faces shone with pride and confidence. They believed every word they sang.
The hymn reached a climax and the children's voices rang out with renewed vigor:
- Guards, Guards, we swear.
Be worthy children!
Let's stay vigilant,
So we can help you.
As the last notes fell silent, Thompson brightened.
- Well done, kids! You are true patriots. Remember, vigilance is our duty to the Guardians and our great country.
Jake sank back into his seat, feeling heavy in his chest. The words of the hymn kept playing in his head as a reminder of the world in which he had to hide his true identity.
The bell that heralded the start of recess rang loudly, making Jake wince. Jake gathered his things slowly, trying not to draw attention to himself as his classmates hurried to the exit, filling the classroom with the hum of voices and the creak of chairs being pushed back.
The young man was the last to enter the corridor, and for a moment he froze, stunned by the sudden influx of noise and movement. Bright posters on the walls shouted about upcoming school events: "Big Autumn Ball!", "Sign up for the Robotics Club today!", "Become a hero - join the Safety Patrol!".
The last poster, emblazoned with the image of a majestic Guardian, made the teen swallow nervously.
Clutching a shabby paperback book to his chest, he began to cautiously make his way through the crowd of students. His shoulders were slouching slightly, as if he were trying to make himself smaller and more inconspicuous.
Evans heard excited voices at the window and involuntarily turned his head. Mike, surrounded by his friends as usual, was talking emotionally, waving his arms.
- ...and then I go into this cave, right? And there's this big fucking beast! - Mike widened his eyes in surprise.
- Oh, come on! - Tommy snorted. - You're probably exaggerating again.
- I'll answer that! - Mike jokingly shoved his friend. - Eldoria is an unreal toy. You haven't played it yet, have you?
Sarah, who had been sitting on the windowsill, pitched forward.
- Can you really be anything you want to be? Like an elf or a dwarf?
- Yeah," Mike nodded. - I'm an orc now. I'm getting stronger and waving my sword, and it's beautiful.
- Orcs are so ugly," Emily grimaced. - I'd rather play as an elf. At least they're pretty.
- What does cute have to do with it? - Tommy rolled his eyes. - It's about ability. Well, my magician.
Evans listened to their conversation, feeling an urge growing inside to join in. He could talk about his druid character, about how cool it was to control the water elemental...
But the teenager remained silent, afraid to draw attention to himself. Instead, he clutched the strap of his backpack tighter and moved further down the hall, trying to remain inconspicuous.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and looked for a quiet corner where he could read. Finally, he found an empty bench at the end of the corridor, partially hidden by a large ficus in a tub.
Jake sat down on the bench and opened the book, a worn copy of a science fiction novel called Neptune's Underwater Cities. The teenager immersed himself in the book, letting his imagination take him far away from the noisy school, into the depths of the ocean, where creatures like him lived freely, unafraid of persecution.
The pages of the book described a marvelous underwater world: huge domes that protected cities from water pressure, streets where people swam like fish, and amazing creatures that glowed in the dark depths. Evans involuntarily ran his fingers along the back of his neck, where barely visible scales lurked beneath his collar. He imagined how nice it would be to live in a world where his peculiarities were not a curse, but a gift.
- Hey, is that Neptune's Underwater Cities?
An unexpected voice snapped the young man out of his fantasy. He flinched and looked up to meet the unfamiliar girl. She had red hair, gathered in a careless ponytail, and bright green eyes that looked at him with genuine interest.
- Y-yes," the teenager stammered, surprised that someone had spoken to him.
- Cool! - smiled the girl. - I'm Lisa, the new girl. I transferred last week. And you must be Jake? We're in biology together.
Evans nodded, feeling his heart beat faster. He wasn't used to anyone paying attention to him, much less a new girl.
- I love this book," Lisa continued, sitting down next to him on the bench. - Especially the moment when they discover the ancient ruins at the bottom of the ocean. Have you gotten to that part yet?
For a moment, the teenager forgot his fears. His eyes lit up with enthusiasm.
- Yes! That was amazing. And did you notice how the author describes the algae glowing in the dark? It's like a whole underwater city lit up with neon lights.
Lisa smiled wider.
- That's right! I've always dreamed of seeing it in person. You know, they say that in some caves on the coast you can see a similar glow from plankton.
Evans felt a wave of excitement begin to grow inside him. He opened his mouth to tell about his experience of swimming at night, when the water around him glowed with bioluminescent plankton, but stopped in time. The young man couldn't talk about his night swims. It would be too dangerous.
Suddenly the realization of the situation hit him like an icy shower. He was talking to someone. Openly. About his own interests. What if he said the wrong thing? What if Lisa noticed his oddities?
- Я... I have to go," the teen mumbled, standing up quickly. - I forgot... something to do before class.
Lisa looked surprised and a little upset.
- Oh, okay. Why don't we talk later? It would be great to discuss the book in more detail.
Evans nodded, not looking her in the eye, and hurried away. His heart was pounding, and his mind was spinning with conflicting thoughts. Part of him was excited for this short conversation, for the chance to share his thoughts with someone. But the fear was stronger. If everyone found out he was a mutant, his life would be ruined. The young man thought about his mother: how would she react if it turned out that her son was a mutant? After all, eight years ago her husband, the teenager's father, whom he barely remembered, had died because of a mutant.
The bell for class caught him by surprise. Evans hesitated, letting a stream of students rush into the classroom. He noticed Lisa glance back at him before entering the biology classroom. Her gaze read curiosity and something else.... Maybe anxiety?
The young man entered the classroom last, keeping his head down and trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. He slid to his seat in the far corner, feeling Lisa's gaze on him, but not daring to look up.
Ms. Audrey, the biology teacher, began the lesson with enthusiasm.
- Today we are starting a new topic: animal adaptations to the aquatic environment. Who can tell me some of the adaptations that marine animals have developed?
The class was silent. Evans felt the urge grow inside him to answer. He knew so much about this - more than anyone could imagine. But the teen remained silent, afraid to draw attention to himself.
- Come on, class," Ms. Audrey encouraged. - Recall what you know about fish, dolphins, whales.
Mike hesitantly raised his hand.
- Uh. do they have fins?
- That's right, Mike," the teacher nodded. - The fins are an important adaptation. What else?
Silence again. Evans felt the answers literally bursting out of him. He knew about the gills, about the body structure that helped it swim more efficiently, about the special senses...
- They have gills," the teenager said suddenly, before he could stop himself. The whole class turned to look at him, and the young man felt the color flood his cheeks.
Miss Audrey brightened.
- Nice one, Jake! Gills are a key adaptation for breathing underwater. Can you tell us more about how they work?
Evans hesitated. Part of him wanted to tell everything he knew-not just from books, but from his own experience. But the fear of being exposed was too strong.
- Well ... they extract oxygen from the water," he said quietly. - The water passes through the gills, and the oxygen enters the bloodstream.
- Very good, Jake! - praised Ms. Audrey. - Does anyone else have anything to add about aquatic adaptations?
The lesson continued, but the teenager was no longer listening. He could feel his classmates' eyes on him. Some were surprised by his knowledge, others seemed to be looking at him with suspicion. Mike whispered something to Tommy, and both looked at the young man with a grin.
Lisa, sitting a few desks away from him, smiled encouragingly at him, but Evans quickly looked away. He could feel the fear and panic building up inside. He had said too much. Called attention to himself. What if someone figured it out?
The rest of the lesson passed like a blur. The teenager sat staring at his notebook, ignoring the teacher's questions and his classmates' whispers. When the bell rang, he felt a great sense of relief.
The young man quickly gathered his things, trying to slip away before anyone spoke to him. But luck was not on his side.
- Hey, Jake! - Lisa called out to him, approaching his desk. - That was impressive. You seem to know a lot about marine biology.
Evans froze, not knowing what to say. His heart was beating so hard that it felt like it was going to jump out of his chest.
- Я... I just read a lot," he mumbled, not looking up.
- That's great," Lisa smiled. - Maybe we could study together sometime. I'm not very good at biology, and you obviously know a lot about it.
The teenager felt two feelings struggling inside him: the desire to agree and the fear of the consequences. What if she found out his secret? What if he said or did something strange?
- I'm sorry, I can't," the young man blurted out and, picking up his backpack, quickly left the classroom, leaving a surprised Lisa behind.
Walking out of the school, Evans took a deep breath of the cool fall air. The sun was already setting, coloring the sky shades of orange and pink. He stood on the school steps for a moment, watching the other students disperse in groups, laughing and chatting.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the massive figure of the Guardian on the corner of the street. The robot turned its head slowly, scanning the neighborhood. The teen felt a chill run down his spine as the Sentinel's gaze paused on him for a moment. But the machine continued scanning, giving no sign of alarm.
With a relieved exhale, Evans began the journey home. He walked, deeply immersed in his thoughts and automatically avoiding passersby and traffic lights.
The events of the day ran through his mind like a movie. A conversation among his classmates about the Eldoria game. An unexpected conversation with Lisa about a book. Biology class and his careless answer. The attention he attracted to himself.
The young man felt a mixture of contradictory emotions. On the one hand, the brief moment of communication with Lisa brought him unexpected joy. For the first time in a long time he felt contact with someone, even if only for a moment. But this joy was poisoned by fear-the fear of being discovered, the fear of repercussions.
"What if she suspects something?" - the teenager thought.
He remembered the looks on his classmates' faces after his answer in biology class. Mike's surprise, Tommy's suspicion, Lisa's interest... Each of those looks now seemed like a threat.
But deep inside, behind all those fears, there was a small spark of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could have a friend? Someone to talk to about books, about science, about the world around him?
Evans shook his head, pushing those thoughts away. No, it was too dangerous. He couldn't take the risk. The stakes were too high.
As he approached the house, he paused for a moment, looking at the second-story windows. He knew his mother was still at work-her shift at the hospital ended late. The house would greet him with its usual silence and emptiness.
But tonight that emptiness didn't seem so oppressive, because tonight the teenager had something to look forward to. As soon as it got dark, he could fill the tub with water and immerse himself in his true element. There, under the water, he could be himself without fear of judgment or persecution.
Evans smiled at the thought, feeling the tension of the day begin to let go. Yes, the world around him was full of dangers and fears. But he had his own little world, his sanctuary.
With that thought, he opened the door and entered the house, leaving behind the hustle and bustle and fears of the school day. It was an evening of freedom, even if that freedom was limited to the walls of the bathroom.
As he walked up the stairs to his room, the teenager thought of Lisa, her friendly smile and genuine interest. For a moment, he let himself dream about what it would be like to have a true friend. But then reality reminded him again, and he dismissed those thoughts.
- Maybe in another life.
Closing the room door behind him, Evans took a deep breath. Evening was ahead, and even if only briefly, he could be himself. That was enough for now.
Should have been enough.
****
The warm water enveloped Evans, making him feel safe and free. In the darkness of the bathroom, the surface seemed impenetrable, creating the illusion of a separate world. He slowly sank deeper, letting the water cover his chest and neck.
Taking a deep breath, he felt his gills open, letting the water in, a strange sensation, like a cool breeze passing through his body. Closing his eyes, the young man savored the moment. Here, underwater, he wasn't an outcast or a monster, he was just himself.
My thoughts returned to the events of the day. Mr. Thompson's lesson, soaked with hatred of mutants, came back to mind. Evans remembered how he had shrunk from every word of the teacher about the danger of "people like them". Each phrase had been like a hammer, reminding him of his difference from the others.
And then there was Lisa, with her smile and genuine interest. For a moment, the teenager allowed himself to dream of true friendship, of someone who could accept him for who he was. But reality quickly returned, reminding him of the risks.
Suddenly the sound of the front door opening, muffled by the water but still audible, came to his keen hearing. Panic seized the young man. Mom's back! He jumped out of the tub, splashing the water. With a groan, he grabbed a towel and began to wipe himself off, paying special attention to the chest area where the gills were hidden.
- Jake? Are you home? - My mom's voice sounded tired and a little annoyed.
- Yes, Mom! I'm in the bathroom! - he shouted, pulling on a T-shirt.
Evans came out and saw his mom sitting on the couch, massaging her feet. Her medical uniform was wrinkled, and there were dark circles under her eyes.
Ellen hardly noticed her son's appearance, immersed in the memories of the previous day at the hospital. The events of the last few hours were still running through her mind.
A young doctor, Mark, who had been working at the hospital for only a couple of years, was summoned to see the chief physician. As she passed by, Ellen witnessed a violent scene: Mark stormed out of the office, pale as a sheet, screaming at the injustice.
- I was just doing my job! - he resented.
The chief physician, Dr. Stern, followed with a stony expression on his face.
- We can't risk the reputation of the hospital, Mark. You must realize the times we live in.
Ellen, intrigued, quietly asked a passing nurse what was happening.
- Mark's being fired," she whispered. - They say he treated a mutant and didn't tell the authorities.
A chill ran down Ellen's back. She knew Mark to be an excellent doctor and a kind man. Could he really...?
- I took the Hippocratic Oath! - Mark kept shouting. - We must treat everyone who needs help!
Dr. Stern, noticing the assembled audience, lowered his voice, but Ellen heard anyway:
- Understand, Mark. Rumors of mutant treatment could draw the attention of the authorities or the Guardians. Do you want them checking every patient? Every employee?
Mark shook his head, his shoulders slumped.
- But it's wrong," he said quietly. - We're doctors. We're supposed to help people.
- Times have changed," Stern replied. - We have to think about the safety of the majority. Pack your things and turn in your security pass.
Ellen watched Mark walk slowly toward his office, her heart breaking with sympathy and fear. She wanted to come over, to comfort him, but fear for her own job kept her from doing so. Jake depended on her; she couldn't take any chances.
Dr. Stern addressed the pandering staff:
- I hope everyone understands the seriousness of the situation. Our concern is the safety of patients and staff. Please report any suspicious behavior to me or security immediately.
As the crowd began to disperse, Ellen caught the conversation of two passing orderlies.
- ...What about that patient in four hundred and twelve? - One asked.
- Shh," the other man hissed, looking around. - I heard they took him away this morning.
- Taken? Taken by who?
- Bureau people, of course. Came in at dawn, black, unmarked. Talked to the chief of medicine and took the patient away. Said they were transferring him to a "specialized facility."
- The Bureau? You mean the Mutant Bureau?
- That's right. Those bastards. They say they work directly with Trask Industries.
The orderlies left, and Ellen froze, feeling a chill run down her spine. "Specialized facility" was a euphemism for the prisons and camps where captured mutants were held. She remembered Mark, his desperate cry of injustice, and everything fell into place. Mark had tried to protect a patient and ended up losing his job. And the patient... Ellen didn't even want to think about his fate in the hands of the Bureau and under the watch of the Guardians.
A shiver ran through her body. She thought of her son, of his strange behavior lately. No, it was just paranoia. Her son couldn't be... She pushed the thought away.
The rest of the day Ellen worked as if in a fog, catching the wary glances of her colleagues, hearing whispers behind her back. The atmosphere in the hospital changed, heavy with suspicion and fear.
- Hi, Mom. - Jake's voice snapped her out of her memories. When she looked up, she saw her son standing in front of her with a concerned expression. - Rough day?
Ellen smiled weakly, trying to shake off the weight of the memories.
- Not a word," she sighed. - Double shifts because of Jen's absence. And the patient in three hundred and fifty-five was screaming all night about aliens chasing him.
She kept quiet about Mark and his dismissal, not wanting to burden her son with additional worries in this world full of fear and suspicion.
The teenager shifted awkwardly from foot to foot.
- Shall I make you some tea?
- That would be great," Ellen nodded. - And if you have any leftover pizza from last night, please heat it up. I'm in no condition to cook right now.
While the young man was bustling about in the kitchen, Ellen asked:
- Have you had dinner yet?
- Not yet," came the reply. - Я... I've been waiting for you.
Ellen sighed.
- Jake, how many times have I told you not to wait for me? You need to eat properly.
- I'm sorry, mom. I just... - Evans fell silent, unable to find the right words.
Soon he returned with a tray of steaming cups of tea and a plate of warmed pizza. Ellen had already turned on the television.
- ...thanks to the vigilance of our Guardians, the attempted infiltration has been foiled," the announcer broadcast. - The suspected mutant has been apprehended and handed over to the appropriate authorities....
Wrinkling her nose, Ellen changed the channel.
- That's all I need right now," she muttered, taking a bite of pizza. - How was school, honey?
- It's okay. It's nothing," he shrugged, trying to look casual.
- I got a call from your biology teacher," Ellen said between bites. - She said you did great in your aquatic animals class.
The teen's heart skipped a beat.
- Yeah? His voice sounded a little higher than usual. - Well... I've just been reading a lot about it.
- That's good. Maybe you'll become a marine biologist or something.
Evans grinned nervously.
- Maybe.
They watched the reality show in silence, and the young man furtively glanced at his mother, gathering his courage to say something important.
- Mom," he finally began. - Я...
- Oh, shit!" Ellen suddenly exclaimed, glancing at her watch. - I'd completely forgotten about the report for tomorrow. - She stood up, finishing her tea. - I'm sorry, darling, I've got work to do. Can you do the dishes yourself?
The teen nodded, feeling the moment slipping away.
- Yes, of course.
Ellen gave him a quick kiss on the top of his head.
- You're doing great. Don't stay out too late, okay?
- Okay, mom.
As Evans watched his mother leave, he felt a familiar mixture of love and disappointment. He knew his mother loved him, but sometimes he wished she had more time. Time to notice when something was wrong. Time for him to have the courage to tell her the truth.
Sighing, the young man began to put the dishes away. Tomorrow would be a new day. Maybe tomorrow he would find the right words. For now, he would just try to be a good son. Even if "good" in this world meant "normal." Even if it meant hiding a part of himself.
He went up to his room and went to the window. The silhouette of a patrolling Guardian could be seen in the distance. The sight was no longer terrifying-just a tired resignation.
****
Evans walked down the corridor, clutching his textbooks tightly to his chest. Each step was hard, as if he were walking to the scaffold, not to a swimming lesson.
The teenager's thoughts revolved around the viral video he'd seen the previous night. The glowing mutant flying over the night cities of different countries seemed both frightening and exciting. He remembered sitting in front of his computer screen, holding his breath as the bright figure glided between the skyscrapers of New York City and then suddenly appeared over the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
"How can he be so open?" - Evans thought, and his heart beat faster at the mere thought of showing his abilities in public. Years of school lessons where teachers had instilled in him that mutants were dangerous to society were deeply ingrained in his mind. But now, looking at this glowing mutant, the teen felt a strange mixture of fear and... envy?
As he passed by a group of students crowded around the window sill, the young man involuntarily slowed his step, listening to their conversation.
- Man, did you see that video of the flying dude? - The guy in the red baseball cap asked excitedly, waving his arms. - He just flew between skyscrapers!
- Come on, it's probably fake," the girl with the long blond hair snorted, rolling her eyes. - It's easy to do that on a computer nowadays.
- No, Kate, there are tons of videos from all over the world," the skinny boy with glasses objected, adjusting them on the bridge of his nose. - It can't all be fake, can it?
- What if it's some super-secret government project? - suggested the fourth participant in the conversation, lowering his voice to a half-whisper. - Like a new weapon or something.
- You and your conspiracy theories, Mike," Kate laughed, nudging him lightly with her shoulder. - It would be cool if it was a real superhero, though.
- Or a supervillain," the guy in the baseball cap added grimly. - The Guardians would show him where the crawfish are.
- Hey, people, we're going to be late for math! - the boy with glasses looked at his watch and realized that he was late for math. - Come on, let's go.
Absorbed in his thoughts, Evans didn't immediately notice a familiar figure up ahead. Lisa was standing at her locker, pulling out her textbooks. Her brown hair was gathered into a casual ponytail, and a slight smile played on her lips. When she saw the teenager, she waved hello.
The young man's heart skipped a beat. Lisa was one of the few people who had always been kind to him, despite his reticence.
- Lisa! Come on, or we'll be late for swimming! - shouted one of her friends from across the hall.
Lisa threw an apologetic glance at Evans and hurried back to her friends. The teenager felt both relieved and disappointed at the same time. He continued on his way to the locker room, feeling his anxiety growing with each step.
Swimming class. Evans had been preparing for it for weeks, always making excuses to miss class. But today he had no choice. His mom was unhappy with his constant absences and insisted he go.
"I'll make it," he repeated to himself like a mantra. - "I'll just stay near the edge of the pool. No one will notice anything."
But deep inside, the young man knew it would not be easy. Water had always beckoned to him, calling to him. Every time he found himself near a large body of water, he had to fight the urge to dive in and let his true nature emerge.
As he approached the locker room doors, the teen took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. He paused for a moment, listening to the voices and laughter coming from inside. Ordinary teenagers preparing for an ordinary swimming lesson.
With one last deep breath, Evans pushed open the locker room door.
The smell of chlorine hit the young man's nose as soon as he entered the pool area. The glare from the surface of the water danced on the walls. Evans froze for a moment, feeling his body instinctively drawn to the water like a magnet.
- All right, boys, let's line up! - The loud voice of Mr. Burns, the gym teacher, snapped the teenager out of his daze.
Tall and muscular, with close-cropped graying hair, Mr. Burns looked like a typical coach from the movies. A whistle around his neck and a stopwatch in his hand completed the look.
- Today we're going to test your swimming skills," he announced, looking around at the students. - We'll start simple: swim from one side of the pool to the other in any style.
Evans felt his heart quicken. He knew he should pretend to be an inept swimmer, but the very thought of it made him almost physically sick. Water was his element, his true home.
One by one the students jumped into the water. Some swam confidently, splashing through the water with strong strokes. Others floundered, struggling to cover the distance. The young man watched them, mentally noting who needed to make adjustments to their technique.
- Evans, it's your turn! - Mr. Burns' shout made the teenager flinch.
He took a deep breath and clumsily plunged into the water. The cold liquid enveloped his body, and for a moment he felt an irresistible urge to open his gills, to let his true nature show through. But no, he couldn't. Instead, he paddled clumsily, deliberately making too much splash and pretending to struggle to stay afloat.
- Come on, Evans, move it! - Mr. Burns urged. - My grandmother swims faster than that!
Evans could hear the muffled laughter of his classmates. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Lisa watching him with slight concern. He forced himself to focus on his role, ignoring the natural instincts screaming at him to move properly, efficiently.
"I must be careful," thought the young man as he slowly made his way forward. - "One wrong step, and all could be revealed."
Finally after what seemed like an eternity, the teenager reached the opposite edge of the pool. He climbed out of the water, breathing heavily-not from fatigue, but from the strain of pretending.
- Not a bad start, Evans," Mr. Burns commented, making a note in his notebook. - But you need to work on your technique a lot.
The young man nodded without raising his eyes. He stepped aside, watching the other students. His attention was drawn to Tim, a skinny boy with brown hair and glasses, which he took off before diving into the water.
Tim had always been a little clumsy in gym class, but he looked especially helpless in the water. His movements were abrupt and uncoordinated, as if he were wrestling with the water rather than swimming in it. Evans felt a pang of sympathy-he remembered how he'd been afraid of water before he'd discovered his abilities.
Suddenly something changed. The teenager noticed how Tim's movements became even more erratic. The boy began to stop frequently, gulping for air with his mouth. At first he thought Tim was just tired, but then he saw the panic in his classmate's eyes.
Time seemed to slow down. Evans saw Tim try to take a breath, but instead he started coughing and wheezing. An asthma attack-the young mutant remembered that Tim always carried his inhaler with him. But now the inhaler was far away, in the locker room, and Tim was in the middle of the pool, struggling for every breath.
The teenager felt his heart pounding at a frantic pace. He looked around - no one else seemed to notice what was happening to Tim. Mr. Burns was busy watching the other students, and his classmates were too engrossed in their own conversations.
"I have to do something," the young man's mind raced. But the fear of exposure held him back. If he swam fast, if he showed his true abilities..... But on the other hand, Tim's life was at stake.
The seconds dragged on like hours. Evans watched as Tim began to sink under the water, his movements growing weaker and weaker. The panic in the boy's eyes was replaced by horror as he realized he couldn't hold on to the surface any longer.
At that moment, it was as if something inside the teenager clicked. Without thinking about the consequences, he threw himself into the water. His body instantly remembered all its natural instincts, and he rushed toward Tim with incredible speed.
The young man could feel the water pooling around his body, each movement bringing him closer to his drowning classmate. He fought the urge to open his gills, knowing it would give him an even greater advantage. But no, he couldn't risk it. Even now, even in this critical situation, part of his brain was still working on keeping the secret.
Reaching Tim, Evans wrapped one arm around him and began paddling toward the edge of the pool. Tim was in a panic; he grasped at his rescuer, making it difficult to move. But the teenager was stronger than he looked. His muscles, used to the resistance of the water, were working at maximum capacity.
- Hold on, Tim," he wheezed, trying to keep his classmate's head above water. - We're almost at the edge.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw movement - Mr. Burns had finally noticed what was happening and was rushing toward them. But the young mutant knew he couldn't wait-every second counted.
With one last powerful tug, the teenager reached the edge of the pool. He felt someone's hands-I think it was Mr. Burns-helping to pull Tim out of the water.
- Somebody get his inhaler! Quickly! - shouted the teacher.
Evans climbed out of the pool, breathing heavily. Only now did he realize that all eyes were on him. Surprise, admiration, bewilderment-the emotions on the faces of his classmates blended into a kaleidoscope that made him dizzy.
- Evans, that was... incredible," Mr. Burns said, patting the teenager on the shoulder. - How are you?
But the young mutant wasn't listening. His gaze was fixed on Tim, who was now sitting on the edge of the pool, greedily inhaling the medicine from his inhaler. The color was slowly returning to his face, and Evans felt a wave of relief come over him.
- Jake..." Lisa's quiet voice brought him out of his daze. She was standing next to him, looking at him with wide-open eyes. - It was amazing! How did you manage to swim to Tim so fast? I thought you weren't a very good swimmer.
The teenager felt panic sweep over him. He looked around and saw the other students moving closer, clearly wanting to ask the same questions.
- Я... I don't know," the young man mumbled. - Adrenaline, I guess. I just saw that Tim was in trouble, and...
But the words stuck in his throat. Evans felt his heart pounding so hard that it felt like it was going to jump out of his chest. The walls of the pool seemed to be shrinking around him.
- I need to... I need to go," the teenager blurted out, stepping back. - Я... I forgot something in the locker room.
Without waiting for an answer, the boy turned and walked quickly to the exit, ignoring Mr. Burns's shouts and the surprised gasps of his classmates. He felt their gazes on him, especially Lisa's, full of incomprehension and concern.
When he reached the locker room, Evans slammed the door shut behind him and leaned against it, breathing heavily. His wet skin was covered in goosebumps, but not from the cold - from fear. What had he done? How would he explain his actions now?
The teenager slowly slid to the floor, wrapping his arms around his knees. He had saved Tim, yes. But at what cost? Everyone would ask questions now. Everyone would look at him differently. What if someone figured it out? What if his secret gets out?
The sound of approaching footsteps and voices made Evans flinch. He stood up quickly and began to hurriedly dress, trying to ignore the trembling in his hands. He needed to get out of here, and as soon as possible. Maybe if he disappeared fast enough, everyone would forget what had happened. Maybe if he was careful enough, no one would suspect the truth.
But deep inside, the teenager knew it was only an illusion. Today had changed everything. And he had no idea how to deal with the consequences of what he had done.
The young man sat on the cold bench in the locker room, his wet hair sticking to his forehead. Drops of water ran down his back, making him shiver. But it wasn't the cold that made him shiver-adrenaline and fear pulsed through his veins, making his heart race.
He closed his eyes, trying to regain control of his breathing. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. But with each breath he felt the gills on his chest throbbing, eager to open. Evans instinctively pressed his palm against his chest, as if trying to physically keep them closed.
"Take it easy," he thought. - "You'll manage. You've always managed."
But today was different. Today he didn't just hide his nature - he actively used his abilities in front of everyone. By saving Tim, the teenager had revealed a part of himself, and now he didn't know how to put the genie back in the bottle.
A knock on the locker room door made the young man jump.
- Jake? Are you there? - Lisa's voice sounded concerned.
- Yes, I'm here," he answered, trying to keep his voice calm. - Just a minute.
Evans quickly pulled his t-shirt on, trying to hide the barely visible lines on his neck. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door.
Lisa stood in front of him, her hair still damp from the pool. Her eyes read worry and... something else. Curiosity? Suspicion?
- You look worried," she said, frowning slightly. - Is everything all right?
The teenager stepped back, not wanting to let her inside.
- Yeah, I'm fine. It's just, uh. too much going on at once.
Lisa took a step forward, her voice softer:
- You were incredible in the pool. I didn't even realize how you swam to Tim so fast. What was that? - She sounded more surprised than suspicious.
- I don't know," the young man tried to smile. - Probably just fear for my friend.
Lisa frowned and bit her lip thoughtfully, as if gathering her thoughts. Her gaze became more intense, but it was still friendly:
- You know, Jake, I always thought you didn't like water.... or was I wrong?
Evans felt a chill run down his spine. She'd really noticed more than he'd hoped.
- Well... not really," he shrugged, trying to be as casual as possible. - Maybe it was just because it happened too fast.
Lisa nodded, but her gaze stayed on his face. Then she said carefully:
- Jake, you can trust me, you know that, right?
There was sincerity in her voice, and in that moment, the teen felt his heart beat faster. He wanted to confide, but the fear of revealing himself was too great.
He remembered an incident from two years ago. He had almost opened up to his best friend Alex. They were at the beach, and Alex had suggested a swim. Evans had refused, as always, but Alex had insisted. In the end, the young man couldn't stand it and shouted: "I can't! Я... I'm different!". Alex looked at him strangely, and from that day on, their friendship gradually faded away. The teenager never tried to get close to anyone again.
- I know, Lisa," he finally answered. - It's just... there are some things that are hard to explain.
Lisa nodded, as if understanding more of what he was talking about.
- You know," she started, changing the subject, "I keep thinking about that flying mutant video. It's so weird, isn't it? All our lives we've been told that mutants are dangerous, that we should be afraid of them. And then all of a sudden there's someone who just, uh. flying. Doesn't do any harm, just exists.
Evans felt his heart beat faster. He'd never heard anyone talk about mutants like that before.
- And what do you think of that? - He asked cautiously.
- I think... - Lisa thought for a moment. - I think the world is more complicated than we're told. Maybe not all mutants are bad. Maybe they're just... different.
The teenager felt a lump rise in his throat. He opened his mouth, ready to say something, to confess.....
- Hey, Lisa! Are you coming? - came the voice of one of her friends from the hallway.
The moment was ruined. Lisa threw Evans an apologetic look.
- I gotta go. But we'll talk again, okay?
The young man nodded, not trusting his voice. Lisa left, and he remained standing, feeling devastated and full of conflicting emotions at the same time.
Walking out of the school, the teenager felt the stares of his classmates. Some looked with admiration, others with curiosity. He heard scraps of conversation:
- Did you see him swim?
- I never thought Evans was capable of that....
- Maybe he's been faking it all along.
The young mutant quickened his pace, wanting to leave the schoolyard as quickly as possible. The autumn sun was already setting, coloring the sky orange. The air smelled of fallen leaves and approaching winter.
Suddenly his gaze fell on the massive figure of the Guardian. The three-meter tall machine towered over the passersby, its optical sensors methodically scanning the crowd. Jake involuntarily touched the bracelet, a gift from the mystery woman. After the incident at the pool, he wasn't sure if the protection was still working.
The guard turned his head. The red glow of the sensors stopped on Jake. One second. Two. Three. Finally the robot turned away, continuing its patrol. Jake exhaled, feeling the cold sweat running down his back.
At home, the unusually early light in the windows was waiting for him. His mother was sitting on the sofa in front of the TV.
- Hey, mom. You're early today.
- The hospital is having a checkup today," she replied absent-mindedly, not taking her eyes off the screen.
The screen flashed images of the city at night: a bright figure flew swiftly between skyscrapers.
"Mysterious creature spotted in Chicago again," the announcer excitedly broadcast. - It's the third major city to be hit in a week. Experts speculate we're dealing with an unknown type of mutant..."
- It's terrible," the mother muttered. - How can they be so open...
- Maybe they just want to live free. - Jake blurted out.
His mother turned sharply toward him:
- Jake, you remember what happened to your father, right? Mutants are dangerous. All of them.
Each word dug a sharp needle into his heart. "But I am one of them! And I'm not dangerous!" - screamed an inner voice. Instead, Jake just nodded:
- I understand, mom.
In his room, he went to the window. In the distance, another Guardian was patrolling, his metallic body reflecting the light of the streetlamps. Jake touched the glass. Somewhere out there, in the night sky, a free mutant was flying. Without fear. Without the need to hide.
"One day," he thought, looking at his reflection in the dark glass. A lump rose in his throat. The thought that his mother might turn her back on him was unbearable. But to live forever in fear, hiding his true nature ...
Jake turned away from the window and sat down to study. Formulas and equations couldn't drown out the dream of freedom. The day when he could open his gills underwater without fear of being discovered. The day when he could tell his mother the truth and see understanding in her eyes, not fear.
That day seemed impossibly far away. But Jake knew he would live for that dream. Because the alternative was too scary to think about.
****
Jake woke up with a heavy feeling. Another day of school. After a quiet breakfast alone, he found a note from his mom wishing him a good day.
On the way to school, he tried not to meet the eyes of passersby. Each Guardian made his heart beat faster, but the bracelet stayed cold-he was safe.
After the incident in swimming class where Jake had saved Tim, his classmates kept whispering behind his back. He could feel the tension growing-it seemed like someone was about to guess his true nature.
The teachers notified his mom about what had happened. Ellen was alarmed-she knew that Jake had never been a strong swimmer. He explained that he'd just happened to be near Tim and had reacted quickly. Ellen believed him, but insisted that he no longer attend swimming lessons.
Lisa began to show more attention to him, talking to him more often, taking an interest in his hobbies. She especially liked to talk about sea life. Jake was looking forward to these conversations, though he was afraid of getting too close.
At the entrance to the school he met Lisa.
- Ready for your biology test? - she asked.
- Yeah, I think I'm ready. I was repeating it all last night," Jake said, trying to keep his voice calm.
As they passed the history room, they saw Mr. Thompson. His gaze lingered on Jake longer than usual, piercing and cold, as if the teacher were trying to see into his soul.
- Is everything all right? - Lisa noticed his tension.
- Yeah, I just forgot my textbook at home," he lied, feeling his throat go dry.
In biology class, Ms. Anderson handed out the tests. Jake tried to concentrate on the questions, but his thoughts kept returning to the history teacher's strange look, his eyes full of suspicion.
The heavy footsteps in the hallway sounded like hammer blows. Ms. Anderson had no time to reach the door, which swung open as if struck by a blow.
Men in black uniforms with Mutant Control Bureau badges entered the classroom. Their boots thudded on the floor, counting down the last seconds of Jake's former life. One of the agents slowly looked around the classroom and stopped in front of his desk. Everyone froze. A muffled sob cut through the silence.
The agent grabbed Jake's wrist. Cold fingers closed like a steel vise. The bracelet fell to the desk with a thud. Lisa, sitting in front of him, turned around. Her face turned white as chalk.
The scanner in the agent's hands beeped quietly, running along Jake's body. A mechanical voice cut through the silence: "Mutant detected.
A wave of whispers swept through the classroom like a gust of icy wind.
- I knew it," came from the left.
Jake didn't look up, but he could feel the eyes on him- curious, frightened, hostile. They stung his skin like acid.
The agents jerked him up from his desk. Somewhere in the distance, Ms. Anderson's voice spoke of notifying her parents. Mom. Would he ever see her again?
At the door, Jake forced himself to look at Lisa. He prepared himself to see disgust or fear, the kind he saw in people's eyes every day on TV when they saw mutants being captured. But a lone tear rolled down her cheek, and all he could read in her gaze was sadness and compassion. It was more painful than hate. Jake turned away, feeling a lump come to his throat. The last person he could be almost himself with now knew his secret.
Metal clanked in the hallway as the agent pulled out a collar with flickering indicators.
- Stand still, mutant! - Hard fingers dug into his chin, tilting his head back. Cold metal closed around his neck.
- Let's go," a nudge in the back made him move.
The classroom doors opened one after another. Students and teachers lined the walls like spectators in a freak parade. Whispers followed like snake hisses:
- He's always been weird...
- I knew there was something wrong with him ...
- A mutant among us...
Mr. Thompson stood outside his office. His face was a mask of triumphant disgust.
- Thank God," he said, loud enough for everyone to hear. - People like you can't hide forever.
A crowd was buzzing around the school's exit. Camera flashes struck my eyes like lightning. Hate-stained faces swam before my eyes. A black van with the Bureau's emblem was waiting, its steel maw open.
The path through the crowd became a torture. Shouts, whistles, blows. Someone's saliva got on his cheek, but Jake didn't even try to wipe it away.
- Get in! - A new jolt threw him against the open doors.
Jake took one last look at the school. There, beyond the walls, was his old life-so simple, so desirable now.
The cold metal floor of the van greeted him like an old acquaintance. Thoughts of his mom came in waves, threatening to drown him. How would she know? From the indifferent voice on the news? From the policeman at the door? How will she feel when she realizes that her son is one of what society considers monsters? The same mutants that killed his father.
He remembered her talk of mutants, the fear in her eyes when she watched the news. Would she turn away from him? Would she ever be able to accept him as he was?
But Lisa's gaze was in front of my eyes-no disgust or fear, just sadness and understanding. If she could see him as a human being even after his secret was revealed, maybe Mom could, too? That thought became the straw to which his consciousness clung.
The van moved through the city, and the old life floated by through the bars of the window. Tears streamed down his cheeks, but Jake didn't try to hold them back. Familiar streets flashed like images from an old movie-the park where he'd walked with his mother, the bookstore, the café where he'd dreamed of inviting Lisa. All of that was now a distant, unattainable past.
At the checkpoint, the van stopped. The guards' voices sounded like cotton candy:
- Mutant, hazard class unknown. We're taking it to central lockup for classification.
Jake closed his eyes. He was just a number in a database now. Not a person-an object.
The van pulled onto the highway. The fatigue came on suddenly-the adrenaline was wearing off, leaving a hollow, exhausted feeling behind. Jake fought sleep, but his eyes closed on their own.
A jolt jerked him out of his oblivion. Concrete walls topped with barbed wire floated past the window. Dark silhouettes with guns stood on guard towers. The van stopped at the gate. The guards were checking IDs, the beams of their flashlights shining in their eyes.
The doors swung open, letting in the harsh light and cold air.
- Come out," the guard commanded.
Jake rose slowly, wincing at the pain in his stiff legs. Time had lost its meaning-maybe a few hours had passed, maybe a lifetime. The gray walls of the isolation ward loomed ahead, a monolith ready to swallow him up forever.
****
Ellen Evans walked hurriedly down the hospital corridor, absentmindedly fixing a loose strand of hair. She glanced at her watch and noted that it was four hours before the end of her shift.
My mind went through the list of things to do: check the IVs in 301, change Mrs. Rodriguez's bandage, fill out the reports. But his thoughts kept returning to Jake. How was his day at school? Lately, his son seemed distant, pensive. Problems with his studies? Or first love? Ellen smiled involuntarily. Her boy had grown up so quickly-it seemed like only yesterday she'd held him in her arms, and now he was a teenager with his own secrets and worries.
"I'll make his favorite lasagna tonight with extra cheese," she decided. - "It always lifts his spirits."
As Ellen walked past the resident's room, she noticed an unusual commotion as a group of nurses whispered excitedly about something. The conversation broke off abruptly as she approached, and several pairs of eyes fixed on her. Something in their gazes made her inwardly tense.
In the treatment room, she was getting ready to see the next patient when her cell phone vibrated in her coat pocket. An unfamiliar number popped up on the screen. She usually ignored such calls during her shift, but a premonition compelled her to answer it.
- [Cell phone rings] Hello?
- Mrs. Evans? - She recognized the headmaster in the tense voice of her interlocutor. The hand holding the scalpel froze in midair.
- Yes, it's me," she said, trying to speak calmly. - Did something happen to Jake?
A heavy pause followed. Ellen heard the director take a deep breath.
- Mrs. Evans, I, uh. I don't know how to tell you this... - his voice shook. - There's been an incident at school. With Jake.
It's like the ground's gone out from under my feet. An incident? What does that mean? A fight? An accident in gym class? Why is there so much anxiety in the principal's voice?
- What happened? - She asked in an alien voice. - Is he hurt? Does he need help?
- No, no, physically he's fine," the director replied hastily. - But... Mrs. Evans, you'd better see for yourself. Can you come to the television?
A chill ran down my spine. TV? What could have happened at school to make the news?
- I'm at work," she mumbled. - But I can go out in the hall, there's a TV there.
- Please do it," there was a pleading tone in the principal's voice.
- Okay, I'll be right there," she said. - Stay on the line.
Ellen left the treatment room and headed down the hall. Her usually confident gait was uneven, as if she had learned how to walk. The world around her seemed unreal, blurred at the edges. The sounds of the hospital-the beeping of the instruments, the chatter of the staff, the noise of the elevators-were pushed into the background, drowned out by the loud pounding of her own heart.
As Ellen walked past the nurses' station, she noticed several staff members crowded around a small television. Their faces were a mixture of shock and disbelief. Some covered their mouths with their hands, others shook their heads.
The familiar building of Jake's school was on the screen. A huge mass of people - students, teachers, passersby - crowded in front of the entrance. The camera picked up the frightened, shocked faces in the crowd.
And suddenly she saw him. Jake. Her boy. But it wasn't the Jake she knew. This one looked scared, lost. Handcuffs glittered on his wrists, and around his neck.... She blinked, not believing her eyes. There was some kind of strange metal collar around her son's neck.
The nurse grabbed the counter to keep from falling. Her ears rang and her eyes blurred.
- Mrs. Evans? - The headmaster's voice on the phone brought her back to reality. - Can you see?
- Yes," she whispered, not recognizing her own voice. - But I don't understand... What's going on? Why is Jake...
- Representatives from the Bureau of Mutant Control and Trapping came to the school today," the principal's voice was quiet, almost sympathetic. - They found out that Jake is a mutant.
The world around Ellen seemed to stop. The words echoed in her head. Mutant. Her son was a mutant? All the oddities in his behavior over the past few months, his aloofness, his reluctance to attend school events-all of it suddenly added up to a frightening picture.
On the screen, Jake was being pushed into a black van. His eyes, full of fear and despair, met the camera for a moment, as if begging for help.
The woman didn't remember running out of the hospital. The bright sunlight hit her eyes, the cool wind touched her face. The world seemed unreal, like the scenery in a surreal play.
She stopped in the middle of the parking lot. Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of her chest. The screen image was still in front of her eyes: her son, handcuffed, with a terrible collar, disappearing into a black van.
"It can't be true!" - the thought fluttered around in his head like a caught bird.
But reality was inexorable. Her husband had died eight years ago in a mutant attack on Manhattan. And now her son was one of them. One of the men who had taken her husband from her, who had turned their lives into a nightmare.
Ellen felt anger boiling up inside. At who? At Jake for hiding it? At herself for not noticing? At the world for its injustice?
Anger was replaced by guilt. She was a mother, she should have known, should have felt it. "If only I'd paid attention... If only I'd talked to him more..."
My mother covered her face with her hands, trying to hold back her sobs. What would happen to Jake now? Where would they take him? She had heard stories of "special camps," of experiments, of disappearances without trace.
"No," she mentally pleaded. - Please, not this. Not my boy."
Gradually, the shock began to recede. Jake was a mutant. That was a fact. But did that mean he was no longer her son? Was he no longer the boy she'd raised, the boy she'd loved, the boy she'd given her life for?
Ellen remembered his first steps, his first word, his first day at school. How he had cried when he fell off his bike, how he had glowed with pride when he got his first excellent grade. His smile, his laughter, his hugs.
And suddenly she realized that it didn't matter if he was a mutant or not. He's still her son. Her flesh and blood. Her boy, the one she loves more than life.
"What to do now?" - that thought pulsed through her head. She didn't know anything about the Mutant Control Bureau's procedures. Didn't know where detainees were taken. Didn't know her rights as a mutant parent. Did such rights even exist?
To the car? Home? To the police? But what to say? "Help, my son's been taken by the Mutant Control Bureau"? They'll just laugh. Or they'll arrest him for aiding and abetting.
Ellen leaned against the nearest car. She was a nurse and knew how to act in emergencies, how to save lives. But right now... now she felt completely helpless.
****
Lisa sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the wall. The sunlight fell through the blinds, streaking the room. Her normally calm hands trembled as she wrung her T-shirt.
"Jake is a mutant." Two words that turned her world upside down. She stood up and walked to the window. Downstairs, life went on as usual: passersby went about their business, children playing on the playground. The Guardian stood at the crossroads, his metallic body reflecting the sunlight. A normal day for everyone but her.
Her gaze fell on a book about marine biology, a gift from Jake. Lisa remembered every detail of that day. He had talked about the underwater world with such passion that he seemed to be part of it. It all made sense now: his unusual grace in the water, his nervousness around the Guardians, his strange detachment when it came to the future.
An announcer's voice came from the living room: "Today, a mutant minor was discovered and detained at a local school. The authorities assure me that the situation is under control.
Lisa felt nauseous. "The situation is under control"-as if this was about a broken water pipe, not the man she knew. The man who'd saved Tim in the pool, who'd helped her with biology, who'd never done anything to hurt anyone.
Muffled voices of parents were heard in the hallway:
- Who would have thought, such a quiet boy.....
- We should talk to Lisa, they've been talking.
- Maybe we should transfer her to another school. After something like that.
Anger rose up inside in a hot wave. To transfer to another school - as if a dangerous disease could be transmitted through a shared desk.
The phone on the desk flashed notifications. Dozens of messages from classmates:
- Did you know he was a mutant?
- I can't believe we were studying with a monster!
- Do you think he could have killed someone?
Lisa tossed the phone away in disgust. A monster? Jake, who a month ago had spent two hours explaining the microscope to first graders? Who came to school an hour early every morning to help old Mr. Johnson with the aquarium?
There was a new book on the shelf - The Mutant Threat: How to Protect Yourself and Your Families. Her parents had bought it a week ago, insisting that she read it "for her own safety. Liza opened it, ran her eyes over the first lines about the need to identify and isolate mutants.
My hands moved of their own accord. The first torn page fell to the floor almost silently. The second. The third. With each movement, something inside became lighter, as if not only the sheets were torn, but also the prejudices instilled over the years.
When all that was left of the book was the cover and a pile of scraps, Lisa finally stopped. Her hands trembled with exertion. She looked at the scraps of paper scattered on the floor, and suddenly realized the futility of her gesture. What difference would a destroyed book make? Jake was still in the Bureau van, taking him to the unknown.
The sun was setting, coloring the room red. Another Bureau van drove by outside the window, a black one with tinted windows. Just like the one that had taken Jake away. Lisa stared at it until it disappeared around the corner.
In the coming dusk, she sat among the scraps of the book, feeling as torn and broken as those pages. The clock ticked, counting down the first hours of a new world-a world where it was a crime to have a friend.