「 The Professor & I 」VOLUME II

(206) Mystique

Lynn's POV

Even when they were gone in another blink almost too quick for any ordinary bystander to detect, I knew those eyes since I was a girl.

It had to be her.

Just like the fleeting image on television, the yellow was reminiscent, nostalgic, evoking memories in a ruthless flick.

I stunned in motion, simply staring jaw-dropped at the probable shapeshifter. Wary to approach, I merely studied his, or her, every move, naturally tailing when Bobby's body rose and strutted off in a smug manner.

Carrying a bundle of two books in his hand, Bobby paced nonchalantly down a sidewalk, his confident treads progressively trudging into a deserted section of the gardens leading to the back gates of the compound. Although rendering my attempts at camouflage almost devoid and impossible, I persisted in pursuing the mysterious figure, soon realizing it was headed for an exit only known to three mutants in the world.

As much as numerous getaway paths, blatantly disguised overground or duly obscured underground regardless, had been built throughout the mansion's premises to act as emergency escape avenues after the lesson learnt during Apocalypse's attack, the one route we were paving on served only us even after all these decades of opening up the property to others.

Charles, I'm following Raven, I covertly informed, trailing behind the one who was sneaking onwards to our childhood playground he would never have known otherwise.

Lynn, are you alright? What are you talking about? Charles prodded, startled, moderately bemused but mostly a voice of unadulterated worry resonating in my head.

She's back. I'm sure. Come to the treehouse, Charles. Please, I begged urgently and quickly ceased our communications as I hurried to keep her within my line of vision.

Bobby marched on without hesitancy or uncertainty, like he knew our secret hideout at the back of his mind, undeniably evidencing that he was truly her, until he paused before the aged yet magnificent plant embellished with a small obsolete hut on one of its thick branches. I observed him from a distance as he scrutinized the sight like he had been struck by a recollection, a strange look like he was trying to remember.

Notwithstanding the urge to confront, I cautiously steered up, halting only a couple of yards behind his stance stationed by the waterfront of a nearby pond we used to skate upon.

"Raven," I called out and Bobby promptly turned around.

"Lynn," Bobby greeted in pretentious surprise.

"Is everything alright? I'm Bobby," he lied with absolute composure.

"Bobby doesn't know how to get here," I refuted calmly, glaring up at the insolently behaved boy yet he barely even flinched being caught in the act.

"I know you're in there, Raven," I insisted shakily, the mess of indescribable emotions bolting around my mind rapidly circulating through my entire frame.

"My name is Mystique," the boy asserted, a familiar voice yet articulating in a tone so cold and stone hearted, it grew foreign.

Her unanticipated demeanor shattered my heart, the incredible pain almost deeming me oblivious to her uncharacteristic conduct yet simultaneously triggering my compulsion to delve into her mind. Agonizingly, I probed it, horrified to discover a blank space, a vast emptiness dominated by dark and terrible things.

"Oh, dear god. What happened to you, Raven?" I croaked, streaming tears meandering uncontrollably down my cheeks as she turned her back.