Mutation

Chapter 20: Farewells of Blue Hair and Sweet Dreams

Hazel

As soon as I was close enough to the ground where I could make out faces, I braced myself for impact. I felt oddly happy and dazed, so much that I didn't know how fast I was going. What I thought was going to be a swift, gentle landing turned out to be me stumbling as my feet touched the ground and falling on top of some bodies. Maybe it was because I was too busy enjoying myself that I wasn't focusing enough when levitating myself down. All I was focusing on now was that my forehead was burning and bleeding from hitting my head on the rocky ceiling of the underground colony, and how I managed to land on top of three people.

"Ugh!" I heard Leo groan from under me. I kneed him pretty hard in the stomach when I collided into him. I quickly rolled off the bodies I was on top of and landed on my side. Leo, Maxine, the blue-haired girl named Zoe, and the familiar little blonde girl named Jazz were lying on the ground nearby, who all appeared shocked at what just happened. I couldn't help but blush and give them all an apologetic smile.

"I think you broke my ribs!" whined Leo.

"Well I think she knocked my tooth out!" Maxine added.

"Is my hair supposed to be on fire?" Zoe said nervously, swatting at her head vigorously with her sweatshirt, which was now giving off brilliant blue flames.

Jazz, on the other hand, appeared to be just fine and was rolling on the ground laughing. Her childish giggles must have been contagious, since everyone around her started laughing too. The only ones who weren't laughing were Dr. Baker and Sergeant Hammond. When I glanced over at them, they had their arms crossed and looked really impatient. I had a feeling they didn't like my stunt so much. It interrupted our session.

"Alright everyone, head off to bed. This session is over. We will let you know soon when our next meeting is," Dr. Baker ordered us. Immediately, every mutant there started heading towards their rooms. I expected her to stop me and yell at me about what I did, but surprisingly, she didn't. With my head bent down in embarrassment and shame, I sauntered off to my room, and plopped onto my bed.

* * *

"Hazel. Hazel, wake up." I woke up suddenly when I felt myself being shaken awake by Maxine. I turned the lamp on beside my bed, glancing outside to see it was probably early in the morning, and noticed that her eyes were shiny with tears. Judging by the frightened look in her eyes, I knew something was wrong.

"Maxine, what happened?" I forced myself to get up and put on my shoes, predicting that she was taking me somewhere.

Maxine sniffled and started crying. "It's Zoe. Something happened to Zoe."

My heart instantly plummeted in my chest. Maxine then led the way out of our room and together, we walked towards the town square. A huge crowd of mutants were already standing there, formed in a circle around something in the center. Every one of the kids' faces were either glistening with tears, red with anger, or just plain horror-struck. Then I saw it.

A blackened, charred dead body lay sprawled out in the center of the town square. It was a pretty gruesome sight. The body's skin was nearly completely burnt off, and so were it's clothes. Even its eye sockets were empty of its eyeballs, which probably melted. The horrible sight made me ponder what in the world happened to this mutant. Or who did it.

Then I remembered what Maxine said. "It's Zoe. Something happened to Zoe."

This burned, murdered body was Zoe.

Even though I barely knew Zoe, I couldn't help but tear up. Why did this have to happen to such an innocent person? The girl was harmless (besides blue-glowing-hair mutation). I hated to think about it, but there was something telling me that this was no accident. But you never know in these type of situations in the colony. Her powers could have malfunctioned or something.