Rise of the Phoenix

Chp. 1: Midnight Transformation

I wasn’t expecting this, being a mutant. Nor did I expect to be a Phoenix. Yet life has its own meaning for you.

It is September 15 a day I remember all too well. I was a little light headed as I walk past the block were the Alley Boys hang out. They are these boys who have nothing better to do than beat up others kids in the neighborhood. They always try to beat me up every time I walk by, but they never succeed thanks to these bracelets I got for my thirteenth birthday from Artemis. Yes, Artemis the Greek goddess of the hunt, moon, and maidens. They surrounded me and I began to see spots as my vision began to fail me. I looked into the leader Al Thomson his usual toothy grin was plastered to his face and  then everything went black. A minute later I’m kneeling on the sidewalk with my books scattered around me, my clothes were all smeared and tattered. And the worst fact is that I was wearing my fave jeans and a Greenday shirt.

The Alley Boys were running, yelling “Get away from her.”

I gathered my books and stood then would have almost introduced my head to the pavement if this guy hadn’t appeared to catch my shoulders. “Come on where is your house?”

“Over on Linden. Second one on the left.”With that he carried me back to my house; passed out in his arms.

When I wake up later that night my housekeeper, Loretta, is wiping my face.“You’re awake. That boy is such a sweet heart. He carried you in; asleep in his arms. Are you hungry?”

I got up and went down stairs, to an old friend.

“Devin? Devin, is that you?”I looked into the guy-who-helped-me’s face.

“Hey, you’re finally awake. Nice to see you again, Twilight.” I punched him in the arm.

“Ouch, what was that for?” he looked at my face, regrettably, I am crying.

“You just left for three years. How come you didn’t tell Loretta who you were?” I yelled at him.

“I’m… I’m sorry. I wanted to surprise you. I didn’t think you cared about me leaving.”

“Didn’t care? Didn’t care? We grew up together. Both of our parents died together. We were like out casts at school. Then you leave for three years and think I don’t care? You were the closest one to me after our parents died. Loretta is a mother to us, after you left to go to that training program in that X-Mansion I just had no one to be with.”

“Hey,” Loretta cut in.

“When I wasn’t with Loretta.” I tried to push him away from me but he caught me before I could touch him and hugged me.“I’m sorry. I’m sorry; I didn’t mean it that way. I missed you.”

I fell apart in his arms. “I’m sorry, too. Welcome home.”

I sobbed into his shirt. He let out a small laugh along with Loretta, after I pushed away from him a little embarassed.

 I woke up later at night the next day; I sat up and looked out the window a familiar figure stood on my balcony. I open the door, “Night Owl? Come in.”

I felt it is rude for him to be there alone, watching me.

“I came to check on you.” He is quite but loud at the same time. “Do you know me?” I looked into his eyes, something is familiar about them.

“I’m a friend to the people. I saw what happened with those Alley Boys.”

“Oh. Can you tell me? I blacked out.”

“Um…your friend…he fought them off.”

“Oh. You look very familiar,” he shifted away as I lifted my hand towards his mask.

“I’m glad you’re okay. I must be going, may the night be with you,” he said as he disappeared into the shadows.

I moved back and closed my eyes. There is a sharp tapping in the back of my head. I opened my eyes yet I wasn’t in my room but a dark abyss.

“My dear, you have returned,” A voice said.

I looked into the darkness, a woman’s figure formed out of the fog. It came closer to me.

“You have to complete the process, accept who you are. Accept who you are; accept it.” The woman disappeared into shadows.

“What process? What are you talking about, where am I?” my voice echoed.

I closed my eyes again and opened them again.I am outside in the middle of downtown. I walked down the street when some lady and this guy on a bench screamed and took off. Something told me to look at myself. I turned to a shop window; I had wings that looked like they formed out of Darkness, my eyes and tough like a snake’s. I heard gunshots and turned around. A mob of men and teenagers were behind me. I started to run and I heard more gunshots as I slapped my hands to my ears; every sound I heard seemed to multiply. As I ran something hit me in my side, I looked and saw some type of barb. Full of a sudden rage I pulled it; I hissed at the mob and got myself to strike. Then out of nowhere the X-Men were in front of me, the anger in me eased knowing that Night Owl is an X-man. A sharp sting came to my arm, then another. I felt my body changing back to normal as I fell to the floor, shaking.