What I Wish For - Pentatonix & Xmen

Chapter One

Kirstin:

The fire's spreading. Giant tongues of it lick up the houses around me, hungry for wood & unheedless to people's mercy.

People, screaming around me, crying out for friends and family, desperately calling for help. People are pinned down by debris, stuck in the fire and struggling.

I want to help them.
I want to-- but I can't.

My mind tries to tell me that I'm oblivious to my surroundings, no matter how hard I try to shake it off. My eyes are misty and covered in ash from the fire. It stings, but I can't feel any pain. A mother calls out for her child, frantically searching. I-- I can't help her…

I did this?

A strong wind blows hot smoke and ash into my face, bringing with it the smell of burning wood and flesh. I never expected to find myself in the middle of a fire, let alone cause it.

I did this.

Trying desperately to break away from this state, I writh and scream, tucking my legs and arms up against my stomach.

I don't want to do this anymore. I never wanted to do any of this. No no no NO.
Screwing my eyes shut, I wish for everything to go away. The fire. The screaming. This sickening feeling inside of me. Everything, everything, every--

________________________________________________________________

"Kirstin..."

Huh?

"Kirstie!!"

My eyes open. At first, the dark sky fools me into thinking that i haven't yet woken up, but I eventually come to my senses. Avi's shaking me awake. The worried expression on his face turns to relief as soon as he sees me smile, and he pulls me up, embracing me...how much time passed?

"I'm so glad you're okay. I honestly thought you were dead-" He mumbles into my hair. I forgot about  how different  in height we were. It's when we finally pull apart that I notice my surroundings.

"Where are we?" I look around in confusion. Flashes of last night enter my mind. Fire. Screaming. Power surging throughout my body.

I quickly scramble away from Avi, falling onto the ground , and it's his turn to look confused.

"Get away from me!" I whisper, well aware that I'm shaking.

"Kirstie? Are you-"

"I SAID GET AWAY FROM ME!" Screaming now. Avi takes a few reluctant steps back. My heart sinks.

A few awkward moments pass between us before I can finally get the words out of my mouth again.

"I don't want to hurt you, Avi." I can barely hear my voice. There's a wailing noise now, added to the rushing of blood I can hear in my ears. Sirens.
"You- you don't know what happened. I- I killed people. I don't even know what it was, but I'm dangerous."

Dangerous.

Avi completely ignores my words and sighs. I watch as he comes to kneel beside me, well against my protests.

"You know what, I do. Know what happened, I mean. I watched it happen Kirstie. You're a mutant." He pauses, looking behind him, before lowering his voice so that only I can hear him. "You-- have powers."

I don't know how to take this information. My body's instant reaction is to start shaking even more. I feel my stomach drop.

Police cars are still screaming in my ears, and, here and there, I can hear footsteps passing along the ground. Searchlughts floid the sky. They haven't spotted us yet, but if they come close, they'll be able to find us easily. My breathing is heavy, and Avi's eyes restlessly wonder from the police cars, to me then back at the flashing lights. The footsteps get closer and closer, treading on splintered wood and gravel, making a noise that sound like firecrackers in my ears . I stare at Avi and he stares back at me, the same expression in both our eyes. Fear. My heart is beats quickly under my shirt.

Well, at least I know I'm not normal anymore, anyway.

Quickly, Avi's eyes start to flicker to point above my head. He does this several times before slowly bringing his hands up to is side. A surrendering gesture. The rushing of blood in my ears is louder than ever. Then someone taps me on the shoulder, forcing me to slowly turn around until I feel the cold metal of a gun resting on my head.

"I'm afraid your coming with us, miss." The officer says, his torch, and gun, pointing right at me. He looks like he's in his mid - thirties, and he has the stupidest mustache I've ever seen. He also looks incredibly impatient. Nudging his gun into my arm, he orders me to get up.

I slowly rise, and, for a second or so, I stand, before my knees buckle underneath me and I fall back down. The officer directs his gun towards Avi.

"You too. Help her."

Avi's coat rustles against the ground as he goes to pick me up, slowly and gently. Then, he whispers to me, so quietly that the officer can't hear him:

"Why does this always happen to us."

Huh? I'm about to turn around and question him but his hands pull tightly around my waist. I can hear his breath on my neck

"Don't let go, okay. 3...2…" -I feel him crouch slightly- "1--"

And then all at once, we lift off the ground. The sudden wind jumps through my hair, whipping it into my eyes until I can't see anymore. I feel something sharp scraping against my leg. Gunshots echo on the ground- somewhere -below us.

"Don't you dare let go-" I hear Avi shout. He's breathing heavily too.

"I-- can't--promise--"

The air is rapidly thinning around us, making it difficult for me to get air into my lungs. I try to take big gulps of it, but it doesn't seem to help.

"I'll-- try--"
And then, slowly, as much as I try to avoid it, I feel myself pass out.