Thunder & Lightning: We're all leaves in a hurricane. (Gifted) by Patrick Roberts Page B

spiel.” I said with a nod, “Everyone’s good.”
    “No. I have a different view on the world than my partner.”
    “Lemme guess, ‘the world will never accept us’?” I asked, “It’s all very X-Men .”
    He chortled, “Yes, I suppose it is.” His demeanor changed, “We severely need your help.”
    “I don’t have a place to go. I guess you win by default.” I nodded.
    “I’ll leave you.” He said turning to leave.
    “Ummm,” I said causing him to turn to me, “I need some things, from my place, and…”
    “They’ll be waiting for you there.”
    “Maybe, but if I’m going to help you, I need some things.” I said quickly.
    “I’d advise against it. But if you really need to go, I’ll take you.” He said.
    “Thank you.”
    “Thank me after we’ve figured out why your DNA is so important.” Chace said leaving.
    I walked over and sat on the bed, taking my jacket off and draping it across the headboard. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I felt all my worries dissipate and my eyes getting heavier.

Chapter 5: Up in Flames
     
    After debating the validity of the action to death, Ned finally gave in and agreed that I should go and pick up my belongings before Dr. Michaels rifled through them. When I got to the apartment, I was displeased to find the door ajar.
    Chace went in first to check the place out. As he looked around, so did I. I lived on the top floor of the building. Thank God for elevators. The apartment was small but it was a work of art to me. I had painted it upon moving in two years ago. The color was something like Aboriginal Gold. It was also wall-to-wall hard wood flooring. There was no room difference in my kitchen and the living room, just a few islands. The hallway led to my bedroom and a bathroom, of which was very small. But it was home.
    Living on the top floor, I was able to have a fireplace and inside that fireplace I kept some personal effects. I quickly pulled the box from out of the soot and pulled it open.
    As I rifled through what little money I had and other personal things, I found a picture of my late mother. She was killed two years ago, right after my powers emerged. I stared at the picture. Her brown skin the same color as mine and her beautiful features, most of which I had inherited.
    “No one’s—Am I interrupting?” Chace said behind me.
    I ran my fingers over the picture and pushed it into my pocket, “No.” I said quickly.
    “The photograph is what you came for.”
    “It’s the only thing I really have left of her.” I said quickly. I flashed the cash, “That and I’m low on funds.”
    I walked past him into the bedroom. Chace followed me and watched as I moved to the closet and pulled out a duffle bag. Inside were clothes I packed just in case whoever killed my mother came after me. Luckily, or probably unluckily, I was right.
    “You know, I’m actually relieved.” I said causing him to stare at me, “I felt sort of alone. Before the accident, I wasn’t sure if I was the only one.”
    “You’re not.”
    “Obviously.”
    “We need to stick together.” He said, “We’re all we have.”
    “Are we?” I asked, “I’ve seen this before. We rally, we fight…then what? We gain acceptance?”
    “No. If you ask me, we will never gain acceptance.”
    “Something Magneto would say.” I frowned.
    “I don’t know whether that honors me or if it offends me.” He chuckled. Within a second, his laughter stopped, “Someone’s here.”
    I felt…heat. Something or someone was here, but it was the police nor was it a regular human. The heat it was projecting warned me of that. I could feel the heat on my skin, as if whoever it was stood right next to me.
    I grabbed my duffle bag and headed out into the living room with Chace at my heels. As we entered the living room, I took notice of two people standing in front of the exit.
    One of them was a woman with a very revealing black leather corset and matching leather pants. She had long,