*MUTANT HIGH – ASSEMBLY HALL*
Following the confidential meeting with the directors, one conclusion echoed louder than the rest every off-campus activity had to be suspended. No field trips. No weekend visits. No exceptions. Danger was looming, and no one could predict when or where it would strike.
The vast assembly hall thrummed with uneasy energy. Muted whispers bounced from wall to wall. Students shifted in their seats, glancing around with furrowed brows and anxious frowns. The call to gather had come suddenly and at Mutant High, sudden never meant safe.
Some huddled close, exchanging theories in hushed tones. A few tried to keep their cool, slouched in their chairs, arms crossed, but their eyes betrayed the tension. Even the most carefree mutants weren't smiling. Something was wrong. Deeply wrong.
Then the doors opened.
Mr. Walter entered.
He didn't need to speak to command silence. The murmurs died almost instantly as his polished shoes echoed with each step toward the stage. His presence always carried weight but today, it felt heavier. Too heavy.
He adjusted his glasses. His shoulders were squared, his posture rigid but the exhaustion in his eyes betrayed him. There was worry there too. And under that, something sharper determination.
A storm was coming.
And Mr. Walter was preparing to meet it head-on.
"Good day, students," Mr. Walter began, his voice calm, but edged with something heavier like a weight he had no choice but to carry. "I know today is Friday, and many of you had been granted permission to visit your families…"
Across the room, heads began to nod. A few students even relaxed in their seats, clinging to that little hope until the next words shattered it.
"…but I regret to inform you that all off-campus visits have been canceled until further notice."
Silence fell like a hammer.
Some students stiffened. Others exchanged alarmed glances. The hopeful glow in their eyes quickly dimmed. Mr. Walter looked over them all, his expression unreadable, but inside, his heart twisted. He didn't enjoy being the bearer of bad news but safety came first.
Those who were usually allowed to leave were mutants whose awakening hadn't drawn public attention whose powers hadn't made headlines or caused chaos. Some had families who knew the truth and kept it quiet. But others weren't so lucky. The moment their powers awakened, the world had turned on them branding them dangerous, different, disposable.
Being a mutant had its thrills superhuman abilities, a sense of purpose, even pride. But outside these walls, the world still feared them. Feared them enough to hunt them. To cage them. To experiment on them like lab rats. To eliminate them without hesitation.
That was the reality they lived in.
And so, for their protection this sacrifice was necessary.
Mr. Walter exhaled slowly, barely audible.
"I know this is disappointing," he continued. "But this decision was made to protect every single one of you. We can't risk exposure. Not now."
He paused, scanning the silent crowd.
"Stay sharp. Stay inside. And trust that everything we do... is for your survival."
A wave of shock rippled through the assembly hall.
"What?"
"Why?"
"This isn't fair!"
The quiet murmurs erupted into a flurry of frustrated whispers and exclamations. Confusion, anger, and disappointment passed through the crowd like electricity.
Mr. Walter raised a hand not aggressively, but with a presence that demanded attention. The room quieted, tension hanging in the silence.
"I understand your disappointment. But something has come up something important," he said, his tone unwavering. "If there are any changes, your mentors will keep you informed."
The finality in his voice left no room for questions. No room for argument.
With a firm nod, Mr. Walter stepped down from the platform. His shoulders, once squared with authority, sagged slightly as he turned. He moved quickly, his coat swaying as he disappeared behind the double doors leaving behind hundreds of anxious eyes and a silence louder than the noise had been.
*MUTANT HIGH – CHERRY'S ROOM*
The room was sterile but warm lit by soft, bluish lights that gave everything a surreal glow. Medical equipment beeped steadily, a rhythm meant to soothe. But there was no peace here.
Cherry sat motionless on her bed. Upright. Still. Her white-glowing eyes were wide open, unblinking, staring at nothing and everything all at once.
She looked like a living statue silent, unreadable, "otherworldly".
Mr. Walter knelt beside her, his presence suddenly so small compared to the eerie calm that surrounded his daughter. His hand hovered inches from her cheek, shaking afraid to touch her, as if contact might shatter whatever fragile state she was in.
"Why…" his voice cracked, low and pained, "why is she still like this?"
He looked up at the mutant medic standing nearby, desperation in his eyes. "She hasn't moved. Her eyes, why won't they go back to normal?"
The medic exchanged a quick glance with Paige, who stood nearby watching quietly, her arms crossed in tension.
"She's caught between sight and silence," the medic said gently. "Her vision... it hasn't fully passed yet. Her body is awake, but her mind is still inside what she saw."
Mr. Walter turned back to Cherry, his voice barely more than a whisper.
"…Is she suffering?"
"No," Paige spoke up, her tone surprisingly soft. "Not suffering. Just… lost in the message. Once it's fully delivered, she'll come back."
Mr. Walter's jaw clenched, eyes flicking to the glow in her pupils. So much power in such a small, fragile frame. And yet, he knew Cherry was no ordinary mutant. She had always carried the weight of tomorrow in her mind.
He just prayed it wouldn't crush her today.
The doctor standing nearby adjusted his clipboard, his tone gentle but steady.
"Sir, her body is stable. This is part of the process. Her mind is still connected to the vision she had. She's… evolving."
Mr. Walter's brows furrowed. "Evolving?"
The word felt wrong in his mouth foreign, almost offensive. An upgrade was supposed to be exciting, a step forward. But all he felt was dread.
The doctor saw the storm behind his glasses and didn't blame him.
"Her power is growing. Stronger visions come with stronger strain. Her consciousness is still inside the message she received. When it ends… she'll come back."
Walter turned back to Cherry. Her small frame looked even more fragile beneath the glow of her eyes. She had always been strong mentally, emotionally but this stillness terrified him more than any danger outside these walls.
He had seen her shaken by visions before. Trembling. Crying. Even fainting. But never like this. Never so still. Never so far gone.
Truth be told, he didn't want her to evolve. He didn't want more power he just wanted his daughter safe. If it were up to him, he'd rip the visions out of her mind and carry them himself. But he couldn't.
He brushed a thumb across her knuckles and whispered, "Just come back to me…"
Then, louder to the doctor:
"Whatever it takes. Just bring her back."
Without waiting for a reply, he stood abruptly and left the room. The weight on his chest had grown too heavy to bear. He needed to move.
*WAR ROOM – 10 MINUTES LATER*
A sterile, steel-lined room buzzed with tension. On the center table lay a single sheet of white paper. Mr. Walter snatched it up as Tonner, one of the directors, stood across from him.
"Have you assembled them?"Walter asked.
"Yes. Just as suggested." Tonner replied. "These are our best candidates."
Mr. Walter scanned the list:
- *Matthew King (MK) – Super Speed* | Rank 4, Level B
- *Paige Storm – Portal Manipulation* | Rank 3, Level A
- *Jax Renner – Cryo Veil* | Rank 5, Level A
- *Violet Ashryn – Shadecloak* | Rank 4, Level A
- *Aeron Steele – Voltrik Pulse* | *Rank 1, Level A
His brow furrowed the moment his eyes hit the final name. His mood shifted confusion giving way to fury.
"Why is there a Rank 1 Initiate here?"
The glare he shot Tonner could've broken glass.
Tonner didn't flinch. He was used to Walter's storms.
"Mr. Walter, with respect, we need every capable mutant. Resources are limited—"
Walter cut him off, voice low but sharp.
"These aren't resources, Tonner. These are children. You're sending a kid into a war zone. You're sending him to die."
"He's the strongest among his rank. His potential is promising."
"Potential doesn't win battles. Experience does. Replace him. Find someone higher-ranked"
"Walter."
The room fell silent. The voice that called his name wasn't loud, but it commanded. Walter froze mid-sentence, jaw clenched. His eyes dropped to the floor for a second before slowly lifting again.
Because the voice didn't belong to Tonner.
It came from behind him. From someone he hadn't seen enter.
Someone who had more authority than even he did.
MUTANTS RANKING SYSTEM
Ranking system
Rank 1-initiates (just discovered)
Rank 2-Apex (gained control, can fight and defend)
Rank 3-Omega(fully trained, balanced in both power and control)
Rank 4-beta(mutants with special talents and already have full mastery)
Rank 5-Alpha (highest level) have devastating and immeasurable powers
Levels
Level E-(detected powers but very week can pass as a civilian)
Level D-(awakened powers but weak, limited use of power)
Level C-(moderate power and can affect a group or area)
Level B-(capable of wide-scale damage)
Level A-(unmatched power)
Note: levels are within ranks meaning that a Rank 3 omega can be a level E or B.
Rank:-measures mastery and control
Level:-measures raw power output
These two scales are independent ,a mutant may possess immense power with little control or high mastery with limited destructive potential
Ps:- Cherry Walter -Rank 3(omega) level C