DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, Issue #1

[Synchronicity]

Gabriel 'Gabe' Adams, HP 2/2

Eleyna's Car
If not for the odd accident outside their car window and the fact that they were skipping school to harbor a mutant, this would have been a moment of their lives they could have never imagined being so perfect.

Unfortunately, while they discussed where to go and what to do and tried to finish a thought without blushing, they both failed to notice one of the policemen had walked up to the side of the car. He reached out and tapped on the drivers side car window.

nock, nock, nock

They had no choice. Their perfect world had been invaded by an interruption from the outside world. They both instinctively did the only thing they could, they both jumped and screamed!

And then Eleyna felt the anxiety build within her but not like all the other times. This was a different feeling. Quicker, more concentrated and then it was over, in the blink of an eye.

Every window in Eleyna's car exploded!

Glass flew everywhere! The policeman hit the ground as hundreds of shards of glass flew at him as if hurled by a hurricane! The sound was tremendous! And when it was over, half a second later, everyone around was laying on the ground trying to hide for their lives!

Gabe and Eleyna sat in the car, untouched by a single piece of glass.

As the windows exploded, Gabe did the first thing that came to mind; throwing himself on top of Eleyna, and trying to shield her from the shattering glass. As the tinkling sound of thousands of tiny shards hitting the tarmac faded, Gabe looked up, shock on his face, and then down at Eleyna, seeing if she was injured.

"Holy...! What the hell was that?! Eleyna! Are you alright?!"

'Was that me? That wasn't me, I'd know! But..what...'

Gabe glanced around the vehicle, his mind in a whirl.

'Not a single piece of glass fell inside the car. We're totally untouched. We..what the...was that...no, it couldn't be! ..Could it?'

Gabe looked back at Eleyna, worry and a fearful question in his eyes.

'Oh, God. Eleyna...No! Questions later! Now, we have to get out of here! We're both in real danger!'

Gabe moved back into his seat, but kept his hands on Eleyna's shoulders, turning her to look at him. He scanned Eleyna's face, a terrible worry for her showed in his eyes. 'God, what do I do? She could be...I've got to keep her attention on me. Got to keep her focused, so she doesn't go to pieces in...one way or another.'

"Eleyna, stay with me. Look at me. Please.."

'Don't..don't just think about what happened. Don't..I've got to..protect her. Get us somewhere safe. I can't let anything happen to her, no matter what.'

Gabe leant in towards the girl, whispering urgently.

"Eleyna, we..we have to get out of here. Before they..Can..can you do that?"

 

[kid A]

Eleyna Robertson

Gabe leant in towards the girl, whispering urgently.

"Eleyna, we..we have to get out of here. Before they..Can..can you do that?"

It all happened so quickly! She remembered screaming - realizing that one of the officers from the accident had walked up to her car without either of them noticing. Shattered glass. Gabe, covering her, protecting her from the exploding shards. Now, up and looking around, she was mesmerized. She felt an eerie calm, and although she did not immediately register it, somewhere in the back of her mind she realized that, physically, she felt better than she had felt in a long time. Her abdominal pain was gone, and the headache had all but disappeared. But there was too much happening, too many things going on at once for her to understand what it meant. Sirens wailing... people running... screams... a sudden jerk, Gabe was holding her, talking to her... what was he saying?

A puzzled look remained on her face until her brain managed to catch up with what he was saying. Running from the police, well, she didn't like the idea, but if it would stop the government from hauling him away, she was willing to risk it. These people had witnessed evidence of his powers and she needed to get him somewhere safe before they arrested him. All Eleyna knew now was that Gabe's life depended on her finding a safe place for him to hide. "I... ummm... y-yes, we can g... I think we'd better go... I don't want them to catch you." She lunged for the keys and started the engine. "Put... buckle your seatbelt." Slamming on the gas, she manuevered the car around any people lying in the parking lot and sped as quickly as she could away from the scene.

 

[Synchronicity]

Gabriel 'Gabe' Adams, HP 2/2

A puzzled look remained on her face until her brain managed to catch up with what he was saying. Running from the police, well, she didn't like the idea, but if it would stop the government from hauling him away, she was willing to risk it. These people had witnessed evidence of his powers and she needed to get him somewhere safe before they arrested him. All Eleyna knew now was that Gabe's life depended on her finding a safe place for him to hide. "I... ummm... y-yes, we can g... I think we'd better go... I don't want them to catch you." She lunged for the keys and started the engine. "Put... buckle your seatbelt." Slamming on the gas, she manuevered the car around any people lying in the parking lot and sped as quickly as she could away from the scene.

'Catch me? ..She...I...no, I need her to stay together right now. We..we can talk about this later.'

Gabe buckled his seatbelt, but never took his eyes off Eleyna. His face looked even paler than it had before, and there was a strange and powerful worry in his eyes.

..She...she doesn't know. Doesn't know it wasn't me. And if it wasn't me, then it has to be...how do I tell her that? Do I? I can't keep it from her..What do I do?!'

"They..they didn't get a good look at us, and I doubt..I doubt they saw the plate. My..my house isn't far. If we drive a ways, then walk from there...I..I don't have any other ideas. I don't know if it'll be alright...how my Mom'll react..but...I don't know what else to do.."

Gabe was speaking in a dazed tone of voice, the lack of coherence in his voice frightening. He kept staring at Eleyna, emotions moving across his face.

 

[kid A]

"They..they didn't get a good look at us, and I doubt..I doubt they saw the plate. My..my house isn't far. If we drive a ways, then walk from there...I..I don't have any other ideas. I don't know if it'll be alright...how my Mom'll react..but...I don't know what else to do.."

Gabe was speaking in a dazed tone of voice, the lack of coherence in his voice frightening. He kept staring at Eleyna, emotions moving across his face.

Constantly checking the mirrors, Eleyna took back routes away from the CD store, moving quickly but not fast enough to catch the attention of any more police. She didn't know where exactly Gabe lived, but wherever it was, she was sure he could navigate her through back roads once they were out of sight. Concern about the car windows kept her preoccupied for a moment - the appearance moreso than the damage. All she hoped was that not too many people took notice of a car without windows before they could get to Gabe's house.

After they had travelled a short distance, she glanced at Gabe, who appeared pale. As pale as he had looked earlier this morning. Oh god, he's worried about what just happened. I've got to get him to safety... And I'm not so sure his house is the safest place to go!

"Listen, Gabe, ummm... Look, I don't know, if... if they got a look at us - a good look at us or at the plates - they might be able to figure out where we live. Y'know? That might be the first place they look for us. I don't know where to go, but I'm not sure that's the best idea. Do you have any other suggestions?" She thought quickly, mind racing, trying to decide where might be the safest place to go.

 

[Synchronicity]

Gabriel 'Gabe' Adams, HP 2/2

"Listen, Gabe, ummm... Look, I don't know, if... if they got a look at us - a good look at us or at the plates - they might be able to figure out where we live. Y'know? That might be the first place they look for us. I don't know where to go, but I'm not sure that's the best idea. Do you have any other suggestions?" She thought quickly, mind racing, trying to decide where might be the safest place to go.

Gabe blinked a few times as Eleyna began speaking, seeming to have to wrench his mind away from something before he could pay attention to the conversation.

"I...maybe you're right. But...I don't know where else we can...after that...maybe..maybe we should abandon the car for the moment? Go on foot? It..it might be less conspicuous.."

Gabe seemed to be in some form of shock, his speech almost absentminded, as though he wasn't really paying attention to what he was saying. His eyes flickered, something in them now that hadn't been before.

'I...I have to tell her...have to...she needs to know..but.I must be wrong, surely. It can't...Eleyna isn't...'

 

[kid A]

Eleyna Robertson

"I...maybe you're right. But...I don't know where else we can...after that...maybe..maybe we should abandon the car for the moment? Go on foot? It..it might be less conspicuous.."

Gabe seemed to be in some form of shock, his speech almost absentminded, as though he wasn't really paying attention to what he was saying. His eyes flickered, something in them now that hadn't been before.

Gabe was acting strange. It almost seemed as though he wasn't concerned about deciding what to do. It's not like he doesn't have reason. His mutant power goes off right when a police officer is standing outside the car. He's gotta be scared for his life about now...

His suggestion to lose the car made sense, though. Quite honestly, Eleyna didn't know why she hadn't thought of that already. "No... I mean, yeah, you're probably right. Let's ditch the car behind a... a... a building or something and just go somewhere on foot. What do you think?"

 

[Synchronicity]

Gabriel 'Gabe' Adams, HP 2/2

Gabe was acting strange. It almost seemed as though he wasn't concerned about deciding what to do. It's not like he doesn't have reason. His mutant power goes off right when a police officer is standing outside the car. He's gotta be scared for his life about now...

His suggestion to lose the car made sense, though. Quite honestly, Eleyna didn't know why she hadn't thought of that already. "No... I mean, yeah, you're probably right. Let's ditch the car behind a... a... a building or something and just go somewhere on foot. What do you think?"

Gabe was sitting back in his seat with his eyes shut as Eleyna spoke, and didn't reply immediately. He took a few deep breaths and then opened his eyes again. 'Focus, Gabe! You have to get somewhere safe before you can go any further into this!'

"Yes. Yes, it's a good plan. This car's very noticeable, especially at the moment. Perhaps..perhaps the park again? Or anywhere mostly deserted? Your...your house...are there people there at the moment?"

Gabe seemed incredibly tense, his attempts at calming down merely holding something back rather than diffusing it. He kept darting glances at Eleyna, something unfathomable in his gaze.
'I'm no good at keeping things from her. I have to tell her soon...but just a little longer...'

 

[kid A]

Eleyna Robertson

"Yes. Yes, it's a good plan. This car's very noticeable, especially at the moment. Perhaps..perhaps the park again? Or anywhere mostly deserted? Your...your house...are there people there at the moment?"

"Not the park," she replied quickly, "Too close to the school. I don't think my parents would be home, so yeah, maybe we could go th..." Her voice trailed off for an instant. As the words had left her mouth, she thought better of it. "No, y'know what? My house isn't gonna work. If they saw the car, this car, they can track us there. Actually, come to think of it, your house might not be such a bad idea. Even... think about it. Even if they got a look at you, Gabe, they're not gonna recognize you. Not unless you've got some kind of criminal record. They can track me, but not you. How far is your house?"

When she glanced at him, she saw Gabe's eyes were closed. Undoubtedly he was somehow attempting to deal with all this. They had come so far this morning, only to have this happen and ruin everything. She wished that there was something more she could do. Instead, Eleyna reached over to him again, taking his hand and saying, "Don't worry. We'll find somewhere to hide. I won't let them take you."

 

[Synchronicity]

Gabriel 'Gabe' Adams, HP 2/2

"Not the park," she replied quickly, "Too close to the school. I don't think my parents would be home, so yeah, maybe we could go th..." Her voice trailed off for an instant. As the words had left her mouth, she thought better of it. "No, y'know what? My house isn't gonna work. If they saw the car, this car, they can track us there. Actually, come to think of it, your house might not be such a bad idea. Even... think about it. Even if they got a look at you, Gabe, they're not gonna recognize you. Not unless you've got some kind of criminal record. They can track me, but not you. How far is your house?"

When she glanced at him, she saw Gabe's eyes were closed. Undoubtedly he was somehow attempting to deal with all this. They had come so far this morning, only to have this happen and ruin everything. She wished that there was something more she could do. Instead, Eleyna reached over to him again, taking his hand and saying, "Don't worry. We'll find somewhere to hide. I won't let them take you."

"It's...it's not far. We'll..we'll need to take the car a little further, then leave it and walk the rest of the way."

Gabe began giving Eleyna directions, but as she reached over and took his hand, the words died in his mouth. Gabe looked at Eleyna with a strange look; a look of incredible affection, yet backed with a terrible fear and a strange..determination. For a moment, it looked like he was about to say something, a yearning to speak clearly written on his face, but then he looked away, physically biting his lip to keep himself quiet. 'No! I can't tell her yet! Just a little longer...my house...then..' Gabe's hand tightened in Eleyna's to the point of becoming painful, but then relaxed a little. Eleyna could feel his extreme tension, his hand practically rigid. With an effort, Gabe continued giving directions, his voice oddly neutral; like it was taking so much effort to hold something in that he had to hold in all his emotions as well.

'Eleyna....'

 

[kid A]

Eleyna Robertson

...Eleyna could feel his extreme tension, his hand practically rigid. With an effort, Gabe continued giving directions, his voice oddly neutral; like it was taking so much effort to hold something in that he had to hold in all his emotions as well.

Driving slowly and nonchalantly(as nonchalantly as one can drive in a windowless car), Eleyna followed Gabe's directions carefully. Minutes seemed to crawl by as she waited to arrive somewhere they could leave their car. She recognized where they were, but still had no idea how far it would take to get to Gabe's house. She felt his hand squeeze hers, and Eleyna pulled lightly until he loosened to a more comfortable hold. God, he's so nervous! I hope his mom's not home, so we don't have to worry about him dealing with that just yet. Man, I am an idiot! Here I take him out of school to avoid the gen-scan and I just end up making things worse! Now, someone's seen him use his powers!

Finally, what had just happened began to sink in and, slowly, it began to build again. Eleyna started to brood over her guilt at bringing Gabe into the spotlight. Her abdomen was becoming painful and her headache worsened. She removed her hand from Gabe's and clutched her stomach to ease some of the pain. Tears began to well up in her eyes and she hoped that they were close, biting her lip to keep herself from crying. Don't cry, Eleyna. Don't start crying. Solve the problem, you can figure everything out if you just focus on the problem. "Gabe... oh, god, Gabe, I'm so sorry! This... this is all my f-fault! I tried to g-get you away from the school... the gen-scan, and now th-they've seen you use your... y-your powers! Gabe, I'm sorry... I won't let them find you! I promise!"