3rd POV
The high school buzzed with excitement, the halls alive with chatter as students filed toward the gym for the pep rally. Suddenly, the roar of an engine cut through the noise. Heads turned. A sleek purple Ferrari rolled into the lot, purring like it owned the place.
The driver's door swung open, and out stepped Johnny Carlton wearing purple expensive dress shirt, sunglasses, smirk already in place. The crowd erupted.
"JOHNNY!" dozens of girls screamed in unison.
Johnny lowered his shades just enough to flash a wink, soaking in the adoration like it was his birthright. Strutting into the building, he slapped high-fives with every hand in reach, moving down the hall as if it were his personal red carpet.
Johnny POV
I just love my life the girls screaming my name and the boys wishing they were me nothing could ever ruin this.
Oops I haven't introduced myself. The name is Johnny Carlton. Football star, Basketball star, MMA star, The killer of ladies, The greatest human being of all time. 3 time State MVP in Football and Basketball.
Yeah, I said it. Somebody had to.
The crowd cheered, like they always did, and I basked in it. My name echoing in the gym rafters was music to my ears. This was my stage. My kingdom.
"But enough about me," I said, grinning at the sea of faces, "Today's special. My final pep rally, since yours truly is a senior now. And I just wanna say…" I paused for effect, pulling down my shades so everyone could see the sparkle in my eyes. "You're all welcome for having me at this school."
The laughter and screaming was deafening. I spread my arms wide like I was soaking in divine light. Life was perfect. Life was...
The ceiling exploded inward. Screams replaced cheers as debris rained down. A massive metal foot crashed onto the court, splintering the hardwood. A Sentinel.
For a second, I froze. Everyone did. Then chaos. Students scrambled, tripping over bleachers, shoving through doors. The Sentinel's glowing eyes scanned the room, locking onto me like it knew.
"Mutant detected."
My blood ran cold. Me? No. No, I'm Johnny freakin' Carlton. I don't...
The Sentinel's palm cannon charged with a shrill whine, the light building to a blinding glow. A group of kids huddled behind me, nowhere to run.
My body moved before my brain did. I threw out my hands.
Then a wall of blazing green energy erupted around us, wrapping the students in a glowing dome. The Sentinel's beam slammed into it with thunder, sparks flying but the shield held.
The kids gasped. I stared at my hands, glowing with the same emerald light.
"…Huh," I breathed. Then, with a grin I couldn't stop even if I wanted to:
"Guess I just leveled up."
I stare at the machine as it tries to blast me again. Instinct kicks in, and I throw up a shield and it was glowing, green and perfect. The beam slams into it, and when the smoke clears, I'm still standing. A huge smirk spreads across my face.
"Huh. Ain't that neat."
I clench my fist, and suddenly, I'm holding a giant glowing one made of pure energy. My legs buzz with the same power as I leap high, higher than I've ever jumped before, and come crashing down with a punch that knocks the robot's head clean off.
The Sentinel crumples to the floor, sparking and smoking. I land gracefully, throwing my hands up in a victory pose. "Thank you, thank you, hold your applause."
But the gym is empty. Not a single person stuck around to watch.
"…Seriously?" I mutter, lowering my arms. Not even one cheer?
Then I hear it screams outside.
I bolt outside and skid to a stop. Three more Sentinels slam into the parking lot, the ground shaking beneath my feet. Their glowing eyes scan, then lock right onto me.
"Mutant detected."
My stomach drops. The bravado drains out of me. "Aw, crap."
I turn and run. The Sentinels chase, each step like a building collapsing behind me.
One of them raises its hand cannon, light charging when suddenly claws slice through its wrist, severing the cannon clean off. The machine lets out a mechanical shriek before a blur of black and steel tears into its leg, toppling it.
A girl lands in front of me, twin claws glinting, dark hair falling in her face. She doesn't look at me. Doesn't say a word. She just turns, crouches low, and launches herself at the next Sentinel like a predator.
And I just… stop. My jaw literally drops.
"Holy…" I whisper. "She is like if an angel and a chainsaw had a kid."
The other Sentinels don't get to fire. A red beam cuts across the lot, blasting one back. A guy in a visor steps into view, controlled and calm. Another Sentinel raises its arm only for a woman in green gloves to float up, touching it and draining it until its metal shell crumples like tin foil.
And then I see him. The grumpy guy in flannel, claws out, already yelling at the girl with claws like her life is in danger.
Logan. Wolverine. Even I know who that is.
I should probably freak out more, but my eyes stay locked on her.
She moves like she was born for this, fast and lethal, not a wasted motion. My heart beats way too fast and it's not from running.
The Sentinels don't stand a chance. In minutes, it's over. Smoking wreckage litters the lot.
The guy in the visor Cyclops, who I remember seeing on the news turns to me. "You need to come with us. It's not safe here anymore."
I blink, still staring at Laura as she wipes Sentinel oil off her claws. Logan's scolding her, she's ignoring him, and she just looks… incredible.
I point right at her. "She's gonna be there too, right?"
Cyclops frowns. "What?"
"That girl." I jab my finger toward Laura. "The one with the claws. She's gonna be there too?"
Logan growls under his breath. "Kid, don't even think about it."
I grin. "Cool. In that case… I'm in."