Shattered innocence

A Few Days Earlier

The gym buzzed with the chatter of students as they gathered on the bleachers. Coach Miller, a tall, burly man with a booming voice and an ever-present whistle around his neck, stood at the front of the room with his clipboard in hand.

"Settle down, everyone!" he barked, his voice cutting through the noise. The room quieted instantly. "I've got an announcement to make, so listen up!"

Tyr leaned back in his seat, idly spinning a pen between his fingers. Jake and Melany sat beside him, Jake chewing noisily on a granola bar while Melany scrolled through her phone.

"You think it's about the trip?" Jake muttered, nudging Tyr.

"Probably," Tyr replied, his violet eyes flicking toward the coach.

Coach Miller cleared his throat, scanning the room. "As you all know, Class 9's annual G.I.T.A. trip is coming up next week."

A murmur rippled through the students.

"Great, more hiking," Jake muttered, rolling his eyes.

Miller raised a hand for silence. "This year's trip will take us into the Lone Pine Mountain Reserve. It's a beautiful area, and we'll be camping overnight for two days. You'll have a chance to bond with your classmates, enjoy nature, and, most importantly, challenge yourselves."

"Challenge ourselves to survive your drills," Melany whispered, earning a stifled laugh from Tyr.

"The itinerary and packing list will be sent to your families tonight," Miller continued, ignoring the scattered groans. "I expect all of you to be prepared. This isn't just some casual walk in the park—it's an opportunity to push yourselves and learn something new. Any questions?"

A hand shot up in the back. "Coach, are there bears?"

"Only if you leave your snacks out," Miller said with a smirk, eliciting laughter from the group. "No more questions? Good. Dismissed!"

Present day

The air was crisp, the smell of pine trees and damp earth filling the mountain clearing as Class 9 hiked deeper into the woods. The narrow dirt trail wound through towering trees, sunlight dappling the ground beneath their feet. 

"Alright, everyone, take a quick break!" shouted Coach Miller, his deep voice echoing across the clearing. 

A collective sigh of relief rose from the students as they dropped their backpacks and stretched. Tyr leaned against a boulder, scanning the area out of habit while his classmates chatted and laughed. 

"You good, bro?" Jake asked, tossing a water bottle to Tyr. 

Tyr caught it effortlessly and shrugged. "Fine. You're the one wheezing like an old man." 

"Wheezing?" Jake laughed, dramatically placing a hand over his chest. "I'm in peak shape, man. This is me warming up." 

"You're about one branch away from calling a stretcher," Oliver deadpanned as he sat nearby, his book tucked safely into his bag. 

Melany snorted, pulling out her phone to snap a few pictures of the view. "You'd think Jake was carrying the bus on his back with how much he's complaining." 

"I'm carrying the team, thank you very much," Jake shot back, earning a round of chuckles. 

For a moment, the group settled into a lighthearted rhythm—jokes and banter mixing with the rustle of leaves in the breeze. But then, the mood shifted. 

The faint sound of hurried footsteps reached Tyr's ears, followed by hushed whispers. He straightened, his senses sharpening as he scanned the woods. 

A group of figures emerged from the treeline, stumbling into the clearing. Their clothes were torn and dirty, and their faces were pale with fear. Some looked wounded, while others clutched each other as if trying to stay upright. 

One of them, a teenage boy with matted brown hair, raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. His voice trembled as he spoke. 

"Please," he said, his eyes darting between the teachers and students. "We—we need help." 

"What's going on here?" Coach Miller demanded, stepping forward cautiously. 

"We're being hunted," the boy replied, glancing over his shoulder. "They're coming. Please, you have to hide us." 

Before anyone could respond, the sound of shouting echoed through the trees, followed by the unmistakable crack of gunfire. 

"They're here!" 

A group of heavily armed soldiers burst into the clearing, their weapons raised. 

"Everyone, down!" Coach Miller shouted, trying to shield the students. 

But the soldiers ignored the teachers entirely, their attention fixed on the mutants. 

"Targets acquired," one of them barked, his voice cold and detached. 

"What are you doing?!" one of the teachers demanded. "These people need help!" 

"They're dangerous," the soldier replied, his rifle trained on the mutants. "Stand aside." 

The mutants huddled together, their fear palpable. One of them, a young girl, held out her hands defensively, her skin glowing faintly as cracks of electricity danced across her fingertips. 

"Please," she begged. "We didn't do anything!" 

"Take them down!" 

The soldiers opened fire, their bullets tearing through the air. 

---

The scene devolved into chaos. 

Students screamed and scattered, some ducking behind rocks and trees while others froze in terror. The teachers tried to shield the students, shouting for calm, but their voices were drowned out by the roar of gunfire. 

Tyr crouched behind a boulder, his heart pounding. He watched as the mutants scrambled for cover, some trying to defend themselves with their powers while others tried to run. 

It was clear to Tyr that they weren't attacking anyone. They were just trying to survive. 

"Get down!" he hissed, grabbing Oliver by the arm and pulling him behind cover. 

Jake and Emily were nearby, crouched low behind another rock. "What the hell is going on?!" Jake shouted, his voice shaking. 

"They're murdering them," Tyr growled, his fists clenched. 

"Mutant freaks deserve it," one of their classmates muttered, earning a glare from Tyr. 

"What did you say?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. 

The boy flinched but didn't back down. "They're mutants. They're dangerous. The soldiers are just—" 

"Shut up!" Tyr snapped, his anger boiling over. 

"Guys, now's not the time!" Melany shouted, trying to keep them focused. 

But before Tyr could respond, everything changed. 

---

A stray energy blast from one of the mutants hit a tree near Jake. The impact sent him sprawling to the ground, and Tyr's stomach dropped as he saw Jake clutching his head. 

Jake groaned, his body trembling. His skin seemed to ripple unnaturally, and when he looked up, his eyes shimmered with an eerie glow. The ground beneath him shook as faint tremors spread outward. 

"Jake!" Melany cried, rushing toward him. 

"No!" Tyr yelled, reaching out to stop her, but it was too late. 

As soon as Melany touched Jake, her body convulsed. A wave of heat radiated from her, and her hands ignited with flames. She stared at them in horror, her voice breaking as she screamed, "What's happening to me?!" 

They were awakening. 

Tyr's mind raced as he tried to think of a way to help, but the soldiers had already noticed. 

"Mutants!" one of them shouted. "Take them out!" 

Jake staggered to his feet, his powers surging uncontrollably. The ground cracked beneath him as he raised a hand toward the soldiers. 

But a bullet struck him before he could act. 

He gasped, clutching his chest as he collapsed. Blood pooled beneath him, staining the dirt. 

"Jake!" Melany screamed, her flames flaring wildly. She turned to the soldiers, tears streaming down her face. 

"No!" Tyr shouted, but his voice was drowned out by gunfire. 

Melany fell, her flames extinguished as the soldiers fired again, ensuring she wouldn't rise. 

Tyr froze, his body trembling with rage and disbelief. 

---

Nearby, Oliver cowered behind a tree, his breath shallow. A faint glow surrounded him, and Tyr realized with dread that he was awakening too. 

"Stay still," Tyr whispered, crawling toward him. "Don't let them see you." 

Oliver nodded, his face pale. "They killed them," he whispered, his voice shaking with anger. "They just... killed them." 

Tyr's jaw tightened. His hands trembled as he thought of Jake and Melany, their laughter and jokes silenced forever. 

His classmates' cheers for the soldiers reached his ears, each one like a dagger to his chest. 

"They're monsters," one of them said. "The soldiers are doing what they have to." 

Tyr's vision blurred with anger and hatred. You idiots. You don't even see it.

"They didn't deserve this," Oliver said, his voice barely audible. 

Tyr placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know," he said, his voice hard and cold. "And we're not going to let it happen again." 

As the soldiers moved to secure the area, Tyr pulled Oliver deeper into the woods, keeping to the shadows.