Mutie

Night fell hard and fast with a steady twilight rain. Downtown New York was a ghost town of boarded up churches, gyms, restaurants, bars, and the local Home Depot. Strangely enough, the liquor store remained unaffected. Governor's orders; a terrified and confused citizenry had given a freshman governor a vast degree of control over their actions. Like any other egomaniac with the offer of a lot of power on the table, the governor took the offer of enhanced powers and ran with it.

A cop car whizzed passed as the only vehicle that belonged out on the streets. The sole jet black Sedan sat in its legal parking spot. Nevertheless, the four passengers in their early twenties prayed to not be seen. In fact, it was the job of the most attractive, fair-skinned Latina girl to keep them hidden from view in a parking space in plain sight. Jenny Wyler, the blonde girl in the front passenger seat, glanced to the inner rearview mirror in some concern and mimed putting earmuffs on. Bella Martinez, the other female passenger, sat motionless. For the briefest moment, her expression twinged in discomfort from the siren. Other than that, she was concentrating. Beside her, Dylan Jenx, a short, stout boy with wild hair and mismatched eyes held a can of soda. That drink seemed to absorb itself through his hands without touching his lips. The sound was just obnoxious enough that it might have raised some concerns. Jenny shot a glare into the backseat at Dylan, then focused her view on John Jenx, an African American athletic man. Jenny punched the driver on the arm.

"Your step brother needs to cool that!" she chastised him over the soft sounds of lite rock from the radio. "If the police catch us and want our papers, we're sc...!"

"Hiding us out in plain sight like this is Bella's job!" John shot back. "Da'g; I hate rain! And this music, man! I really need something with a fat beat in my car here."

Jenny wasn't sure how she felt about Bella's choice of lite rock; she knew that she hated hip hop. It was one of many things that she'd have to vow to make a marital sacrifice on if her kind would ever be allowed the human right of marriage; and if John would pop the question in a suitable way.

Suddenly, streetlights intensified and a loud, piercing siren blared. John cringed in his seat. Dylan dropped the now empty can in a start and the last of the beverage drained its way from his hand and into his system. Jenny glanced back in question. Bella seemed almost unfazed by the sudden, if familiar racket. Governor Gretta Faustin had a nightly announcement to make from her padded place of safety...

Good evening, New York; your governor is benevolently listening. We had another great Quarantine Day #... No problems at all; no more arrests; no new confirmed mutants.

It is with the greatest concern for our citizenry in mind that I extend this Quarantine out another two weeks. YOU have entrusted the right person with the power to do so and I thank you. I beg you; do not leave your homes. Do not walk within 6 feet of each other. Do not be within 6 blocks of a confirmed mutant.

We are doing this to quell a pandemic, citizens. Do you want your next Thanksgiving guest to be a mutant? WHAT is a family to do if their father, mother, daughter, and son should become a mutant?

This distance is good for you. Losing businesses and work is for the greater good of all. Your government knows what is best for you; and your government loves you. Sweet dreeeeeeams...!"

Finally, the wailing siren died altogether and the street lights dimmed.

"Normies actually buy that crock?" Jenny demanded. "What a laugh; and they call us weirdos; when they're feeling that generous!"

Bella opened her eyes in the slightest bit.

"I don't like namecalling, Jennifer." she half-whispered, meekly. "Especially not when it comes from a mutant toward a normal person. We all know the pain of a nasty name."

Bella had a point and Jenny unclipped her seat belt in mechanical motions. As she did, her foot bumped a bag of tools.

"Father, mother, daughter, and son; a mutant?" Dylan quipped in his natural gurgle.

"One mutant as four members of the nuclear family; that's a power right there!" John clipped. "The Unholy Quadity; am I right, baby?"

"My family's Catholic." Jenny reminded him, sternly.

"Yo; the same mother who mistook you for a demon and tossed you out like a sack of garbage?" John insisted. "That's who you're defending right now?"

"It's almost Easter." Jenny insisted, lamely. "Bella, how's it looking out there?"

"An unmarked squad car with plain clothes officers will be upon us in thirty more seconds; no lights, no sirens." Bella half-murmured, warningly.

"You've got to give the human government one thing; they're smart." Dylan muttered.

"They're crafty and intelligent; I owe them that much credit." Jenny insisted. "Smart would be understanding that mutation is non-communicable; oh, and that we happen to be people too."

"Keep doing your thing, Invisbella." John barked, glancing into the rear view mirror. "I'm not getting this baby tagged."

"Your concern for us is wondrous." Jenny snorted.

"Then, allow me to concentrate, John; you too, Jenny." Bella murmured. "I do thank you for accommodating me with the soothing, comforting sounds of lite rock."

John barely nodded lest he break decorum; especially as a Camaro pulled past. Then, before anyone could ask...

"Those were the last officers in my line of second sight." Bella declared.

"Alright." John Jenks, the local student-athlete with the powers of superior strength, speed, or agility depending on which was most necessary, declared. "Jenny, there's one reason that you're here with us."

"There's one reason that I insisted on coming." Jenny answered, opening the passenger door. "Keep the car parked right here, John; Bella, keep doing your best to concentrate on keeping it hidden. I'll be right back."

With that, the young blonde ventured to step out onto the sidewalk under the glare of the street lights and she darted into a corner alley in little more than a blur. She then gestured toward the nearest street light and it slowly but surely fizzled out. It would remain that way 30 seconds and Jenny had a job to do. She unzipped the tool bag, went to work, and got back in the vehicle so that it could cruise off again...

Morning came and the sun rose. No one belonged out the streets without papers confirming their humanity or a police badge and side-arm. Therefore, it wasn't like anyone could have seen the spray tag on the doors of the church...

Humanity and mutants. Tomorrow belongs to brotherhood and acceptance.


Only two officers saw the message. The younger cop nodded her appreciation of the sentiment. Her senior colleague was already on the phone to warn the governor of the "expressed threatening langauge."