Will sat down next to his sister, Sophie, with a grin. "You didn't think you could get rid of me that easily did you?" he asked.

   Sophie laughed. "Of course not. I know better than that."

   Will met her gaze and punched her shoulder playfully. "Well then, where are we going today?"

   Sophie didn't respond or move at all. It was like she had been frozen. Will paused. "Funny Soph. Where did you learn to do that?"

   Still no response, no movement. Just an unblinking smile. Her hair didn't even move in the wind. It was like she'd been turned to stone.

   Will touched her hand. "Sophie... Hey, stop this playing." His eyes showed his fear. "Come on."
  
   Sophie still didn't move. Will pulled out his phone and dialed 911. Before the person had even finished speaking he started, "My sister stopped moving, she's not blinking or breathing at all."

   "We'll send someone right away," the person on the other end said. "Where are you?"

   "By a fountain in Central Park," Will answered.

   The person assured him that someone was on their way before hanging up. Will instantly tried to get someone's attention. Everyone who looked at him would start to come over to help. Every time Will met someone's eyes, they would freeze, just like his sister.

   People quickly started to notice the sidewalk around Will turning into a statuary. They started to investigate, making the crowd of immobile people larger.

   Will stopped looking into the crowd, closing his eyes tight. I'm a mutant. I have to be. That's the only explanation.

   A hand touched his shoulder, making him jump. "Will?" a soft, female voice asked. She had a strange accent that I'd never heard before.

   Will had to resist the urge to open his eyes to look at the speaker. "Who are you? Are you the one 911 sent?" 

   "No, I'm here to take you somewhere safe before they get here," the lady said again.

   Will shook his head. "No, I have to stay with my sister. Someone's going to help."

   "Trust me," the lady said. "Please. I have to get you away from here before the police come. Everyone in this area is completely still and they're all looking at you. It would be suspicious. You're a mutant, we can protect you."

   Will hesitated. "What about Sophie? And how do you know my name?"

   "Sophie will be fine," the lady said. "And you'll find out the answer to your second question soon. Are you ready?"

   "I... guess..."

   Everything went quiet for several seconds, then someone screamed. "Dragon!"

   A large clawed hand wrapped around Will's body. His eyes shot open and he looked up. He was held in the talons of a large, white dragon. The dragon's eyes were a dark, forest green. It looked down at him. Somehow, Will wasn't scared, he felt calm. He knew that this dragon was one of the X-Men. She had shown up on the news more than a couple times. He couldn't remember what she was called though.

   Within a couple of minutes, they landed in front of a huge mansion with a sign on the gate that read "Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters". Will turned to where the dragon had been standing and found himself face to face with a stunning young woman with black hair, pale skin, and eyes the same shade of green as the dragon's. Will was frantic for a second that he had frozen her when she didn't move.

   She smiled at him and went around, pushing open the gate. She didn't say a word as she started toward the mansion, gesturing for him to follow.

   "Who are you?" Will asked.

   Her hands flicked. Will knew it was sign language but didn't know what it meant. He frowned and the woman sighed. "Luck Phantom," she said. Will recognized her voice as the person who had retrieved him.

   Before he could ask any more questions, the door on the mansion opened and a man in a wheelchair rolled onto the top step. He had shoulder length brown hair and he watched the pair coming toward him.

   "I see you've returned, Luck," he said when they were in hearing distance.

   Luck said something in sign language and the man nodded. "That's good. Welcome to my school for gifted youngsters, Will. I'm Professor Charles Xavier, though most students call me Professor X."

   Will noticed that Charles was carefully avoiding eye contact while still making it look like he was having a normal conversation. "How do you know who I am?" Will asked. "Luck wouldn't tell me that detail."

   Charles gave Luck a sharp look and her hands darted into sign language. Charles smiled a little. "Ah. Forgive me. I was surprised. Luck hardly speaks at all. I know who you are because I," am telepathic. The sentence finished as an echo in Will's mind, making him jump slightly.

   "O-oh," Will said.

   "Come with me. I have someone who can teach you to see without using your eyes," Charles said.

   Luck looked at Will and smiled. As he passed her she put a hand on his shoulder. "Make sure you ask her about heightening senses if she doesn't suggest it right away," she whispered. "It will make things easier."

______________________

How do you like this way of introducing characters? I'm testing out different ways to tell you about them and I'm wondering your preferences.

If you have short story requests let me know!

May the speed force be with you! Stay determined.