Each of us sat in John's office and listened to him yell his brains out at us. After the footage was broadcasted everywhere, Sarah and I received a knock on our door and it was someone telling us that John demanded us to meet him in his office. We took our precious time going there. On our way to his office, we received looks from everyone. They stared at us as if they were nervous to be around us while some shook their heads at us.

I'm pretty sure the entire school could hear John's yells. When we entered, he sat at his desk with his black gla.s.ses on while reading some paperwork that sat on his desk. He looked up at us and calmly asked us to come in but as soon as the door was closed and we were sitting his entire att.i.tude s.h.i.+fted. None of us bothered to say a word because we knew that there would be consequences if we got caught.

We were caught and there was evidence.

"What were you thinking? Do you not realize how dangerous it is for you to cross over to the other side? The gate is there for a reason! It separates you from the dangerous b.a.s.t.a.r.ds on the other side! You are not ready to go there yet!" He continued. I looked over at Mikey as he sat and tried to hide his laughter. I looked at everyone else as they did the same and I smiled softly.

"We're sorry," Melanie whispered.

John stopped his pacing and turned his head to Melanie. Quickly, we all looked up at him with sad looks on our faces pretending that we regretted our crossover to the other side. John sighed heavily before sitting in the desk.

Got you.

"I'm sorry for yelling. I understand that you guys are eager to be out there in the real world but you're not ready for that yet! You've been here for a few weeks now and there's so much for you to learn before you can leave!" He explained.

"We understand," Sarah replied.

"What you did was extremely dangerous and there should be consequences that follow with your actions but I will let you all off with a warning and a lecture since this was your first offense,"

We didn't say anything. We weren't expecting that. We nodded our heads as a signal in telling him that we understood what he was saying. He nodded before pointing to the door and dismissing us. Jumping up, we immediately ran towards the door and I could hear Mikey laugh a bit before quickly placing his hand over his mouth. We closed the door behind us and began giggling.

"He was so angry but I don't regret doing it!" Kasey said.

"Rules are meant to be broken," Mikey responded before walking pa.s.sed everyone and heading towards the Bob's cla.s.sroom. I turned around when I heard a door opening and John exited his office. He smiled softly and began walking next to me.

"Since you all are headed to Bob's cla.s.s then I guess I'll come with you guys since we have something to discuss," He explained. I nodded and continued to follow behind the rest of the crew as they played around with one another. John cleared his throat and I looked up at him. He looked around a bit before whispering, "Have you found anything out yet?"

"Not yet," I replied, "Nothing has happened that signals what's happening in the present. The only terrible thing that has happened is me not being able to save my mom,"

"Those who die will die and there's nothing you can do to change that," John explained, "But you can stay here in the past and figure out what it is that is causing the events in the present!"

"I'm pretty sure you know so why not tell me?"

John shook his head, "I don't know what it is and Kasey cannot feel it either,"

I sighed heavily. There was no point in me coming here to figure out what it was that was coming or why it wanted me. John patted my shoulder as a way in trying to calm me down but I couldn't. I was getting frustrated. I was here in the past yet I didn't know where to start looking for clues. I felt hopeless at that moment. Pus.h.i.+ng the door open, we entered as Bob stood next to his desk waiting for us patiently.

"Come in!" He urged. John walked forward and stood next to Bob at his desk while we sat in the chairs. Bob wore a huge smile on his face.

"We are gonna try something different to figure out your abilities and how to expand them," Bob started, "Me along with a few other professionals have decided to create a program just for you 8,"

"What is this program?" Melanie asked.

Bob smiled at Melanie before grabbing a folder and pa.s.sing them out, "It is the Exp Program!"

"Exp?" Liam asked.

"It means experience because this will be an amazing experience!" Bob answered. "You'll each have different courses to go through and you'll be broken up until numbers,"

"What would we have to do?" Dillion asked.

"Nothing! You'll be learning how to use your abilities and we will be figuring out a way to expand them," Bob explained.

"Expand them how?" I asked. I looked at John as he stared at me with a weird look on his face. He looked away before looking back at me then at the ground.

"Expand them as in making you stronger!"

I opened the folder and read the papers that sat inside. It was all about the program. Each page was broken down into different sessions. One session told what the program was about and it was the same thing that Bob has already said while the other sessions told about the training we would have to do. Each of us would be training differently since we have our own abilities that we needed to work on. We wouldn't have to move out of the academy but we would be spending most of our days outside of the school and would be training in a warehouse located somewhere in Zims.

"You'll be followed around for the next few weeks. It'll only get worst and worst as time goes by," Bob spoke.

"Followed? By who? Why?" Dillion asked.

"The Zims Newspaper posted about you on the day we found Carter's mom and your little stunt into New York made headlines so there's been a lot of people from here trying to take pictures of you 8,"

"Really?" Mikey asked while suddenly looking interested.

"Yes but you've been behind these doors all day today so they haven't had the chance! If you guys do decide to go through with this program then we will take you out there to greet the public,"

"I don't know," Melanie started, "That's like being famous,"

"Exactly so I'm ready," Mikey exclaimed.

"Security is tight around the area so you won't have to worry about being attacked or anything," Bob finished.

I sat there for a second. Everyone else began nodding their heads and agreeing to the plan. I looked over at John who stood there with his head down but he didn't say a word. I sighed heavily before standing up and speaking.

"Fine! Let's do this,"

Bob clapped his hands together before heading towards the door. We followed behind him as he walked down the long hallway and entered the main hall where the two gigantic staircases stood. Bob turned faced us and gave us a thumbs up before opening the huge doors to the school. Immediately, I could hear a crowd and the sounds of cameras going off. I squinted my eyes as the sunlight s.h.i.+ned brightly.

Bob walked out and began addressing the crowd, "Thank you all for coming! I apologize for the delay but our little ones have been very busy with their studies,"

"Where are they?"

"Are they about to live outside of Zims?"

"What could these young trainees do for mutants?"

"Do you possibly think that these mutants will pave the way for your kind to be with our kind?"

"I do believe that they can change the world. I believe all mutants can change the world! There's nothing wrong with diversity and there's no reason to separate my kind from your kind so I think all mutants can change the world but we have to start off slowly," Bob explained.

"What do you mean by that?" Someone yelled.

"I mean that these 8 individuals come from different places, they are different sizes and shapes with different backgrounds and personalities but they are mutants and some of the strongest at that and I think many can relate to them! They will pave the way and lead us into an era of unity and the prejudice and division era will no longer exist!"

"It is over,"

"It is far from over! The era of prejudice against ethnicities still happens in today's society but we have come a long way! While racism is still very much alive, prejudice against mutants from humans have been a main problem! As you can see, mutants are forbidden to even step outside of Zims unless they decide to never use their powers outside of those golden gates!"

"What if people aren't ready for change?"

"I suggest they get over it and embrace those who are different. Why does being normal have to be superior? Normal is quite boring,"

"Do you think change is happening?"

"It has already begun!" Bob responded, "Some of their biggest fans are humans!"

"When can we see them?"

"Now actually!" Bob answered, "I would like for you all to meet some of the most interesting people, a group of people who I am beyond honored to mentor, my students..."

I could hear cameras snapping even more and I knew a small crowd of mutants were beginning to form outside of the school due to the amount of commotion.

"The Heroic Eight!" Bob announced.

"Heroic Eight?" Liam whispered as we walked out. The crowd began to cheer and clap as the cameras went off. There were questions being thrown at us from left to right but none of us bothered to answer any questions because we didn't know what to say. We were shocked.

Shocked that so many people expected so much of us.

Shocked that so many people supported us while there was still millions who hated us and our existence.

"Are there any humans in that crowd?" Melanie asked.

"Humans are still not allowed to enter Zims minus reporters so no!" Bob whispered.

We waved to the crowd but all I could think about was the fact that Heroic Four was actually the Heroic Eight.