Marvel Girl: Like A Phoenix, page 13

PAGE THIRTEEN

Panel 1
Professor X sitting in an empty classroom at the Institute, staring out at all the empty seats.

CAPTION: It happened so suddenly, and quickly.

Panel 2
Professor X wheeling out of the classroom into an empty hall.

CAPTION: A mutant spontaneously burst into flames.

Panel 3
Professor X continues through the empty halls of the Institute.

CAPTION: After a few more reported instances, many of which occurred on our own grounds, naturally, we recognized the pattern.

Panel 4
Professor X sees a child, looking panicked, down the hall, running away from him.

CAPTION: Anytime there was more than one mutant in the room, this happened. We could find no culprit, no evil conspiracy. It was a mutant illness. And it was always deadly.

Panel 5
Professor X watches sadly as the child runs in the opposite direction.

CAPTION: We were forced into isolation.

Panel 6
Professor X, frozen in the same spot, crestfallen, the hallway empty again.

CAPTION: There were exceptions. Any mutant with a healing factor, or those with fire-based powers.

Panel 7
Professor X wheeling his way outside.

CAPTION: The public’s response was predictable. Less predictable was the fear we encountered in the greater superhero community.

Panel 8
Professor X looking into the sky, where there is a chaotic, massive gathering of birds.

CAPTION: We found ourselves once more backed into a corner. Magneto threatened to lash out. The Avengers assembled. I told them I would handle it.

Panel 9
Professor X has put his hands in front of his face to shield himself from a blinding light, at the center of which we can glimpse Jean Grey.

CAPTION: I had a plan. And I was determined to end the “mutant problem” once and for all...