-One-
Charles was running, running down long dark halls. He was drenched in sweat, running for his life. At a corner, he risked a glance over his shoulder to see the shadows moving behind him, the walls bending ever so slightly, the air whispering into his mind to run, and something else whispering into his head too… hissing. He stumbled off in the new direction, as fast as his exhausted body could take him. But the whispering, the hissing was getting louder, the darkness was catching up, the floor seemed to warp beneath his now unsteady steps. Dammit, Charles! Get a hold of yourself! But he could not stop running. This thing, chasing him, it knew he could hear it. It was hissing to him. And his senses screamed at him to get away. It was after him, and it was coming. The corridor ahead of him narrowed as the walls clawed in at him, there was nowhere to run. He spun on the spot wildly and the darkness rushed up to claw at his face, his throat and he screamed…
"For God's sake, Charles! Wake up!"
He was writhing and yelling in the grip of someone who was shaking him. There was light coming in through the window, and birds calling each other from the trees outside. He inhaled rapidly in deep shuddering gasps, sweat completely drenching his flannel pyjamas and dripping from his hair. He tore himself away from the man shaking him – Erik, he noted – and made a dash to his en-suite bathroom, collapsing on the cool tile floor and hanging his head over the rim of the toilet. Erik made a face and looked out the window, focussing on the chirping of the birds. After a few minutes he heard the toilet flush and Charles appeared in the doorway. He looked awful, eyes red and puffy with dark, deep circles carved beneath them.
"They're getting worse." His voice was unsteady. "I don't know why, I don't know if they're in my head or in someone else's, but…" he paused to swallow, "someone, or something is after me! And it's bad. And I don't know what to do Erik!" He was borderline hysterical.
"Charles, they're just bad dreams. We all get them from time to time. Nothing's coming for you. Nothing in there can hurt you out here okay?"
"I want to believe that Erik, I do! But I can't be so sure…" He bit his lip, expression clouded with worry. "I'm scared Erik."
Erik narrowed his eyes. They did not have time for weakness in the team. Not when they were at such a crucial point in the separatist movement. They needed to be strong and healthy for their public image. "Pull yourself together Charles, or you'll be finding yourself on a prolonged holiday from meetings and missions to sort yourself out." With that he turned on his heel and left Charles staring uneasily out of his window.