Glimpses of a Snow Angel

My nerves are racing, my heart is pounding. It seems crazy to me that I should feel this way, simply because I am going to talk to somebody. I accept the fact that teenagers lie to various adults in their lives to avoid letting them know things they consider too private to share. However, I know that when I look at his face and see the hurt that I have caused him. I doubt my ability to do something that may further harm him.

After I get access through the gates from Katherine Pryde, I walk the path to the front of the building. Right before I get to the stairs out of the corner of my eyes I see Remy by some of the benches. He makes no indication that he noticed me. So I turn and slowly make my way over closer to where he is. I stop about two feet away despite this he still does not acknowledge my presence.

"Hello, Remy how have you been?"

Still nothing, I lean in closer to see if maybe he is using headphones and cannot hear me. My inspection confirms my suspicions that he is not. He must have decided that since I ignored him for so long that he would repay me with the same treatment. It seems a bit childish coming from a grown up especially when I am standing right next to him.

I decide maybe I should go see the others and come back to him later after he has had some time to get over being mad at me. However right as I start to walk away he turns his head and looks right at me.

"Do you want to talk to me now?" I ask walking towards him again.

He looks away and takes a step back.

"Oh no you don't I saw you looking right at me and I know you hear me!"

He takes a few more steps back and still won't look at me.

"Ok, I am sorry that I didn't return any of your calls. That was inexcusable and I am sorry. Ok?"

Still no acknowledgments. "Uggh! Okay fine when you wanna talk to me I will be inside."

Again I see him look at me and I want to be frustrated with him, but knowing I am being a hypocrite and the saddened look on his face makes me weak. He reaches his hand out to me speaking to me only with his eyes.

I let out a sigh and walk over to reach his hand and...

"Now!"

On his command, all the kids at the school pop out from everywhere surrounding me. Every one of them lugs a snowball at me. Though not a single one of them makes contact, they all just stand there looking at me with terrified wide eyes.

"What de hell guys!?" Remy demanded circling round to look at them all. "Gage, are you freaking kiddin me?"

"So thanks to my abilities I have to be the one to hit her? She's even less cuddly than Wolverine."

"Dat's crazy talk, Laura's as sweet as a cupcake. Once you get to know her." He states walking over to me he then pulls me into a sideways hug with his left arm, then walks away a little quicker than I comfortable with.

Before I can follow him I hear a small pop and then find myself completely covered in an avalanche of snow. I can hear the kid's laughter through the snow as I make my way out. I shake my head free of most of the snow and pull myself out of the pile I am in the middle of. The sheer look of evil in my eyes halts the kid's laughter and they look at me again with fearful eyes wide and unblinking.

"Is that what you think?" I say with an intimidating glare after which I lunge up into the trees and run through the branches causing the snow trapped on them to fall all over Remy and the kids.

Then as soon as I land back on the ground.

"Get her!"

The kids seemed to take this as an open invitation to all-out war they all started going crazy on me, even with my skills I can't dodge all of the balls of snow. Remy seemed to take pity on me and rushes to my side taking a few hits and throwing some at them.

"Come on chere I can' do dis alone."

So I quickly grabbed at the snow and began to throw it, I mostly target Gage and Oya who were getting me relentlessly.

A few minutes into the snowball fight Katherine Pryde comes out of the school.

"What is going on here? You guys shouldn't be out here in the cold hitting each other with snow you are going to get sick now…"

"Snowball war!" Bobby Drake jumped out of the door screaming while shooting ice at us all.

"Bobby don't en….."

She was quickly cut off by everyone including Bobby pummeling her with snow.

"Hey!...No, don't Ugh!" She phased out and all the snow just went through her while she yelled in frustration, but also laughed. "I'm going to get you guys back for this especially you Bobby!"

She yelled at him before running in through the door.

Racheal and Joanna also came out and started playing. Teams seemed to form after Bobby used his abilities to create an elaborate ice castle. Those closest to it ran in and took defensive positions to throw from. Remy was pretty close to it, but after he looked around and saw me he ran over to where I was.

Those of us on the outside of the ice castle weren't having much luck hitting the ones in it. We could only really dodge what was being thrown. Oya called to us asking for some cover while she used her abilities to slowly form an ice fort for our side. Remy selected a few to do so then instructed me and Dust to follow him. Me and Remy shielded her getting her close to the walls then Remy handed her a card charged with a bit of energy she used her ability to fly up the wall and put the card again a barrier and the front of the castle slowly begins to crumble.

After that ice castles continued to be constructed then destroyed by various powers, and alliances form and then are broken. Expect since the start of this and Remy have avoided attacking each other and in the midst of all this I began to muse, I am engaged in this completely innocent war. A war that involves several adults who are behaving even more childishly than the actual kids with us. I can't help but think to myself, I spent all those days worrying and distracting myself from what I perceived as a problem. I made excuses to avoid Remy to the point where I almost talked myself out of coming here today. I even got advice from friends to prep me for this visit.

And this, this is how he responds to me snubbing him. He gets a bunch of kids to help him ambush me playfully. I feel completely exhilarated as I dodge snowballs and attack with ones I quick smash together. It's not really because of the game or how fun it is, it's because of him. My friend. Having him in my life keeps making me happy.

Storm was walking to the kitchen when she saw Logan standing by a window with happiness in his eyes and a smile on his face. She walked over to see what could be putting him in such high spirits. "So this is why he begged me to make it snow more."

"That tenacious bastard did it."

Storm moved closer to Logan and followed his eyes. "I knew he would, she's so beautiful. Why don't you go out there and join them?"

"Nah things are still tense with me an Laura."

"So go out there and fix them. You have to make an effort Logan."

"Look Darlin Gumbo already grilled me bout this an I'm gonna fix it…"

"I know you're scared, these things can be difficult. But while you waste time coming up a plan instead of just going out there and having fun with all of them. You are missing out."

In the center of all the icy chaos, Remy caught a brief sight of something. Something that made his heart stand still and the breath in his chest pause. He kept his eyes fixed on his target, but her back was turned to him. His heart beat steadily increased and began to pound in his chest. After dodging a few snowballs he watched while she turned till he could see her face and he was sure that at this moment he was looking at the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. He only got a fleeting sight of her angelic smile before Bobby tackled him to the snow, but it was all he could ever need for Christmas.

Rogue walked out the front she could hear the craziness coming from the group of friends and students enjoying themselves in the snow getting into the holiday season. They were having a blast all of them, she wasn't looking forward to her trip. Since Logan was still pissed about what happened she decided not to use one of the school's jets so she booked a flight to San Francisco.

Rogue spotted Remy he was running towards a large pile of snow and dove in head first pulling out Laura who was caught at the bottom he carried her out in his arms and ran towards the ice fortress she clung to him like a stereotypical damsel in distress

The two of them had truly become thick as thieves over the last two years. Laura seemed to fulfill the emptiness that had begun to surround Remy, he was more like his old self again. Back when the two of them had been happy together. Of course as far as Anna could tell his interest in Laura was completely innocent and although it was blatantly obvious that Laura had a crush on him, his ability to bring fun to her life outweighed any desires she may have for him.

Watching all of them play together in the snow, laughing and smiling like they were all kids she couldn't help but smile to herself. She almost ran back inside to drop her bag so she could go join them. They were bound to have a better Christmas than the one she was going subject herself to. But she figured after she chewed out Cyke things might not be so bad with Erik afterward. Still, she felt distant from the others and that was bringing her down.

I see Remy look over to Anna walking towards the gate.

"Time! mon amis I be right back."

Everyone nodded an affirmation to him and Bobby flat out said."Not a problem buddy, take your time."

And of course, as soon as he turned his back he was pelted by everyone expect me, Oya, and Dust who I asked to help me lay down some cover fire for Remy.

"Thanks, Laura!"

I feel a pang of jealousy as he runs over to Rogue. She stops and he hands her a small present. Even from here I can tell she is truly touched. She wipes tears away from her face and throws her arms around his neck. My jealousy subsides with the knowledge that Rogue is also a seasoned warrior and she would

not be brought to tears by a simple present unless she was having a really tough time. How could I possibly begrudge my friend for showing anyone the same kindness that made him so dear to me?

We have been out here for hours everyone is wet and tired, but no one seems to want to stop. I look over at Remy even though he is smiling at me he looks very uncomfortable, and he is trembling almost uncontrollably. I walk over to him and hug him tightly.

"Thanks, petie, dis is fun but I don really like being out in de cold so long."

"I'm sure you can think of other things for us to do."

He laughs a little.

And I quickly realize and what I just said could be taken in a completely inappropriate way. Thankfully he doesn't respond to my comment or make note of how red I am probably turning.

"Ok, I think we're done!"

Remy called out to all the kids.

"Awwwwww!" Bobby groaned more audibly than any of the kids.

"Come on everyone let's go inside make Christmas cookies then watch some Christmas movies."

Once we get inside Storm and Kitty have hot chocolate on the stove for everyone

Remy helps some of the kids make some pizzas and I am given the job of making some cookies. I have never prepared any kind of food before and I am not sure what the letters that don't actually spell words mean.

Remy announces that the pizzas are ready and we sit down to eat. After the pizza is done every heads to the living area to watch movies. I hand them all a cookie before they sit they all make themselves comfortable and try them.

"Do you like them?" I wonder aloud.

They all continue chewing and nod with smiles.

"Mmmmhmmm"

Some of them say. I am pleased they weren't bad I really didn't know what I was doing.

We are all crowded together watching Christmas movies, some of which I question why they are considered Christmas movies there's one with a made up creature and it births more who become monsters. Another where a cop is the only one against a group of thieves in a city building, and another with a guy who is trying to impress his old high school friend who he used to be in love with. And in one scene he does so by terrorizing small children during a hockey game. Admittedly it was humorous and the psychotic way he goes on a rampage reminds me of someone I know. After the 5th movie, Remy and I notice the kids are either asleep or falling asleep. He enlists me, Bobby, Rachael, and Logan to help carry the younger ones up to bed and the teenagers playfully protest that they too want a ride as they stagger to their rooms. After which the adults wave to Remy and me saying hasty goodnight.

"Awww come on mon amis! Dis no way ta show ya Christmas spirit!"

Remy's shoulders slump down along with his head and without looking at me he asks. "Mind helpin me wit something chere?"

I follow him without responding, he leads me to a closet in the living room and starts pulling boxes of merchandise out and hands some to me. I put them on the couch and he hands me more. This continues until I no longer even see the couch.

"Now what?"

I ask dreading his answer.

Then he starts pulling out tubes of colorful paper.

"Now we wrap em."

After he puts on music he teaches me how to wrap gifts and we begin to cover all the boxes with colorful paper.

1 hour later.

I feel like this is some kind of new torture even with my favorite music on I am bored out of my mind, and I must be going a little crazy cause I swear I smell my cookies everywhere.

"I kinda have a boyfriend."

I blurt out in a desperate attempt to pass time. He looks at me and raises an eyebrow.

"No wonder your mind is going to de gutter wit de rest of us."

He smiles at me.

"So you finally decided to make someone de luckiest guy in de world?"

"I guess, I mean I like him we kinda click. I only bring it up because he is at the school by himself and I told him I would go back for New Years"

His eyes glare at me.

"Okay now I'm going to have ta beat em up… Just kiddin Laura I'm glad you found somebody long as he treat you right. I understand you are going to want to spend time together. But you still need to bring him here so I can meet him.

I open my mouth and...

"Let's say January 2"

Again I try and talk.

"So it settled petite, I'll met him then."

He is not going to let me argue I realize.

"Fine."

As time passes we talk about movies and things and both sigh as we look at the smaller yet still big pile of gifts. He turns the music up and sings along while kind of swaying.

"Come petie join in I know dis one of your favorites!"

"I can't sing!"

"Neither can I dat's why I put it loud so you won hear me!"

He forgets that I can kinda hear him, but I don't say anything cause I know he won't hear me so I join in. Surprisingly time passes much faster and after we finish the last presents we notice the sun is up.

"Should we go to bed?"

"Yea"

Our zombie-like walk is halted when some of the kids come running in the room with Logan, Ororo, Kitty, and then pretty much everyone else.

We sit down on the couch together slumped against one another to hold each other up. We watched them tearing the packaging in seconds that we'd spent all night painstakingly constructing together. I could feel Remy's arm moving to his pocket and then he put a small box wrapped in light green paper with a sparkling light green bow on it in front of my eyes.

I quickly sit up causing him to drop to the couch.

"Hey!"

"Why would you get me another gift?"

"It Christmas!"

"You gave me an expensive apartment for my birthday!"

"Yeah well, dat was your birthday."

"Ugh"

I mumble giving up to he's annoying logic.

"It just a little one."

Again I sigh.

"I'm sorry you're just being nice."

I admit as I take the gift and begin opening it.

Inside is a leather strap with a small light green stone.

"It's jade, it's de exact shade of your eyes when you are happy when you get happy I've noticed your eyes it a bit lighter and you look even more beautiful. "

"When I was a kid I sometimes wished I had normal eyes so dat people wouldn't be afraid of me. I used to think of what color I would go with most people say blue is the best. Logan has blue eyes, being his clone you should have had blue eyes too. But I don't think you were meant to. You're different, and your eyes are far more uniquely beautiful.

He takes the necklace and turns me around gently caressing my neck as he moves my hair to the side.

"Jade is a stone that is said to have the ability to help heal the heart and bring love to those dat have it. Dat's what you do for me petie. You are my jade so I am jus returning de favor."

He puts the necklace on me and I look down at it, it's a choker he knows me so well. Completely overwhelmed by the gift, but mostly his words all I can think to do is turn around and take him in my arms.

"It's beautiful, thank you."

San Francisco December 25

When Anna finally got to San Francisco she was already tired. Traveling without a jet took so much longer, and she still had the boat ride to Utopia. It might have been for the best anyway though if Emma or the Cuckoo's sensed her thoughts when she started this trip there was no way they'd allow her entrance. She was a lot calmer now. Except that every time she thought about seeing Cyclops's stupid face all she could think about was punching it till he really did only have one eye.

When she made her way to the conference room she ignored everything and everyone including Emma who was trying to get her attention.

"Cyclops! How dare you interfere with my request to Erik!"

She screamed at him.

"Rogue, you need to calm down. You called my island because your school needed help and help was sent."

"Don't play innocent with me, you know what you did and you did it to what? Try an get our students to come back here so ya can use em ta fight for ya!"

"You know Rogue I remember being a teenaged kid, I remember going to a school and I remember being taught to fight."

"This is different!"

Cyclops turn his head away from her in frustration.

"People away say things are different when it suits them. We were used to fight as kids, put in situations where we could have died any time. It was exactly the same."

"Only people blinding themselves to the facts see every situation the same. You forget I used to be on the other side. I was trained and I was used to hurt people that I didn't know, and for whatever Mystique wanted. And that nearly destroyed me! You were trained, and you fought sure, but you were trained with kindness and you were fighting to protect."

"Fight to protect? That expression is laughable Anna."

"It's not laughable to stop someone from killing lots ah people including innocent children that ain't evah done nothin wrong."

"Enough of this Anna!"

Erik called as he walked in the room.

"Erik don't"

Cyclops implored in a low voice.

"I told you, Scott, I make my own decisions."

"Anna your argument is circling, the fact is you called here for help and we helped you, you have no right to complain how we chose to do so."

"He knew our position on using kids in battle and he sent them there to prove a point!"

"No, he didn't. I did."

Anna's eye went wide she couldn't think of what to say. She wasn't really surprised, she wanted to be. But in actuality, her unwanted suspicions had just been confirmed.

"How….how could you? How could you do that to me?"

"You know where my views on these issues lay it should come as no surprise to you."

"But I called for your help and you used the opportunity to prove a point to Logan."

"I told you when we got together that I wasn't like Lebeau. Even though I truly care for you, I have other things that I prioritize. Logan made us all weaker by separating us. We need to get back as many mutants as possible."

Anna's head dropped in disbelief at his words, although now she knew, she didn't need to hear any more. She looked back up at him and calmed her demeanor.

"Erik, can we talk in the other room please?"

"Anything you want to say to me, you can just say to me now."

"It's personal, we do have a relationship and that should be private."

"What difference does it make if you are leaving me?"

Anna threw up her hands and glared at him. "Because this is between you an me!"

"So you are leaving me and don't want everyone here to see why."

"Our opinions on this are too different and you crossed a line sending the kids."

"You've known me this whole time, you knew what my views were, and it's never mattered until now. You didn't mind when X-23 was used in a suicide mission to kill Apocalypse or even when Oya killed all those Hellfire members. What's the real reason for you wanting to end it now? Is it that I'm too far away to be with you often enough and have other convictions, where as Lebeau is under the same roof and always ready to jump for you, or on you?"

She angrily stomped over to him and just barely managed to not deck him in the jaw. "Now you listen, Remy has done nothing to interfere with our relationship, and he hasn't needed to."

"I actually believe you Anna. So tell me, how long has he been with another woman?"

"You know, I suspected it was you who sent Hope." Anna announced in a voice she fought to keep low and calm as her hands nearly shook with rage. "But I didn't allow myself to believe it because I wanted to believe that you had more respect for me and that you actually care enough about this relationship to not use me! I was wrong, I've been so wrong so yes you're right we are done!" She yelled as she stomped out of the room.

Cyclops walked in her direction shaking his head. "You shouldn't have done that Erik, you should have let me take the blame."

"She needs to understand how serious this is and that we don't play games."

"Her powers give us options she can do anything no one else can give us that."

"Erik was right Scott, she was already starting to want to be with Remy again." Emma stated as she walked closer to the two. "But don't worry, there is still a chance for her. We just need to bide our time. In the meanwhile, I have told you that she is not the only one with the gift of endless powers."

"I know Emma, but we discussed it and there's no way we can get to her."

"We won't need to Scott, I've looked into her background. She has some… interesting friends."

December 30th Avengers Academy

We spent pretty much five days watching movies, listening to music while talking about our significant others, and playing in the snow with the kids, which I have to say was pretty fun. As promised, I am back at the Academy today.

Even though I already miss Remy, because we were having such a great time, I am glad I came back to spend New Year's with Sean. It feels so empty here and people say that the holidays are the most difficult time to be alone. I have to say that after the Christmas I just spent, I finally understand why. The things I did at the school with Remy and the others felt so warm and inviting. I think it's what everyone wants to feel. Knowing others get to have it must make them feel unbearable sadness and make them bitter. I never knew what I had been missing, but now that I do. I don't want to be without it again.

I find Sean in his room listening to some pretty odd sounding music. "Hi"

He lowers his the music a bit and walks over to me and hugs me. "Hey Laura, How was your Christmas?"

"It was very enjoyable."

"So you got to spend time with your dad?"

"Not really."

"Oh, so your friend Gambit?"

"Yes. Well him and others."

"So why didn't you spend any time with Wolverine?"

I feel myself slump in frustration and I'm certain I rolled my eyes. I can't believe that I've only been here a minute and already he is making me regret leaving to come here. "You are making me regret coming back!"

"Ok ok, I'm sorry I guess your dad is a touchy subject."

"I just don't understand why you always ask me about him."

"Like I said before I've always liked the X-Men and Wolverine. Is that from Gambit?" He said while pointing to my chest.

I look down and take the stone in my hand and look at it. "Yes."

"The two of you are pretty close huh?"

I nod affirmation.

"How'd that happen out of curiosity?"

"He is nice to me, and he trusted me when everyone else had decided I was bad even Logan."

Sean just nodded in understanding. "It's just people say things about him."

I raise a questioning eyebrow.

"Bad things."

"They're wrong." I say curtly to make sure he understands I have no interest in whatever it is people say about him. I decide to change the subject before he can say anything further. "Can we listen to something else?"

"Why? You don't like this?"

"….The singer kind of sounds like a cat in heat."

That remark causes Sean to laugh.

"That's just the way that song is intended to be, he chooses to sound that way."

"He chooses to sound annoying?"

"Well I don't think he sounds annoying, but yes he makes his voice whinier for songs like that. I'll show you."

He puts on a song by the same band and it is much different. The music is slow, methodical and almost hypnotizing. Also, the singer's voice flows with it perfectly with very little trace of the awkward whininess in the other song.

"So, whatcha think?"

"That one was good."

"Here I'll put on one more."

He reaches his hand out to me and pulls me onto his bed to lay down next to him. Then puts on another song.

Good feeling

Won't you stay with me just a little longer

It always seems like your leaving

When I need you here just a little longer

Dear lady, there's so many things

That I have come to fear

Little voice says I'm going crazy

To see all my worlds disappear

Vague sketch of a fantasy

Laughing at the sunrise

Like he's been up all night

Ooh slippin' and slidin'

What a good time but now

Have have to find a bed

That can take this wait

Good feeling

Won't you say stay with me just a little longer

It always seems like your leaving

When I know the other one

Just a little too well

Oh dear lady

Won't you stay with me just a little longer

Why does it always seems like your leaving

When I need you here just a little longer

There was a movie Remy took me to go see. It was about this guy who goes to space as a child and winds up having adventures with alien creatures. He has a tape of earth's music with him and plays it for the female alien. It is a slow and soothing song and she begins to sway to the music with him. However, she quickly realizes what's coming next and pulls a knife on him saying she 'would not succumb to his pelvic sorcery'. I found that line odd and humorous but admittedly did not understand it at the time. Though now, here, listening to this song with Sean, all misconceptions are past and I understand her frustration as I, unlike her, fall prey to the dreaded "pelvic sorcery."

December 30th 9:00 pm

Celia knew that she was going to have a hard time at work. The closer it got to New Year's Eve she hated that she was going to miss that holiday. But the real problems came after seeing her family, watching all her nieces and nephews having such a great time being so jubilant and innocent at all the Christmas traditions like sitting by the fire reading Christmas stories, making cookies for Santa, then all the excitement opening presents. Seeing all that happiness and joy made coming back here unbearable. And for some godforsaken reason, people seemed to be extra horrible to each other. She kept getting case after case of women beaten up by their husbands or boyfriends. Car accidents cause by idiots too stupid to either not keep their eyes off their stupid phones till they stop driving or assholes who get crazy drunk and drive. Then there was the increase in the real violent ones people who've been stabbed or shot. She just wanted to scream at them all "For the love of God stop hurting each other!"

It was going to take a while for her to readjust to this, and life wasn't cutting her any slack either. Yesterday they brought in a little girl with a GSW to the lower abdominal area. She realized when she saw the girl's father that she knew them. They lived in her building and sometimes on the way to work she'd see them in the elevator. The girl was so polite and happy all the time not to mention only about five years old. She was able to stabilize the child, Alice, but she was still in critical condition. Her father told her they were on their way to the mall when some guy robbed them at gunpoint.

It was lunch time. Celia knew Remy would be there soon, she was really looking forward to seeing him today. He was a pretty nice looking distraction from all of this. She rounded the corner and spotted him staring at a patient, then realized it was Alice's room. She walked over to him and could tell he was disturbed by it as well.

"Celia. Why is this baby here with a gunshot so close to Christmas?"

"Her and her father were mugged by some jerk, he went to get her necklace and her father got scared he was trying to take her so they struggled and the gun went off, she was hit and he ran off with it."

"Where're her parents?"

"Her mother died a few years ago and her dad's a cop so he's out combing the streets for that animal."

Remy's eyes never once left the girl and he took a deep breath before he quickly turned and darted out while quickly uttering. "Sorry, Celia. Don' really feel like eating. I make it up to you soon."

She was disappointed but shrugged she couldn't blame him. This place got to anyone who stops in long enough to hear some of its stories.

Manhattan midnight

Michael struggled to catch his breath. He was laughing so hard with his friend he could barely breathe. He looked at the alarm clock on the bedside table, but it took three different glances to be able to focus enough to get the time. It was past midnight, he would have to get going. If he got home much later his parents would bitch and moan. God, it sucked being 25 and still having to answer to his parents. But he learned the hard way that working an almost full-time job at stupid Wal-Mart was barely enough to pay all the bills and still have money left over to eat and have any kind of fun, even with a roommate.

As it was he'd recently started doing other things to bring in extra money. Things he wasn't sure he could do anymore. He shook his head in frustration, he wasn't going to think of that right now. He just had a great time, he was still pretty high and pretty sure his parents were going to be waiting up for him. That reminded him. When he made it to the alley that marked the halfway point he stopped pulled out a Winston and lit it up. He leaned against the wall, blowing the cigarette smoke over his clothes in an attempt to cover up the marijuana. He heard something dart through the alley, but looking around he couldn't see anything. The street lights didn't really light up the alley very well. He figured it was just a stupid cat.

So he leaned his head against the wall and took a really long drag off of his cigarette just as he was starting to relax, he heard something again. This time, whatever it was knocked over a glass bottle which was only 10 feet away. His head shot up and he looked around. This event would normally have made him tense, but being high amplified his paranoia. He reached into his jacket and pulled out the gun that Chris had given to him just last week.

"Who's there?" He said inching towards the light. "Don't make me fuck you up man!...Chris? Is that you?"

His heart started to race and it seemed that he had forgotten how to breathe. He lifted the gun up with a shaky hand, pointing it at the surrounding darkness. In a fraction of a second, he saw a large shadow move and his finger squeezed the trigger. He made himself stop at three so he'd still have some left in case he missed.

Then he saw the shadow slowly coming from behind the dumpster. He waited and let it come towards him. There was something about it, something wrong. It didn't move like a human, it seemed to glide as if it had no legs. He let it get a bit closer so there'd be no way in hell he'd miss.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Michael's tremble became terrified uncontrollable shaking and the gun fell from his unstable hands.

All three shots he fired were swallowed up by darkness, a darkness that appeared suddenly and out of nowhere, and he could feel it pulling him to it. He fell back on his ass.

He heard a shattering and looked up to the few lights being swallowed. Then he felt cold hands picking him up and pushing him against the wall.

"Please." He barely gasped out of fear.

"You have harmed the innocent. You have two choices, you can either repent by confessing your sins. Or you can join the darkness"

"No! Please!"

"Do you feel it?

"No!"

"Do you feel the darkness coming for you?"

Michael could no longer feel the wall behind him just cold wind pulling him when he looked back all he could see was blackness, blacker than the darkness that already surrounded him.

Then the thing pulled him forward till he was face to face with whatever it was. The only distinguishing things about it were the ice cold wind that emanated from it and its eyes, black as the hole that threatened to take him to oblivion.

"Do you want to be in the darkness with me?"

December 31st 2:30 am

Celia would finally have some time to relax. She didn't want to sleep in one of the rooms cause then all of the time she had would just fly by. She would just go get something from the vending machines and listen to some soft, peaceful music and try not to fall asleep.

On her way to the machines, she noticed that Alice's room was empty and her heart sank. She couldn't bare more sadness right now.

"She's been moved to recovery," Claire said from behind.

"What? She woke up?"

"Yeah, they caught the dirtbag that shot her. So now her dad's been with her and she's been doing a lot better."

"That's great I was so worried, I'm so glad they got the guy."

"Well, actually Alice's dad said that he just turned himself in. He was rambling something about not wanting to become dark and he just went to the police station and confessed. "

Claire led her to where Alice had been moved. Her father sat by her bedside. He looked up and saw Celia and went to hug her.

"Thank you so much for all the care you've given Alice."

Celia felt so much shared happiness all of the depressing thoughts she'd been having melted away. The father took her hand and led her into the room. The child looked so much better. She didn't look like a person hanging on to life, she looked like a little sleeping angel. Celia bent down and gave her a little kiss on the cheek, then she noticed the girl was wearing her necklace.

Celia smiled to herself and made a quick decision.

"I'm going out for a while."

"Well wait! You're still on call!"

"I know! But this is worth the risk"

Remy lay on his couch. He'd fallen asleep listening to some of the music Laura liked. Even though his body was getting some much need rest his mind was not at ease. His body kept jerking while he slept as his mind received spilt-second images. Images he could not make out, though they filled him with a sense of dread. His head continued to twitch and his limbs begin to join it as the images in his mind became more and more clear to him, along with a sense of total despair. He fell off the couch as a loud knock at the door roused him from his dark nightmare. He felt his chest tighten and he started coughing violently. He took a minute before opening the door to get his breathing back to normal.

He opened it to find Celia Reyes looking at him. He was extremely surprised to see her because he knew she still was on her shift. "Hello, Chere. What a pleasant surprise."

She stood there eyeing him for a second then hastily pressed her lips against his. Again, she surprised him by being so aggressive. She was kissing him differently. He could feel the desire, the need. Any doubts he had were dissolved by her pushing him down on the couch and sitting on his lap where she trailed kisses down his neck. Her hand slid under his shirt, and she ran it over his chest then lifted his shirt up, he obliged by raising his arms for her.

His eyes moved to her neckline he could just see the top of her cleavage and he was wondering how to find out if he could touch them without being too forward. She answered his unspoken question for him as her hand slipped into his pants and she took him in her hand caressing him till he was painfully aroused. He moaned, that was more than enough confirmation. He pulled her close and buried his face in her chest kissing all around her soft skin. He started to move his hands to her shoulders, sliding the fabric down, then he reached for a button. Her hand stopped his before he could undo one. He looked at her questioningly and she smiled at him seductively then slid down his legs kneeling in front of him. She brought her head back up to his abdomen and licked the smooth skin, working her way down as she undid his pants. He was having to force himself to not interrupt her, she seemed to be on a mission, one he didn't really want to interfere with, even if his body did. She had gotten his pants down his hips when…

Cell phone buzzes

They looked at each other the disappointment evident on both their faces. Remy breathed heavily but said nothing.

"I'm so sorry Remy, if I had time I would…."

"Please don….please don't finish that sentence Celia, I don't think I could take anything you'd say right now."

She smiled at him and then gently kissed his lips with a bittersweet tenderness.

"You think you could come to my place late on New Year's?"

"Well, I got dis big party to go to…."

"Well I should be home by 2 am. I should have a few hours if you can make it over there, then the two of us can ring in the New Year together a little late."

"I will volunteer to be do designated driver so I won' touch a drop of alcohol so I can be sure to make it."

"You say that, but it is New Years. I'll understand if you don't make it."

"Trust me, Celia, it'd take a lot for me to not make it."

Writer's notes.

I am sorry this chapter took me so long to post, I also apologize if the M rating was misleading. When I started writing this Story I didn't really know what exactly I was going to write and I figured with

X-23's tortured past and life as a prostitute I might have some violence and sexual content, I am also not saying there won't be any I just don't want to give any spoilers.