Growling under his breath, Wolverine pushed his way into Ever's room. He didn't know when he'd become her personal keeper, but it seemed Professor X wanted them attached at the hip. Glancing at the two forms bundled under the covers, he turned to leave.
Wait.
He went to her bedside, examining her more closely. She wasn't breathing. Throwing the covers off, he was shocked at pile of pillows where his charge should have been. Rogue's bed was altered in the same manor.
"PROFFESOR!" he shouted, bursting down the hall, flipping on light switches as he went. Drowsy students emerged behind him, rubbing their eyes and yawning. He turned into the Cerebro, quieting his footsteps respectfully as he approached the Professor.
"Professor, she's-" Logan panted.
"I know," he nodded solemnly, "I decided to check up on her as well," he placed the helmet on the pedestal, "She's in the United States military base, a detachment from Edwards Air Force Base in California."
"She's across the damn country!" Logan threw his hands up in the air, "The place is built like a fortress."
"Logan," his voice was restrained, "Assemble the X-Men."
Magneto stalked forward, his small army trailing behind. Rogue was incapacitated by Sabretooth, her feet dangling over the ground due to his massive hold. I, on the other hand, was held firmly by Pyro. Whenever I'd move in the slightest where he didn't want, his hand would heat up in warning. I writhed in discomfort, amusing him endlessly.
Rogue was fuming, but a certain fear filled her eyes. Like she knew what he was capable of. I still wondered about their mysterious history.
We stepped forward, halting suddenly when Magneto raised his hand. Peering forward, I caught sight of half a dozen military men crowding near a heavy metal door.
"Whoops, too bad," I bit my lip, "Guess we'll have to go home. And I was so looking forward too-"
"Be quiet," he hissed.
Not wanting to be once again silenced against my will, I was quick to close my mouth. Waving his arms dismissively, a small click sounded. I tilted my head in confusion, as a jumble of small metal rings landed at our feet. Scrunching my brow, I looked to the soldiers, then up to Magneto. Realization lit my features as I understood.
"NO!" I screamed as I was wrenched around a corner. Less than a second later a blast of heat whooshed past and bright flames exploded from where the soldiers once stood. Waiting a second to make sure all the grenades had been activated, he brushed back to where they previously stood. I squeezed my eyes closed, unwilling to look down at whatever remained of the guards. A tear welled in the corner, but not even Pyro commented. We were all business now.
A heavy clunking sound echoed, and the door swung open, Magneto's strength serving as an appropriate password. Pushing inside, I finally attempted to open my eyes.
The dim light of the corridor allowed an easy transition, bare bulbs the only source. Sabretooth collided with them every time he walked by, sending them swinging in a fevered dance behind him. Magneto's cape swayed rhythmically back and forth, enticing me with its hypnotic frenzy. Everything seemed too slow, too loud. My heart beat echoed in my ears. Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump.
"Don't worry about setting up," a triumphant smile decorated Magneto's face, "We've been ready for a long, long time."
Ascending a staircase, we were brought into a massive, round room. One side was made completely of windows, displaying the hundreds of dignitaries below. I could only assume it had to be one way. Everything else was made of the same, grey cement that constructed the entire building.
In the center, a curious looking machine sat. Made entirely of polished steel, it sat large and imposing. On a raised platform stood three metallic stands. The middle and left one had a set of hand cuffs fashioned on, while the right simply held two orbs. Around the stage, huge machinery evidently performed the actual task, while we somehow supplied the power.
"I can only assume you're wondering how this ingenious device works," Magneto stared up at his baby, "And how it involves you. As Rogue is aware this machine induces mutation, and requires my touch to operate. Unfortunately, it's incredibly draining, putting my life at risk. 'No matter' I thought, for with a woman of Rogue's abilities, my touch could be used without me. Unfortunately, that plan was destroyed by Xavier's team, who were concerned for her welfare."
"And the entirety of the world's government," she mumbled, her southern accent made more obvious through her anger.
"What was that?" Magneto narrowed his eyes.
"Nothing," she spat.
"Anyways," he cleared his throat, "Since then I've been searching for a power source to fuel Rogue, as to not anger her powerful friends. Thus, my dear, you have become our guest of honor. Your healing factor channeled through her should allow the machine's constant energy."
"So," Rogue hesitated, "It's safe now? Nobody's going to die?"
This time he focused on me, "You've lived a full, no many full lives. Everyone's time must come."
"NO!" Rogue struggled against Sabretooth, "I WON'T LET YOU!"
"I apologize. I wasn't planning on giving you a choice," he gestured forward, causing Pyro to yank me along. I had gone completely still, numbed by rapid fire thoughts being tossed through my head.
This was it.
As Rogue wriggled futilely against Sabretooth's superior strength, I watched, as if in a dream, as Pyro hand cuffed my to the cold metal stand. The cuffs bit into my wrists, but the pain felt like it belonged to someone else.
It was over. It was finally over.
Slowly removing the gloves from his hands, he firmly gripped the metal orbs.
I immediately crumpled as a wave of force hit me like a freight train. My arms bent at odd angles as my weight tried to counteract the handcuffs. A scream bounced around the dome erratically only growing in pitch and volume instead of falling as screams usually do. Tears streamed down my face, shimmering across my cheeks. I whipped my head around, trying to make sure Rogue was okay.
She stood rigid, as if unable to fall. Her hands shook as old memories resurfaced, and pain wracked her form.
The only way I could describe how she felt is if you were bleeding out, while being pumped with blood at the same time. Magneto's machine was trying to drain her dry, while my ability kept her at peak.
Below, the official's cries mingled with our own, creating a haunting harmony. Magneto finally released the orbs, looking tired and drained. The damage was done.
A burning sensation passed through my throat, and my voice tapered off into a squealing cough, but I couldn't make it stop. The pain had grown so constant, so ever present, it was if I had never known anything else.
Everything faded into a bright white, not allowing any of the horrific sights below to contaminate my vision.
I had never been religious, but a sudden thought bloomed. What if this was it. What if there was nothing else- only darkness. People had always told me I was unholy, an abomination, turned on by god himself. It was either hell or nothing for me, and even hell was starting to look pretty good at this point. Anything to end the pain. Anything to the nothingness.
I realize that that's all my life's been up to now. Nothingness. I had been given a gift, and I had wasted it. And it was too late. I was given everything, but chose nothing instead.
I couldn't give it to them. I couldn't infect the hundreds below with an illness I had made.
No.
If I were to finish, to end, I had to make it something. I had to have a purpose.
Biting my lip, I focused all my energy, all the conscious thought I had left, on my wrists. Filtering all the agony into one movement, I thrashed downwards. A new scream raked against my throat, a searing anguish so intense following I barely registered what I'd done.
My hand flopped down eerily, as if it had been completely deflated. Slipping the hand from the cuff, I cradled my broken thumb. To my horror, not only wasn't it healing, but the other one hadn't gone through.
I couldn't do it. Not again.
Rogue shrieked, half the energy keeping her alive suddenly depleated.
I desperately shook my hand, willing it to heal. I was used to suffering, but it was always short lived. While the machine's hold on me had definitely lessened, this new, self-induced torture was nearly worse. Later I realized that a broken thumb wasn't nearly as bad as the pain the machine brought, but I had been so focused on the whole 'martyr' thing my priorities had been kind of scrambled.
My thoughts flung back and forth, from Rogue's desperate pleas to my remaining hand. I couldn't do it. A sob wracked my frame. I couldn't do it again.
Rogue's screams grew louder and footsteps. They were coming for her. For us. To finish the job. Screaming in anticipation I grabbed my thumb with my four remaining fingers. A sickening crack echoed, heard by me alone. Whimpering softly I pulled my hand away.
At this point Rogue had fallen to her knees, no longer being reimbursed for what was taken. I tried to rush over her, to help her, but the world was a bright white glow. No shapes nor colors could be distinguished, just white.
I stumbled and fell off of the stage, landing hard on my side.
"Rogue…" I croaked.
The footsteps burst inside. This was it. This was the end. Heavy stomps pattered past my head, and a metallic shink was followed by incoherent buzzing. The stomps returned to me, and I was lifted into a pair of muscular arms.
"Wolverine?" I whispered, my voice spent.
"Bobby!" Rogue cried in joy.
"Rogue!" his voice was muffled, as if they were hugging or something.
"I got you kid," he let me bury my head into his chest.
"Ever?" Rogue whipped around, searching for her friend, "Omigod, Ever!"
She rushed over, her fingers brushed over my hair, "Oh my god."
I tried to ask her 'what?' but it came out like a rasp.
"She doesn't need to worry about that now," Wolverine growled, pushing towards the door.
"Ever, why aren't you looking at me?" she gripped my chin, pulling my face towards hers, "Mother of god…" she whispered.
"Come on!" Wolverine started a brisk pace.
"Hey!" Pyro shouted, stepping in the way.
"Son," Wolverine snarled, "Just don't."
He held my body out a bit, as if showing me to him. I gripped his shirt, afraid a falling again. Pyro silently stepped out of the way.
"The- the officials?" I murmured.
"Their safe," Wolverine nodded, "We saved them. You saved them."
We descended the stairs, the fresh air pushing against us as soon as we burst outside.
"I believe you have something of mine," Magneto's voice rang, raising the hairs on the back of my neck. Logan's form went rigid, his arms suddenly flying out to the side. I fell to the ground, clawing at the air through my descent.
"My dear, you've looked better," a gloved hand gripped my chin, moving my face from side to side, "I'd almost say that- ahek," his voice suddenly dropped, his fingers leaving my face.
"Rogue, stop," Bobby warned, "Rogue!"
He ran over, separating her from Magneto, but the damage was done.
I heard Wolverine growl, peeling himself off the ground, "Nice work kid."
"He won't hurt you anymore," Rogue deadpanned, "I promise Ever. He'll never hurt you again."
My eyes widened, "Is he… did you…?"
"Out cold," Wolverine pronounced, "Bobby, Rogue, could you…?" he lifted me once again.
"I'm not touching him," Rogue raised an eyebrow, "And if I do, I'm not using the glove."
"Fine, we'll come back," Wolverine shook his head, "We can't leave him there. He'll just try again."
"What about his cronies?" Rogue asked.
"I took care of it," Logan offered a wry grin.
Logan walked up a small ramp, placing me delicately in the Blackbird's padded seat.
"And Magneto?" the Professor inquired.
"Be right back," Wolverine snarled.
Footsteps echoed away, only to remerge a few minutes later, "He's gone!" Wolverine cursed.
"I feared as much," the Professor nodded.
"I thought you took care of them!" Rogue snapped, "Oh… Pyro."
Bobby cursed, kicking at the floor. Everything was silent for a moment.
"Ever," the Professor's voice was gentle, "Would you mind stepping over? Or rather, Bobby, would you?"
Taking my arm lightly, Bobby led me over to the Professor, "It's just as I feared."
"What is it sir?" I coughed on the last word, proud to get the entire sentence out.
"We'll speak later. Right now you must rest."
"No sir, I'd rather- hey!" I blinked rapidly, my thoughts growing muddled, "Stop! Don't…" I murmured as the Professor's abilities sank me into a deep, dreamless sleep.
One more chapter guys, if all goes as planned. What did you think?