Chapter 11: Fighting Fear
(3 minutes later.)
Spider-Man's P.O.V
I was running out of air, only had about thirty seconds left if I was lucky. I struggled futilely, trying to get my leg out of the miniature underwater landslide. Something was either broken, or at the very least fractured, because the pain was unbelievable. Every small movement caused agony to flare in my limb.
"I can't get out!"
I only had one option left if I wanted to leave this situation alive: I would have to use my aura.
"Do I have enough energy left?"
Only one way to find out. With my last seconds of air fading fast, I set my aura loose. The rocks blasted apart, and I kicked for the surface. The energy blast had really drained me, and I kicked sluggishly. Though that may have been because I just ran out of air.
A sense of calm came over me despite my burning lungs. It scared me, and I panicked.
My vision was turning black, saltwater flooding my throat. I gave one last ditch effort to make it to fresh air. Reaching for my aura once again, violently pushing my arms down and kicking with my legs, I surged to the surface. My head breached the waves and I emptied my lungs and inhaled sharply, only to have a semi-large wave slam me into the rocks. My breath whooshed out of my lungs and I was washed underwater again. This time, I came up within a few seconds and tried to clutch the rock I was slammed into. I didn't have time to get a good grip because yet another wave dragged me underwater again. I was beginning to get light-headed from oxygen deprivation. As I paddled for the surface once more and attempted to swim to shore, one last wave decided to pick on me.
It carried me towards the rocky outcrop, the boulder I had previously been slammed into one of its members. I couldn't see where I was headed, but my spider-sense warned me that the water was planning to impale me. Using the current to my advantage, I twisted with it and managed to avoid the dangerous pointed pillar, its base almost crushing my ribs instead. Again, I lost my breath but managed to stick to the rock this time and unsteadily jumped to the sandy base of the cliff. There, I coughed up seawater and lay gasping trying to get my breath back, soon falling unconscious.
(Half an hour later.)
Wolverine's P.O.V
That thing had fell into the sea just over half an hour ago, after Storm had separated me and it. And it hadn't surfaced. We had all headed back to the mansion and were now sitting in the living room in silence.
"I hate awkward silences. We don' even know if it died!"
"Hey, listen up," I said. "It could a' jus' swum away! No need ta mope over it!"
"Under a landslide?! Be realistic Wolverine!" Jubilee said, exasperated. I was just about to answer back, when the Professor interrupted.
"X-Men, the security camera covering the Blackbird's cliff exit has caught sight of the creature. It appears to be unconscious on the beach. Investigate."
There was a short silence, then everyone burst into action. We all ran out of the front door, not even bothering to suit up, and didn't stop running until we had arrived at the cliff path leading down to the beach. It was lucky we trained to increase our stamina.
"Geez, I really got to work out more."
I was leaning forward and had my hands on my knees, panting. Jubilee, Jean and Cyclopes were slumped on the ground, trying to get their breath back. Only Storm and Rogue (who flew) and Beast (whose breathing was slightly laboured) were able to stand properly. I recovered and peered over the edge of the cliff. "It ain't moving," I grunted. Everyone else came and peered over too.
Then it moved. Of course it had to spite me in some way.
Spider-Man's P.O.V
I regained consciousness slowly, to the sound of voices from…high up?
"What happened?"
I remembered it all in a rush.
"I almost drowned…I almost DROWNED!"
I could hear the sea very close to my right and scrambled away from it as quick as I could. Then I heard the voices stop, and the sound of footsteps reached me. They were coming down. I hurriedly scratched the salt out of the fur surrounding my eyes and attempted to get up when unbelievable pain flared in my thigh. I gasped harshly, stunned at the overwhelming sensation.
Then I felt vibrations radiate from roughly twenty feet away.
"They are way too close for comfort."
Gritting my grinding teeth, I forced myself to stand up and run towards the cliff. The team of mutants started to run too. I simply ran faster, leaped onto the cliff face and started to run up it. Once I had reached the top, I glanced back down. Through the haze of pain, I saw that they had stopped and were staring at me, some with their mouths open. I mentally growled at myself.
"I've got to stop being so careless in showing them what I can do! On the bright side, they may just think I'm an excellent climber…"
I tore my gaze away without much difficulty and made my way back to my cave, trying to not pass out from the agonizing pain radiating from my leg. Once there, I basically collapsed. I was so tired. My aches and pains could wait until tomorrow, I actually needed some sleep this time. So thinking, I let myself fall into a slightly deeper sleep than usual.
(Three days later.)
Xavier's P.O.V
I was in my study, watching the footage from Hank's surveillance cameras. For reasons unknown, even to myself, I was quite worried.
"I just wish I knew why…"
The X-Men had debriefed me as soon as they got back. Apparently that mysterious creature had fell into the ocean, collapsed on the beach, then ran away, climbing up the cliff, possibly with an injury. Neither Hank nor Jean couldn't tell.
"Could it be…? Am I worried for that creature's wellbeing?"
I shook my head – that was preposterous. Why should I feel concern for a creature that could harm my team? And why do I still feel as if I know it? Or it knows me?
I shook my head again – it made no sense. The team had searched for it, to no avail. It seemed to have disappeared once again. I looked out the window, and when I looked back, I saw it. A surveillance camera had spotted the creature. It was drinking from the river. "Beast, it's appeared at the lower section of the river. Can you – just you – head down there?"
"Of course Professor, but may I ask why?" he acquiesced curiously.
"I would like you to approach it cautiously and talk to it. I am curious to see exactly how it reacts to contact myself, but at the first sign of danger, get out of there. Understand?"
"Loud and clear."
"Good, I will maintain contact with you at all times."
I turned back to my screen to watch. The creature now seemed to be lying stiffly in the water. Then I saw Hank swing by on the tree branches on another screen. It would not take him long to reach his destination.
Beast's P.O.V
I was actually quite glad that the Professor had asked me to investigate by myself. Some of my thoughts had been nagging at me. What if it could understand, communicate? What if it was a sentient being? Well, I was about to find out.
I landed by the riverbank about half a kilometre away and slowly approached the location of the creature. I did not want to startle it, and was being as quiet as possible. Somehow it must have sensed me coming, because the professor contacted me and asked, "Beast, it's staring intently at the bushes. Are you nearby?"
"Yes Professor, but I have been as quiet as possible. How could it have heard me?"
"I do not know, but it has not left yet, you still have a chance."
"Understood."
How confusingly curious, but nonetheless, I walked normally now – it didn't really matter anymore. When I exited the cover of the trees, I was met with a hardened gaze. "It's alright, my friend. I am not here to harm you."
I held my hands up in a placating gesture. Instead of calming, the creature backed away, though it held its right hind leg off the ground.
"So, it must have received some damage when it fell into the ocean."
I must have been staring at it, for a low growl met my ears. "No no – don't leave. I meant no disrespect. I just wished to speak with you."
"Hank, I do not think it fully understands what you are trying to do, be careful. Back off a little."
I did as the Professor suggested, but the creature backed off too and started fidgeting, looking at the forest in the direction of the mansion. This wasn't going to plan. I was just about to try a different tactic, when; "Hank, Logan is almost at your location, he seems to be following your scent."
"That would explain the creature's behaviour. It might be able to sense him, or smell him."
"True," he was disappointed. "This is not how I hoped this would go. We haven't made any progress whatsoever… Make your way back. If Logan finds you with that creature, the situation could become violent."
Just then, a thunderous, nervous growl met my ears. The creature was backing away into the bushes. It looked at me one last time, then disappeared.
I met Logan five minutes later, and we walked back to the mansion together.
(1 day later.)
Spider-Man's P.O.V
I hadn't left my cave since that encounter. I doubt I could anyway.
I had slept for far too long. My leg had swollen and it obviously had some serious damage. I was too exhausted for my body to heal itself at an accelerated rate, and I had so many conflicting feelings fighting for dominance inside of me. Anger, fear, general confusion and…longing?
"No!"
I violently shook my head.
"I will never belong anywhere – I'm a monster. So what if he tried to talk to me? I can't allow myself to feel close to them… Even if they do know something about my past. And I'm sure they do! I feel too strong a connection between us for it to be anything else…
…
I want to know more about myself."
I let out a guttural groan. All I wanted was to know more. I shook my head again, and, forcing myself to my feet, limped out of my cave and to the first waterfall. I needed to bathe. The only problem was that I was terrified of water. Or, to be more specific, saltwater, but I was still partially afraid of any form. After literally being on the verge of drowning, it was understandable right?
I was working to limit it down to just saltwater first, then eradicate my fear of that too. Hopefully.
I still get flashbacks and panic attacks when I see the sea.
"Come to think of it, that would make it twice I've woken up next to the ocean after a difficult situation…"
I removed my top – thoroughly wrecked and nearly in tatters now – and placed it, roughly folded, next to a tree. Then I waded out into the river until I was just under the waterfall, careful to keep my injured leg out of the way. I stiffened for a moment, then allowed myself to relax. Well, as much as I was able to under a waterfall.
"This is not going to hurt me. I am not afraid. It's just water. Nothing to be afraid of."
I took a deep breath.
"And it's working..."
I let out a sigh of relief. Stage one of my plan complete.
