Alice felt like she had been hit by a truck.

There was no place in her body that wasn't hurting. A terrible ache cut through her head, like it was being sliced open, her fingers were burning, breathing felt like she was breathing fire instead of air.

Where am I? The fear stang through her, and she felt it's metallic taste on her tongue. And then she remembered.

- Charles…! she breathed out, and forced her eyes open, even if that was difficult too.

But there was only a slender blue figure sitting on a chair by the window. Hearing Alice's voice the girl stood up and walked close to the bed.

- No Charles here, only me. You can call me Raven. How are you doing?

- Like hell, Alice moaned. Speaking hurt her mouth, which was dry as a desert.

- Here, take some water, said Raven, and sat down on the bed, offering a glass to Alice's lips. Grateful, she took a sip, even if it that hurt too.

Great, my lip is cut, she noticed, feeling the stitches. I must look like a frickin monster.

She looked up to the other girl, her bright yellow eyes were serious, her skin dark blue like the evening sky, covered partly in some kind of scales. She looked familiar, like she had seen her in a dream. Or a nightmare. Alice remembered the cold concrete floor, and pain. She remembered Charles holding her in his arms, and someone stepping into the room. It was all foggy, like it had happened to someone else, but she knew it was true.

- It was you. You saved me, Raven.

The blue girl shrugged.

- Why did you do that?

- Because I can't just watch by and do nothing, when a mutant sister or brother is being held against their will, She answered. You are not the first one I've helped. And also, I did it for Charles. We might have our differences, but I hated to see him like that. He was a mess.

- Oh. Alice felt her face blushing. She remembered Charles, laying on this bed, looking at her with those crystal blue eyes. "I love you", he had said, and suddenly her heart skipped a beat.

- He was here… was it this morning?

- Yesterday. You've slept a lot.

- I really need to see him. Is he here?

- He is teaching. I forced him to go, he was here all yesterday, and most of the night, and I felt like he needed something else to think about for a while. But the lesson will end soon, I can go and tell him you're awake.

- Please, do not disturb him. Alice looked down, her cheeks still burning. Is this the school? You brought me to the institute?

- Charles Xavier's Institute for Gifted Youngsters. This is a refuge for people like us. You'll be safe here.

She felt her heart sunk. Safe here. Did it mean she would not be safe anywhere else?

- What happened, She asked. What happened to Maria?

- She disappeared. When we got to her office and to her home, she was gone, with all her staff and records.

Alice nodded. This was expected. Maria was like her, she had always been like her. And if Alice was good at hiding, Maria would be equally great. But perhaps it is better this way, she thought. For what would happen to her if she was caught? She wasn't guilty to the things she had done, but would the others ever understand?

- How are you feeling? asked Raven, suddenly sounding concerned. Are you in pain?

Alice gave a small nod. The pain was growing with every second, and she knew it would soon be unbearable.

- Actually, yes. Is there a doctor here?

- I'll get him. Just try and rest for a while.

Alice hadn't even noticed that she'd drifted back to restless sleep, while Raven was away. It was only when someone stepped into the room, that she woke up again, only to notice that it wasn't Raven who arrived. There was a tall, dark haired man, that Alice recognized for Charles friend she had seen in a coffee house a few times. And then there was Charles.

Seeing him made her lose her balance, and her head felt dizzy. Oh Lord, he was so handsome. Those sky blue eyes were looking at here with such a concerned look, his gorgeous lips were tightly pressed together, his hair fell to his neck and shoulders on a way that called Alice's fingers to feel it. He was so beautiful, and he loved her. He loved her, and for a heartbeat or so, she could not think about anything else at all.

- Are you alright? Charles asked. Raven told me, you asked for a doctor.

- You are many things, Charles, but I don't think your Ph. Ds in genetics or anthropology will help me right now, Alice managed to say.

- It's not me, don't worry, said Charles, and turned to his friend. This is Hank McCoy, and he is a medical doctor. Just tell us what's wrong.

Alice sat up, and looked Hank McCoy in the eye. He was a kind looking young man, with glasses and a nerdy style. He had an aura of gentleness and intelligence, and she liked him immediately.

- Why don't you tell me, Doctor McCoy. What's my status report?

- Well, there is quite a list, actually. But first things first. Painkillers?

- Oh yes, please, Alice breathed out with relief.

It wasn't like she was going to play a hero and not take every drug that was offered to cut this unbearable pain. Hank gave her an injection (after putting on three pairs of rubber gloves, to be able to touch her), and after just a few seconds she felt the drug kicking in. The pain began to melt down into a bearable state, and she felt her head spinning.

- Wow, that's some good stuff, Doctor, Alice almost laughed. Thank you.

- Yep. And that's why you'll only going to get it twice a day. Please, call me Hank.

- Alright, Hank. Now it's your turn, tell me all that is wrong with me.

And he did.

Alice listened quietly as he spoke. She could already feel that it wasn't just her mind that was broken, but also her body. But still, hearing it all was a lot to take. Broken ribs. Cut's and bruises everywhere. A few broken fingers and dislocated joints. Some fingernails pulled out. Dehydration, undernourishment, a severe blood loss, and so on.

- Why is my head bandaged, she asked after he had finished his list.

Hank and Charles changed a concerned look.

- How much do you remember? Charles asked.

- Not much. Just some glimpses… But there was something, something in the back of my head, wasn't there?

- Well, there was something inserted into your skull, Hank started. I removed them, but the wounds will take some time to heal.

Alice carefully palpated her head, running her fingers on the bandages. She remembered now. The cannulas, the drug, the tubes taped to her skin. Suddenly she felt nauseous.

- They are gone now? she asked, her voice shaking slightly, but she could tell that Charles noticed it.

- They are gone, Charles answered instead of Hank. I watched him take them out.

- What were they used for?

- We don't know exactly, said Hank. The other one was to put some kind of drug into your brain, probably to shut down your powers. And I think the other one was to extract something from your brain, your spinal fluid perhaps.

- A lab rat, Alice muttered to herself.

- Say what? asked Charles.

- She called me a lab rat. A good rat. She was experimenting on me.

There was a dark storm in Charles' eyes, and even if Alice couldn't yet quite read his moods, because of the drugs, she could see that he was suffering to hear her words. His voice was even, but she heard it's somber tone as he spoke,

- You are out of there now. And I'll never let her get to you again. You are safe here.

- So they tell me, Alice whispered, and looked away from Charles.

Suddenly she felt exhausted, like all life had been streamed out of her. Her head felt dizzy and she had to close her eyes to regain her balance.

- Thank you, Alice whispered, after pulling herself together. Thank you both, you have saved my life.

- You will be alright, said Charles, Won't she Hank?

- With rest, yes. And that's exactly what I'm ordering for her right now.

Hank left the room soon after, and left Alice and Charles alone. Suddenly the moment felt intimate, and Alice noticed feeling nervous. He loved her, she knew. But how can you talk about something like that?

How can you tell someone, that he means the world to you? That just the thought of his face, was all that kept you alive in the endless night?

- There is so much we need to talk about, she whispered.

- But not now. Now you need to rest. Doctor's orders, Charles smiled.

- Which one?

- Both of us, darling. We will talk when you feel better.

He was right, she knew, but still, all the things she wanted to say to him, but couldn't, burnt inside her chest so that she could barely breath.

- But I am so sorry. I just wanted to say that, that I'm sorry.

- You? he sounded startled. What on Earth are you sorry for?

- For everything that has happened.

- That's nonsense, Alice. There is nothing for you to be sorry about. If something, I am sorry. I'm sorry I didn't find you. I tried, you know I tried my best, but I failed you.

- You're a fool, Charles, Alice breathed.

- That's what you keep telling me.

- Because you are. None of this is your fault. It's all on me. All my fault, and that's what you don't get.

- And what am I not getting this time?

- That it is tragedy that you fell for me. I told you I'm no good news, and you didn't believe me. Just look what I've gotten you into, and you've only known me for a few months. What is it gonna be from now on? I had this coming, Charles. That's what you don't get, that I deserved this. That I am a lab rat, and I will always be one. There is no way out of this for me. And for that, I am sorry.

And even if Alice had yearned to talk with Charles just a few minutes ago, she suddenly felt very tired. She laid her head on the pillow, tears burning in her eyes, but too exhausted to even cry.

Charles moved his chair next to her bed, and gently placed his hand on her arm, only touching her through the covers. She felt the comforting warmth of his touch anyways, and his face was so sad, that seeing it cut through her heart like a knife.

- Sleep now, he said. I will watch, and drive away any danger that might threaten you .

- You are too good to me, Alice whispered.

Her head was heavy. She felt her eyes closing, unable to fight the sleepiness that spread through her body, she knew she was drifting away from him.

- Rubbish, she heard him say. Just sleep now, dearest. You'll feel better tomorrow.

- I am scared, she said in her sleep. Or did she say it out loud?

- I will stay with you.

- You promise?

- I promise. I will never leave you again, Alice.

And with him gently caressing her arm, she fell asleep.

No nightmare dared to sneak into her mind that night.

I can't believe how many of you have read my story so far! I am deeply humbled and grateful for your kind words and encouragement. Please, leave a review so I know what you thought of this chapter. Thanks!