Chapter 28
Conscience
Storm stared. She looked like she had just turned into a stone statue. She didn't even seem to be breathing.
"I know you have your differences with him…" Eva tried, scared that this information might have just changed Storm's mind about helping. "But he doesn't deserve what they are most likely doing to him. Please… if not for him," Eva said, looking down. "Do it for me."
This seemed to pull Storm out of her trance.
"I know what has happened to him in his life, and he had finally found a place where he could be content… happy. Please… give him a chance," Eva begged, feeling tears.
Storm stared back at her, completely surprised. "I would never… could never just leave someone in a place like this… if it is what you say it is. No matter the differences between us. Of course I will help."
Eva's relief was palpable. She sighed, her shoulders slumping in gratitude. "Thank you. Thank you so much."
Storm merely smiled, and pocketed the piece of paper with the coordinates. "I'm afraid we won't be able to leave until morning. I know it will be difficult, but you can try to get some sleep. We always have empty rooms. And considering it's summer, quite a few kids have gone back to see their parents. Tracy, you know of one they could stay in, right?"
"Of course," Tracy said, turning to lead them out the door.
"It's nice to see you back here, Wanda," Storm said sweetly, and Wanda turned to look at her.
Eva could see Wanda grinding her teeth, but she tried to smile. "Yeah… I guess it's kind of nice to be here," she said in an attempt to be polite. Eva couldn't tell if she actually meant it though. She made a mental note to find out what happened between her and the people of Xavier's at a later date.
Tracy led them to an empty room at the end of a hallway. It was small, but cozy.
"Thanks," Eva said to Tracy, and the blonde merely attempted to smile, but failed.
Eva sighed, watching her. "We're going to get them out," she said, trying to comfort her.
Tracy half smiled. "Yeah," she said, looking down at her nails. "If they hurt him, I swear to God…"
Wanda smiled. "Oh trust me…" she began. "If they even lay a finger on any one of them… I'll hold, you shoot."
Tracy smiled. "Thanks Wanda. You know it would kind of be nice to have you around here. The guys too."
"Thanks but… no thanks. I like where I am now. I think the guys like it too. But if we ever feel lost… this place would be our first choice," Wanda said, and again Eva couldn't tell if she actually meant it.
"Well…" Tracy said, obviously changing the subject. "We'll come and get you in the morning. They'll get the team together, and we'll get going."
Both girls nodded as Tracy shuffled from the room, head bowed.
"I'm not gunna be able to sleep," Eva said, looking around the room.
"Me neither," Wanda replied, plopping down on one of the beds.
* * *
John could only tell how much time had passed by the fact that the sun was now pouring into the room through the small, barred window. His wrists were starting to bruise from the heavy chains, but that wasn't what was bothering him.
He had hoped that when he woke up, the numbers plaguing his arm would end up being a bad dream. It wasn't. Those seven numbers stared up at him as if to mock the fact that he was helpless, stuck here like some powerless human.
Not to mention, every time the guards came in, he ended up beaten like a dog. And he would always end up in a corner, cowering with his metaphorical tail tucked. He hated it. Humiliation, degradation, pain. He was sick of it. He knew escape on his own was impossible. But if and when he did get out, he was going to char the shit out of every single one of these fuckers.
But he started to wonder… what if? What if Eva and Wanda couldn't get them out? What if he was stuck here? His mind started to wander to all the things he wanted to do with his life that hadn't been completed yet. He'd wanted to be free to use his power as he wished, and during his time with Magneto, he'd done that. But what about everything else? He was a prodigy in school, what if he'd eventually gotten a successful job? It was a far off dream, but what if he'd had a family? What if someone could have loved him? He'd never really known that feeling.
And possibly having a son. Or even a daughter. He or she might end up being a mutant, and he could teach them all there was to know. He could have been needed, wanted. More things he had really never experienced.
He tried to push such desperate thoughts from his mind, but he just couldn't shake them. He'd been restless and reckless his entire life, up until now. He just couldn't shake the feeling that… he'd done it all wrong.
* * *
"Sir!" Commander Trask called, running toward him down the aisle.
Mitchell Davis was not in the mood. Not only was Robert Trask a military man, but he was gruff, vulgar, and violent. Davis supposed he needed a man like that at a place like his Island, but he still didn't care very much for the man.
Davis had worked hard for this place, this Island, and he was proud of the way it was run. Quick, efficient, inescapable. It was his own little sanctuary. A place where he could go when he felt that repetitive hatred for mutants welling up inside him. And he was ecstatic the entire place belonged to him.
"Mr. Davis, sir!" Trask called again, and Davis figured he couldn't pretend to be deaf forever. He turned slowly, not making any effort to wipe the displeasure from his face.
"What is it, Commander?" he asked, not interested in the slightest.
"Well, sir…" the Commander stuttered, seeming almost afraid.
"Spit it out, man!" Davis ordered.
"One of the prisoners has escaped, sir," Trask said, wincing already.
"WHAT!" Davis practically screamed. "How!"
"Apparently he got out of his chains and knocked out the guard that came to give him his morning meal. Nobody saw him after that."
"I employ hundreds of guards at this facility, how in hell did no one see him?" Davis growled.
"I don't know, sir. I've questioned nearly every single guard, none of them report anything out of the ordinary," Trask said.
"Who was it? What was his ability? Was he on the represent serum?" he asked, proud of the drug they had concocted to hinder a mutant's ability to use their power.
"Donovan Steynburg, sir," Trask said, handing Davis the boy's file.
Davis flipped it open and read the boy's stats.
"The boy gets glimpses of the future, so we saw no reason to drug him," Trask said. "His ability didn't appear to cause any threat.
"Is it a threat now, Trask!" Davis snarled, shutting the folder. "Get every available man to search for him. We're on an island, for God's sake. He's either somewhere here or in the water. Find him!"
"Yes sir."
