Chapter 17

"Gargoyle, on your back!"

Nami's warning came just in time as Adelina dodged a sneak attack that would've taken her down. Phobos's ugly jagged blade nearly severed her wing. The demon mutant from the future snarled as he adjusted his attack, swinging the blade wildly as she leaped back quickly. Nami was somewhere off to the side, trying to slice him open with her sharp and quickly moving spouts of water. Her brow was set in a furrow of anger, one that showed how determined that she was to rid the world of this evil monster.

Adelina just wanted to know why she was always the bait.

It had only been a few weeks since the revelation of the demon mutant's presence in the past had happened and all hell had broken loose. A panic had spread throughout the city like a plague as citizens fell. Poisoned by Phobos's deadly toxin that the mutant created, many had perished since these doctors didn't have the ability or knowledge to help them. Neither did Nami or Adelina, but they were going to try to take Phoenix's personal assassin down.

Flapping her wings hard, the young girl fled Phobos, something in the distance catching her eye. She smiled softly in triumph, catching sight of the puffs of sulfuric smoke that meant Nightcrawler was here. While Nami may not appreciate it, backup had arrived.

She dove head first to cut-off Phobos so the ruthless assassin couldn't escape. Nami had iced the rooftops they were standing on, raising her arms upward created a box of ice that entrapped her friend. Suddenly, there was a puff of smoke that erupted from the top of the frozen prison. Adelina's heart stopped in fear.

"No…."

She knew that smoke.

"No….this-"

She knew what it entailed.

"NAMI!"

Damned of the consequences, Adelina dove head first into the smoke. The noxious odors filled and burned her lungs as she struggled for air. Everything was forgotten as she lost her way, her direction was thrown off as she struggled to stay up.

Finally, her lungs burning, she dropped like a stone.

She hit the rooftop; what little air was left in her lungs leaving her as she lay in shock. The girl turned her head, the only movement that she had the energy to do, and saw the assassin loom over an unconscious Nami, dagger in hand and ready for the final strike. Then, there was a blast of pinkish-red light that cut through the smoke. It grazed Phobos's shoulder, eliciting a pained scream from him. He dropped the dagger he was going to use to end her friend's life. Adelina's ragged breath turned into a haggard cough, her eyes growing heavy as the X-Men gathered around them.

"Don't….reath…'" she gasped out. Nightcrawler turned towards her as he passed, his eyes going wide in worry. His mouth moved but nothing was heard through the darkening of her vision and very loud pounding of her heart in hear ears. Adelina stayed conscious long enough to feel herself being picked up and carried somewhere before the darkness overtook her vision and not-so-sweet unconsciousness dragged her downward.