Here it is: the FINAL chapter! Please read and enjoy.



Out of the Shadows- End of the Road


Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

- The Beatitudes
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(X-mansion, a week later)

Remy LeBeau walked listlessly amongst the graves, idly running his gloved fingers over the smooth marble headstones. Piotr. Kylie. Warren. Sam. Jubilee. A week ago, all these people were alive. Now, because of the betrayal of fellow students, they rested in the ground beneath Remy's boots.

As Remy passed Kitty's grave, he stopped. Her headstone had only her name on it; the students hadn't even wanted her body there. Drowning in his anger and grief, Remy spit on the marker. "You were a regular Jewish Hitler." He hissed in contempt. Remy turned and noticed Mortimer walking up behind him.

"Bonjour, mon ami." He said softly. Mortimer merely stared at the ground. Remy walked over and placed a hand on his friend's arm. He knew Mortimer felt guilty about all that had happened. He slid his arm around his friend's narrow shoulders and pulled him close for a moment.

The two friends walked away, each comforted by the other's silence.
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Rogue leaned up against Logan, resting her head on his shoulder. She felt him tense for a moment, and then he put his arm around her. She sighed as silent tears ran down her face.

Her friends were dead.

Killed by the same prejudice that had haunted them their whole lives. Only this time, it was between themselves. For the first time, Rogue understood what the Civil War soldiers had talked about. About how saddening it was to see a man kill his brother because of what he believed in.

Logan tightened his grip around her and kissed the top of her head.

"It's over, darlin'. It's over."
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Scott lay in bed, thinking. Jean was curled up next to him, asleep. He pulled her closer to him instinctively.

Even after a week, it was still too much to comprehend. Scott had believed that the students knew how evil prejudice was. And yet, one of their own had turned hate at them and destroyed people in the process. Scott sighed and closed his eyes, saying a silent prayer.

Hold me, O' Lord, as I face my greatest trial. And guide me, through any evil that may pass.

Amen.
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Logan sat quietly on the roof, gazing at the stars. Without even turning around, he said, "Come on over Mortimer." He watched as the young man crept over and sat down next to him. A few moments later, he heard the kid whisper, "Wow." He looked over at him questioningly.

Mortimer bit his bottom lip. "I've never seen the stars so bright before." Logan nodded slightly, a small smile of agreement on his face. The kid took a deep breath and looked Logan in the eye. "Are you okay?" Logan knew he was referring to what Lorna had done to him.

He nodded again. "Yeah, kid, I'm fine." He noticed Mortimer was looking a little tired. "How 'bought you? You okay?" Mortimer gave a tiny nod. He slumped his shoulders and looked away. "Cor. I can't stand this. I feel so...guilty. If I had never came, then this wouldn't have happened." Logan shook his head. "You can't stop evil from coming, kid." He sighed.

"None of us can."
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Ororo sat amongst her plants, breathing in the scent of their life. At the thought of life, a sharp pang struck her heart. There were now so many without it. Children. Dead. And there was nothing she could do.

Ororo stood and walked over to the window. The sky above reflected her mood. Cloudy and gray. She rested her forehead against the cool glass, remembering a song she had heard as a child.

Rain, rain, go away. Come again some other day.
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Professor Xavier sat alone in his study, reflecting on the past few days. He looked away from the book he had been writing in. Sighing, he put his head in his hands.

He had been such a fool. He should have seen this coming. But, being the blind dolt he was, he hadn't. And because of him, there were 13 new graves behind the school.

Sighing once again, Xavier returned his attention to his book. And closed his eyes as soon as he read the first line.

And there shall be a great cry in all the land...

"How right you are.' He thought, "How right you are."
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John stood outside, shooting hoops. It was dark outside and he could barely tell whether or not the ball went in. A memory suddenly crossed his mind of Bobby, Piotr, and him playing basketball together. Tears came to his eyes as he remembered and he flung the ball as far away as he could.

He crumbled to the ground, sobbing.
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(The next day)

Mortimer crouched quietly next to the cold lake. The light breeze blew his hair back and caused small ripples to originate in the water. So much had happened. Bad and good. He had found friendship and trust, and witnessed death and betrayal.

He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. Even through the horror of the past week, what with the prejudice and hatred, Mortimer had found a feeling he hadn't known existed. He felt, for the first time, that he belonged.

Standing, Mortimer turned and started to walked back to the mansion. For the first time in his life, he had a place to go to.

'And nothing and no one,' he said silently, 'can ever take that away.'
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END

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There you have it. The end. I want to thank everyone who read and reviewed Out of the Shadows. Thank you for your input.

Cera