Walking down the small hallway of the women's barracks, Marie couldn't help
but look around some. The walls were so close, she could reach out on
either side and touch them. Just thinking about it made the cold shiver she
knew she'd feel run through her. The walls just seemed to drip with death,
and were empty, except for herself and the three soldiers there to escourt
her. They seemed old, too, almost ready to collapse.
Entering the room that was to be their destination, she was shoved rather roughly toward a seat. She caught her footing rather quickly, surprising even herself, and kicked the chair away in defiance. A hand was raised to punish her act, when the tall man in the corner raised his own to hault it. Marie looked over at him through the strands of hair that had at some point fallen over her eyes. She remembered this man. He'd already hurt her once since she arrived here. It was the same man that held her down and forced another mutants powers into her.
She looked away at the thought, balling her hands into fists when she heard him chuckle. He'd laughed like that once before. Three weeks after she'd arrived. Every day they brought her here, removed the collar, then attempted to make her absorb another mutant's power. It didn't take long for her to know they wanted her to absorb as much as possible, for it would make her a useful tool in this war. And at that moment, remembering what Logan had said about the war ending soon, they were desperate for it. But she'd resisted at first. Her mental control was powerful then, as well as her stubborness. Still, after weeks without hardly any food, water, or any human contact outside of the three other women in her cell, she was being worn down. Her thoughts were scattered...some focused on the hospital and Logan, others thinking of life back home, leaving only a shred left for her to keep their attacks at bay. In the end, they'd succeeded. She'd pulled the woman's life and powers into her, pulling herself into a never ending nightmare and battle with her own mind. She was, of course, rewarded for "accepting" the powers with her first real meal in three weeks. She knew they were trying to get her to trust them. By being nice, offering her things that were kept from the others, they were trying to make friends. An 'I help you, you help me' situation. What's worse...she'd accepted it. She took the plate of food, knowing full well that there were thousands of others just like herself starving just outside those walls, and she ate every last bit.
Later that night though, she'd regretted it. She sank into a depression so deep she nearly lost herself to it. Curled up against the wall, she'd stayed there, shaking, whimpering, all but giving in. She would have stopped trying all together, had the psyche inside her not told her to keep fighting. She remembered the woman she'd absorbed. Tall, blonde, probably very pretty before all this had happened to her. Now she was barely a pile of bones. Her eyes...those were the worst. Filled with agony, fear, defeat. Marie remembered the letter from Logan. "You never look into their eyes, darlin'..." But she had. And she hated herself for it, because no matter how much pain she was feeling, she took upon herself that person's pain as well.
Giving in would have meant allowing the Germans to use her to hurt even more innocent people. Clinging to that thought, and that thought only, she'd survived the last month. She was able, presently, to stand straight as the tall man approached her, graciously picking up the chair and pushing down upon her shoulders until she sat. He was gentle, of course. He wasn't stupid enough to be harsh with her, as the others were.
Suddenly, the usually routine situation changed. He waved his hand, and the other soldiers left, leaving the two of them alone. Her collar had already been removed, but she made no move to escape. She was intrigued, because he was up to something, and she wasn't going to leave until she knew what it was. "You're a bright girl. So I believe the two of us can have a very sensible conversation, and reach a logical, fair, agreement." Raising an eyebrow slightly, her eyes followed his movements, as he took up a chair and sat across the table from her. His English was atrosious, the German accent so thick she could hardly distinguish his words. Still, it was easier than having to understand his German. "You're hesitant to join us. Why is that?" The question was ridiculous!
"Considerin' you are mah enemy..." She frowned, surprised at the changes her voice had gone through. It was rough, deeper, and barely audible. They didn't dare talk in the cells...not until they were sure any and every guard was out of sight. Even then they were cautious. Lately, however, the three women she was with had grown too weak to move, let alone speak. Her heart went out to them, seeing their suffering. They'd been there far longer than herself, though she knew their pain would be over soon. She'd tried tohelp them before, but her medical training could not combat the decay and starvation already setting in.
"Now, what makes us your enemy? The fact that our country is fighting your country? That does not mean you and I must be at odds."
"Helpin' you, is like helpin' Germany."
"You think on such a high level, Marie." Her eyes snapped up from the spot on the table she'd been staring at. Of course he'd know her name. They had detailed records on each and every one of them. She forced herself to calm down. Her breathing had become erractic, due to the anger that was growing inside of her. With the anger came the surge of power...not only her own, but the woman's she'd taken into her. "Helping me is like helping yourself."
"Ah'm not that selfish. Ah won't hurt people that have already suffered so much, just to keep myself out of it." He nodded briefly, running his eyes over her. His lips were pursed slightly in thought, his hands folded together on the table. He did not seem concerned, nor impatient by her lack of enthusiasm to help him. In fact, much to Marie's surprise, he looked almost pleased that she was resisting.
"No...I suppose you don't have much reason to betray your...friends. Not yet anyway. Contrary to your belief, Ms.Marie, we have been careful with you. We've not harmed you to a point, yet, where you could not recover. But I fear, if you continue this resistance, we may have to." Standing to his feet, he took his cane and knocked twice on the door to his left. The three soldiers from earlier returned, and re-fascined the collar to her neck. She stood erect, only her eyes following the man as he left the room. He uttered something in German, something she didn't hear, and didn't need to hear. She was taken from the room and moved to another empty room.
When the door shut behind her, and she was pushed into the center of the room, she knew precisely what was going to happen to her. And she was ready for it. She much prefered being beaten to being conned and persuaded. In such a condition as this, it was easier to handle the pain than it was to handle all the emotions you were feeling. There'd be times, later that evening perhaps, where she'd reconsider his offer, as she lay bloody and broken. But she'd be alone then, away from him, breaking down when no one could see. And somehow, by morning, she'd be able to compose herself, and once again refuse any "deal" he may suggest. And if there came a day when she awoke and still wished to agree to his plea bargain, then God help the soul who tried to stand in the way of her taking her own life. Because she'd rather rot in Hell than betray the people in the same nightmare as herself.
Entering the room that was to be their destination, she was shoved rather roughly toward a seat. She caught her footing rather quickly, surprising even herself, and kicked the chair away in defiance. A hand was raised to punish her act, when the tall man in the corner raised his own to hault it. Marie looked over at him through the strands of hair that had at some point fallen over her eyes. She remembered this man. He'd already hurt her once since she arrived here. It was the same man that held her down and forced another mutants powers into her.
She looked away at the thought, balling her hands into fists when she heard him chuckle. He'd laughed like that once before. Three weeks after she'd arrived. Every day they brought her here, removed the collar, then attempted to make her absorb another mutant's power. It didn't take long for her to know they wanted her to absorb as much as possible, for it would make her a useful tool in this war. And at that moment, remembering what Logan had said about the war ending soon, they were desperate for it. But she'd resisted at first. Her mental control was powerful then, as well as her stubborness. Still, after weeks without hardly any food, water, or any human contact outside of the three other women in her cell, she was being worn down. Her thoughts were scattered...some focused on the hospital and Logan, others thinking of life back home, leaving only a shred left for her to keep their attacks at bay. In the end, they'd succeeded. She'd pulled the woman's life and powers into her, pulling herself into a never ending nightmare and battle with her own mind. She was, of course, rewarded for "accepting" the powers with her first real meal in three weeks. She knew they were trying to get her to trust them. By being nice, offering her things that were kept from the others, they were trying to make friends. An 'I help you, you help me' situation. What's worse...she'd accepted it. She took the plate of food, knowing full well that there were thousands of others just like herself starving just outside those walls, and she ate every last bit.
Later that night though, she'd regretted it. She sank into a depression so deep she nearly lost herself to it. Curled up against the wall, she'd stayed there, shaking, whimpering, all but giving in. She would have stopped trying all together, had the psyche inside her not told her to keep fighting. She remembered the woman she'd absorbed. Tall, blonde, probably very pretty before all this had happened to her. Now she was barely a pile of bones. Her eyes...those were the worst. Filled with agony, fear, defeat. Marie remembered the letter from Logan. "You never look into their eyes, darlin'..." But she had. And she hated herself for it, because no matter how much pain she was feeling, she took upon herself that person's pain as well.
Giving in would have meant allowing the Germans to use her to hurt even more innocent people. Clinging to that thought, and that thought only, she'd survived the last month. She was able, presently, to stand straight as the tall man approached her, graciously picking up the chair and pushing down upon her shoulders until she sat. He was gentle, of course. He wasn't stupid enough to be harsh with her, as the others were.
Suddenly, the usually routine situation changed. He waved his hand, and the other soldiers left, leaving the two of them alone. Her collar had already been removed, but she made no move to escape. She was intrigued, because he was up to something, and she wasn't going to leave until she knew what it was. "You're a bright girl. So I believe the two of us can have a very sensible conversation, and reach a logical, fair, agreement." Raising an eyebrow slightly, her eyes followed his movements, as he took up a chair and sat across the table from her. His English was atrosious, the German accent so thick she could hardly distinguish his words. Still, it was easier than having to understand his German. "You're hesitant to join us. Why is that?" The question was ridiculous!
"Considerin' you are mah enemy..." She frowned, surprised at the changes her voice had gone through. It was rough, deeper, and barely audible. They didn't dare talk in the cells...not until they were sure any and every guard was out of sight. Even then they were cautious. Lately, however, the three women she was with had grown too weak to move, let alone speak. Her heart went out to them, seeing their suffering. They'd been there far longer than herself, though she knew their pain would be over soon. She'd tried tohelp them before, but her medical training could not combat the decay and starvation already setting in.
"Now, what makes us your enemy? The fact that our country is fighting your country? That does not mean you and I must be at odds."
"Helpin' you, is like helpin' Germany."
"You think on such a high level, Marie." Her eyes snapped up from the spot on the table she'd been staring at. Of course he'd know her name. They had detailed records on each and every one of them. She forced herself to calm down. Her breathing had become erractic, due to the anger that was growing inside of her. With the anger came the surge of power...not only her own, but the woman's she'd taken into her. "Helping me is like helping yourself."
"Ah'm not that selfish. Ah won't hurt people that have already suffered so much, just to keep myself out of it." He nodded briefly, running his eyes over her. His lips were pursed slightly in thought, his hands folded together on the table. He did not seem concerned, nor impatient by her lack of enthusiasm to help him. In fact, much to Marie's surprise, he looked almost pleased that she was resisting.
"No...I suppose you don't have much reason to betray your...friends. Not yet anyway. Contrary to your belief, Ms.Marie, we have been careful with you. We've not harmed you to a point, yet, where you could not recover. But I fear, if you continue this resistance, we may have to." Standing to his feet, he took his cane and knocked twice on the door to his left. The three soldiers from earlier returned, and re-fascined the collar to her neck. She stood erect, only her eyes following the man as he left the room. He uttered something in German, something she didn't hear, and didn't need to hear. She was taken from the room and moved to another empty room.
When the door shut behind her, and she was pushed into the center of the room, she knew precisely what was going to happen to her. And she was ready for it. She much prefered being beaten to being conned and persuaded. In such a condition as this, it was easier to handle the pain than it was to handle all the emotions you were feeling. There'd be times, later that evening perhaps, where she'd reconsider his offer, as she lay bloody and broken. But she'd be alone then, away from him, breaking down when no one could see. And somehow, by morning, she'd be able to compose herself, and once again refuse any "deal" he may suggest. And if there came a day when she awoke and still wished to agree to his plea bargain, then God help the soul who tried to stand in the way of her taking her own life. Because she'd rather rot in Hell than betray the people in the same nightmare as herself.
