Part 3, two years later:
Scott stood at the viewpoint and watched yet another man's torture below. This man he knew was called Sunfire. Such pain, such agony. Betsy was right. This was all wrong. This wasn't a dream worth fighting for.
* Scott, he is coming* Betsy said in his mind as she stood behind him, watching over all what was happening. Two years had she been with Summers and during that time her trust and admiration for him had grown. He wasn't like the others. He didn't take pleasure in killing or torturing. When on the battlefield she always followed him and though she believed as little in what she was fighting for as ever, she felt a glimmer of hope for each day that passed. Normally the wounded in a battle would be given to Beast to experiment on and they both knew what agony would await them. Betsy had therefore gladly followed Scott's whispered order to her alone that she should shoot to kill and if it was possible; shoot all the wounded as well. It was a better fate than the agony they'll feel should they be in Beast's hands. Many nights' discussions between Betsy and Scott about rights and wrongs and ethics had resulted in Scott agreeing to Betsy freeing prisoners at his command. They both risked death for their betrayal, but Scott most of all. Still, as Betsy had suspected, when first Summers had found he had committed a wrong he wasn't late in trying to correct it. The blood on his hands, on both their hands, could never be washed away but maybe in time; some kind of amends would be possible.
"You are early," Death, the first and foremost horseman of Apocalypse, said to Scott, totally ignoring Betsy. After all she was 'just' a bodyguard. He had something coming alright, Betsy thought.
" Eh?" Scott was caught off guard, being so consumed with thoughts as he had watched the man's torture below.
"I thought I felt a flicker of…distaste when you looked at this necessary experimentation," Death said, gesturing to Sunfire's torture.
"Hardly. I am as loyal to his high lord as you….Death," Scott lied and Betsy put an telepathic enhanced strength and certainty in his words. Bloody murderer, she thought darkly about Death. I pray the rumour of his rebellion against Apocalypse is true so we can kill him.
"Most men tremble at the approach of the fourth and most infamous horseman, prelate Summers. But…You are different. Let us hope the whispered words that have come to my ears of your wavering loyalties are false."
" Veiled threats mean little to me," Scott said calmly.
* Can I kill him?* Betsy asked in his mind, her knife at the ready. If he really knew something about Scott….They couldn't risk discovery. What they did to help may not be much but it was better than nothing and above all detection meant death; most likely painfully and slow.
* Not yet. Let's look around first* Scott thought back and Betsy nodded, putting her knife away. Damn, she had looked forth to killing him.
TBC
