A/N: Ack. Sorry about the hiatus. I wasn't sure how to finish it, but I knew I had to get it done. So after tons of planning, I've thrown everything out the window, sat down at my computer, and just type. I'm not going to revise it, change it, or edit it. (Will spell check tho'! My spelling is reeeaaallly bad.)
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Todd's POV
Here we are. Still. In the silence of this dark cave we reside, fear overpowering us. I am afraid of what is out there, and if not Magneto, then it is fear of what I will find of the others. If anything...
During the battle, everything was spur-of-the-moment. My memory of it is just a blur, like how a nightmare seems after dawn comes. My mind wished to forget it, think it nothing but a nightmare in night, but when I look at the others, I realize that I will never forget.
I am alive, though with no honor. I am coward, a spineless deserter. I ran. I could not fight. Who was I to clash with a mutant so powerful that even the mighty Professor X is afraid of him? The whole world will soon know his wrath like I have. And I am to blame.
Though, in my cowardice I managed to save three lives. Amara, Roberto, and Ray were at the mercy of Colossus. They were tired, weak, and resigned to their fate. I had seen too much death in my life-- I could not allow three more. I rushed Colossus, blinding him with slime, and barely managing to stay a step ahead. My agility has no match, but even I could not escape unharmed.
Colossus managed a hard blow to me, knocking me for a loop. I still managed to keep a step ahead, tripping him with my tongue. He cracked his head on a rock and fell unconscious. It was then I helped the others away, and eventually to this cave. They are alive, but Ray and Roberto have serious damage. I fear for their lives.
Amara is better, and can move around, but is still in pain. Sprained ribs and serious cuts plague her. She is slowly dying, and it is my own fear of the outside that kills her. I want to go for help but who can help? In a world of genocide of mutants, where are the brave souls that will save us?
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Wanda's POV
They came for us! Pietro had done it! In my pain I was only half-awake, but I heard them coming, and was first to see the miracle! Thanks to my brother, I am alive at this moment. He is mine and the others savior. But even in my joy I know that this is not the end. There is still far to go for all of us, and I can only hope.
When I was being stretchered into the ambulance, Pietro was by my side instantly. He looked worn, ragged, and in as much pain as I, but he only asked about me. He cared nothing for himself, only for me. In that moment we were truly brother and sister, bound by blood, friendship, pain, and love.
And now, as I look over to him in our shared room, I cry silently. For I am about to lose him forever.
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Todd's POV
Amara comes to me now, standing with me at the cave's mouth. The sky is dark with clouds of rain and storm, and it matches what I feel inside. There is nothing but fear and pain in me now, hope but a flicker fading away.
"Todd?" She asks. I am still not fully used to hearing my name. I have been called either 'Tolensky!' or the 'Toad' for too long. It is nice to hear my name again, but this simple pleasure does not even scratch the surface of me. "Todd?"
"Hmmm?" I answer, knowing no words could respond.
"What is it that you fear so much?" She asked. The question hit me hard, as hard as Colossus's blow. I could not find a single sound to answer, and so letting the silence do it instead. "Is it Magneto?"
I slowly shook my head. I was scared of him, but it wasn't he I was worried about. Death by his hand will be more than appropriate.
"Is it the fate the others?" She asked, her voice a soft whisper. She already knew the answer. I said nothing, confirming her knowledge. "We all fear for them. I am not even sure I want to know the truth. But I cannot go on unless I do. And there is no going back."
"You don't understand." I told her. "You couldn't."
"Then explain it to me."
"I am the reason for all this." I let my mind take me back, far back into my dreary life. "I was the first Brotherhood member, did you know that?" She shook her head. "It's true. I wondered at the time what could Magneto possibly see in me? Even Mystique disagreed, but he held firm in his decision. I thought it was because of his madness he couldn't truly see what I was."
"And what were you?" She asked, almost challenging me. I was in no mood for a fight, so I didn't bait.
"Then, before he brought Rogue and Lance to the picture, he told me something. I didn't understand, but I didn't argue." I paused and looked at her. "He told me never to fight them. When asked who he meant, he told me everyone. Always back down and give in. And I didn't argue. So I did what I had done all of my life. I gave in."
"I still don't understand. What's this have to do with anything?" Amara asked, frustrated. She held her ribs in pain, but didn't complain.
"It has to do with everything! With me never fighting he had more power than anyone could ever have dreamed of!" I snapped at her. I regretted it instantly, and returned to my former soft tone. "He wasn't mad by choosing me. He was a genius."
Amara looked at me, a look of confusion and anger. I was tempted to bite my tongue and walk away, but I was tired of walking away. I was tired of being afraid, even though at the very moment I was more afraid then ever before. It was my time now.
"I am more that what I seem." I told her. "I have more power than you or any of the others could ever imagine. I was always just too damn scared to use it! It's the same power that every living thing has in them, but can never control. Until now. I can control it. And in doing so, and I can be as powerful as Magneto is and even more."
"And this power?" She said, her voice barely audibly.
"Hope." I told her. "With faith in life nothing is impossible. To have hope and faith is to hold the world in your hand. To control the universe, for nothing is more powerful. That is why it was left in Pandora's box. That is why Magneto chose me. For he knew I could defeat him."
"Then why haven't you?" She was no longer angry or confused, but now was sad. The look of pure sadness on her face almost tore me in two. It was I that now was angry and confused.
"All my life I was put down. Left in the gutter as child, forgotten. I was forsaken by everyone. I was beaten bloody, left for dead. I was the worthless coward that couldn't even have the mercy of dying. Magneto saw this and reminded me of it everyday, so it would control me. And I let him. Guilt is one of the hardest emotions to overcome. And even now I'm not sure I can."
"It's not the guilt that makes you doubt yourself, it's the fear. It was always fear. And by fearing him, that was the thing letting him control you. Even now you are his pawn, and in the end his weapon. But he can't control all of you. He can poison your mind but not your heart and soul. It was you who risked your life saving us!" Her voice was now loud and firm.
"And it is I who is know killing you because I am nothing more than the coward I have always been!" I was shouting now. I heard Ray and Roberto stir in their uneasy rest, brought on by pain. I lowered my voice, but did not change my tone. "You cannot ask of me what you know I can't do."
"Yes, I know. That is why I am asking. Because I know you can. You just have to know it yourself." She went back inside the cave, leaving me with her words.
What I know is that I can't defeat him. To face my fear I have to first face myself, and a man's greatest enemy is himself. And I can't face my guilt, my pain, my life. How dare she ask it of me? How dare she!
But I see the truth now. Amara is right. I can do it, it's that I am afraid of what I might happen that is holding me back. But I now I have nothing to lose, for if I don't try they will die.
And so will I.
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Wanda's POV
Pietro is dying. On the way to the hospital I fell asleep, falsely assured that everything would be alright. It was during then that he collapsed. His heart gave out. He's now in a coma, and it's all my fault. There's a machine breathing for him. The doctor comes and checks on him every hour but there's no change. I can tell by the sad look on his face. I know he's dying. And I can't do anything about it.
It's like I no sooner had him and now I'm losing him. Please God, don't let him die like this! Don't let any of them die like this! I am sorry for all of the pain and agony I have caused! Punish me and not them! Dear God forgive me! With these words I cry out unto the Heavens and the Earth, please don't let him die!
---------------------------
Todd's POV
Here we are. Still. In the silence of this dark cave we reside, fear overpowering us. I am afraid of what is out there, and if not Magneto, then it is fear of what I will find of the others. If anything...
During the battle, everything was spur-of-the-moment. My memory of it is just a blur, like how a nightmare seems after dawn comes. My mind wished to forget it, think it nothing but a nightmare in night, but when I look at the others, I realize that I will never forget.
I am alive, though with no honor. I am coward, a spineless deserter. I ran. I could not fight. Who was I to clash with a mutant so powerful that even the mighty Professor X is afraid of him? The whole world will soon know his wrath like I have. And I am to blame.
Though, in my cowardice I managed to save three lives. Amara, Roberto, and Ray were at the mercy of Colossus. They were tired, weak, and resigned to their fate. I had seen too much death in my life-- I could not allow three more. I rushed Colossus, blinding him with slime, and barely managing to stay a step ahead. My agility has no match, but even I could not escape unharmed.
Colossus managed a hard blow to me, knocking me for a loop. I still managed to keep a step ahead, tripping him with my tongue. He cracked his head on a rock and fell unconscious. It was then I helped the others away, and eventually to this cave. They are alive, but Ray and Roberto have serious damage. I fear for their lives.
Amara is better, and can move around, but is still in pain. Sprained ribs and serious cuts plague her. She is slowly dying, and it is my own fear of the outside that kills her. I want to go for help but who can help? In a world of genocide of mutants, where are the brave souls that will save us?
--------------------
Wanda's POV
They came for us! Pietro had done it! In my pain I was only half-awake, but I heard them coming, and was first to see the miracle! Thanks to my brother, I am alive at this moment. He is mine and the others savior. But even in my joy I know that this is not the end. There is still far to go for all of us, and I can only hope.
When I was being stretchered into the ambulance, Pietro was by my side instantly. He looked worn, ragged, and in as much pain as I, but he only asked about me. He cared nothing for himself, only for me. In that moment we were truly brother and sister, bound by blood, friendship, pain, and love.
And now, as I look over to him in our shared room, I cry silently. For I am about to lose him forever.
--------------------
Todd's POV
Amara comes to me now, standing with me at the cave's mouth. The sky is dark with clouds of rain and storm, and it matches what I feel inside. There is nothing but fear and pain in me now, hope but a flicker fading away.
"Todd?" She asks. I am still not fully used to hearing my name. I have been called either 'Tolensky!' or the 'Toad' for too long. It is nice to hear my name again, but this simple pleasure does not even scratch the surface of me. "Todd?"
"Hmmm?" I answer, knowing no words could respond.
"What is it that you fear so much?" She asked. The question hit me hard, as hard as Colossus's blow. I could not find a single sound to answer, and so letting the silence do it instead. "Is it Magneto?"
I slowly shook my head. I was scared of him, but it wasn't he I was worried about. Death by his hand will be more than appropriate.
"Is it the fate the others?" She asked, her voice a soft whisper. She already knew the answer. I said nothing, confirming her knowledge. "We all fear for them. I am not even sure I want to know the truth. But I cannot go on unless I do. And there is no going back."
"You don't understand." I told her. "You couldn't."
"Then explain it to me."
"I am the reason for all this." I let my mind take me back, far back into my dreary life. "I was the first Brotherhood member, did you know that?" She shook her head. "It's true. I wondered at the time what could Magneto possibly see in me? Even Mystique disagreed, but he held firm in his decision. I thought it was because of his madness he couldn't truly see what I was."
"And what were you?" She asked, almost challenging me. I was in no mood for a fight, so I didn't bait.
"Then, before he brought Rogue and Lance to the picture, he told me something. I didn't understand, but I didn't argue." I paused and looked at her. "He told me never to fight them. When asked who he meant, he told me everyone. Always back down and give in. And I didn't argue. So I did what I had done all of my life. I gave in."
"I still don't understand. What's this have to do with anything?" Amara asked, frustrated. She held her ribs in pain, but didn't complain.
"It has to do with everything! With me never fighting he had more power than anyone could ever have dreamed of!" I snapped at her. I regretted it instantly, and returned to my former soft tone. "He wasn't mad by choosing me. He was a genius."
Amara looked at me, a look of confusion and anger. I was tempted to bite my tongue and walk away, but I was tired of walking away. I was tired of being afraid, even though at the very moment I was more afraid then ever before. It was my time now.
"I am more that what I seem." I told her. "I have more power than you or any of the others could ever imagine. I was always just too damn scared to use it! It's the same power that every living thing has in them, but can never control. Until now. I can control it. And in doing so, and I can be as powerful as Magneto is and even more."
"And this power?" She said, her voice barely audibly.
"Hope." I told her. "With faith in life nothing is impossible. To have hope and faith is to hold the world in your hand. To control the universe, for nothing is more powerful. That is why it was left in Pandora's box. That is why Magneto chose me. For he knew I could defeat him."
"Then why haven't you?" She was no longer angry or confused, but now was sad. The look of pure sadness on her face almost tore me in two. It was I that now was angry and confused.
"All my life I was put down. Left in the gutter as child, forgotten. I was forsaken by everyone. I was beaten bloody, left for dead. I was the worthless coward that couldn't even have the mercy of dying. Magneto saw this and reminded me of it everyday, so it would control me. And I let him. Guilt is one of the hardest emotions to overcome. And even now I'm not sure I can."
"It's not the guilt that makes you doubt yourself, it's the fear. It was always fear. And by fearing him, that was the thing letting him control you. Even now you are his pawn, and in the end his weapon. But he can't control all of you. He can poison your mind but not your heart and soul. It was you who risked your life saving us!" Her voice was now loud and firm.
"And it is I who is know killing you because I am nothing more than the coward I have always been!" I was shouting now. I heard Ray and Roberto stir in their uneasy rest, brought on by pain. I lowered my voice, but did not change my tone. "You cannot ask of me what you know I can't do."
"Yes, I know. That is why I am asking. Because I know you can. You just have to know it yourself." She went back inside the cave, leaving me with her words.
What I know is that I can't defeat him. To face my fear I have to first face myself, and a man's greatest enemy is himself. And I can't face my guilt, my pain, my life. How dare she ask it of me? How dare she!
But I see the truth now. Amara is right. I can do it, it's that I am afraid of what I might happen that is holding me back. But I now I have nothing to lose, for if I don't try they will die.
And so will I.
-------------------
Wanda's POV
Pietro is dying. On the way to the hospital I fell asleep, falsely assured that everything would be alright. It was during then that he collapsed. His heart gave out. He's now in a coma, and it's all my fault. There's a machine breathing for him. The doctor comes and checks on him every hour but there's no change. I can tell by the sad look on his face. I know he's dying. And I can't do anything about it.
It's like I no sooner had him and now I'm losing him. Please God, don't let him die like this! Don't let any of them die like this! I am sorry for all of the pain and agony I have caused! Punish me and not them! Dear God forgive me! With these words I cry out unto the Heavens and the Earth, please don't let him die!
