Magneto approached us. An evil grin spread across his face. I watched him and tried to control my anger. He stopped in front of us. By the look he had on his face, he was enjoying his authority over us, me in particular. I sighed silently.
"Arms out," Magneto ordered sharply. We all raised our hands toward him, except Alex who was having too much trouble holding up his casted arm in his injured state. Magneto smirked and pulled five clamps out of nowhere. Fear ran through me. It shouldn't have though. I knew it was coming. Magneto put one on each of Jean and Rogue's wrists. Then he slid the last one onto Alex's castless one.
"Hope I don't have to use this on you, Havoc," Magneto whispered to him. "I'm pretty sure it'll hurt like hell if I jerk you around by one arm." I fumed, but knew that he was right. I kept my arms extended as he came toward me. "Cyclops, it's come down to you."
My determined demeanor never fell. I forced myself to smile a bit. He kept his eyes on me but reached one hand behind him and pulled out two slightly larger clamps. He latched them onto me with his power. I was surprised to find that they weren't any heavier than the others.
Magneto took a step away from me. "Well, Cyclops, you get the ones that don't come off without magnetism and you get a tracking device, just in case you decide to try something stupid. This way I can find you and inflict quite a lot of pain."
I swallowed roughly.
"Now all of you go to bed." We rose to our feet. I was Alex's side instantly. He looked a whole lot better than he had fifteen minutes earlier.
"Scott," he addressed me, barely above a whisper, "you promised me that we'd sleep on your floor the day you got out of the infirmary. . . for old time's sake."
I'd completely forgotten about that promise. "Yes, I did and so we will."
I walked up to Magneto. It was a bold move, but I'd made a simple promise to Alex that I wasn't about to break. Alex stayed behind me, but approached Magneto as well. I looked Magneto in the eyes. "Alex is staying in my room tonight." I wasn't a request or an order, just a statement.
Magneto looked from me to Alex and back to me. He slowly nodded. "OK." I started to leave, but Magneto stopped me. "That these, Cyclops." He gave me two miniature syringes with some sort of liquid in them. He answered my silent question with, "They're painkillers and if I know you like I think I do, you and Havoc will need them if you're going to survive the next few days."
"What'll happen then?" I asked, taking the syringes.
"You'll see," he growled. "Now get to bed!"
I turned and left the room. Alex stayed at my side and the girls had already left. Alex and I hurried to my room. Once there, we quickly set out two pillows and two blankets. Then I gave us the painkillers, figuring we had nothing to lose by taking them. Alex didn't even flinch as the needle pierced the skin of his arm.
After a few minutes, Alex broke the silence, "Scott?"
"Yeah, Alex?"
"What were you trying to do earlier?" Alex rolled over so he was facing me. "Why were you trying to keep Evan from going out with the others?"
"Besides his anger right now, I knew you trusted him," I replied. "I figured you'd want someone you can trust if we get separated for the next few days. I doubt Magneto will allow us to stay together the whole time."
Alex sighed.
"Do you remember when we used to do these slumbers as kids?" I asked trying to lighten the subject, but the only reply I got was Alex's light snoring. "You always fell asleep first. . ."
I smiled to myself and pulled the blanket up to my shoulders. Jean, where's Logan?
He's going to hide out in the rec room tonight and probably leave in the morning.
I hope his snoring doesn't attract any attention. I mused. Goodnight, Jean. Stay strong. I love you.
I love you too, baby.
Then I fell asleep.
I awoke slowly the next morning. I silently groaned as I realized that my limbs weighed a ton each. I fought to lift my head. I was still in my room and Alex was sound asleep beside me. I realized that I'd been drugged rather heavily. I set my head back down and sighed angrily. When had they managed to get to us? I glanced at the clock. It was 11:30 in the morning. I had to have been given a whole lot of drugs to be out that long and still be this sore. Alex stirred next to me. I looked over at him as his eyelids fluttered and he opened his eyes.
Alex moaned aloud, "Ow."
I smiled, "We've been drugged." My voice cracked from lack of water. I was parched. I struggled to sit up and get to the glass of water on my nightstand. I paused a moment before taking a drink. My strength came back slowly. I gave the glass to Alex, who'd given up on trying to sit up. He downed the water in one gulp but didn't get up. We stayed still for a moment.
Good morning, sleepyhead. Jean seemed to be in a better condition than either of us were. How are the invincible Summers boys holding up on this lovely first day of Spring Break?
You sound all right. I returned, helping Alex into a sitting position.
None of the rest of us were drugged as much as you two were.
You were drugged too?
All of us were, even the new recruits. No one knows when it happened, but you two were struck the worse. We've all been up for hours, but Magneto's been waiting for you to get up before he'll let us out of our rooms.
As if on cue, the door to my room flew open before shutting again. I knew that it was Pietro, so I knew that Magneto would be informed of our awakening in only a matter of seconds. I slowly climbed to my feet, steadying myself with the bed. Alex stretched out all the muscles in his arms and legs.
"Good morning, mutants," Magneto boomed. I glanced up at the source of his voice: the PA system. It was so rarely used with the professor's telepathy that I often forgot it was there. "All former X-men will report to the dining room for lunch. Cyclops, report to my office now. That is all."
Click. I pulled Alex to his feet. My strength was now up to its highest for someone in my state of injury. I could tell that his strength was pretty back to normal too. We left the room and headed toward the dining room.
"Scott, you'd better go see Magneto," Alex advised. "I want you to come back in one piece and I'll bet Jean does too."
I laughed. Alex had spark back. Jean stood at the corner up ahead waiting for us. As we reached her, she kissed me on the forehead. While she was close, I asked quietly, "What are our chances of survival?"
"I'm not sure," she whispered back. "Logan left about an hour ago. Magneto has shut off his shield, so he's going to stay nearby in case we need any help."
"I'm going to go see Magneto now," I said in my normal voice so that Alex could hear. "I'm guessing he's taken over the professor's office."
Jean nodded; Alex smiled mischievously.
"Jean," I said taking a step away from her. "Take care of the kids for me, especially Rogue and a certain reckless blond."
"Hey!" Alex interjected.
I laughed, "Just stay out of trouble, kiddo."
"You too," Jean and Alex returned in unison. I headed off to the professor's office. I quickened my steps because I knew I'd wasted a bit of time with Jean and Magneto wanted me soon. I reached the professor's door and knocked. Suddenly the door came open and I felt myself being pulled magnetically into the room. My fear level went up, but I didn't fight. As I came into the room, I saw Magneto sitting behind the large desk. An amused smirk stayed on his lips.
"Have a seat," he ordered, flipping me toward a chair. I sat down slowly, not willing to let my guard down. Magneto rose and came behind me. I tensed involuntarily as I heard him moving around. "Relax."
I tried to relax somewhat. Magnetism against the clamps pulled my arms behind me. Then I felt a rope tightening around my wrists. I panicked and jerked forward. The rope stopped me, but I still struggled. Magneto rounded in front of me and used his power against my stomach. I stopped and doubled over in pain.
"It causes quite a lot of pain to have blood pulled away from a vital organ, doesn't it?" He smirked at my agony. Then he stopped. I kept my head down and tried to catch my breath. Magneto patted me on the head. "Maybe next time you'll cooperate."
TBC
