I.
The darkness swallowed the room like a large mouth, enveloping all that was in it, including the blond woman lying in the bed crying. A muffled sob escaped from where she had her head buried in her pillow. Everything had gone wrong.
II.
I remember when I first decided to rejoin the ranks of the X-Men. After closing the Gifted Youngsters facility, I went to Genosha under the direction of Charles, hoping to continue teaching young mutants. However, when the massacre occurred, I was spared by what Hank calls a second mutation, the crystallizing of my skin. Only because of this did I survive, but I was buried with one of my students, a young girl, for days hoping and waiting for someone to rescue them.
Ironically enough, it was Jean that saved me that time, and it was Jean that saved me from death yet again. This time, instead of being a victim of circumstance, I was deliberately murdered by one of my own students, Esme.
It's funny, I thought I had found protégés in the five young quintuplets. However, soon, after the death of one of their sisters, things started falling apart between us. They blamed me for her death, especially Esme.
Despite all of this, it isn't the murder that bothers me so much as the events that led up to it, including Jean's discovery of my therapy sessions for Scott. But I didn't mean anything by it, I was only trying to help, wasn't I?
No, I know the truth, I can't lie to myself. I was attracted to the tall, brooding leader of the X-Men. It wasn't so much his stoic, heroic schoolboy persona he showed off constantly. No, there was much more to Scott Summers than that, and I wanted to know.
In the beginning, I initially attempted to seduce him to spite Jean...deep down, I hate her. Jean's attack as Dark Phoenix had left me in a coma for months. When I finally recovered, I swore that I would pay her back ten-fold, and what better way than to attack her through the man she loved. Yes, they loved each other, deeply. But, both of them had issues that they were hiding from each other.
Jean and her Phoenix persona, Scott and his broken, cold personality...they both tried to repress them for fear of it running out of control. They hid their fears and insecurities from each other, trying to be the strong one. All they did was drive each other away, which made my attempts that much easier.
However, I never intended to really get to know Scott, how he felt deep inside, his flaws. These things that I stumbled upon were new, rare things to me. They were actually attractive, in some ways. All of the men in my life have always wanted power, to be the strongest. But Scott, he wasn't like that. He was...he was just Scott.
When Jean finally confronted me, I didn't know what to do. Jean hid it, but I knew the damage she could do, the power she wielded. I silently cursed myself for being so brazen and not listening to Hank when he warned me. Jean spared me, which was actually a surprise all things considered, but left me to my own guilt and frustration. Now, Scott had disappeared, leaving me alone...alone when I needed him the most.
But am I just being selfish? What about Jean? Why did she even decide to help me? I don't know what to do, and now, I'm alienated from everyone in the mansion. Maybe I should just lay here and never get up...
III.
Hank padded softly through the hallway, making his way to Emma's room. Since she had first woken up, remembering everything that happened, she had been locked in her room, not even coming out to eat. Hank was especially worried because of everything that happened. Even though, he thought slightly less of Emma for her intrusion on Scott and Jean's relationship, he could understand.
He had reacted very oddly to his ruined relationship with Trish Tilby, even going so far as to say he was homosexual on national television, just to spite her. Even though there could be an element of revenge for Emma, he was smart enough to see that she had actually fallen in love with Scott.
He stopped at her door and listened for a moment. He heard a muffled sob, which was almost heartbreaking. Hank lifted his paw and rapped lightly on the door.
"Emma?" he softly said. In his other hand, he balanced a tray with some mashed potatoes, roast beef with a touch of wine sauce, complete with a roll, a slice of cake, and some water.
Hank listened for a moment, hoping to hear the sound of bare feet crossing the room, but he heard nothing.
Hank frowned with concern as he lightly knocked again and announced, "I'm coming in."
The door slowly opened...the light breaking up the enveloping darkness. He set the tray on a barely visible table next to the door.
"Emma, are you awake?"
No answer. He looked toward the bed and could make out the figure of a woman lying with her back to him.
Hank took a breath. "I just wanted to check on you to make sure you were okay. Scott still hasn't come back, and now Wolverine and Fantomex are gone as well." Hank paused. "I know that things must be difficult for you right now, Emma, but if you want someone to talk to, I'm still here for you."
He was responded with a sniffle and another muffled sob. He slowly backed out of the room and closed the door, hoping that Emma would be okay.