After the Ball: Part 2

I made my stumbling way home, crying a little. He told me to get out after the light faded, and I did. The scratches still stung, but they didn't matter as much as my internal pain.

I had to do it, but oh, it had been hard. I couldn't let them be hurt, let another be lost...and I couldn't hurt Her, the one who had given me back faith.

I ran inside my apartment building and locked the door. My cell phone rang, but I ignored it. I had to take a shower. No, I couldn't yet. Maybe in another hour or so, but not now.

Instead, I lay down on my bed and cried. I didn't want a child, I didn't want sex, and I was alone. The phone kept ringing. Leave me alone. I'm not here right now. I wanted Her but I was ashamed, though I knew She would comfort me.

Finally, my sobs abated, and I knew I could shower, for I was either pregnant or not by now. The compulsion to stay out of my bathroom dropped off entirely. I ran in the dark and fell, hard, onto my left knee. The pain helped draw me out of my mental confusion enough to realize I had to answer the phone. The Movement must need me.

I turned on a light and found the phone. "Sidney," I said, shaken.

"Hey, doll face." It was Vic, who pretended to be my boyfriend here in town. "Did you forget our little meeting? The music's hot, and the margaritas are cold."

Meeting...oh, yes. Damn. I was supposed to meet with Vic and a few other of the humans who were coordinating the release. Thursday. We were breaking them out on Thursday.

"Uh, I can't make it. Work kinda got in the way."

He was silent. I heard happy music playing in the background. "Another night, then?"

"Maybe...I don't know. I'll have to call you back." I hung up. I couldn't face Vic now. He was nice, but he didn't know what it was to be a mutant.

The shower was warm, but I was still cold. I basked in the heat, then turned the temperature down a bit.

Elena?

Oh, not Her. I couldn't stand having it be Her. Not right now.

Elena? I will not be denied!

I felt her push very hard at my mind. I let her in a little and saw Her as I always saw her inside my mind...tall, strong, and thin as a razor blade. I "looked" at myself and saw my image flickering, crouching, hiding from her.

Mystique?

I am here, Elena. She walked around me once and frowned. What is wrong, child? You have been shaken.

I...I know. It had to happen.

You must tell me what. I cannot help you unless you do. She took my hand, and I started to cry. She pulled me into her arms and held me. Calm down. You're okay. I have you now. You will be all right.

It was the children, I murmured. He wanted to hurt the children.

She squeezed me and asked, Are they all right?

I nodded, crying.

Are you all right?

I shook my head, miserable.

Do we need to take you out now?

I wanted to say yes. I had hated the idea of infiltrating the prison, hated the idea of torturing mutants, and hated the entire spy game. But who else knew how to work the controls? Who else could and would provide the right distractions at the right times? Who else could, if all else failed, get out if a major disaster occurred?

I wiped my eyes. We're going to get out on Thursday, right?

She nodded.

Then I can stay till then. But please, get us out on Thursday!

She held me and said, I have a feeling I'm in your debt. But I won't press you for more now. Hookup's getting tired. Are you sure you'll be okay?

It's just three more days. What can happen in three days? I pulled away from her and stood up.

We will talk then, Elena. And remember your grandfather...maybe that will help you hold on. Hookup broke our telepathic connection then, and I sank to the floor of my shower.

Grandpa Sidney, the Changeling. He had died for Charles Xavier...so had many others. I could hold on. I was my grandfather's blood. I would gladly die for Mystique or her children, Kurt and Krystal Wagner. I was strong.

Or so I hoped.