Disclaimer: Marvel's, not mine.
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Not many people could take Logan unawares. But he had put a lot of trust into the person standing behind him. Most people would be surprised to know that he was the first to fall.
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Anna snapped up, the covers falling from her chest. Her momentum woke Remy. He noticed she was sweating profusely, a frightened look on her face.
"What's de matter chere?" Remy moved to comfort her form her nightmare.
She looked towards him then, a sad look in her eyes.
"Ah know who did it Remy.
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The figure moved through the mansion that evening with a silent grace. It was almost comical how much trust oozed from everyone despite the hate some held for one another, despite their constant arguments. When it had reached nearly midnight, the team had put their guard down. It had to be this way. It had to be this night.
Padding down the hallway towards Rogue's room, the betrayer smiled.
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"Slow down chere." Remy reached for her arm, as she hastily threw on her clothes.
"Ah don't think there's any time for meh ta slow down sugah.
"Well, will y'at least explain how ya know who de killer is all o'a sudden?
Anna paused, sitting on the bed to put her shoes on. "You're right Remy. It's not like Ah can face the killer myself. It's just, well, Ah really hope ya don't think Ah'm crazy.
"Don' think I will chere, I've seen some pretty crazy things and I-
"Ah've been having visions Remy. Visions of another time or another life; Ah ain't honestly sure. But we're there Remy, only we're different versions of ourselves and we've got powers, or somethin'.
Anna looked confused as she said this; as if she hadn't really considered what she had been seeing before.
Remy gulped, kneeling down in front of her. "Keep going chere.
"Well, we're part o'some kinda team and there's supposed to be a traitor among us." Anna looked wide eyed at Remy. "Everyone thinks its you Remy.
Remy reached up, fingering a white strand of her hair. "Is your hair long and curly in dis timeline chere?
Suddenly, Anna sprang backwards, shimming away from Remy as if scared. "Ah hope you're just guessing bout that Remy.
Remy pulled his hand back and stood up, hurt evident in his features. He began walking around the side of the bed. "Y'got long hair, and y'can fly, and everyone calls y'Rogue.
A single tear slid down Anna's cheek. Remy stood frozen at the edge of the bed. "You've been havin' these dreams too Remy?
"Oui.
"Why didn' y'tell meh?
"Y'didn' tell me neither Anna.
Anna gave him a harsh look. Remy sighed.
"Because chere, I'm a superstitious man and I thought de dreams were connecting too closely into our present day life. And as y'know, de were implicating me. I just didn' want t'lose anymore o'your trust Anna.
The telephone rang then, startling them both. Remy ran to answer it, Anna too shocked to move. She couldn't hear Remy from where she was, so she held her breath and waited for him to come back.
Remy returned to the room shortly, and headed straight for the bathroom. He began digging through the cupboards, but it was too dark to see him clearly.
"Remy, who was that on the phone?
"It was Logan chere. Warren's alibi was solid, I'm back at de top o'their list.
Anna sat up on her knees. "What are we gonna do Remy? Did y'tell Logan we know who the killer is?
Remy began heading back towards her, red eyes his only visible feature. "No chere, he woulda just asked for proof, and we ain't got dat.
Slowly, Remy climbed onto the bed, crawling slightly on top of her. "I'm gonna solve dis chere, I'm gonna end it.
With that, he pressed hard against her, ramming a cloth with chloroform over her mouth. "I'm so sorry chere." Her surprised eyes began to shut as she went limp in his arms.
"You'll understand when dis is all finished Anna.
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Rogue had been nervous all day. She remained in constant attack pose, ready for anything that may occur. At about 11:15, everyone began to settle down, their stress reduced. Bishop remained roaming the grounds, refusing to believe he was wrong. Rogue headed upstairs to her room to call Remy. She knew he would be concerned. She didn't really think he would be available to talk, so she was surprised when he answered his cell phone after two rings.
"Is everything ok chere?" He asked concern lacing his voice.
"Yeah. Nothing happened, but Ah still feel uneasy Remy.
"I'll be home tomorrow morning chere, hopefully I can help with dat unease.
Rogue laughed. After a couple of seconds her mood changed and she took a long breath. "Remy, we never talked about why Ah said Ah couldn't touch.
"I know chere, but I figured y'would tell me when y'were comfortable.
"Ah have this bad feeling Remy, like Ah need ta tell y'now or else there won' be another chance.
"Are y'sure y'want t'do dis over de phone? I'll be home tomorrow.
"It's not that complicated Remy." Pause. "Ah was in love. He died of cancer a year ago, and Ah lost all trust, all hope. Ah turned meh powers back on. Permanently."
"I'm sorry chere.
"Don' be Remy. Ah'm telling ya this because you solved meh problem." Rogue paused. "Ah love ya Remy.
"Oh, isn't that sweet," a bitter voice spoke from the doorway.
Rogue froze. "What are you doing here?
Remy could hear her talking to someone else in the room.
"Rogue? Chere?" He heard her yell in anger, but her voice seemed to be getting further from the receiver.
"Remy! Help!
Those were the only two words he needed to hear before he was out the door, running for his life, hoping he would make it in time.
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Remy drove quickly to the killer's apartment. When he arrived, he picked the lock, slipping in silently. No one was home.
Shit! He cursed, and running, he realized that perhaps the visions were more connected to this time than he had previously thought. A black and white photo on a side table only confirmed his suspicions.
He jumped back in his car, tires squealing, he headed for Ororo's apartment, where Logan had told him he was going to be. He only hoped he would make it on time.
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Remy was incredibly thankful that he had taken one of the X-jets. He landed in the mansion's hanger an hour and a half after talking to Rogue. He wasted no time racing down the ramp, stopping only when he noticed the unmoving form of Wolverine. Quickly, he crouched down, feeling for a pulse. Cursing, he stood up, his eyes burning madly.
He ran straight for Rogue's room, glad that he did not run across any other dead forms along the way. His heart broke at what he saw next.
Rogue lay slumped against the wall of the hallway, directly across from her bedroom door. Her long hair covered her face from view, but the object protruding from her stomach was easy to spot. Instantly Remy panicked. Rogue was invulnerable; nothing was supposed to cut her, make her bleed.
"Rogue?" Remy called out quietly, as he sat down by her side, pushing a strand of her hair from her eyes. Her head was hanging low, but he could see the rise and fall of her chest.
"Remy, w-we failed." With that she looked up, and it was then that he saw it: there was a collar around her pale neck, disabling her powers. Her face was drained of color, nearly blue from loss of blood. He looked down at her stomach and noticed the sharp object was a dagger. He saw Rogue's hands clasp around its hilt, and before he could stop her she ripped it from her side. Fresh blood dyed the carpet instantly as Remy tore off his coat and wrapped it tightly around her wound.
Remy noticed her eyelids begin to flutter, ready to close.
"Non, chere, don' y'dare die on me!" He slapped her lightly on the cheek, and she jolted, but did not open her eyes any wider. The corner of her mouth turned up, as she tried to smile.
"Save your energy chere. Dis ain't de time t'be smiling anyway."
Rogue began to convulse, and she reached for Remy's face, stroking it lightly, fingering his lips, before her arm went limp at his side. For several seconds, Remy did not move, then quickly he pulled a lock pick from his back pocket and began working on the collar around her neck.
It snapped off and Remy threw it against the wall. "Ok chere. Wake back up now, you're invulnerable again." He shook her frail figure, his hands moving rapidly over her body, looking for any sign that she might live. Tears welled in his eyes as he choked out a cry. He leaned his forehead against her own, defeat coursing through his body.
But he would not give up now. He would find the betrayer, and only after they were dead, would he give up. He placed a light kiss against Rogue's pale lips, before rising, his hands glowing pink, his eyes burning red.
He had a feeling he knew exactly where the betrayer would be.
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Logan had returned to Ororo's aparment with the excuse that he was searching for more evidence. The sad fact was, he missed her more than anything and had just wanted to see something that would conjure up some semblance of her presence. It was 5:30 in the morning as Logan stood watching the sun rise from Ororo's large bay windows.
He heard the cocking of the gun, felt it slide against his temple.
"Hard at work detective? Or are you here on more of a personal mission?
The gun disconnected itself from his skull, as the figure took several steps back. It was then that Logan turned around, coming face to face with the killer.
"Jesus. I never woulda thought.
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Remy moved swiftly to the mansion's elevator, ducking his head into several other rooms along the way. He had already seen several of his team members, either knocked out or dead, and with each face he saw, his suspicions only matured.
He stepped into the elevator, pressing the down button. When he reached the sub basement, he nearly tripped over Storm's body. Her face was cold to touch, and it was with her death that Remy reached his final breaking point. He watched the plant holder across the hall light up with kinetic energy without his physical touch.
A cruel smile reached his lips. This would end now.
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Reaching Ororo's front door Remy was disappointed to see he had not arrived soon enough. Although Logan was not dead, the killer was already there, a gun pointed at Logan's chest. Remy eased down the stairs without a sound, but nothing could prevent someone as skilled as the killer was from detecting him. He had underestimated that.
"Don't think I don't know you're back there.
Remy smiled, retrieving his own gun. "Wasn' thinkin' anythin' o'the sort." He emphasized his position by cocking the gun, much like the killer had done to Logan.
"Dis ends now.
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Cliffhanger. Sorta. Thought I would give you one last chance at guessing the killer. It may be pretty obvious now, or maybe not. I think for the most part, any questions in the reviews will be answered either in this chapter, or the next (which will be the last). Thanks for reviewing!