Virago
Chapter Five

18 April 2009

She continued to run. It continued to follow.

She knew that she could never see It, but she looked behind her anyway. It was there. There. She could sense it, just there. Behind her, wanting, needing something that she had.

She could feel the tears beginning to form behind her eyes, and she hurriedly blinked them back, turning forward once again, afraid that she would fall and It would take her. 'Ah don't have it,' she sobbed, the tears welling and falling as she ran.

Behind her, steady and purposeful, It began to close the distance between them. It was closer than ever.

'Help me!' she screamed, unsure of whom she was calling for. Anyone who would help her.

She ran. It followed.

She cried. It didn't care.

She fell.

*

Warren stirred. He could feel Rogue brushing against him, her movements agitated, and he knew that she was dreaming. Another nightmare. He woke fully and sat up, his wings extending and casting a shadow before him. The moon was now less than half full, but its brilliance remained.

'Rogue?' he whispered, his voice still husky from sleep. 'Wake-'

She cried out suddenly, the sound so filled with terror that it made his heart stop. Then race, the organ beating so rapidly and with such force that he could hear it.

'Rogue!'

He folded his wings, allowing the moon's glow to shine onto her face. Her eyes were open wide and she stared up at the ceiling, her mouth parted slightly as her breathing grew heavy.

Warren reached out and pushed back her hair. It was damp from sweat. 'Hey, beautiful.'

Rogue moved, her hands coming up to cover her face. 'Ah fell,' she whispered, her voice muffled. She was crying. 'Ah was runnin', and Ah fell!'

At the return of her accent, he was strongly reminded of the vulnerable girl who had showed up at his apartment seven years ago. Forcing his pulse to resume its normal tempo, Warren took hold of Rogue's hand and gently pried them away from her face. 'I'm here, Rogue.'

She wiped away the last of the stray tears with the back of her hand. 'Ah'm not ready to die yet, Warren,' she whispered. She finally focused on him.

Her words, and the frightened look in her eyes, haunted him. Warren lay beside her, gathering her into his arms and holding her. 'You don't think I would let you get away from me that easily?' he teased, forcing his tone to stay light and hoping to lift the mood.

Anything to relieve his mind from the image of a bloody and dead Rogue.

He felt her arms slip around him, the weight reassuring. 'Well I hope not,' she answered softly after several long heartbeats. 'What time is it?'

Warren glanced at the luminous numbers on the bedside table behind her. 'Almost three. You could still sleep. If you want.'

'No,' she murmured, pulling away slightly to be able to look at him. Her voice was still rough, but it had a distinctively throaty timbre to it that sent a shiver down his spine. 'I'd rather do something else.'

*

She had promised to explain everything, on the provision that he wait until she was ready to speak. Scott had allowed her half a day. Unsure of the reason why, Rogue found herself surprisingly nervous.

'You want to do this on your own.' It was a statement, not a question. Not for the first time it made her wonder if one of Warren's powers was telekinesis.

She nodded. 'I think I need to.'

Warren tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. 'I understand. I'll be with Charles and Hank, okay?'

'I'll know where to find you.'

With one last lingering caress against her cheek and throat, he pivoted and walked towards the lift that would take him to the sublevels of the mansion.

Rogue took a deep breath and turned to face the large, wooden doors. It was closed but she knew that Scott waited for her inside. She had yet to see him ever be late for anything. She placed her hands over the surface of the left door and pushed. And momentarily froze.

Scott wasn't alone.

'I figure that I'm not the only one whom you owe an explanation to,' he greeted her tonelessly.

She looked around at the others. Jean offered her a weak smile. Kurt looked concerned. Kitty was staring angrily out the window, her arms crossed as she refused to look in her direction.

Her heart sank slightly, but Rogue nodded. 'You're right.'

'Rogue, are you…I mean, Scott didn't really explain-'

'You're dying, aren't you?' Kitty interrupted Kurt, continuing to keep her gaze outside. 'I mean, could you get any more selfish?'

'Damn it, Kitty, if you-'

'Kurt, it's okay,' Rogue said, feeling guilty for the animosity that was almost palpable in the room. She had never wanted this, and it made her almost wish that she had never returned. She looked at the younger woman. 'Kitty, the last thing I ever wanted was to cause you any pain. If I had known that-'

'Don't fool yourself, Rogue,' Kitty interrupted, turning to look at her. Her eyes were hard. 'You would have still left without any care for the rest of us.'

'Nobody's forcing you to stay, Kitty,' Scott suddenly said, his tone even. 'I made it clear that it's up to you if you wanted to be here or not.'

Kitty's jaw clenched visibly. For a moment it seemed as if she was about to walk out, but she returned to her previous position of staring outside.

'What's going on, Rogue?' Jean asked, finally speaking and breaking the tension in the room. 'Are you really…dying?'

Rogue sighed. 'I don't know, Jean. That's the reason for all these tests. But if I had to answer, and was honest with myself, then yes. It's more a feeling than anything physical, but it's there and I can't seem to deny it.'

*

Rogue had explained the situation to them, the reason for her return, the cause for Hank's tests. A microbe created by Garrison that, instead of helping her, seemed to be killing her. She had returned for help. She had been articulate and thorough with the details and descriptions, answering all questions the best that she could. By silent consensus none had asked questions about the last seven years

And Scott was not satisfied. Rogue had not answered any of the questions that he wanted answered. What was Warren's role in all of this? When had she grown so beautiful? Why did she leave him? Who was she?

'Scott?'

He looked up. 'What is it, Jean?' She must have followed him into the library.

A look of hurt crossed her features at his abruptness, though he had not meant it. 'I wanted to see if you were okay.'

He softened slightly. 'I'm fine, Jean.'

'You were pretty quiet, considering that it had been you who had organised the meeting.'

Scott paused before answering. 'I just wanted to make sure that everyone was informed of the reason why she had returned.'

Jean opened her mouth to speak, but then quickly closed it. She frowned. 'Scott-'

'Could we not please talk about this now, Jean?' he interrupted, hating the way he sounded so…unfeeling. 'I need to be alone.'

Scott turned away as he spoke, not wanting to see the look on Jean's face. He heard her turn and walk away, her footfalls creating soft, dull thuds on the carpet. He knew he had just pained her deeply, but found that he did not really care at that moment.

Rogue was dying.

end chapter five.