Sketty is back, boop-boop!

Chapter 7

Storm felt a horrible sensation of sickness in her gut at the vile taste of the blood. With a wave of panic she quickly sent her gaze around the room. Did anyone notice? Would they question her? She saw that Charles and Scott were still in conversation, and Logan had turned back to eyeing them suspiciously. She hurriedly turned, grabbing a towel from one of the open cupboards in the silver panelled wall. With a cautious glance over the open door she began to viciously scrub her nails on one of the fluffy white towels within. All of a sudden, she paused from her actions and stared. The towel,, was purely white. Not a mark. She looked back to her nails. The blood had gone. Back to their usual natural colour. Bewildered and alarmed she shoved the towel in and threw shut the door with a gasp.

The noise had alerted Charles and Scott of her presence. Both of them instantly looked her way.

"Are you alright Storm?" Asked Scott quietly, somewhat hesitantly as if he feared a troubled answer.

"Yeah.." She muttered in return, tugging a clump of white behind an ear, "I'm fine, yeah.. so.. what's the meeting for?"

Charles studied her a moment before he turned his chair to face the whole group, "It's Pyro."

Attention instantly locked on Charles, and Storm decided to push the chilling happenings into the back of her mind.. for now.

"We don't know how he is, how he was taken, and we don't know if he wants to come back to the mansion. It could have been a kidnap, or he could have gone of his own accord. But I don't know.."

"Use Cerebro?" Asked Logan, his booted feet casually propped on the lengthy table of the room. Scott flashed him a disapproving look.

"I have already tried, Logan. It's not picking up Pyro's movements."

"So do you think Magneto has found a way for Cerebro is be blocked off from his residence all together?" Storm offered quietly, now taking a seat.

"It seems that way.."

"What do you think we should do Professor?" Asked Scott watching Charles intently.

"We need to find him.. somehow.. Take the Blackbird out tomorrow morning.. it is too late now. It is nearing midnight. I shall cancel lessons tomorrow morning for you all.."

Nods were passed in exchange before the X-Men stood to take their leave. Farewells were then spoken and exits permitted. Storm was the first out, completely ignoring her first wishes to talk to Charles. He had too much on his mind now. Bothering him with some apparitions would be irrational. And so, she speedily went ahead, hurrying through the dark cold corridors, up the plush carpeted stairs and to the safety of her room.

All of a sudden, once reaching a faintly lit corridor in the North block, she froze and stared at her surroundings. She was heading to her room, why was she in here? This wasn't the corridor to her room, hers was a floor below and in the West block. She turned to stare at the door she had stopped outside. She felt her insides sudden run cold with a panic. Then a voice spoke up behind her.

"Storm?"

She was startled, before she hurriedly turned to see Scott watching her curiously, "Why are you up here? Were you looking for me?"

She glanced back to the door.. it was Scott.. and Jean's room..

"No.." She replied quietly, "I just.. I was taking a walk before I go to sleep, that's all." She made a mild shrug whilst she mentally cursed herself for the petty explanation.

"Oh." Replied Scott, now walking round her to enter his room, he appeared relieved, "I thought something was wrong."

"No.. nothing."

"All right then. Good. I'll see you in the morning Ororo." He softly said, now stood in his doorway with the door held open by a hand.

A sudden urge impelled her to enter. She forced herself to freeze to the spot. A rather rigid nod of her head then given, "Good night.." Again! She found that her mind was not only just telling her to enter, but to kiss him goodnight. She was mentally appalled at the idea. Kiss Scott? Since when did she have passionate affections for Scott? Since Jean died.. that's when.

"Storm?" Scott muttered. He wasn't at all keen on the misty look she was giving him, "Storm?"

"I have to go! Goodnight!" She hurriedly whispered before she turned to run from him, leaving a confused and sceptical Scott standing at his door.

She desperately ran through the corridor, cursing and hating herself for the crazy happenings. What was she doing to herself? Why was it happening? She turned to descend the stairs to her correct floor, but as she walked by the banister at the drop of the walkway, she halted. She took a breath. But even that was hard. She tried to blink and clear the currently foggy vision. That was harder. Her legs suddenly gave way and with a muted gasp she fell to her knees on the plush royal blue carpet of the upper floor. Slim hands clasped shakily at the wooden spindles, trying to stop herself from swaying, but physically she remained stiffened. Then, all of a sudden, a searing twinge shot across her forehead, causing her wince and recoil in shock and pain. Her vision blackened suddenly, before everything lightened spectacularly, and the objects of the walkway, the banister, the vases, everything, just became devoured into the cloud of white that polluted her gaze so. A hand madly tried to push away the sight, but in truth no such cloud infected the corridor. A foggy figure appeared in her line of sight, and even more pain agonized her head. Throbbing and burning. Then, the blurred figure spoke; causing such a pain she though some blade had been drove through her forehead.

But.. to say it spoke, the whitened lips never moved. The voice was a low tone, male, but young. It felt distant..

..This is just wrong.. Why am I here..? God.. Somebody's gotta help me Help me!..

Storm cried out, hands grabbing her head as she felt a rush of heat stab into her mind and drive her to the murky state of unconsciousness. She felt her body falling, she distantly felt her back hit the floor.. in some sort of foul smelling warm liquid. The blood was back..

The figure turned, appearing to be looking around.

..Please.. I can't stay here.. Somebody..

Fire began to swirl across her vision, burning in the eyes of the murky form..

..No..

Just then, over the hills of Westchester, over the traffic of New York, right to a distant and lonely building hidden from the eyes of the world.. the face of a boy stared round a corner into a dark room where the Brotherhood stood.. plotting..

Review people! I hoped you liked it! Next up, Sych with Chap 8!