Chapter 3
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Logan stalked his way into the cave, following the scents of Kitty and Rogue. Now, a thin dust had come from the back of the cave, obscuring his vision for a few moments. He growled as four more scents came along with the dust.
His vision was waning as he entered the darkened corridor of the cave, his only guide was all the dim light his sharp eyes could drag in and the scents of several mutants. More dust blind sighted him and he felt along the wall.
As Logan entered the cavern the dust grew thinner as it settled. He glanced over the fallen rocks and debris. He could smell Rogue but was unable to see her and the scent was fresh. He began scouting the piles of rocks.
Logan spotted Kitty. He steadily walked over, dodging rocks and wincing with a slight tingle of pain as one hit his shoulder. "Half pint, where's Stripes?" Even through his poker face clear concern washed over his face.
Kitty blinked and smiled, "OhMyGosh! Logan! You're here!" She seemed a bit overexcited, but that seems pretty normal for the young girl. She looked as though she wanted to hug her teacher, but refrained and pointed to the area where Rogue and Gambit had been, "She's over there, somewhere. With Gambit."
It was the Shadowcat. She was out there, but she could see her. Wanda was buried beneath the rocks, and there was little air.
Wanda heard her walk away. 'No!', she mentally yelled, 'Come back!' Wait a minute, hold the phone. Was she seriously thinking about calling for help? Wanda almost laughed at the thought. Hell no, she could get out of this no sweat. The only question was how?
Logan growled lowly. He didn't want Rogue anywhere near him. He began to sniff out her trail, crossing the cave he dig through the rocks. A few drops of blood. He sniffed again. Gambit's blood. "They're not in here." He said loud enough for Kitty to hear.
Kitty looked over at where Wanda and John were, then reacted to Logan. She blinked, "What do you mean, they're not here? They're the ones that caused this mess! They've got to be somewhere close."
Logan shook his head. "Rogue headed outside, with the Cajun." He growled on 'cajun.' Obviously his feelings weren't the best over the Acolyte. He glanced over at Kitty. "Who else in in here?" He glanced over toward Wanda and John.
Wait a minute there was a second voice it wasn't Kitty she hear moving away, but who else was out there? Why couldn't there be anyone she could trust around here? Wanda took in a deep breath but gathered more dust then air into her mouth. She let out a small cough. Her eyes felt heavy, she just wanted to sleep. NO! She was not going to die like this. Gathering up as much energy as she could Wanda fired off a small Hex bolt, shaking a few of the rocks loss around her. Hopefully the others heard...
Logan heard the blast clearly. He turned to Kitty. "Come on, kid." He strode towards where the sound had come from. "Anyone back here?" He became unsure on whether or not they had just experienced a rock slide.
Kitty nodded to Logan, "Wanda, the Scarlet Witch. And Pyro. They're under the rocks." She paused, "They went outside? Then they're safe."
She moved toward the rubble where John and Wanda were under, "I'm going to phase in and try to pull them out?" She almost questioned her own ability to do just as she said, "Right. Cover me, Logan."
They were coming back. Finally some good news. But did she want to be saved? Wanda thought. Hell ya she wanted to live.
His gaze momentarily faltered to the opening of the cave. Snikt his claws shot out. "Gotcha, Half pint." He peaked his senses for any sign of danger.
Kitty nodded. She took in a deep breath and phased to move into the rubble and attempt to grab Wanda and John and pull them out.
But Wanda was not prepared for the hand she saw come straight through the rocks and grab her...
---
Fear had engulfed her now, Kitty was still inside, Wanda was still inside, the man she only knew by Pyro was still inside.
There was a guilt eating at her insides, Why Remy? She had saved Remy before her team mate! It was unX-men-ish it was un... well... her!
And now, to make matters worse, he had grabbed her, his eyes had flickered open now pleading with her to stay.
Then he released her.
"Remy?! Oh... god..." Her tears stung her eyes as she gazes at the Cajun.
She had to leave him, she had to go help her friend, but how could she leave him so hurt and vulnerable?
"Remy, Ah'll be back, Ah swear" She blinked back the tears and took off back into the cave, his energy still coursing through her. Rogue glanced back at Remy, her body trembling. And in only a whisper, realizing his action was allowing her to go. "Thanks Remy"
Rogue takes off into the cave, hands brought over her head, maneuvering around the debris and rubble.
"I hope they're all right" Rogue bit down on her tongue, fighting back the coming tears, blood trickles down the sides of her mouth as she was drawing blood.
They'd have to be all right, they'd just have to.
---
Kitty poked her head in far enough to see how she needed to grab John and Wanda. She put her hands under the two (Under the bottom bodies' shoulders), then phased both bodies as she phased them through the debris. Once they were free, she stumbled back and sat on the ground, showing that this did put a little bit of strain on her.
Kitty shook her head to snap out of any fatigue, then moved over to check for pulses and life signs. She checked carefully for injuries, "Are you two okay? Don't hurt me, I'm just trying ot help." Kitty said in a hesitant voice.
It was a miracle to her, a longed sight to behold, her friend seemingly uninjured kneeling by the seemingly unconscious forms of John and Wanda, she let out a sigh of relief. Her guilt numbed for the moments time as Rogue ran forward. "Oh Kitty, thank God!"
Rogue fell to her knees just to the back of Kitty and pressed her hands to her face, her body shaking. The worry, the fear of finding her friend injured or even worse came into full.
Rogue brought her hands down and looks onto Wanda and then to John.
John was obviously hurt, while Wanda seemed to have suffered a bit on her own. It was odd, a sight like this normally would have made her cheer inside. But she was worried for them. "Wanda? Yeh all right, sugah?"
A familiar smell caught her nose, she looked off to the side of Kitty and gasped. "Logan?" Rogue came to her feet, all the complex emotions nullified by the confusion of the senior X-man's presence.
"Hey, Stripes." Logan said trying not to smile at the goth.
She had never wanted to hug, or smack him so much in her life. Rogue brought her arms around herself, easing back into Remy's trench coat, still tucked warmly around her.
Logan placed a hand on Rogue's shoulder. "You all right?" He asked gruffly trying to cover his concern.
Kitty acknowledged Rogue in return, "Oh, there you are. Glad to see you're okay. I was getting a little worried for a minute." She smirked, almost all knowingly. Kitty looked over at Logan, "Hey Chief, I think we need to get out of here as fast as possible." She gestured with her head, "A few injured and too many unanswered questions can only spell more trouble for us, huh?"
Logan nodded. "Yeah." He leaned over and picked up the annoying Australian; grunting and muttering under his breath about eating to much. "Let's get going." He said, glancing over at Rogue. "There was blood and it sure isn't yours." He raised an eyebrow at her. "Where's the Cajun?"
Rogue gasped. "Remy! Ah've got to go back to him!" Rogue turns on her heel and took off out of the cave, as she reached the opening she gasped again, Remy... gone.... blood...
Rogue brought a hand to her mouth, looking around frantically for Remy, "Remy!!" She cried "Remy!!"
Logan rolled his eyes at the frantic girl. "Calm down Rogue, we'll find him." Logan half dragged half carried, the unconscious firefly known only as Pyro.
---
She had left. Muttered a few comforting words before she went but Remy had barely been able to make them out. He had a migraine and the loss of blood wasn't helping him think.
Remy looked around him. If he was wearing his trench coat he would have ripped it and formed some sort of bandage for his head, but no, he'd given it to Rogue. He had nothing to work with.
He strained his ears, for anything. Sometimes there would be streams in caves, he wondered if there might be one here. Off in the distance he thought her heard something. He knew very well that it could be just his imagination (especially because it was so vague) but he also knew he needed to do something before he lost too much blood.
Slowly, the Cajun staggered to his feet and pressed his hand against the cave for support. His back was wounded too. Had he been hit there? Yes, he had, right before being knocked out. Who knows what other injuries he had picked up as well after that as well.
Swaying and stumbling Remy made his way down the cave hoping that the sound of running water wasn't his imagination.
His ears Hadn't been deceiving him. Or maybe they had, maybe his eyes have just joined in the cruel game. But surely not his feeling. That would tell him if the thin and shallow stream only the width of two of his hands were real enough. He reached down and dipped his hand in and was relieved to feel the bitter sweet sting of cold water.
Remy's knees gave out then and he fell hard onto the ground. He ignored the searing pain that shot up through his back, ribs, and bleeding head but instead dipped both hands in. He pulled them out and ran them through his hair, stopping where his wound began though. He had to be careful with that.
Carefully he removed his shirt. He then dipped it into the water and held it there to soak up the brisk cold water. While he let it do so he inspected his body. He couldn't really see around to his back but he knew he must have had a huge bruise. He felt a small trickle of blood so the rock must have broken some skin on his back. His ribs ached badly. The rock that had hit him had put pressure on them and he figured they'd probably be bruised too.
He pulled his shirt from the water and twisted it to get rid of access water. Then he gently pressed it against the back of his head. He hissed in pain as it touched but pressed harder still. He had to stop the bleeding, but he still didn't know how he could do that with only his shirt. Even though he was barely pressing it against his skull it hurt terribly still.
With his free hand he groped around till it closed around a rock. He then pressed the material harder on his head and squeezed the rock to forget the pain.
He removed the shirt to look at it and found it now covered in blood. He washed it off in the stream and replaced it on his head, slowly putting pressure on it.
He didn't even notice that he had charged the rock pressed in his palm until it exploded. Remy cursed while dropping it then immediately plunged his burnt hand into the water. Suddenly he chuckled.
"Dis jus' isn' yo day mon ami."
Gambit pulled the blood drenched shirt away and dipped it in the water again. His fingers were numb now not only from the freezing water and having his hand to his head, but also because of the blood loss. It was effecting his senses greatly now. He was weak and cold. He felt empty but he didn't really care. He imagined that this is what death would feel like. The thought didn't frighten him though. He wasn't afraid of death, just afraid of not fighting it.
He pulled the shirt out and didn't bother to wring it before putting it on his scalp again. He shivered as the freezing cold water rolled down his bare back. He had done this quite some times now though and was used to the numbing cold.
Remy grinned to himself. "Well, de adrenal rush was definitely wort' it."
Oh yes... death was worth the adrenaline rush. It was one of the only things in life to be enjoyed. Death wasn't frightening really, just another adventure. It also meant leaving many behind though so he was determined to fight it. There was one other thing that he wanted to stick around for.
'Oui Remy, y'fell fo' de fille. Probably left yo by now dough. Y'did after all threaten her friends life. Who knows if dat fille's still alive.'
Remy thought to himself. He then lay back, but before he rested his head down he rolled over onto his stomach.
'Don' go t'sleep Remy. Y'probably won' wake up.', He thought to himself. His eyes began to close from the weakness thought and after several jolts to stay awake, he drifted off into sleep.
---
Meanwhile, amidst the chaos.
Callisto clicked her temple, opening a small mic on her 'lips'. "Android 0167 reporting in, vital information via file is being transferred."
'Callisto' shut off the transmission, and transferred her memory banks.
When finished, her ear piece clicked. A mans voice sounded. "Good job, 0167. Prepare to self destruct."
'Callisto' turned to the others, peeling off the false skin from her right hand, and pressing a red button.
"I will Self Destruct in 30 seconds. 1 2 3 4 5 ...."
---
John blinked, the fuzziness of unconsciousness leaving him. He rubbed his eyes and looked around, not understanding what he was seeing.
A very distinct smell was all around him. Something like grease and plastic. He tried to get up, but found he was already standing. Then he looked at his shirt, and took the hat from his head and stared at it. "Dear God no..." He mumbled, looking at the purple visor with a golden M on the front.
"Would you like fries vit that?"
'Piotr?' John thought turning to the voice, and the sight of the large Russian gave him some comfort. But the sight of Piotr standing at the order terminal, in the same McDonalds uniform as him, brought a shiver to travel up and down his spine.
He turned to the drive through window and saw Remy, also in a McDonalds uniform, leaning out the window and handing a bag of Happy meals to a mother in a minivan full of screaming children.
"Move it squirt." He was pushed out of the way by Sabretooth, whose unruly mane had been packed into a hair net. "Another little shit puked in the ball-pit again." He mumbled, pushing the mop and bucket out from behind the counter and into the playroom.
A strange beeping/Screeching sound filled his ears. Jumping in alarm John nearly cleared the table of burger buns behind him. 'Just the Bloody fryer goin off.' He thought to himself, relaxing a little.
"JOHN!"
This time John did clear the table of burger buns and wound up lying on the floor. He looked up to find a very disturbing sight. Magneto, in a McDonalds manager's uniform.
"You are working this weekend." He commanded. "No overtime." Magneto finished, turning to go back into his office.
"And pull those fries before you burn them again!" He commanded, slamming the door to his small office.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!" John screamed, yes, he had died and gone to hell.
---
She took a deep breath of air. It wasn't fresh air but at least Wanda didn't end up with more dust then oxygen in her mouth this time.
Wanda felt herself get dropped to the ground, where a few rocks poked into her back, and bare arms. What she would give to have her red coat at the moment. Or even a bed, a nice hot shower, some Advil, anything that would help take the pain away.
She squinted her eyes open and only saw darkness, that and a fuzzy image of some one right next to her. Had she passed out? She didn't remember passing out? Last thing she remembered was being grabbed by someone. Damn she hated it when she couldn't remember.
"Where am I?" Was all she could ask. It was a stupid question she realized after she asked it because she remembered right after words. She was in Hell.
She lifted her left hand up to her head, massaging her eyes cause she still couldn't see straight...
Wanda watched as Wolverine tossed John over his shoulder and dragged him out, slowly following Rogue, whom frantically left them in search of the Cajun. Leaving just her and the Shadowcat.
Kitty turned back to pay attention to Wanda. "Hey, don't move too much. We're in some cave. Near the Xavier Institute." Kitty looked up only to see Rogue run off after mention of Remy. "Well, this has to be like... a first. I'm so going to smack some sense into that guy next time I see him. Really, putting us all in danger like that."
Kitty looked back down at Wanda, "I'm going to try to help you up, 'kay? We should like get out of here as soon as possible. I think we're on a truce for the time being."
A truce? Wanda thought about it. A truce would never last, it would never work, and she didn't want the help. The Scarlet Witch didn't ask help from anyone.
Wanda attempted to stand on her own. "I don't need your help." She stood wobbling slightly on her own two feet, " I can manage-" Wanda never finished her sentence because she was too weak to stand on her own. She collapsed immediately to the ground, barely able to catch herself from the fall.
She didn't met Kitty's gaze. She knew she was looking right at her. She looked down, her head in shame, as she sat on her legs. She was not going to ask for help...
Kitty watched Wanda stand and stumble after her bold words of 'I don't need your help.' and 'I can manage-' when it was obvious to Kitty that she couldn't manage. No matter.
Kitty took a deep breath, giving Wanda a moment, then Kitty slipped in to put her left arm along Wanda's shoulders and urged Wanda's right arm to go around behind Kitty's neck for support. She sort of worked her way in there quickly. She commented, "I understand. You probably would manage to get out by crawling, but like, it's just safer to leave now." Kitty used the leverage to try and help Wanda back to her feet with her support.
Wanda for an unknown reason to even her allowed Kitty to help her. She was pissed at herself for needing the help in the first place but some small part of her was grateful. Though she would never say that.
Kitty's face was concerned, but a small smile appeared. "Oh... I don't think we were ever properly introduced. I'm Kitty."
Properly introduced? Was she crazy? Who the hell properly introduced themselves to their enemies? Did she get hit in the head? But Wanda was to weak to snap at the pint size girl. She knew that Shadowcat knew her name, so why was she asking? But Wanda always repaid her debts so she complied to the girls wishes.
"Wanda." She told the Kitty in a mumbled voice, she doubted that she heard it. Did it matter though? She already knew the name, maybe she was trying to trick her into believing they were on the same side but in real they weren't. Wanda's head stung, too complex a thought for her way to exhausted mind.
Kitty supported and walked with Wanda. She continued to walk down the corridor toward where Logan and Rogue had gone toward. She talked quietly, "Do you remember what you were doing before you woke up here?" She paused, "Sorry, I guess I'm talking too much."
Kitty mentally told herself to shut up and continued to walk forward in silence.
That had to be the most intelligent thing Shadowcat had said all morning, Wanda thought as she tried to support herself as best she could. Only stumbling occasionally while Kitty helped her along. Not the part about talking to much that was true to but Wanda never really thought about what happened before she woke up here. What was she doing?
Remember. Wanda told herself, let's see last week she had gone shopping and Toad had followed her to the mall, Toad ended up with a few new bruises. About three days ago Fred had gotten a twenty four hour bug so she had to cook, she had burned eight out of ten fingers until Lance kicked her out. Yesterday she was going to go the see Agatha Harkness to get some help controlling her powers but she never made it. What had happened to her? Why didn't she ever make it there?
Wanda finally broke the silence. "I can't really remember, I was going to go see someone but but I know I never made it there." Wanda told Shadowcat, her head was starting to pound even harder now the farther they walked. She could see what looked like to be Wolverine ahead of her, still lugging John's unconscious ass with him.
But the image before her was beginning to fade, and her legs hurt and her ribs were so sore, her arms were so scratched up it was ridiculous. She was so tired, she just wanted to fall asleep. But she would be dammed if she showed anymore weakness in front of these people. She was not some weak little girl.
Kitty nodded at Wanda's response. The last thing she herself could even recall had been going to sleep for the night. Or was that the last thing? She shook her head and continued to walk with Wanda, following her instructor Logan to who knows where. The exit can't be that far off now.
Kitty knew that talking more only made Wanda further annoyed with her presence, so she chose not to speak unless it was really important. She kept an eye out for any other stray mutants. Her attention kept mostly on Logan as he lead the way.
---
"Calm down Rogue, we'll find him." Rogue heard her instructor call.
Calm down? She questioned mentally as she scanned the area desperately for any sign of the Cajun, Calm down?! She took his jacket, his gloves, and left him out in the open for anything to happen. The thing that scared her the most is that she cared way much more than she would have imagined. Maybe it was just the fact that he had saved her like that--though causing her to be saved in the first place--shielding her from getting hurt, getting injured herself in the process. He played X-man while she was just so helpless.
Rogue brought a hand to her forehead as her heart sped, she felt dizzy and nauseous. Stress didn't agree with her. How could the others be so calm? How could she be so... well... like this? It was most certainly confusing her teammates, she'd just have to remain calm and think each action through thoroughly.
"REMYYY!!!!!"
Great. That was thought pretty through. She stopped running her fingers through her hair. She was going to kill that stupid Cajun if...
She let out a silent cry, if he wasn't already dead...
Logan placed a steady hand on her shoulder. "Come on, Stripes. I'll find him for ya." He gave her a crooked grin, but his mind was racing. He didn't want Rogue to get too close to Gambit. He was the type who took up a girl until he got what he wanted then dropped her the next day. Rogue was too good for that. He would make sure that he would never to that to her.
Rogue turned to him, giving him a watery smile in return. She sighed, "It's just... he kinda saved mah life and Ah guess Ah kinda feel in debt to him"
Logan nodded at her. "I understand." He said as he followed her, letting her look. Only sniffing occasionally to make sure he was on the right trail.
Rogue bit down on her bottom lip, rushing off forward, searching around for any sign of the Cajun. What she wouldn't give for him to just duck out from behind a rock, laugh at her foolishness, and say something in french (sniffle) call her a silly little pet name (sniffle)...
She stopped as she reached the gazebo, just looking at it sent a shiver down her spine.
Her mother... in that statue form... pushing her off of the cliff's edge...
Logan stopped at the gazebo. "Rogue, you okay?" He asked, staring at the gazebo.
Rogue turned to him and nodded, "Ah'm fine--can yeh sniff out Remy?"
Rogue looked away from him, wiping what looked to be tears forming in her eyes. She placed a hand on her forehead and swept over to the blood pool, kneeling next to it and dipping her hand into the small sea of red. Rogue shivered at it's cold chill and stood back to her feet, turning back to Logan "It's really fresh--he can't be that far-- and Ah--" Rogue choked on her next words "--didn't leave him for that long."
Kitty supported Wanda and walked along, following slowly after Wolverine with John and Rogue. She thought to herself how odd the situation was, how things seemed surreal and yet... almost average. As if this were an every-day thing. She dismissed the thought, she doesn't WANT something like this to be an every-day thing. Not at all.
---
In front of him was a vast expanse of grey. Below was ankle deep water that pulled at Remy to follow its currents onward. He didn't move though. What lay behind was life. He didn't move either way though. The water was appealing, but then again so was the warmth of life upon his naked back. One step would make the difference, one step forward meant death, one step back meant life.
Remy chuckled at himself. It was his very fault that he was here, but that didn't bother him. If he chose to step back and into life he'd have seen and felt what every few had. But if he did go back into life he would have to deal with his injuries.
At the though of those his head, back, and ribs began to hurt. He had his wounds eve in death.
Remy lifted a leg to step forward. Before putting it down though he paused, then pulled it back. He glanced behind him and was surprised to see grey when he had expected to see some sign of life. It was life though, he knew. But what was there to go back there for?
---
To be continued...
Authors Notes:
-- Characters/Authors --
Casakitten: Rogue
Eixid: St. John "Pyro" Allerdyce
Alice Storm: Callisto
KiyoneKatz: Kitty "Shadowcat" Pryde
Sarah Crysala: Remy "Gambit" LeBeau
Roguestar1: Wanda "Scarlet Witch" Maximoff
The Gothic Kleptomaniac: Logan "Wolverine"
In this chapter we say good bye to Alice Storm, as she had left the group, and The Gothic Kleptomaniac joins as Logan.