A stab of white-hot lightning cut through the sky, bleeding tiny droplets of mid-summer's rain. Kitty Pryde and the girl who insisted on being called Rogue were soundly sleeping in their beds, located in the third bedroom of the spacious mansion grounds, undisturbed by the night weather's proceedings. Or at least, Rogue was undisturbed.

Kitty's skin had drained to a ghostly white, as if the angel of death. She tossed and turned violently, her covers whipping through the air softly like ripples of the ocean. Her breathing was ragged and labored; sweat pooled down her face. It was a violent contrast to her sleeping comrade, who soft breaths of life reflected the joys of yesterday. A juggernaut of thunder rumbled through the room.

With a gasp, Rogue shot up from her comfortable state of rest. She stretched and yawned loudly, brushing stray strands of her white bangs out of her eyes. It took a moment for her to realize the slashing girl next to her. Her eyes widened in horror.

"Kitty!" she said firmly, shaking the girl gently. Kitty's flailing arms knocked her over. Kitty's lips formed unheard words of fear; her heart screaming.

"KITTY!" Rogue was harsher this time, yet still as unsuccessful. The smaller girl was groaning and whining, groping at invisible monsters. Rogue gave in and ran for help.

"Scott!" she called desperately down the hallways. "Jean! Logan! Professor! ANYONE!"

It was doubtful that any normal human being would awake easily at the hour in the night, but the inhabitants were not normal at all. No. They were mutants who were kept on their toes around the clock, for others and their own safety.

"What's the matter, Rogue?" Jean asked, rubbing her eyes, but still alert.

"It's Kitty!" she replied breathlessly, hugging her knees. "I don't really know what's wrong with her. She's doing some sort of weird twitching thing. I can't get her to wake up."

Jean studied Rogue for a second, and then turned her brilliant green eyes to the Professor. She mouthed, "Mezmero". The wise man shook his head, his eyebrows furrowed in contemplation.

"It's just a nightmare. A very bad nightmare." he added for emphasis.

"Let's go." Scott suggested urgently. Rogue nodded, shakily leading the way. She hoped Kitty was okay.

The X-men threw open the door just as the storm howled. Jean flicked on the lights mentally, revealing the lashing teen.
"Kitty!" Scott called worriedly, shaking her as Rogue had done moments before.

"That's not going to work!" Rogue moaned. "I already tried that, dimwit!"

Before they could try anything else, Kitty had risen into the air. Jean's green eyes flashed as the two turned around to look at her. Kitty's fingers clawed at the air for a couple seconds, and then stopped abruptly. Was it over?

I have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach, Rogue thought woefully.

Kitty's neck suddenly lolled back grotesquely, her eyes rolling to their whites. Her head hung back.

"Put her down!" Logan yelled gruffly, grabbing onto Jean's shoulder roughly. Jean did as she was told, slowly lowering the girl onto the purple carpeted floor. They rushed to her side.

"She's not breathing!" Rogue screamed, tears streaming down her cheeks. "SHE'S NOT BREATHING!"

Logan slammed his hand over her mouth. Fortunately, he had been working out only moments before being called, so his lifting gloves were still on.

"We know that!" he hissed in her ear.

"Professor?" a small voice asked. A small blue teen had walked into the hallway, rubbing his eyes. "What's going on? I heard Rogue screaming."

"Go back to bed, Kurt." Scott replied, not lifting his eyes.

"But…"

"GO BACK TO BED!" Jean screamed, telekinetically forcing him back unto the walls.

"Okay." Kurt surrendered in a bewildered voice, running back to the comfort of his bedroom. Luckily, none of the other mutants would awaken during the night.

"Start rescue breathing." The Professor commanded. Jean nodded and immediately began to blow oxygen into the small girl's mouth. They all watched her chest rise and fall apprehensively. Jean paused for a moment, checking to see if she had started to breathe on her own. She hadn't.

"Her pulse is fading rapidly!" Scott yelled.

"This is getting out of our hands. We need to get Hank." Professor Xavier demanded.

"We won't get her there in time!" Rogue screamed from the clutches of Logan.

"Kurt, I know you're still there. I can sense you." Jean said. The blue boy slowly stepped out into the light.

"Teleport to Hank, now!" Scott requested, thrusting the limp girl into his arms. Kurt nodded and was gone in a pop!

"Let's get down there and see if we can help!" Jean said, leading the pack down the stairs.

"You stay here and go back to bed. Everything will be fine in the morning. I promise." Logan said, setting Rogue down on her bed.

"NO!" she creamed, jumping up, right into his arms. He had expected this reaction. He gently sat her down again.

"I promise." He repeated, his eyes burrowing into hers.

"Okay." She said weakly, closing her eyes and trying to sleep. He took one last fond look at her and then ran down the stair to catch up with the others.



Downstairs Later

"…one…two…three…clear!" BUZZ!

"She's back!" Jean said in relief, watching the heart monitor finally coming to life. She covered her face, wiped away tears, and grabbed onto Scott's shoulder. He smiled and patted her red head gently.

Kitty's eyelids fluttered open, revealing brilliant blue eyes from beneath them that were almost gone forever. She stretched, and then jumped in alarm when she realized where she was.

"What am I doing here?" she mused innocently.

Strange. How very strange. The Professor thought. It was almost like she died in her dreams.