Author's Notes to Cat2fat900: You have succeeded. Someone else has read my story. I LOVE YOU! YOUR ARE THE BEST! Enjoy this chapter.
Notes to Finger905: I spelled Cajon wrong? I must be an idiot. Keep reading please.
The darkness was illuminated by the light of the moon.
Rogue and Nightmare remained in the park as the night wore on.
The Goth just talked to Nightmare about many things. The difficulty of her powers, her troubles at school, and many other things.
Normally the other X-Men would give Rogue lame statements of comfort that did not work, or they would try to think of solutions, but come up with none that would suffice.
But Nightmare just listened. And it felt good to Rogue to talk about her problems. That was all she really wanted. Someone to talk to.
When she was finished speaking Nightmare said, "that all seems like a heavy burden to bare."
"Ah know," Rogue said as she nodded. "But the hardest thing to deal with is mah powers. Do you have any idea how hard it is to not be able to touch anyone?"
Nightmare did not answer her at first.
Rogue continued. "Ah mean is it so much to ask for just someone to hold me; to be able to give someone a simple hug without having to worry about destroying them."
Rogue tried to hold back her tears as her voice filled with sadness.
She then said with a voice full of pain, "it almost feels like God hates me."
Nightmare turned around after Rogue said that. He stopped in front of her, blocking her path so she could not walk any further.
"Do not say that," he said as if he were somewhat angry with her statement.
"Why not," Rogue asked. "That's what it seems like to me."
"Rogue," Nightmare said, "there are many things that happen in this world that are difficult for mankind. Sometimes a person's faith is all they have left. God is not trying to hurt you Rogue. You cannot feel the way you feel about him."
He turned away from her. "It is important not to loose your faith Rogue. I lost it a long time ago. And it pains me to know that I have no hope. I don't want you to turn out like me."
Rogue listened to his words. She did not consider herself to be a faithful person, yet she never was an atheist. She did not go to church, or read the bible. But almost every night she prayed. She prayed to God to let her be able to touch again. And so far her prayer had not been answered. She could not just ignore that.
"So what are you saying," she asked Nightmare. "Should Ah just forget that Ah've been cursed with mah mutant powers."
Nightmare thought about it.
"Well Rogue," he began, "have you made any progress with your ability?"
Rogue crossed her arms over her chest. She did not know where Nightmare was going with this.
"Well, when Ah first got mah powers Ah used to have the memories and personalities of people stuck in mah head. One night they took control of me. After that the Prof. has been working with me, and Ah've learned how to push them out of mah mind."
"Anything else," Nightmare asked.
Rogue thought. "Mah powers used to work instantly when Ah touched someone. Now Ah've been able to suppress it for a few seconds after mah skin touch another's. But after thirty seconds or so Ah get mentally exhausted and can't hold it back anymore."
Nightmare sucked in all this information.
"Wouldn't you consider that progress," he asked.
Rogue had not thought about that before. She had been so fixated on that fact that she could not touch anyone.
"You see Rogue," Nightmare said, "progress is being made with your powers. It is just going to take some time. You will be able to touch again. But until you can you have to live with your burden. It will be a difficult task, but its rewards will be great."
Rogue waited for all of this to sink in. Nightmare was right, she had made progress with her powers.
She was about to speak again when the Professor's voice entered her head.
"Rogue, Rogue, where are you."
His voice sounded worried.
Rogue jumped at the sound of his voice.
"You know Ah hate it when you do that," she said.
Nightmare cocked his head with curiosity towards Rogue's actions.
Rogue began the conversation in her mind.
"What's the problem," she asked.
"There is an incident at the Brother Hood House. They're under attack."
Nightmare watched Rogue as the Prof. told her of what was going on at the Brother Hood house. The Professor had not yet contacted him in his mind yet. It was very strange to him.
Rogue finished up the conversation.
"Ah gotta get going," she said in a panicked voice.
"What's happening," the young madman asked.
Rogue knew that Nightmare would not be able to help them with this. He was not even allowed outside the Institute walls. But she told him anyway.
"The Brother Hood is under attack."
She could tell that Nightmare had no idea who she was talking about.
"They're these people we know. Mutants like us. Not really allies, but not enemies either. They're being attacked by these weird guys and seem to be having a tough time with them. We gotta get over there and help them out."
After all was clarified Nightmare had a suspicion growing behind his empty eye sockets. He felt that this was the moment he had been dreading for a long time.
"What do these attackers look like," he asked.
"Ah don't know," Rogue claimed, "there was not description."
The Goth began to move towards her car. It was difficult because of her sprained ankle.
Nightmare caught up with her and grabbed her by the shoulder, turning her back to him.
"I'm going with you," he said.
"No Nightmare, you can't," she disagreed. "You shouldn't be outside in the first place. If any of the other X-Men catch you out here, there gonna start nagging the Professor to have you sent back to the mental hospital. Just let us handle this."
And with that, she left.
Nightmare watched her leave.
He waited for her to be out of sight before saying, "I'm afraid I cannot allow that Marie."
Toad landed hard on the ground. His whole body ached from fighting these killers. The Brother Hood was getting worn out, but the psychopaths kept on fighting. They just didn't give up.
Pietro was already on the ground, unconscious. Shamen had taken care of that a while ago.
Avalanche stood near Blob. Both were getting tired. They did not know how much longer they would be able to fight.
Wanda was still up against Hunter.
They circled each other, both suffering from wounds the other gave.
Hunter seemed to be enjoying it more and more. He always loved a challenge.
No matter what Wanda did, Hunter would still come right back in for an attack.
Toad tried to stand up, but his neck was grabbed by none other than Wardog.
The killer held him tightly with one hand as his other hand raise his big machete into the air.
"This will be painful," he said, "but at will be short. I hope you haven't been to attached to your face."
Just as he was about to jamb the blade right between Todd's eyes, a flash of red light came zipping through the air and knocked the blade out of Wardog's hand.
All that were fighting looked to its source.
Scott stood with his hand one his visor.
"This isn't happening today," he said.
Behind him were the other X-Men, except for Rogue.
Shamen looked at all these knew comers to the battle. He could tell that they were not human, but they were also not like him.
Wardog became enraged.
He pulled his bayonet out of his holster and held it up to Todd's neck.
"One more move an your friend can say goodbye to his throat."
All the X-Men stayed where they were. They did not come all this way to loose someone now.
Wardog nodded his head as he held his bayonet tightly.
"Very good," he said.
Without any warning he felt some kind of force pulling on his weapon. It was instantly pulled out of his grasp.
The weapon floated through the air until it reached the hand of Jean Grey.
The red head gave a cocky smile and said, "any other weapons you want me to take from you?"
Shamen looked at the many new enemies.
One of them held a deck of cards in his hand. He pulled one off the deck and seemed to charge it up.
"A gift for you mon amie," he said throwing the card at group.
It exploded between them, causing The Crimson Hand members to step back.
Shamen looked at the huge group. He knew they his children were out numbered.
"We cannot win this," he said.
The Crimson Hands then began to run in the opposite direction.
As they did a black car came zooming at them. It stopped in front of them, turning sideways to black their path. The Crimson Hand members stopped.
Rogue stepped out of the car and said, "going somewhere?"
Stalker looked at the girl.
He recognized her immediately.
Rogue slipped of on of her gloves as she waited for one of the killers to make an attack.
As she waited she saw Butcher break through his comrades with his sledgehammer heading right for her face.
She ducked out of the way as the sledge went into her car window.
The distraction allowed all the killers to slip passed her car. Butcher joined them instantly.
Rogue stood upright again as the other X-Men ran over to her.
"We can't let them get away," Scott ordered, "after them now."
The X-Men moved by Rogue and after the killers.
As they did Rogue could hear jean say, "we should have figured she'd let them escape."
Her eyes narrowed, but she did not let her anger get the best of her. She followed the
X-men knowing very well that they could not let these killers escape.
Up ahead Shamen looked back to their foes.
"Alright children," he ordered, "split up. Let us show them what true pain is all about."
His children did as commanded. They split up, all moving in different directions.
The X-Men stopped where the killers split apart.
Scott looked to his team and said, "everyone fan out, we can't loose any of these guys."
They all did as instructed, splitting up as well. They moved through the area, unprepared for what awaited them in the night.
Scott and Jean moved through the ally ways searching for the killers. There was nothing known about them. The X-Men did not know why they were here, why the attacked the Brother Hood, or anything of that nature. And that is what made them dangerous in this case.
The two lovebirds came around a corner. That was where they came in contact with Scarecrow.
He stood with his gaff in hand, ready to use it for pain.
Jean's eyes narrowed as she used her powers to lift up a nearby dumpster.
"If I were you I would have kept on running," she said.
Scarecrow began to stroke his weapon.
"I am no coward," he said. "And neither are my brothers."
Scott held his hand up to his visor.
"Who are you guys and what are you doing in Bayeville," he demanded.
Scarecrow remained as calm as could be. He did not even seem threatened by the two mutants that stood before him.
"We are The Crimson Hands," he said. "The end of life, and lovers of blood. We bring and end to the cruel human race, that has cast us aside, merely because of our differences."
"As for why were are here," he said before laughing. "We are here to shed blood."
Scarecrow began to walk towards them.
Scott kept his hand on his visor, and Jean was ready to drop the dumpster on the killer.
"Move one more step and I'll blast you to kingdom come," Scott said angrily.
Scarecrow did not stop walking.
"What could you do to me that isn't already worse then what I have suffered" he said.
"My body," he said as he slipped off one of his gloves, "is already a source of constant pain."
His hand was reveal, and it was covered in burn scars. His whole body was covered in burns. Every part of his body was covered with an agonizing scare. It they hurt every second of every day.
Jean and Scott's eyes turned wide when they saw this.
"You see," Scarecrow said, "I have experienced Hell. My whole body suffered the agony of fire."
He was now very close to the two lovebirds. They were too mesmerized by the scars to move.
"I have learned to handle the pain," Scarecrow said. "The question is, can you?"
It was then that Jean felt the sharp pain shoot through her shoulder.
She dropped the dumpster. Unfortunately it was no where near Scarecrow.
Scott turned to Jean, and finally noticed Wardog behind her.
He had his circular saw blade in the back of Jean's shoulder.
He reached down to Jean's hand, witch still held his bayonet.
The killer took it from Jean and said, "I believe this belongs to me."
Jean then passed out from the pain.
Scott was about to attack, but sadly had taken his attention away from Scarecrow.
Scarecrow pulled his small club out of his holster and hit Scott in the back of the head.
Scott fell to the ground and was surrounded by darkness.
Kitty and Kurt ran into an abandoned building where they saw two of the killers enter.
Fear was building up in their minds. Never have they seen real masked murderers before.
They had seen them in the movies, but they never thought they truly existed in real life.
When they got into the building they were surrounded by cobwebs and dust covered boxes.
The air was stale and was full of dust particles, making it difficult to breathe.
Kitty coughed as the two of them moved through the building.
"How come we can't here them coughing," she asked trying to hold back from coughing as well. "I'd figure no one could breathe in here."
"I don't know," Kurt claimed.
They moved closer into the building.
As they did Shamen stepped out of the shadows behind them.
He moved behind Kurt with absolute silence. Neither of the mutants were aware of his presence.
Kurt then said to himself, "if I was a nut job where would I hide."
Kitty snickered a little and said, "I suppose that Nightmare guy would be able to tell us if he were here." She was merely trying to lighten the mood.
"Doesn't that guy creep you out," she asked Kurt.
The blue mutant began to feel guilt swell up inside him. He did not feel right about being afraid of Nightmare. Just because he was insane, didn't mean he should have been treated like that.
Before Kurt could answer he heard a voice say from behind him, "Nightmare was one of my best pupils."
Kurt whipped around to see Shamen standing behind him.
The Killer grabbed onto Kurt's head and slammed it against a nearby wall, knocking him out.
Kitty turned to what had happened. Here eyes filled with terror.
Shamen looked at her.
Kitty finally saw that his eyes were only white, and that added on to her fear.
Shamen began to step closer to Kitty.
With every step he took, the prep stepped back.
"Back away, back away," Shamen said in a mocking voice. "Step by step. You're only prolonging the inevitable."
"You make that sound like a bad thing," Kitty said.
Shamen laughed. "You're nothing but a scared little girl. I can see it in your eyes. Without one of your precious friends nearby you are nothing but a frightened child."
"That's not true," Kitty said trying to give herself a mask of bravery. "Keep looking and you'll see I'm not afraid of you."
"Look at you," Shamen said. "Why would I want to do that. I've hated mankind for far to long. It is an ever-growing hatred that keeps on. Every morning I wake up with even more hatred towards them. You tell me to look at you, and what I see, is them!"
He slashed his claws at Kitty.
Kitty phased through his hand and ran away.
Shamen looked at his hand, seeing that it had gone through the girl.
"Impressive," he said.
Kitty then phased down into the floor.
"Very impressive," Shamen said. "You have special abilities."
Kitty phased quickly back up from the floor, but this time she was behind Shamen.
She jumped into the air and gave him a dropkick to the back, causing him to fall on the ground.
"Your right I have special abilities," Kitty said. "We all do. And when my friend find out where I am they're gonna totally beat you sensless."
Still Shamen laughed.
He stood back to his feet and turned to Kitty.
"I doubt that," he said. "Do you think your friends are the only ones that have abilities."
Kitty's eyes turned wide again. "You're mutants to?"
"Not at all," Shamen said, "we are the gifted."
Kitty's eyes narrowed. "That what powers could you possibly have," she asked sternly.
"You will see in time," Shamen said, "but for now I would like to introduce you to one of my children. Butcher."
Kitty turned around, and finally saw that Butcher was behind her.
Before she could move the killer hit her in the head with the handle of his sledgehammer.
Like Kurt, Kitty was knocked out cold.
Butcher laughed and pulled his saw out of its holster.
He held it over the girl's arm, ready to shed some blood. They didn't call him Butcher for nothing.
But before he could Shamen stopped him.
"No," he said, "we may need her to escape from her friends."
Butcher looked at his leader disappointed. But he did not wish to disobey him.
"As you wish father."
Rogue was alone as she moved through the ally ways. They had spilt up so quickly she did not think to go with someone else. Sadly there was nothing she could do about is now.
At this point in time her hurt ankle was getting the better of her. She sat down on top of a nearby crate and began to rub her ankle.
"Why the Hell do Ah have to be hurt on a night like this," she asked herself.
She did not know who she was going to fight any of those killers if she ran into one of them.
Normally when she fought she mostly used her legs. Using them to kick, flip, and many of other impressive moves. Now that she was hurt she would have to think of other ways to fight.
As she rubbed her ankle she said, "Ah'm starting to wish Nightmare was here,"
"So do I," a voice said from down the ally.
Rogue stood to her feet and looked down the ally.
At the end stood Stalker. His hands clasped around the pitchfork, ready to shed death.
However he was not alone. Clowny and Hunter stood with him.
Rogue took her gloves off and dropped them on the ground.
But what use could her powers be now, these killers had their bodies completely covered.
Stalker walked over to Rogue, with Clowny and Hunter right behind him.
"Who the Hell are you," Rogue demanded.
Stalker stopped in front of her and held his pitchfork up to her neck.
"How rude of me," he said. "I am Stalker. With me are Hunter and Clowny. Two of my brothers."
Rogue was frozen when she felt the pitchfork push against her neck. It did not puncture her skin, but it would if she moved.
"Aw, what's wrong Pretty," he asked, "you've never had cold metal pushed into your flesh."
Rogue did not speak. She did not want to anger this guy and have him kill her sooner than he wished.
Hunter walked closer to Rogue and put his masked face up to her bare face.
"Let me have her," he asked. "I need good thrill."
"No," Stalker said. "Not quite yet. We should use her to get away from the others. We could use a hostage. After we're away, then we'll kill her."
Stalker swung the handle of his pitchfork at Rogue's head, prepared to knock her out.
But it didn't happen.
Rogue ducked under the blow and swept the killer's leg.
Stalker fell to the ground.
Clowny and Hunter ran at her.
She barely managed to dodge them.
As quickly as she could she jumped into the air and pushed her feet off the wall and jumped over her two foes.
When she landed on the ground her injured ankle twisted a little causing her to loose her balance.
She fell down as Stalker stood up.
Hunter walked over to the fallen Goth and lifted her up.
"You shouldn't have done that Pretty," Hunter said.
He took his chain out of its holster and wrapped it around Rogue's neck. He held her so she faced Clowny.
Rogue could not breathe. Her airway was cut off.
Stalker held his left hand up as if requesting Hunter to stop.
"Wait," he said, "we my need her."
"I don't care," Hunter said. "She needs to be taught the true ways of death. And what better way to learn then experiencing it first hand Clowny, its time to have some fun."
Rogue looked up at the boy in the clown mask.
He held his cleaver in his hand, and he began to laugh insanely.
The killer moved over to Rogue, but did not try to kill her yet. He began to move around her as he said one of his favorite rhymes.
Clowny had a bloody girl,
whose courage was long gone.
And as she kneeled in her pain,
she realized something's wrong.
And Clowny came with blade in hand,
stained a bright bloody red.
And that poor girl could only scream,
as Clowny cut off her head.
He raised his cleaver into the air.
Rogue closed her eyes tightly hoping the pain would be over soon.
But nothing happened.
Before the blade could slice down another voice made its presence.
"Clowny," it said.
The voice caused all the killers to freeze.
Rogue opened her eyes and saw Nightmare standing in the ally.
He stood with his sickle and machete in his hands.
"Put it down," he said.
Clowny did as was told and lowered the cleaver.
Then Nightmare said to Hunter, "let the girl go."
Stalker looked at Nightmare. His eyes narrowed behind his mask.
"You," he said, full of hatred.
Hunter took his chain off of Rogue's neck.
The Goth coughed and wheezed as she tried to get air back into her lungs.
She stood to her feet and ran to Nightmare's side.
"I knew we would run into you sooner or later," Stalker said.
Nightmare just stood with his blades ready.
Hunter put his chain back at his side and pulled out his pickaxe.
"You have a lot of nerve showing your face again," he said. "I have the right mind to gut you where you stand."
"Like always," nightmare said, "I am ready to fight."
"Yes," Stalker said. "How like you."
Nightmare pushed Rogue gently behind him and stood, ready to protect her.
Stalker gave a quick snicker and said, "I see you found another whore to protect. Is she at all like that girl Kristen, or is there something else that captured your fancy."
Stalker looked at the Goth behind Nightmare.
"What does he see in you pretty? Does he have any twisted fantasies of F$#ing you, or does he simply enjoy your company."
Rogue whispered from behind Nightmare, "how do you know these maniacs."
"Just stay back," Nightmare said, "they're dangerous men."
"Dangerous men," Hunter said. "Is that all you can say about us after all we've been through together."
Nightmare did not answer.
In a fit of sudden rage Stalker charged at Nightmare with his pitchfork pointed at his stomach.
Nightmare's defense was swift. He pushed Rogue aside and allowed Stalker to run by him.
With another quick move he had Stalker in his grasp, holding his neck between his sickle and machete.
He turned back to Hunter and Clowny as they tried to go in for attacks as well.
"Don't move," he said.
The tow killers stopped, not wishing to harm their comrade.
Rogue stood back up from where she fell when Nightmare pushed her pout of the way of the pitchfork.
Nightmare glared at Clowny and Nightmare as he held Stalker close, so he wouldn't escape.
"Now," he said, "take me to Shamen."
Logan and Gambit moved quickly. They had not seen any trace of the others since they had split up.
"When the Hell are we gonna run into the others," Gambit asked as they moved.
"Just keep looking," Logan said, "we're bound to find them soon."
As they continued to look, Logan got a whiff of a sent that any one would know.
"Hold it," he said to Gambit. "I smell," he sniffed the air again, "gasoline."
Before Gambit could question his comrade, he felt the club hit against his head. He fell to the ground, not unconscious, but injured.
Logan turned, and saw a few of The Crimson hand members standing behind him.
"Gasoline is exactly what it is," Shamen said, holding a lighter in his hands.
Logan released his claws and prepared to split the man in two.
"I wouldn't do that," Shamen said creating the flame with the lighter. "Unless you want your friends to do an impression of the damned burning in Hell."
He pointed behind Logan.
The mutant turned around and saw the other X-Men laying flat on the ground, unconscious and covered in gasoline. A trail of gas lead all the way back to where Shamen was standing.
"Shall we watch them burn," Shamen asked.
Logan slid his claws back in.
"Alright," he said, "what do you want?"
"I beg your pardon," Shamen asked.
"You're holding my team hostage," Logan said, "there's gotta be something you want?"
"I want nothing," Shamen said.
"Then why are you doing this," Logan asked infuriated.
"Just for simple fun," Shamen said.
He laughed and said, "on the count of three I am going to drop this lighter upon the trail of gas. I hope you can move quickly kind sir. You will only have a matter of seconds to save your friends."
Logan slid his claws out again.
"One," Shamen said.
"Don't do it," Logan said.
The members of The Crimson Hands began to laugh.
"Two," Shamen said.
"You drop that lighter, and you better hope I don't kill you," Logan said.
"Three," Shamen said.
Before he could drop the lighter he heard a voice call, "hello!"
He knew that voice. Rage instantly swelled in him.
All the killers looked behind him.
Nightmare stood with Stalker in his grasp.
Rogue stood next to him.
Hunter and Clowny were with him as well, but they instantly walked over to Shamen.
"Forgive us father," Hunter said, "he got the better of us."
Shamen ignored them and kept his gaze on Nightmare.
"Nightmare," he said, "of all the people I want to kill, you are at the top of my list."
"I'm gonna kill Stalker Shamen," Nightmare said.
Stalker said nothing.
Shamen shook his head and said, "this act surprises even me."
Nightmare pushed his blades further towards Stalkers neck.
"I don't care what you say," Nightmare claimed, "he will live if you let the mutants go."
Shamen looked at him curiously.
"Still trying to do good," he said. "How pathetic."
Just then the unconscious X-Men began to stir.
Shamen looked back. They were regaining consciousness.
"No," he said.
All the X-Men stood up and soon realized what was going on. They looked to Nightmare who had one of the killers in his grasp.
Shamen looked back to Nightmare.
"It seems the tables have turned in my favor," Nightmare said.
Shamen nodded. But this was not done.
"Alright," Shamen said. "Kill him."
Stalker breathed in, somewhat panicked.
However Nightmare did not do anything.
"What," The young madman asked.
"I said go ahead and kill him," Shamen said.
Nightmare still didn't move.
Rogue leaned closer to Nightmare and whispered, "what are you waiting for?"
"Yes kill him," Shamen said. "Have him join your family."
Still Nightmare did not move. His hands began to shake.
Stalker finally spoke.
"You can't do it, can you?"
Shamen spoke again.
"I knew you wouldn't be able to kill Stalker."
Nightmare lowered his blades, and his hand fell limp to his side.
"Yes, that's right," Shamen said. "I knew how close you two were when you were still with us. You two loved each other like brothers."
Rogue and all the X-Men became shocked.
"What's he talking about," Rogue asked.
"Yes tell them," Shamen said. "Tell them the truth about yourself. I take it they've let you into their humble home, the least you could tell them is your past."
Nightmare shook his head.
"Please Shamen," Nightmare said. "Don't tell them."
Shamen turned back to the other X-Men.
"Nightmare used to be one of us," he said. "I took him in when he was a child, and I raised him as my own."
He turned back to Nightmare, but still spoke to the X-Men.
"He was an excalent killer," Shamen said. "Many innocent lives fell to his hands. But sadly he betrayed us long ago. Still I wouldn't be surprised if he still had his killing instincts."
All The Crimson Hand members smiled under their masks.
Stalker walked back to his comrades.
Shamen continued.
"We will shed no blood tonight," he said. "Nut we will come out next night. And Nightmare You are our target."
And with that they all ran away into the night.
The X-Men looked at Nightmare.
The cloaked madman knelt to the ground. His past had come back. He was now in despair.