New chapter! I'm happy this finally got done. I did my best with it. And that's what matters. It was really really hard to write.

If you don't like it, please use constructive criticism and be civil.

I slowly opened my eyes to be inside of a hospital room.

To my left I see my father sitting in a chair. I asked him "What just happened?"

"Your friend decided to steal your powers." My father stated bluntly.

"What did you just say?" I ask unable to believe it. Surely I'd heard wrong. This couldn't be...

"It is exactly as I said. She obviously didn't mean to take so much out of you. You've been unconscious for a week ."

"A week? Wait so you must've fought her."

My stomach churned. Marie would have been turned to mince meat...

"No I didn't. Instead, as soon as she touched you she began to scream in agony… Yelling about voices in her head."

I connected the dots.

No. I can't. It can't.

"When Rogue uses her powers she absorbs people's thoughts as well as their powers." He stared at me knowing what I'd say but demanding I tell him so myself.

"I- I hear various thoughts in my head. It never bothered me. I even thought it was normal when I was little. "

"How often?"

"Everyday. About a 100 each with their own personalities."

He stared at me then there was silence. "You can't keep these things secret from me. Do you understand what could have happened if this went on to long?"

More focused about my friend, I mostly ignored his lecture.

"I'm fine. I haven't had a problem with it at all. All the voices have never bothered in my 15 years of life. I'll be ok."

"Not with that attitude towards your own health." He said.

"Marie… is she ok now?"

"Irrelevant," My father snapped "what is important is that she destroyed a very large portion of the city."

That's impossible.

"Your powers if you remember are still linked with your emotions due to your lack of training." He reminded me

"And the voices drove Marie off the deep end."

He nods.

I paled unable to speak.

I should have warned her. Told her how many voices are actually in my head. The severity of it.

No way we'd hurt Marie. Optimism said

Well, it looks like we did! I thought

Well then what? Our own existence caused her to break down? Rebellion said,

Seems like it. I wouldn't blame her. All the talking and stuff it'd be bad for most. Logic said

I could imagine the panic and confusion of suddenly being sent several hundreds of thoughts. Unable to get them to shut up as they were just as panicked as her.

"How many…" I dared to ask.

"200 bodies were were found."

Were found I thought.

"Several hundred are missing. Not including them."

I stared at my father in disbelief. "Impossible. I-it-I can't possibly."

"Yes. Yes you 're so much stronger than you know. The damage the girl did proves it… Fortunately it didn't hit any mutants hideaways."

I'm a murderer. Again…

With that realization I was quickly in tears. So many innocents died men, women, children even.

It was all my fault.

"It isn't your fault." My father said "You haven't done anything wrong in this."

"I could have defused the situation better." I wiping away the tears.

"Do you really think that would have worked on that stubborn girl?"

She had threatened to absorb already when she thought I was doing something dangerous. "No."

"Her mind was made the instant she saw me."

It logically made sense but something in me didn't want to believe what he said. Surely I could've done something.

Like what fry Marie? You know we'd never. That was what she was counting on. Manipulation said. To be honest I'm a bit proud of her. That plan could've worked- with a few tweaks. Like not taking on our father!

Shut up don't act like you care. Mr let's sacrifice Mom.

It's called being a realist Logic. Besides that was months ago. I'm a new man.

About that… Rebellion said.

I smiled at the exchange. Then remembered that father was talking to me.

"...The Brotherhood has taken responsibility for the incident and we'll be able to use it to our advantage."

There he goes always about business-wait.

"You'd take responsibility for killing hundreds of innocents? It that- what happened was accidental."

"And they don't need to know that. The point is you taking out a square mile of Manhattan will help show humans exactly how weak they are."

How can you be so… I can't even describe it.

I pushed myself up only to be told to lay down again. "Rest." My Father said.

"I'll try."

I hope Marie is ok.

My father noticing my sad mood had my laptop and several video games sent up to the room. He also spent hours playing chess with me while I healed. In between work he was certain to visit me everyday.

"You still miss that girl?" My father asked noticing that I had been staring at pictures of my friend and I.

"Of course." I stopped at a picture we'd taken in our favorite park. Our smiles were big as we- Marie, Watts and I crammed ourselves together for the perfect shot. We were so happy...

"She's the reason you're in the hospital."

"She's my best friend."

"Was." My father said firmly. This wouldn't be up for discussion.

Was? I thought.

"For your own sake, I forbid you from speaking to her again."

My shoulders slumped. I didn't like this decision but knew I'd have no say. I simply sigh. "Yes Father.'

Once he left I decided to confirm a hypothesis. I called the hospital's front desk.

"Hello do you have a patient by the name of Anna Marie?"

"Why yes she's in room 733"

Just a floor above me.

"Thanks."

Just as I'd thought. My father would of course take me to the nearest hospital. And Xavier would of course do the same. I'm sure they knew of each other's presence but had a silent agreement to leave each other alone.

Using both arms I quickly propelled myself out the hospital cot. I wobble unsteady from my lack of walking but muscle memory soon kicked in steadying me. I decide to look out window and saw...

Hell.

Metal beams were twisted like pretzels. Tall skyscrapers laid on their side. Cars were crushed by the buildings that fell above them. If I looked closely I could see the head of a decapitated man. Red dried blood staining the grey concrete like ketchup on a shirt.

They must've not gotten to this part yet.

I cringed remembering that this destruction was all my fault. I took a deep breath.

What's done is done. I have to talk to Marie.

I was certain I wouldn't get another chance.

I pull the window up but it doesn't move. I try again and again but this doesn't work.

The front door was guarded by Toad. I knew so because he often noisily complained about being bored.

My father knew what I'd do as soon as soon as I had the strength.

I flip back onto my cot not caring how it creaked.

I used the hospital phone nearby and put in her room number.

I couldn't get a single dial tone. Yet, I could call anywhere else fine.

To hell with it. I don't care.

I called her number using my cellphone. My special phone did nothing. I tried my ordinary phone and again I had no luck.

I tried calling Xavier but even that didn't work.

I wasn't supposed to talk to Marie and my father would make sure that would happen.

I found that the glass of the windows were much stronger than ordinary glass meaning I couldn't use my powers to break it.

I sat in the cot frustrated.

How to see Marie again? Any ideas. I asked

Us help you out. Why? Remember Magneto's going to wipe us from existence! Rebellion said

I don't have a choice in that you know. Besides she's your friend too.

Well, I have an idea. Manipulation said

I stood up then reached out with my power. A heap of scrap metal below the hospital would work. Despite a week without practice I easily mould the large mound into what I wanted.

It looked similar to soldier. And with a cloak on top you could mistake it for a person.

Maybe I should be a sculptor if being an engineer doesn't work.

I then hearl this soldier into the window of nearby hallway. That glass was far more fragile and was easily smashed through.

Startled Toad goes out to investigate. I sent my soldier on a route that sent him downstairs before I changed it into an inconspicuous plant statue. Toad ran right past.

Meanwhile I ran upstairs.

I approach the room my friend was and found that the door opened on its own.

I see my friend far paler than usual sitting on the floor in the dark room.

"Marie I heard about what happened and and I'm so-"

"Shut up." She snarled "I don't want you bullshit apologies. Maybe you should warn someone that you're batshit crazy."

I said nothing and stared at the floor.

"Did ya hear? Even the professor can't fix me. The funny thing is there's so many voices in mah head that he can't get in and get rid of yours."

"I that's I'm I'm so."

"Shut up! I know exactly what you think of me now. I'm stupid ain't I? I'm naive because I don't kill innocent bystanders."

"Marie, it's there's more than that."

"Really. So we were really friends then? You can say you thought that I was your equal? And you that respected me?"

" ...You're right. I never thought you as my equal."

She wasn't in many things. But she was the nicest person I knew. And that's what I liked about her.

"I was just a dog that you felt like teaching tricks to!"

I stayed quiet getting the feeling that saying anything would only make things worse. I just wanted you to have a better life and be happy.

"You know what? You respect strength right? I'll show you strength."

What? That was all I had time to think before I see a silver blur and quickly dodged to the left. I look over my shoulder and see a knife planted in the concrete wall where I was.

She stood up. It tore through concrete like butter. The force needed to do that… Logic said

I understand being angry but this? It's insane.

"It hurts you know, having your thoughts in my head. There's so much of you in my head that I have no space for me!".

This was not going well. I had to deescalate this quickly. I put my hands up showing my palms. "Marie I control them on a day to day basis. Calm down. They'll shut up if you ask."

"You're saying that so you can kill me later!"

That would be a smart plan. Manipulation said

Everyone stared at him.

What she is mentally gone. If need be… He continued

Shut up! Thoughts like that are why she doesn't trust us. Rebellion said.

I rolled to the side to avoid a chair. "I'd never hurt you."

Excuse me for not living in Lala land. Manipulation said. She seems to not be interested in being friends anymore.

"Really not even if your Daddy said so like that poor man that saved you?"

"Never." I said again

"I don't believe you! You're a liar."

An assault of printers and computers came my way but most importantly scalpels.

Scalpels that nearly took my head off and were coming back for a second shot.

I ran for my life.

I raced down the hall till I got to the stairs. I kept running down further and further down until I reached the first floor.

Heart pounding I ran to open the door but found that it was locked.

My 'friend' smiled with glee when she saw the fear in my eyes.

"You're mine." she said all traces of Marie gone.

Behind her were all of things I'd dodged.

I quickly knew what she was going to do. She wanted to crush me like a bug. And then what? Go after the professor for not paying attention to her? Hurt Bobby for being annoying? In her crazed state it was impossible to tell.

I had to end this. My powers my responsibility.

I'm sorry.

I sent bolt of electricity to the girl stopping her instantly. She fell falling on the landing below.

"You're my best friend. You know what you're right I didn't respect you as a fighter and I'm sorry. But I think your the humane person I've met."

"You wanted a funeral for the mice that we used as test subjects. You volunteer and help people with no regard to personal gain."

"And you risked your own safety to help people."

"Even if I didn't need saving. I'll always treasure the fact you cared so much that you stood up to my father for me."

Stupid plan but amazing spirit. There aren't many like her out in the world.

I paused.

"Everyone shut up!"

Right they don't always do what they're told.

The girls eyes locked onto mine. She threw her hands forward sending the heap of things at me.

What were we doing being all sentimental and crap! Rebellion said.

My instincts kicked in and a shield appeared in front of my body prevent me from dying. Sadly, this meant that the metal was sent backwards...to my friends postion on the landing above.

She was pushed back and I heard the crunch of bones.

She screamed first gibberish then " Why can't my damn legs move!"

Her legs were mostly free from debris meaning...

I froze at my spot unable to move.

Oh my God. Logic said.

… Optimism couldn't have possibly thought of something to say.

Marie! Rebellion yelled.

Unreal. Cynicism said.

Cuff her. Manipulation said. So she can't counterstrike. I stopped caring about her when she tried to kill us.

I numbly use my power to cuff my friend putting her hands behind her back before removing the trash.

My friend despite being freed did not stand confirming my suspicions.

"I'm so sorry." I told her despite the verbal abuse she hurled at me.

I kept saying that over and over until the shock went away.

I leave the stairwell and call Xavier from another hospital phone.

"Xavier."

"Chris?"

"Marie tried to kill me. She's in the stairwell on the first floor. It doesn't look good. She lacks can't move her legs."

"What?"

"It's as I said."

"We knew her mental state was destroyed after she touched you but I never imagined… I'm sorry. We thought your powers had worn off."

"Don't apologize. Just don't tell my father about this. I'm sure he'd kill her this time."

"Your right. We'll get her out of there quickly."

Toad had still been looking for the cause of the disturbance. So I slipped in.

I can't believe it…

Marie had the same feral looking eyes as my mom when she was having a psychotic breakdown. The same eyes.

I could understand her being a bit overwhelmed and having headaches but losing her sanity… it was inconceivable.

First Mom and now her too?