A.N.- don't have much to say, I think. I hope this chapter is satisfactory for you guys.
A.N. continued- I've just found out there are to be no more reviews posted here. Instead, we get to send a "private message" instead. So I just wanted to say a general thanks to you guys. Please tell me what you think.
Duncan signaled two of his friends to pick the unconscious Rogue up and carry her inside. She was brought into a warehouse; an old one by the looks of it. One that very few people ever went into. "Put her on the bed," Duncan commanded.
Rogue was thrown onto a thin, lumpy bed, much like those used in mental asylums. Instantly, the boys proceeded to strapping the leather bonds around her wrists and ankles.
Duncan stood over Rogue and slapped her harshly across the face. She awoke with a jolt. Rogue could feel her pulse in her fingers, due to the bonds. Duncan had a malicious grin. "I'm gonna have a lot of fun with you."
He reached down for a knife, and placed it by her collar. Slowly, he tore her clothing, relishing the moment. The shirt was ripped, and he spread the halves, gawking at her chest. He bent over, and began placing kisses from her collarbone, between her breasts, and stopping at her hips. Duncan proceeded to rip her skirt, too. All she had left to cover herself was her bra, tights, and underwear. Tears formed in her eyes, but she refused to break down and cry.
"Get lost, guys. Time to spend some quality time with my Roguey here," Duncan ordered.
Rogue heard a few groans of complaint, but they all deserted her, until it was only Duncan.
Why am I all alone? Rogue thought, hopelessly. Where are they?
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The team entered the second to last warehouse, feeling, well, almost lucky. Since none of the others had Rogue, the odds had to be in their favor. Jean walked in first, shadowed by Wolverine. Jean did a quick mind-scan and didn't detect any humans present. Logan aided the telepath, using his keen sense of smell. The building smelled old and musty. However, several scents were stronger. "She's here," he informed the others.
"Alright, you know the drill. Spread out, keep in contact. If you see anything suspicious, let your team know. Understood?" Cyclops asked. Without waiting for an answer, he continued. "Shadowcat, I want you to go to the far end, where all the crates are. Nightcrawler, you check up above. Jean, you and I will check here at the entrance. Wolverine, you get the middle. Let's go!"
At his word, everyone hurried off to his or her assigned locations, Kurt BAMF'd up to the top, while Kitty ran to the end of the ware house.
Logan began sniffing around, and immediately picked up on something quite strong: blood. From what he could tell, he was close. Real close. Continuing forward, he moved a few feet when he saw pale skin. He ran closer, and when he saw her, his stomach turned. Logan had seen plenty of gruesome things in his time, but not in years had he felt this sick.
Rogue's face was swollen, plenty of dark-coloured bruised forming. Red marks covered her neck. And, Dear God, Logan thought, she's not wearing any clothes.
"Cyke, I found her," Logan spoke into the communicator. "She's unconscious, but breathing. Get Nightcrawler over here with some blanket. Tell him to bring Jean along with him. I don't want her moved too much; I think her leg's broken. Get the jet ready, too."
Almost immediately, Kurt arrived with Jean and blankets. Jean wrapped them around Rogue, then used her telekinesis to transport her to the X-Jet.
Meanwhile, Scott was communicating with the Professor. "That's right, we found her. From what we hear, she's in pretty bad shape."
"Well done, Scott. As we speak, Hank is preparing the infirmary for her arrival."
Jean and Rogue reached the Blackbird. There was noticeable tension in the air. Kitty was the first to speak. "What's that around her neck?"
"Dunno. Didn't notice it when I first saw her," replied Logan.
"Well, shouldn't we remove it?" Scott inquired.
"No. Better to wait and see what it is, rather than make a costly mistake. For all we know, it could do some damage."
Finally reaching the Institute, Beast rushed out to aid his patient. Everyone else trudged into the mansion, not daring to utter a word. Each then went to their separate rooms to change. Kitty, however, began to sob when she saw her roommate's half of the room. She ran to Jean for comfort. As soon as the psychic saw Kitty cry, she, too, began to shed tears.
After five minutes of the tear-fest, Jean suggested, "Come on, let's go to the rec room. Most everyone is there."
The girls walked down the stairs and into the rec room. The television was on, though nobody was watching. Even Ororo and Logan were present.
Everyone merely sat there, in silence, save for the corny infomercial. Abruptly, the tv was turned off. The silence was deafening.
Jean was sitting between Kitty and Scott, thinking, Well, somebody has to come out and say it. Unfortunately, she had projected her thoughts to everyone in the room. They all looked up and stared at her. She turned bright red and muttered, "Sorry."
"No Jean, you're correct. It does need to be said," spoke Ororo. "Like it or not, a close friend and sister," she looked at Kurt, "was violated. She will need all of us, each and every one of us, to help her."
"But, Ororo, I don't know what to say to her," Kitty interjected. "I mean, it's Rogue. The smallest thing sets her off. And now…" she trailed off.
"That is to be expected. I doubt anyone here has had- yes, Kurt?"
Kurt stood up and began to pace. "Ja, I did. Back in Germany. A friend of the family. She was about Rogue's age. All of a sudden, she started to act differently. She was so bright and cheerful. Bubbly, even. But she withdrew, hardly talked to anyone. We all noticed, of course, but didn't know what happened. Then this rumor started, that she had been," he paused, "been raped. She didn't confirm it, but she didn't deny it. One day, I was walking home from school. Something, I don't know what, had me keep going, past my house, an extra block. Then I stopped. I was at Gretta's house. I walked in because the door was ajar. I walked up the steps, and…"
"Kurt, what did you see?" Scott prompted.
"It was Gretta. There was a gun in her hand, and half of her head was blown off. There was a note on the bed. I read it. She wrote that she couldn't take it anymore. She didn't see any reason to live. It was the rape, in the end, that killed her."
Kurt looked around, and said in a small, pleading voice, "I don't want that to happen to my sister."
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A.N.- hope everyone liked it. please send me your critiques. i do so value them. but above all people, review!
