SHOUTOUTS\ANSWERS
'Cuz they have lives? Thanks. Here's another chap. Hope you're still alive.
Pand: Thanks. Glad you like it. Keep on readin'. True, but...thanks. Here's the next update.
Windyfontaine: Thanks. Too true. You'll see. I fixed it. Thanks. You too.
DISCLAIMER
Semi-inspired by Nightmare On Elm Street. Mutant X belongs to Marvel Productions and Fox. I only own characters you don't recognize. Bold\italics is telepathetic speak. Reference to "Nothing To Fear.
Emma jerked forward.
"Brennan," she said urgently. She ran towards the training room. As she ran, the others came out of various areas of the building.
"Emma, what's wrong?" Adam wondered.
"It's Brennan. I can feel him," Emma answered. They continued until they reached the training room. Then, they skidded to a stop. Brennan was writhing and screaming. Everyone watched as blood oozed down his right arm.
"Brennan, wake up!" Scott shouted. He ran to his friend and began shaking him. The elemental reached up and made motions as if trying to pull something away from his neck.
"He's being choked," Shalimar realized. She pushed through the group, shoving Scott away, and attempted to help her friend. Brennan groaned urgently and the others watched as blood continued to flow.
"Adam, I have to go in his mind," Emma declared.
"Emma, no. It's too dangerous," Adam protested.
"There's no other way," Emma said. With that, she focused on her friend.
"What---what she's doing?" Tana questioned. Brennan, let me in, Emma said. Almost instantly, she gained access. Emma looked around. Where was she? For that matter, where was Brennan? Brennan, where are you? Emma wondered. From out of nowhere, she heard childrens' voices.
One, two, Shadow's comin' for you.
Three, four, better block the door.
Five, six, use a cruxifix.
Seven, eight, it's way too late.
Nine, ten, never seen again.
Then, she heard sounds of a struggle and hurried towards it. When she found Brennan, she was surprised to see a strange mist surrounding her friend. Brennan, you have to wake up now, Emma said.
Yeah. Little busy here, Emma, Brennan choked out.
It's just a dream, Brennan. Just like with Henry. It's not real. You can beat this. You just have to take back your power, Emma told him. Brennan's eyes flashed. Emma was right. He just had to fight the freak. He reached around and grabbed the knife. The Shadow chuckled.
"You always were the fighter, Mulwray," the creature sneered. Meanwhile, Tana, Scott, and the rest of the team watched anxiously.
"Good, Emma. Keep it up," Shalimar encouraged as she noticed Brennan's breathing change for the better. They watched as Brennan acted as if he was pulling something away.
"Jesse, phase him," Emma instructed. Jesse quickly went to do as he was told. Feeling the shift of the molecules in his body, Brennan jerked awake.
"Brennan!" Tana exclaimed in relief. The man coughed violently.
"I'll go get him some water and the first aid kit," Jesse offered. Without waiting for a response, he left the room. He returned with the items shortly. Jesse gave Brennan the water and began to tend to his wounds.
"I don't understand it. The Shadow's attacks---they've never escalated so quickly before," Tana said in confusion as Brennan took a drink.
"Well, what can I say? He's always had it in for me," Brennan rasped.
"Wait a second. Brennan, did you have this in your hands when you fell asleep?" Jesse asked out of the blue.
"Huh?" Brennan questioned, his cough dying down.
"The cross," Jesse replied. The group looked down to see Brennan's fingers curling tightly around the cross.
"Yeah. I was holdin' it," the elemental confirmed. Everyone looked from their friend and the object in his hand.
"Wait a minute," Emma said.
"What?" Adam asked.
"When I was looking for Brennan in his mind, there was some children singing," Emma stated.
"What are you talking about?" Shalimar questioned.
"The jump rope song," Brennan answered.
"Jump rope song?" Jesse repeated.
"One, two, Shadow's comin' for you," Brennan sang.
"Three, four, better block the door," Tana added in the same tone.
"But it was the next line that puzzled me: 'Five, six, use a cruxifix'," Emma quoated.
"That almost sounds like a warning," Adam commented.
"Yeah, it does," Scott mused.
"You think the Shadow was after my cross?" Brennan questioned.
"Or maybe trying to make you drop it," Tana suggested.
"So, if I'm following the train of thought correctly, you're thinking a cross can stop him?" Brennan asked.
