A fortnight later, the atmosphere within the mansion had begun to shift with everyone feeling more apprehensive and tense. Classes had been cancelled until further notice which caused the students to automatically alter their focus onto the disappearance of Mallory, also becoming aware of the lack of adults within the school. Charles had locked himself away in his office as he analysed the information he had collected from his Mnemokinesis on Mallory, only mentioning the basics to the rest of the team – worried that if he divulged too much before he could prove it, rioting would commence.
The team gathered in the sub-floor meeting room every day, talking through how to strengthen security from Erik and to hold back the ever growing pressures of the media outside.
"There's something I need to say…" Blink interrupted one morning, unable to ignore the weight on her shoulders any longer. She stood up from her chair as everyone looked up at her concerned.
"I know where Mallory's been over the past few weeks…she hasn't been in her room…" she sighed. "She's been in the Training Room all day, every day…"
"What, how?" snapped Scott irritated. "How has she been able to get in, I've deadlocked that room to anyone but us…"
Pietro stood up next to Blink and lifted up his hand with a slight curl in his lips.
"That would be me…" he stated. "But, we were told to try and be friends with her, she was dead set on going in there, so what could we do?"
"She's going through every scenario and every possible enemy…she doesn't stop until the generator shuts down…and then she just leaves. She doesn't speak to us anymore…" Blink mumbled nervously, ringing her fingers in her hands.
"She's been like this since her procedure with Charles" Jean responded to the group. "She's going to be remembering a lot more of her past, her emotions will be raw…I won't be surprised if this is her outlet, she needs something to focus on"
"It's different though, it's not normal fighting…there's something else." Pietro's voice echoed. "It's like it isn't her, she changes. I don't think it's been her for a while."
The group suddenly began to frown, confused and worried at the statement, they all looked to each other for some way of understanding but they were all lost.
"Have you told Charles about this, about what you've seen?" asked Scott, rubbing his jaw with his fingers.
"I tried, but he won't let anybody in…and I don't think Logan's ready for me to ask him for any advice on the situation…" Blink answered.
"I'll have a look…" Storm sighed standing up and leaning on the table in front of her. "I'll just say that it's for her progression file, how well she's doing since her first training session. I'll place the cameras on too, just in case anything needs recording to help Charles."
That evening, Mallory waited until the corridors were silent before she paced towards the lift, ensuring her face was covered by her oversized hood. As she entered the lift, she looked down towards the keyhole for the subfloors. She lifted up her hand to it, seeing a blue aura encircling her hand and into the hole before a sound rang to accept it.
The doors opened into the metal encased corridor and she came face to face with Storm, with her arms crossed and her lips pursed.
"Miss Howlett, what a nice surprise!" gasped Storm sarcastically, raising her eyebrows.
Mallory shook her head and rolled her eyes as she walked past Storm and towards the door to the Training Room, Storm spun on her heel and caught up with her.
"Mallory, what's wrong…we haven't seen you around in weeks?" Storm asked softly, jumping in front of her as an obstacle. Mallory slowed to a halt and looked up at her with hurt in her eyes.
"I can't sleep, I can't eat, I can't even think straight right now. I remember everything now, everything Eden did to me, everything my mum did…I need to forget about it" Mallory stated, pulling down her hood. "I'm not going to apologise for using the room without permission, but as long as I'm not killing anybody"
Storm chose to ignore Mallory's dig and sighed sympathetically, noticing that Mallory's eyes falter and forehead crinkle softly. Having an untrue rumour spreading through the school about being a murderer was clearly taking its toll more than Storm had thought.
"Look, I need to update your progression file anyway. Let me do a fight drill on you and I won't tell anybody about your misdemeanours…" Storm asked, a curl forming on her lips as she attempted to cheer her up. She knew that everyone was already aware, but a small lie sometimes was necessary – she thought.
Mallory looked up at her through her long, dark eyelashes and sighed in defeat.
"I don't have any other choice do I?" she asked, continuing to walk.