The next morning didn't start as early. Hank had asked for a brief meeting before Charles went back into Elliot's mind. His demeanor was serious as he sat in front of Charles.
Hank sighed and began to tell Charles of his findings after some medical tests on Elliott.
"She's not going to last much longer. A week, maybe a week and a half.," Hank said.
"Is there anything you can do?,"Charles asked. "I'm doing everything I can, but feeding her through IV's just isn't getting her the nutrients her body needs. Have you made any progress?"
"Not enough. I was just able to communicate with her yesterday. If I can through to her again, I may be able to help her, tell her the world she's in isn't real."
"Charles, I checked the data when you were in her head yesterday. Her brain became very unstable. If you tell her and she can't handle it...anything could happen. She could start seizing, possibly a nervous breakdown or she may just die right out."
"So, the two options are Watch her die by starvation or die by her world collapsing?I have to do something for her..."
Hank said nothing, only gave Charles a sympathetic look. "I'm sure you'll find a way. Good luck.," Hank spoke before walking away. Charles sat facing Elliott. He was so involved in her dream world, seeing her healthy there that he hadn't been really paying too attention to the "real" Elliott. Her skin was ashen, her eyes starting to look sunken in. Hank's warning was fresh in his mind. He weighed out his options.
How could he tell her without causing her brain to overload? Should he even keep trying, he thought to himself before quickly dismissing that thought. Without this, she'd surely die rather than possibly die. There was no other option as far as he was concerned.
Ever since yesterday their mental bond was stronger. He could see her thoughts, see her dreams.
He was in a lot if then, making it hard to tell if he felt the same just yet, trying his damnedest to recognize his own emotions past empathy for hers.
There was one dream in particular that had touched him. He had felt her pain and desperation.
The day Elliott and Lillith had to go out on their own. Elliott left to use the restroom during church, and when she came back into the sanctuary the whole congregation was on the floor as if they had all just fallen out in the middle of what they were doing. Everyone except Lillith, up on stage with the children's choir crying her eyes out. "I don't know what happened.," Lillith sobbed as she wiped tears from her eyes. Elliott stood in shock for a moment then ran up to her younger cousin.

"Everything will be all right...," Elliott said soothingly as she crouched down to be at eye level with Lillith. Then she noticed her eyes. Lillith's eyes had always been green, but never this shade of neon green. Elliott looked around, then back at Lillith.
"We have to go, NOW!," Elliott said as she grabbed Lillith's hand and ran out of the church.
They ran all the way home, nearly four miles. They had only been there for a few minutes when Elliott heard her father's truck pulling up peeling through the driveway.
"Ronald, we don't even know if they came here!," Elliott mother yelled out.
"Where else would they have gone, Eleanor?," He shot back. The anger in his voice all too apparent. Elliott and Lillith stood up from the couch trying not to let their terror show, not an easy task for an eighteen and eleven year old. The door flew open and the two girls cried out and it smashed into the living room wall.
"Couldn't face everyone after what you did, could you little demon?," Ronald yelled as pointed at Lillith. The little girl stood silent in fear, then jumped with Ronald's "WELL?"
"She's not a demon...," Elliott began before her father cut her off.
"Yes, she is! All of this is in the bible. Eleanor! Go get my shave kit. Elliott; strip her down so I can check for the mark of the beast."
Eleanor stood in shock at Ronald's order even though she had to admit she was now afraid of her little niece. Elliott looked at her father incredulously.
"Do it you two, NOW!," Ronald hollered. "NO!," Elliott yelled back.
Ronald stormed up to his daughter and slapped her across the face hard enough to make her head snap back. Eleanor gasped and Lillith began to cry. No one dared stop Ronald. He hit Elliott again. And again.
Eleanor finally screamed at him to stop when Elliott was lying on the floor. He beat the hell out of her. To this day Elliott had a small scar on her chin from hitting a table as she fell to the floor.
"You listen to me.," Ronald growled out between clenched teeth. "If you love that minion of Satan so much leave this house with her and never come back. I don't have a niece anymore, or a daughter."
Growing up in that atmosphere with her parents' attitude towards mutants, towards anyone different (her father was also a racist and had no qualms about making that known) Elliott could've been full of hate and rage herself. However,she was the complete opposite. Charles looked at her still form affectionately and kissed the top of her head before making his link.
He was in the hallway of the mansion. One of the doors was ajar and he opened it. Elliott was in the room, sitting on the bed as she looked out the window. The sky was red, the light casting an ominous glow in the room. Charles wasn't doing this. Maybe it meant she was beginning to have more control of her surroundings. Elliott looked up and smiled.
"Charles, you're here. I get so scared when I'm alone.," She said as she walked out to him. He wrapped his arms around her.
"It's all right. I'm here now." One of his hands moved up to her hair and he pulled her closer.
"Elle...," Charles said as she looked up at him. Something was different about his voice, it was soft and gentle.
He looked down at her and smiled. This is what he wanted. He kissed her, but this was different than the last time he was here. Instead of the quick peck on her cheek he kissed her lips and let it linger. Then he was Suddenly he was back in his room in an instant, with no recollection of what happened after that. He looked down at Elliott and could swear it looked like there was a faint sign of a smile on her face. Something happened, something intense. A little too intense for him to jump back in right now, but time was running out. All he could do was try again tomorrow.