Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men.

BW: Wow this chapter is long. I didn't even realize it.

A New List

Magneto didn't want to bury Blob on the School property, but he had no choice, seeing as it would take too long to get to their main headquarters, and they couldn't transport his bloodied body. So Blob was buried deep in the forest, near the edge of the Institute's property.

Magneto made it clear he didn't want anyone intruding on the ceremony, so most the X-Men spent the day inside the mansion. X watched John, Wanda, Pietro, and Lance walk into the forest, and watched them appear from the forest about an hour later.

She watched them as they made their way back into the Institute, their faces completely neutral. The whole day, the school had been in chaos. All the teachers running around, trying to figure out what they would do about Death's new method of killing.

For some reason, it didn't exactly bother X-23. She didn't know why, but she wasn't worried or scared. Come to think of it... she didn't really have any fears period. People believed her to be tough, not afraid of a fight or a little pain. That's what everyone saw, and she wanted to keep it that way.

X-23 looked over at the clock on her bedside table and saw it was 7:30. She let out a small yawn. It was still early, but for some reason, she felt really tired. She got changed into a black t-shirt and black pajama bottoms, before getting into bed.

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All the teenagers were in the recreation room, minus X. "Hey, where is she anyways?" Asked Pietro from where he was about to take a shot at the pool table. He did just as he finished his sentence, but he missed.

Pyro went around the table to make his own shot. "I don't know, man. Haven't really seen her all day..." He managed to make a good shot. He stood up and called across the room. "Hey, Wanda? Pietro was wondering if you've seen X all day?"

Wanda turned her head to look at him and her brother. "I saw her this morning but that was it. You know, she's probably in our room. You know how she likes to spend so much time to herself."

Pietro looked at his sister. "Could you... I don't know... check up on her? Usually she's chasing me around all day, but I haven't seen her at all."

Wanda stood up and slowly made her way to the room doorway, smirking. "Why? You worried?"

Pietro tried to keep himself from revealing any emotions. "Maybe?"

Wanda left the room at a relaxing pace, making her way to her room to see where her friend had gone off to.

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X woke up in her bed. She rolled over to look at her bedside table to see the clock still read 7:30.
How is that even possible? She knew she had definitely fallen asleep, but she couldn't have slept for 24 hours. And it couldn't be morning, as the sun was still setting.

She saw movement in the corner of her eye and looked on Wanda's bed to see Death sitting on it, staring at her intently.

Death smirked slightly. "Hello."

X-23 sat up, claws popping out. She let out a growl. "What the Hell have you done?" She hissed, taking a step forward.

Death shifted her position a little, both feet resting on the floor. Her smirk widened. "I've done nothing. All I've done is taken a little journey through your mind."

X-23 widened her eyes before changing her face to a neutral state. "What? So you mean this is all in my head?"

Death nodded once. "Precisely." She eyed X-23's claws. "I've come to realize you aren't exactly scared of me. Not afraid of fighting me. Though I have come to realize what you are afraid of."

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Wanda slowly made herself to her room. She pushed open the door and walked in, noticing that X was already in bed. Wanda smirked. "Hey, sleepy head." She teased, knowing her friend wouldn't notice.

X should have heard her. The girl had heightened senses for crying out loud! Wanda poked X's shoulder. "Hey.... Wake up." Still X did not move. Wanda looked around the room and grabbed X-23's shoulder, giving it a sharp jerk. "X!"

Her eyes shot open. "Huh?"

Wanda sighed with relief. "God. For a minute I thought you were dead or something when you didn't move when I first called your name."

X let out a shaky laugh. "Sorry. I'm just really tired." She blinked and placed a hand on her forehead. She felt very weird. Like she had been placed into a new body and was trying to get used to it. "I...uh... I have to go find something."

Wanda blinked at her in a puzzled manner. "What?"

X climbed out of bed and staggered half way across the room, flapping her arm when Wanda got up to go and try and assist her. "I'm just hungry is all." She muttered, opening the door and leaving.

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Pietro looked up as Wanda entered the room. "All safe and sound?" He asked. Wanda didn't seem in a rush or upset, so it must mean it was all good.

Wanda nodded in an absent minded way. "Huh? Oh yah."

Pyro looked up. "Hey, Wanda." He said, putting his stick down and heading over to her. "Is something wrong?"

Wanda shook her head. "No. I'm just thinking." She sat down.

John sat down beside her and rested a hand on her knee. "About what?" He asked in a little above a whisper.

Wanda looked at him. "X."

Pietro was standing in front of her milliseconds later. "What about Laura?"

Wanda looked at him, allowing a brief look of amusement cross her face before turning serious again. "She seemed very distressed while she slept and - Don't look at me like that Pie!- She seemed out of it as she got up and walked out of the room."

"Where'd she go?" Pietro asked, looking ready to run off.

Wanda blinked. "I think she said to the kitchen but-" Pietro didn't let her finish as he sped off.

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Laura's hand was shaking uncontrollably, and the harder she tried to stop it, the harder it just seemed to shake. She sighed in a defeated sort of way as she pressed her forehead into the palms of her shaking hands.

At a creak she snapped her head up, eyes shifting in every direction. She soon chided herself for being so jumpy when she realized it was just one of the usual house noises. Still, the butterflies in her stomach jumped about. She clenched her hand into a fist and bit down on it, trying to calm her nerves.

She could still feel the anxiety and panic in her swelling. She bit down harder still, until she tasted the salty tang of blood. The sharp taste on her tongue caused her to remove her hand and look at her hand, watching it sew itself back together curiously, as though she hadn't realized she could do that before. The blood dripped from her hand onto the clean marble counter, the sight of the blood seeming to calm her, and make her feel somehow satisfied.

The sound of approaching footsteps seemed to break into her trance and bring her back to reality. She shook her head, blinking rapidly. The footsteps were getting louder, coming closer.

Without thinking, she slipped off the stool quietly, tiptoeing across the kitchen ever so quietly. SNIKT. She raised her claws to eye level, ready to stab whatever crossed the doorway.

The door burst open and X let out a yell and her fist and claws flew forward.

"WHOA!"

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John grinned at Wanda, as he took another shot at the pool table. "Ten bucks says X flays Pietro, X yells at him a bit for scaring her and then panics and runs to get Hank."

Wanda smirked back. "You're so on."

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Blue eyes darted nervously between the claws that had stopped less than an inch from his face, to the face of fear etched on Laura's face. "Whoa." Pietro repeated, slower and more nervously.

"Pie?" The word sounded somehow foreign to X, and she dropped her hand, claws sliding back into her fist. "You idiot. Don't scare me like that." She muttered, going back across the kitchen and plopping back onto her stool.

Pietro blinked rather stupidly before walking across the kitchen and sitting across from Laura. "So, what was that about?"

Laura gave him a somewhat disgusted look, and then remembering the blood she had left on the counter, pressed her arms to the counter, feeling the blood seep into the sleeves of her sweater. "You scared me!"

Pietro blinked again. "Because running around the mansion at super speed and bursting into rooms is something I don't usually do." He said rather sarcastically, and then to take the sting out added. "I thought you were used to that."

X bit her lip. She had thought so too. "I guess not." Then a voice seemed to speak from the back of her mind. Punish him. X pushed this random thought away. Although she would have found punishing Pietro -because she knew whatever she asked of him, he'd do- amusing, this thought seemed to have the air of evilness.

"Oh." Pietro seemed to be surprised Laura was agreeing with him. "Oh. Well..." He trailed off.

"I'm sorry then." He said, reaching across the counter to pat her on the hand.

Laura removed her hands from the counter and into her lap before he had the chance to touch her. "Don't touch me!" She snapped. A stab or two might teach him a lesson.

Pietro, for whatever reason looked amused. Laura turned her eyes, which seemed hard and defensive, on him. "What?" She asked, sounding very irritated.

Pietro shrugged, seeming to have lost whatever he had found amusing. "I don't know. The whole pulling your hands away seemed very Rogue-ish. I think you and Wanda are hanging out with her too much."

X blinked a few times before her stare turned into a glare. "Are you making fun of Rogue?" X spluttered.

Pietro looked shocked. "What?! No! I mean, no, of course-"

X cut him off. "Shut up! Yes you were! She's one of my best friends and... Ugh! You're unbelievable!" How dare he?! Kill him. Leaving the room seemed like a very good idea at this moment. She had an urge, more powerful than any other times, to stab him. Before she had only been joking, never intending to harm... okay harm, but not actually stab him, but for whatever reason an odd feeling was coming over her. Stab him. Spill his blood and watch him- No! She squeezed her eyes shut.

"X? Are you okay?"

Laura forced her eyes open and saw Pietro looking at her, his blue orbs unwavering. She was about to shake her head but a growl came out instead. "Leave me alone." She muttered and slid off her stool.

"Is something wrong?" He asked, getting off his too, meaning to cut her off from leaving the room.

X glared at him. "Yah, something is wrong. You! You are pissing me off and insulting my friends." She shook her head, eyes fierce. "I'm going to find Wanda." She added, heading towards the door. Kill him! No! Kill him now

"Hold on a minute!" Pietro grabbed her around her waist, keeping her from walking out of the room. "Just tell me what's wrong. Something's bothering you! I can tell!"

X let out a scream. "Put me down Maximoff!" She struggled against his arm. Although he usually ran around, she had never really paid attention to how strong he really was.

"Since when do you call me Maximoff?!" Pietro asked, ignoring her flailing limbs and held her tighter still.

Laura let out another screech, and ignored his question. Inside, a war was taking place. Kill him! No! You'll be doing everyone a favour! No I won't! KILL HIM!"I really hate you!" She finally burst out, claws sliding out. "You get in the way and you're so annoying. Sometimes you make me want to kill myself!" It was all a lie, but in some weird way it felt true at the same time. She needed to escape him before she finally grew tired of fighting herself and gave in to the desire of spilling his blood.

She felt his arm loosening and she quickly stepped out of arms reach and to the door where she froze and looked at him over her shoulder.

His blue eyes, usually light and amused, were dark and angry. Pain seemed to flash, but it was so fast, she wasn't sure if she had imagined it. "Is that really how you feel?" He asked, his voice hard.

Laura could feel the urge to kill taking over. No! "Yes." She said in such a menacing voice. KILL HIM! She choked back a growl and forced her claws back into her hands. "It is." KILL!
Pietro walked up to her. "Fine. I'm sorry then, that you feel that way." Very roughly, he shouldered past her, and stormed out of the room.

Laura, for whatever reason, felt her bottom lip quiver. She had hurt Pietro, and it tore her up inside, and with that feeling came the anger at herself. She had had the perfect chance to kill Pietro and had failed. She'd make sure that didn't happen the next time.

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"Hey Pietro! Did you find her?" John asked, with a wink to Wanda.

Wanda cracked a grin and leaned over to him, whispering. "No blood. You owe me."

John scowled. "Maybe there was a scolding." He whispered back.

"Even so, you'd still owe two thirds of that ten." She said back quietly, leaning away from him, only then seeming to take in Pietro's angry scowl. "Hey Pie. What's up?"

Pietro turned his glared on her. "Shut up." He muttered.

Wanda's jaw dropped. Pietro never ever had spoken to her like that. Mainly on the fear and pretence she'd hex him, so something like this was something to worry over.

John however glared somewhat at his friend. "Hey! Don't talk to your sister like that!" He slammed his cue down and started to storm over to Pietro, who had sunk onto the couch, ignoring John and Wanda.

Wanda stepped in front of John and put her hands up, shaking her head, and then spun around, going over to the couch and leaning over. "Hey Pie. Listen up. I know we don't get along as well as most siblings, but you're my twin. I can always tell when something's wrong. Now, tell me, or I'll hex you and this chair into the lake."

Pietro turned his head and looked at her. "For once Wanda, leave me alone."

Wanda blinked. "No. Pie. Now. Tell me or I'll lock you in a dark room with no windows. Seriously, I'm worried. Won't you please tell me?"

John leaned over his other side with a wide grin on his face. "Did X flay you?"

Pietro turned narrowed eyes on him. "No. She tried to stab me. Then she told me she hated me."

Wanda blinked. "X says she hates everyone. Yet you still see her grinning when she's hanging out with us. She didn't mean it Pietro."

Pietro sighed. "Yes she did."

Wanda sighed and rolled her eyes. "Now you sound like a sulky child."

Pietro shook his head. "She really meant it. If you'd had heard her. And seen the angry look in her eyes. She hates me so much and never wants to be near me again." Pietro flopped onto his side on the couch with a moan and pulled a cushion over his head.

Wanda shook his shoulder. "Don't worry Pie. I'm sure she's just worried about the Horsemen thing. You know how much she values her friendship with Rogue. Look." She pulled the pillow off Pietro, who had been attempting to muffle out his sister. "I'll talk to her tonight, and tomorrow everything will be fine. Alright. Now, come. Let's finish our game of pool." She dragged her brother to his feet, handing him a cue, and he smiled somewhat reluctantly.

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Laura stormed into her bedroom, slamming it closed behind her, ignoring the picture frame that fell to the floor at the force of it.

She flung herself across the room and onto her bed, burying her face into her pillow with a long, agonizing moan. She lifted her face, looking ready to cry, when she realized she wasn't alone.

X looked over at Death. "Is this real, or in my head?" She asked in a whisper.

Death smirked. "In your head. You disappoint me." Death said calmly from where she sat on the end of Wanda's bed, her red eyes looking somewhat amused. She cracked her knuckles. "You were supposed to kill that fool Quicksilver."

X sat up, shaking. "I hurt him. I didn't mean to do it, but I hurt him."

Death was up in a flash. She grabbed the collar of X's shirt and slammed her against the wall. "You don't know what real pain is!"

X looked back at Death with a fearful look on her face. "I can't kill him." As if those words were some sort of incantation, she found herself growing stronger. She gripped Death's hands which were holding her suspended in the air and crushed against the wall. "I won't do it." She snarled.

Death tilted her head to the side, looking amused. "Yes you will! You'll kill him. And his sister. And his father."

X shook her head and glared at Death. "No. I won't do it. You can't make me. Nobody can make me!" She screamed, her legs kicking the air as she tried to escape.

Death shoved her harder into the wall. "Well then I'll have to fix that, won't I?"

Suddenly the door to the bedroom creaked open, and Death disappeared in the blink of an eye without a trace, and X fell to the floor.

"X? What are you doing on the floor?" Wanda asked as X used the bed to get to her legs, which felt wobbly and weak.

X shook her head, not looking at Wanda. Death wanted her to kill the other girl, and maybe if she didn't look at her, the temptation to kill her would never come. "I was just getting into bed."

Wanda stared at X curiously. "Look, Pietro said you were acting a little off. I was wondering if everything was okay."

X pulled the blankets over herself and rolled over to face the wall, her back to the other girl. "Night!" She said, ignoring Wanda's statement.

Wanda sighed in slight annoyance. X stared at the wall, watching Wanda's shadow. The other girl stood there for a bit as though debating whether to confront X or not, but seemed to go against that idea as she flicked the lights off and left the room.

X sighed, pulling the blankets up to her chin. God, somebody help me.

AN: I have most of the next chapter typed up, I just don't know if I should post it as it is, or add a little more, or just throw that little more into the chapter after that. I'm trying to work around with it and see what will work best. Anyways, for now, please review. Got questions, feel free to ask them. :) I swear, I don't bite. :P Lots of love, BW