Chapter 30
John grimaced as his body ached. The corridors through the hospital were long and intimidating. But he was determined to see Kara.
Kara was placed in a room with a huge glass window with Venetian blinds. Through the window and open blinds, Kara seemed to be surrounded by a mass of machinery and tubes. He silently observed Electrix - Daniel - caressing Kara's hand.
He wanted to go inside.
Somehow, Daniel caught his eye for a second, before he placed his hand on her glistening forehead. Sighing, he stood up to leave.
As Daniel exited the room, he gave John one last long look.
"She's dying," Daniel said hoarsely. And John nodded.
John didn't know what he did - but in a flash, Daniel grabbed Pyro's collar roughly and flung him against a wall. His face was so close… John could feel him breathing. Then suddenly, John was roughly shoved away… and Daniel spun around. John could see him wiping his face with his hands, which became wet.
"What are you doing?" came Daniel's sharp voice. Then he turned his head to look at him with hard eyes. "Go."
John was just staring.
"Go!" Electrix' voice had a note of sadness in it. "She's waiting."
With that, Electrix walked quickly down the lonely hospital corridor.
Sighing, John pushed the door open to enter and sat down in a chair beside the bed.
He was silent as he took Kara's hand and put it against his cheek. He wanted to be able to imagine those veins beneath his palm still being pumped with blood and the heart still beating steadily behind that chest…
Suddenly, John felt her squeeze his hand back - hard.
He realised her eyes had snapped open to gaze fiercely into his. And smiling, her eyes fluttered close softly again.
Unconsciously, John began stroking her hand. Sometimes, he could feel her pulse tingling his fingers… and as those tiny throbs beneath his hand weakened and stopped, John mourned for a life lost so young.
--
Warren had no idea how he got to hospital. He just sat down on a chair, eyes glassy and vacant, as the world continued to spin around him.
He did not even realise Jubilee had sat next to him. She had picked up the angel necklace and was putting it around his neck. He… was not there. He was elsewhere – consumed by a world of darkness and death.
Without warning, his body hit the floor with a thud, convulsing violently.
"Warren!" Jubilee yelled in fright.
As she watched in shock, she felt a helpless anger overcome her. He had descended into hell all alone, and she was powerless to go and save him.
--
Layla was alone.
Still shaken by Kara's death, Pyro stood there silently, watching from afar.
Pyro watched her as she entered Will's room to have her last moments with him.
There was no hint of pain beneath Will's serene face – no sign of the horrendous injuries he suffered as claws punctured his chest. He just looked like he was asleep.
Layla sat beside him, stroking his brown hair and holding his hand, her lips trembling. Watching this, a dull ache began gnawing at Pyro's insides. Then slowly, she lifted her eyes – and met his intense gaze.
"Pyro?" she said softly.
And then… she was half in his arms… violently sobbing against his shoulder. And he rocked her gently, pulling her into a warm embrace.
--
Slowly, sleepily, Warren opened his eyes. And then bolted up. Staring at the tubes up his arms, he violently ripped them out. He glanced around. Jubilee was nowhere to be seen. He was alone.
"Warren…" a soft silky voice whispered. "Warren."
Then he squinted. Not believing he saw right.
Magneto!
How did he - ?
"How -?" Warren whispered back.
The burnt half of his face was in shadow but he was laughing mockingly. "Did you think an injury like yours could defeat someone like me?"
He gave a sadistic smile, "Fools."
Warren snarled.
With a look of pure murder in his eyes, he stared at Warren. In a motion quicker than the eye could follow, Magneto arm gripped Warren's neck, cutting off his air before he could scream. Warren kicked madly.
Magneto's grip loosened – though only just a little.
Sensing this moment of weakness, Warren jumped and punched Magneto in the face only to scream as a jolt of pain shocked his body and he saw blood covering his hands.
Warren gasped suddenly as he saw red. Dimly, he realized Magneto was throttling him again. And his world went black.
--
Jubilee screamed as Warren blindly fought her in the hospital room. He was half-screaming and half-choking as he awoke and was fighting some imaginary demon.
She didn't want to have to hurt him and resort to using her powers. But Warren had smashed into the glass window with his fist, causing blood to flow.
Far away, sirens began beeping.
Someone was shouting.
Warren appears to not have heard as Jubilee tried to restrain his struggling body with hers.
But he was too strong.
"Warren stop!" Jubilee cried. "Please stop." Or we will have to hurt you.
Pst. Pst.
Jubilee from feel his body trembling as the tranquilizing needles hit him at his back. A jolt of pain coursed through her body as she saw his tear-filled eyes glare at her before they finally closed.
Immediately, he crumpled to the ground. In vain, she tried to break his fall with her arms, but he still fell hard.
A doctor came beside her and muttered an apology. Doctors and nurses came then, placed his body back onto the hospital bed, and began treating his hand. Despite his size, he suddenly looked small against a moutain of pillows and fragile with his uncombed hair. A trail of spittle oozed out of the corner of his mouth.
Behind her, the broken window dripped with his blood.
--
Light was pouring through the windows the next morning, causing the white walls and bed sheets to cast a white glow.
"Warren? Warren!" Jubilee awoke with a start.
She stared in shock as she grabbed white sheets. But Warren was not among them.
"Warren?" she cried to herself. "Where have you gone?"
Then suddenly, a small voice reminded her of his words.
"This is my favourite place… where I can just be…" he had said.
And she knew.
--
There was a small black figure strolling the empty beach ahead. Warren, she presumed. She watched him as he paused.
She closed in on him by walking briskly. He lifted his head. As she narrowed the distance between them and she noticed him trying to smile.
For what seemed like a long time, there were only the sound of breaking waves filling her ears. And Warren staring out into the sea.
Suddenly, Warren blinked and said softly, "I am sorry – about last night."
Jubilee opened her mouth to speak - but her voice sounded more choked then she expected. "There's nothing to be sorry about."
Warren stared at her.
"I feel guilty you know," he said, his voice deep but raspy. "I want to leave here to see him, but you know"- and he glanced at the necklace on his neck – "My father saved me… so I can't… die…"
His laughed bitterly. " I feel like a selfish son-of-a-bitch. Wanting to die."
"Warren…" Jubilee frowned.
Warren reacted with another hollow laugh then Warren turned away from her. There was a strained silence before he said in a low voice, "Leave me." Then he started to walk away.
"Wait!" Jubilee called after him.
Warren kept walking.
"Warren look at me," Jubilee pleaded.
He walked even faster.
"Warren. Look at me."
In a fury, he spun around.
Tears were rolling down his cheeks.
"Are you happy now?" Warren yelled angrily.
Jubilee's face was a mask of shock.
He swallowed hard then he cracked. "Why? Why did he have to die so painfully?"
Suddenly, Warren grabbed her awkwardly. One hand was clutching at her coat so hard their knuckles were white. The other was hanging awkwardly with blood seeping through the white bandages.
She could feel him trembling. Then he started to sob. As everything shrank away in the haze of pain, Jubilee was there with him, gently stroking his hair. And it was sweet. This human touch.
