Combusting Hearts

Chapter 30

"Hey, slow down Gumbo!" Logan called as Gambit ran ahead of them down the tunnel.

Despite what Logan said though, Gambit wasn't going to slow down or stop. He knew that something was wrong, he could feel it in his very soul. The problem was, he knew that he was unable to do much about it. All that he could do was hurry forward toward their destination and hopefully to Elaine's rescue.

T

I couldn't do anything at all, save for groan on the inside as he pulled me along. I already knew who we were going to see, but I was also dreading it too. The reason? I have absolutely no control over myself.

"Have you ever wondered what it would be like to face off against one of your own friends?" Victor asked with a chuckle.

I didn't answer as he continued to pull me along, closer to a room.

"No? Well, you're about to find out my dear," he said, a cruel smile on his face.

It was then that he threw me forward, into the room in front of us, lights coming on all over the place. When I took a closer look though, I found out exactly who I was standing in front of.

"Cheri?" Gambit called out happily as he spotted me, but he received no answer.

All I could do was stand there in front of everyone, making not a sound, not even pulling a single muscle.

I wanted to scream when I felt Victor wrap his arm around my waist, pulling me against him.

"Why hello boys," Victor greeted happily.

"Get ya hands off o' her!" Gambit yelled, starting to make his way forward, but he was stopped by Logan.

"Oh, I'm sorry, does that anger you?" Victor asked, already knowing the answer to his question.

"Why even ask when ya already know d'e answer, you dirty snake," the anger in his voice was evident as he spoke.

"Well, if you're going to be so testy..." he stopped mid sentence to crush his lips against mine, before turning back to everyone, "then you can have her," he said, shoving me forward.

For a split second, I had a sliver of hope that everything would be okay, then...

"Kill him," Victor exclaimed, sentencing me to my fate.

After that, my body had a mind of its own as it ran forward at full speed. Fireballs flew from my hands toward Remy. All that he could do was put his arms up in an attempt to protect himself as he took the blow.

I then felt my hands heating up, before sending a force of explosive power his way. He was sent flying back into one of the walls. What was sad, was that he wasn't fighting back at all.

After about 10 minutes of everyone fighting, Victor spoke up.

"You can't fight back, can you LeBeau?" Victor asked, watching my countless assaults on Remy.

"I won' fight her. I won' fight ma cheri Elaine. D'is ain't her, Gambit know betta d'an d'at," he said, dodging another attack.

"So, you've noticed then? I'm impressed," Victor laughed, "but that won't save you from being killed by the one you love."

Gambit just ignored him and kept his eyes trained on me as I continued to attack. As I did this, I could feel tears falling from my eyes and rolling down my cheeks. Every time that I attacked him, it was like attacking myself, but twice that much.

"Cheri, ya have ta fight d'is," he said, moving around me until he was able to grab me and trap me in his arms.

I stood there, struggling against him as he held onto me tightly, my back against his chest. I just wished that I could be free of this and stop struggling, but it did me little good to think about it.

"Please, Cheri, fight it," he pleaded, trying his best to keep a hold on me.

"Re...my..." I choked out in a whisper, tears spilling down my face.

That was all that I could manage to get out as I broke free of his hold, whirling around and knocking him to the ground. It was when I rose to strike again, that I was sent flying back into a wall by one of Scott's beams.

All I could do was lay there and cry, unable to move.

"How could you!" Gambit yelled in disbelief, a scared expression on his face as he looked at Scott.

"She was going to kill you!" Scott argued, dodging an attack from another mutant.

"Get back up," Victor ordered, watching me lay there on the ground.

I didn't even budge to respond to his order, which only infuriated him further.

"I said get back up," he spat, marching forward and grabbing me by the back of the neck.

I let out a small gasp as he did this, trying to move away, but again it did me little good as he pulled the liquid out again.

"Why don't we fix this?" he said as more of a statement than a question, jerking my neck down and letting a few drops out.

It was then that my body went rigid, the drug taking over once more and I soon found myself standing there once more despite the pain.

"Now…" he began, leaning his lips down to my ear. "Kill him…use your full power."

With that, I was thrown forward, aiming to attack Remy as my hands started glowing. This time, it was a darker red as I let my hands fly to the ground, watching a small upheaval before flames were sent rushing toward him at a fanominal speed.

No! I cried, wishing that I could take it back.

All that I could do though was watch as it hit him, sending him flying back painfully into a wall.

"Finish him," Victor ordered, watching me as I stepped toward Remy with my right hand raised.

Once more I could feel as my hand heated up, readying for another attack.

Get up! Get up Remy, please! I cried as I stepped closer, praying that he would move.

Then, right as I attacked he leapt out of the way, dodging my attack.

Thank God… I whispered in my head, happy that he was alright.

"Cheri, Elaine, remember who you are," Remy called to me as he brushed himself off, staff in hand. "You're strong, you can overcome d'is, just concentrate," he implored, keeping his staff up and ready to defend himself.

I knew who I was, the problem was that my body didn't. it wasn't cooperating with me at the moment. Although, I knew that he was right, I had to try and fight it. I had to try my absolute hardest and not give up. I had to do this not only for Remy or myself, but for everyone. The only problem was that I was far too tired.

"Kill him!" Victor bellowed in anger.

Even with his yell, I willed my body to stay still for a moment or two, my hands slowly starting to glow red again.

"That's it, do it!" he commanded.

This time, I had to allow my body to move, each footstep bringing me closer to Remy.

"Come on cheri, you can do it, I know you can," Remy told me, giving me encouragement.

Kill him… I could practically hear Victor's voice whispering in my mind as I stepped even closer to Remy, hands raising up passed my sides in a glowing rage.

Before I could stop myself, power was once again sent flying toward him, barely missing him as he moved out of the way. Then another, and another. One by one, flames were sent out along with destructive power that I could not control.

"Gambit, watch out!" Scott yelled as another mutant got ready to attack.

Moments later it was stopped by me, knocked to the ground and unconscious. I smiled on the inside as I watched this. I had stopped them from hurting Remy. Unfortunately, this angered Victor, causing him to pull a gun from his coat pocket.

"I've had enough of this…" he spoke aloud, raising his gun and pointing it at Remy.

That was it, that was my cue, I had to break free. From there, it was almost as if everything was in slow motion. Remy barely had time to register that a gun had been pulled out and pointed at him. He didn't even realize that I was moving toward him. All that I was doing was tricking my body forward at a quick pace, allowing Victor no time to change his mind as the trigger was pulled. Then, everything came back up to speed, the sound of gasps catching my ears, along with Remy's cry.

The bullet hadn't hit him, but me instead as I stood in front of him, no longer being controlled.

"Remy…" I whispered, before falling forward.

He caught me in his arms, holding me close as he pet my hair softly, a barely audible choking sob escaping from his throat as he held onto me.

"Elaine, cheri, why?" he whispered, "Why'd ya do it?"

"Because…I love you," I whispered, wincing from the pain that I felt.

"Fool!" Victor shouted, outraged at the act I had preformed.

Yes, I had deliberately gotten in his way on purpose, but I did it for Gambit. I did it for Remy, to keep him safe. I wasn't about to have him hurt because of me, but now I was the one paying for it.

"I'm sorry…I wasn't…strong enough," I whispered quietly.

Remy merely shook his head at me.

"Now, d'ere be none o' d'at," he said, placing a hand gently on my cheek. "Ya did good cher…ya did real good," he whispered, before tentatively pressing his lips to mine.

It made me cry as I felt his lips against mine, a small smile twitching at the corners of my lips. It made me happy having him do that. I was so glad to be back in his arms again, so happy that it made me cry.

"Scott!" Remy called.

Moment later, a beam was sent out at Victor, knocking him back off his feet and into a wall.

"Let's get out of here," Logan said quickly as he ran over to us, pulling me from Remy's arms as he helped him stand.

I didn't really mind though. I was glad to see Logan's face again. He was like a loveable brother or father. I really wasn't' sure which, but in my eyes, he was family to me. As we got toward the exit we heard Victor's voice.

"Stop them!" he ordered.

"Put me down," I said quickly, watching as the mutants ran forward to stop us.

Logan looked at me like I was crazy, but reluctantly placed me on my feet, him and Remy standing on either side of me.

This was it, it was time to test my powers and strength. This was my moment to prove myself and protect those that I loved. So with that in mind, I stood there with my hands raised and eyes closed, concentrating on my powers.

Everyone watched with wide eyes as my hands started glow a brilliant red, the light traveling up from my hands to my arms, until everything else followed suit. Moments later, my entire body was surrounded with power. I'd say what actually shocked Victor was when I opened my eyes, my eyes glowing just as bright, before quickly throwing my hands forward.

Screams were heard as I unleashed my powers, explosive power coming forth to burn and destroy. It scared me a bit, but I ignored it and continued. I would protect those around me with my life.

Minutes later, my eyes closed and I fell to the ground.

T

"Cheri!" Gambit exclaimed, rushing forward and catching Elaine before she fully hit the ground. "Cheri?" he breathed, shaking her slightly, but received no response as she laid there in his arms.

It was then that he checked for a pulse, sighing in relief when he found one, though weak as it was. All he could do was give a faint smile as he held her against him, bringing her head to his chest, right above his heart for her to hear his heartbeat. He knew that it gave her pleasure and peace hearing something so pure a sound. The sound of a heartbeat, a sound that could not be tainted or changed. It was a steady rhythmic beat that pounded against the walls of his chest.

"Time to go Gumbo," Logan said, pulling up on the collar of the Cajun's long brown coat.

He stood up moments later with Elaine in his arms, easily cradling her against him in his warm embrace.

IMPORTANT:

Finally, the long awaited chapter 30! I've finally reached 30! *cheer and does a happy dance* Sorry for being goofy, but I'm happy I've finally managed to accomplish a 30th chapter with this story. Although, I will need help with ideas from here if people wish for this story to continue. I'm sure that won't be very hard though since so many people like this story, but still. I really need help with ideas now, so please help? Remember to REVIEW and MESSAGE. Thanks everyone. Oh and I now have another story out now, this one is for the movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves for Will Scarlet. Thanks everyone and remember to check out my PROFILE for other stories. :)