Sean liked to sleep. He liked sleeping a lot. He did not know whether it was because he was still a growing boy or because sleeping had always been a good way to escape the harsh and unforgiving world which he had been born into. He did not really take the time to ponder it. Deep, introspective thoughts weren't his forte. They required that he be awake and attentive. He was not good at that. He liked sleeping.
Beyond that fact, Sean could sleep like the dead, or so he had been told. He believed it too, even though the only time he had ever gotten a real good night's rest had been at the mansion. Which was surprising, since they had gone there after Darwin had died. He had expected to have nightmares, but no; they started up later and with growing frequency.
The night images of Darwin's body crumbling into ash before their eyes, Angel's cold eyes as she stared at them and he knew she thought they were cowards and babies, a building exploding and shaking around them, the ship spiraling from the air, Charles's lifeless body held in Erik's arms….
He sat up with a strangled gasp, eyes desperately searching the darkness of the small closet as his mind spun with the visages of his nightmare. He sat there, drenched in sweat and gasping. Thank goodness I'm not a screamer, he thought, clapping a hand over his mouth just in case a destructive frequency popped out.
His heart was hammering against his chest and Sean found himself suddenly very much wishing for a nightlight. He could barely see anything. Not that there was much to see. They were in a storage closet, after all. It was bare, containing little more than two beds and a bare light bulb. They had been lucky to get that. Raven had been angry that they were given closets to sleep in instead of being able to bunk with the rest of the men. The General had snorted at her outrage.
"This is a military vessel, not a hotel Miss," he had informed her. "We don't have any more room than was designed for us to have. Besides, you'd be the only girl in a room of hormonal men. Does that sound like fun?" Raven had glared at him, smoldering because despite the logic of what he said, they all knew the real reason that they were not assigned regular bunks. It was because they were Mutants.
Sean glanced at the bed across the room where Alex usually was. The other mutant was not there. What time is it? He had the distinct feeling it was late at night and he remembered Erik telling them to go to bed. Though, Sean should not have been surprised. Alex was respectful enough when it came down to it, and especially to Erik after hearing what the guy had been through in the camps, but that did not mean he followed directions. Just that when the time came for him to apologize for not following directions, he would be polite about the whole affair.
As long as he wasn't in trouble, he could care less. Sean flung his legs over his bed, grateful that he still had the ability to use them. He had never before noticed how much he liked walking by himself until he heard that Charles would not be able to do it anymore. He moaned as he stretched his arms above his head. He really did not feel like going to back to sleep. In fact, he was unsure if he could. Maybe he should go find Moira or one of the soldiers to play around with. He could even use his sonic to fly over the water for awhile. Hank had fixed his suit…
A small noise from Alex's side of the room. Sean perked up. He did not have super-hearing like Hank or Raven and he was no mind-reader, but he knew a suspicious noise when he heard one. He had years experience watching horror movies to prove it. Unfortunately, the movies never explained the intelligent way to respond the small noise besides get eaten or possessed, neither of which was an option for him.
I'm being stupid, he thought, squinting into the dark. There's nothing there. It's probably just Alex.
Just to check, he tried it. "Alex? Is that you?" no reply but he undeniably saw something move. Sean felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He let out a nervous laugh. "Hey, whoever you are, I know you're there," thanks to the days Erik had spent training each of them in blindfolded night techniques. "Might as well come out and get my autograph, or whatever you're here for," the joke fell flat as a small growl filled the silence of the room.
Despite not having perfect hearing Sean deciphered two words easily enough. "Die, freak." His blood ran cold.
Suddenly Charles was shouting in the depths of his head. Sean, get out of there!
Sean felt a sharp pain, and then saw a flash of light.
He screamed.