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Chapter 51
Ari P.O.V
"Autumn's a mutant?" I asked. "What can she do?"
"I don't know. All I know is that she is a mutant. She's been out since she went down, so we haven't been able to try and get her to do something, to prove what her power is. The doctors say she's making a recovery, but they're still unsure."
"When can I go see her?"
"I'm going down tonight. I'll take you, that way only one of us uses the fuel."
"You could always come with me" I said.
"Like hell." she snorted. "I'd fall off."
I shrugged. "Suit yourself." I said.
When we got back I made both me and mam some Butlers hot chocolate. Unlike other times, I didn't feel that it helped the building stress in my muscles. "Ma, what time is visiting?" I asked.
"Six, why?"
"I'll go on my own. Which Hospital is she at?"
"Cardiff- children's ward. She has her own room."
"Thanks. I'm going out for a ride. I'll see you there."
"Alright Arianwen. I'll see you later."
I gave her a hug, and then went to my room to change into my leathers. I grabbed my helmet and keys, and ran downstairs, and outside. I stuck my helmet on, and opened the garage. I pushed my bike out, and closed the garage door. I put my helmet on, and mounted the bike. I started the bike up, and drove off.
When I hit the motorway, I hit the speed limit quickly, relishing in the speed. This was what I needed. Speed. I had a few hours before visiting time, so I allowed myself to focus on the speed.
Before I knew it, it was time for me to head to Cardiff, or I'd miss visiting hours. The traffic was hell, but luckily I was on a bike, not in a car. I wove between the cars, in either lane, to get to the city. It took a bit longer than normal, damn rush hour, but then I hit the Cardiff traffic. I found myself in a position where I had to wait. Damn.
When I did finally get to the Hospital however, I saw mam just entering. I parked up, and ran after her, taking my helmet off as I went.
"Hey ma." I said, running up behind her.
"Arianwen, you're here, that's good. How was your drive?"
"Fine. Until I met the rush hour traffic. It was a nightmare then. Any news?"
"None. Come on."
I followed her to the ward, and to where Autumn was. She had her own room, which had several large stuffed animals and toys from others who had visited. I saw Zoe and James were already in there with her.
"How is she?" I asked.
They both looked up.
"Ari!" Zoe said, standing up from her seat and coming over and hugging me. "She seems to be recovering, from what the scans say."
"I'm glad to hear that." I said, pulling away, and then walking over to the bed. I stroked a ginger curl out of Autumn's face, and tucked it behind her ear. Zoe sat back down, and mam came over to the bed. James sat up. "I'm going to get a coffee."
"You sit down." I ordered. "I'll go get it. Anyone else want anything?"
They all shook their heads, and James handed me a few pounds to get him his coffee. I left the room, and followed my nose to the coffee machine. I slipped the right coins into the machine, and hit the button for coffee. Once it was done, I walked back to Autumns room. There was an extra person in the room when I got back; a nurse. Or I thought she was a nurse, until her scent hit my nose.
I cocked my head to one side. "I didn't know you were a nurse, Mystique." I said.
She turned to face me, an incredulous look on her face. "Arianwen?" she asked.
"Let me guess, the real nurse is out cold somewhere, so you could take her place and do her job?" I asked.
"Actually, she's locked in her apartment with no cell, and no phone line." She said.
"Oh." I handed the coffee to James.
"Does your visit have anything to do with my niece, Autumn?" I asked. Motioning to the bed, with my head.
"We found out about an Omega level mutant at the hospital. It led me to your niece."
"Omega?" My eyebrows shot up.
"Do you know what she'll be able to do?" Zoe asked.
"It looks like she'll be a telepath. If that's the case, I suspect she'll have Telekinesis as well. Any ability to do with the mind will be a possibility."
I let out a whistle. "Wow. I'll need to shield my thoughts from her. And warn Vic."
Zoe rolled her eyes at me.
"What? It's true. Some of the things I think of are inappropriate for someone Autumn's age to see."
"Let me guess, there's a bed involved?" Zoe asked.
"Not always." I said, grinning.
"Arianwen, I am standing right here." mam said.
"Yes, sorry ma." I said, sheepishly.
There was a groan from the bed. We all moved to cluster round the bed. Autumn groaned again, and her eyes fluttered open. The first thing she saw was Zoe.
"Mammy?" she asked blearily.
"I'm here sweetie." Zoe said. "And daddy, granny and Auntie Ari are here too."
"Where am I?"
"In the hospital sweetie. You were in a coma."
"Isn't that a curry?"
Zoe laughed. "No sweetie, that's a Korma. A coma is where you are asleep for a long period of time. You've been asleep for more than a week."
"Oh."
"I'll go get a Doctor." Mystique said and she left the room.
After she left, I heard a very unwelcome voice from the door. "Well, well, well. What do we have here?"
I turned, to see Edith standing in the door way. I growled at her. "What are you doing here?"
"I just heard that your niece was here. I thought it would be a good place to find you."
"Let's take this outside, shall we?"
"Yes, lets." She said, she turned, and walked off.
I turned to mam. "Don't leave Autumn alone." I said quietly, then I looked at Autumn and smiled. "I'll be back soon, sweetie."
She nodded, and I left the room and walked towards the elevators. I got into the first one that opened, and I hit the ground floor button. When the doors opened, I had to stop myself from running out the hospital in a rage, to get to Edith. I caught hold of her scent, and followed it to the car park.
When I saw her, I let out a growl.
"Calm down, Tiger." She said, mockingly. She seemed sure of herself.
"You sold us out. Why?"
"You turned on me!" She yelled
"We turned on you? If I remember correctly, you were using us to get what you wanted. You were barely going out with Mark for a week when you asked if you could move in with him! And you started going out with him the day after you told me you saw him as nothing more than a friend! So, that's one thing you were using Mark for, should I get into what you used the rest of us for? Trips up the caravan with Cari, maybe? Or tickits to the gigs Paddy's cousin put on in those bars? Or the trips to Alton Towers, with me? And you never listened to us. You never helped us when we were going through a rough time, even though we helped you with all the problems you had. We helped you, but then when we needed help, you sneered, said it wasn't a problem, and then asked us whether we thought that guy in Nandos would ever go out with you! I don't think that you ever grasped that friendship is a two way street, Edith!"
Her eyes narrowed. I heard something crackle, just as she raised her hand. A bolt of electricity sped towards me, from her hand. I was so shocked at it, that I didn't move. It hit me in the chest, and sent me flying across the car park, and I landed with a bang on a car roof.
My whole body hurt from the electricity, and my mind was fuzzy. I shook my head to clear it, and slid off the car, onto the floor. I was on my hands and knees, catching my breath, when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up to see Mystique, still looking like a nurse, looking at me with worry.
"I'm fine." I said. As I pushed my way to my feet. I walked out from in between the two cars, and faced Edith, who looked surprised. I rolled my head, clicking my neck. "Was that supposed to do more than temporarily stun me?" I asked. "So, how long have you been a mutant?"
"Since October." Edith said.
I snorted. "That's rich. Not only did you sell people who once thought of you as a best friend out to be lab rats, but you sold out fellow mutants."
Her eyes narrowed. "I wouldn't expect you to understand."
"Try me."
"They knew I was a mutant."
"Ahh, so you were watching your own back? I guess you wouldn't have any sort of pack instinct. You always were a 'no one's more important than yourself' person, weren't you? That's the difference between us, you see. Cari, Fait, Paddy, Mark and I look out for each other. There was a time where we looked out for you too. Remember that time where we got jumped on the old line? Who gave you time to run for help? Cari did. Of course, mutant or not, you wouldn't have the problem of being jumped now. You're a sheep. One of the populars."
She sent another bolt of electricity at me, which I dodged this time. "Stay still!" She yelled.
"Nah. That's no fun!" I said. "Mystique, you saw, she attacked me first. Whatever I do is self defence." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mystique nod.
Another bolt, and another dodge. Then, I teleported. I landed right behind Edith. "Boo." I said in her ear. She whipped round, and pulled something from her pocket. Thinking it was a knife, I grabbed her wrist, to stop her stabbing me. Until I heard the shot that rang in my ears, painfully. I also felt a searing pain in my lower abdomen. I hissed, baring my fangs.
I snapped her wrist, and head butted her, breaking her nose. Then, I punched her in the eye, before I went down, clutching my stomach. I felt something hot and wet, and lifted my hand to see red blood on my fingers. My blood. The bitch had shot me.
A/N: What do you think? Please let me know in a review!