ᴛʜᴇ ʙʟᴜᴇ ᴡɪᴛᴄʜ ₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.

𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘳

You watched through the binoculars, breath catching as the metallic wires from the gate coiled like serpents—ripping through soldiers with brutal precision.

"He's going to start World War III single-handedly," the driver muttered from behind you, voice full of disbelief.

"We have to do something," Moira said, panic creeping into her tone.

"Like what?" the driver snapped. "Rush in and get gunned down?"

Behind you, soldiers were already preparing to retreat.

"We're moving out," the driver barked to them.

"You can't," you said quickly, stepping between them.

"I'm sorry," Charles said, turning to Moira. "I can't leave him."

He looked at you. "Y/n... I'll probably need your help."

You nodded without hesitation. "I'm coming with you."

The two of you broke from the others and sprinted toward the small bridge leading to the facility. The sky was darkening, and the distant shouts and metallic groans echoed like thunder.

"For God's sake, Erik! Be calm!" Charles called out as you got closer.

"What made him go this far?" you asked, breathless from the run, your eyes scanning the carnage around the gate—soldiers slumped to the ground, entangled in steel.

"Shaw killed his mother," Charles said quietly.

You blinked. "...Oh."

There was nothing else to say.

A pair of guards stood ahead. Charles spoke to them in rapid Russian. One of the men blinked slowly, then collapsed, unconscious. The other looked confused, then dropped too.

"Come on," Charles said, and you both slipped past the bodies and into the main building.

You found Erik just as he threw open a door, revealing a stark room: a man strapped to a medical bed and a woman sitting casually at his side in a white coat.

"What the—?" you whispered.

"Nice trick," Charles said, eyes narrowing at the woman.

She stood abruptly, alarm flashing in her eyes. The man noticed you, panic rising in his face. He reached for something—a gun.

"Y/n!" Charles shouted.

You didn't hesitate. A wave of blue energy exploded from your palm, slamming the man back into the wall. The gun clattered to the floor.

The woman rose smoothly, her form shimmering—and then she transformed. Her skin turned to diamond, crystalline and impenetrable.

You stepped forward, fingers flicking with controlled power. "Try it. I dare you."

"You can stop trying to read my mind, sugar," she said coolly to Charles. Her voice had that polished, Southern-laced charm that barely masked danger.

"You'll never get anything from me while I'm like this."

Then, without warning, she lunged.

Charles and Erik moved in tandem, grabbing her arms and slamming her against the edge of the bedframe. You flared your hands again and wrapped glowing blue energy around her wrists, securing her to the frame like cuffs of pure force.

"So," you said, walking slowly toward her, "you could just tell us where he is."

Her jaw clenched. Erik stepped closer, raising his hand. The cuffs tightened. She didn't flinch—but you saw her eyes flicker.

"Where is Shaw?" Erik asked coldly.

She stayed silent.

Then metal coiled around her neck.

"Erik," you and Charles said at the same time.

"Erik, that's enough," you said, watching the metal compress tighter.

Her diamond skin began to crack. Your stomach twisted.

"Erik—that's enough!" you repeated, louder, moving toward him.

With a scowl, Erik finally released her. The metal uncoiled, and the woman gasped as her form shimmered back to normal. She slumped, coughing.

"All yours," Erik muttered, stepping back.

Charles approached and crouched beside her, placing two fingers on his temple.

She watched him with burning eyes. "Beautiful, isn't it?" she said, smirking as he finished.

Charles stood slowly, looking between you and Erik, his face grim.

"This is worse than we previously imagined."

You exchanged a glance with Erik, heart pounding.

"We're taking you with us," Charles said firmly, turning back to her. "The CIA will want to question you themselves."

She laughed lightly, a chilling sound despite the bruises on her throat.

"Oh, I doubt that," she said.

Charles narrowed his eyes.

"They've got much bigger things to worry about right now," she added, her tone suddenly serious.