We Live Forever

Chapter 24: Keep Your Friends Close...

Pre-chapter Author's Request:

Please comment your thoughts along the chapter. Lots of very interesting stuff happens/is said and I want your reactions!

Thanks!

Crimson's POV:

Blood. I'm practically drowning in it. It's everywhere.

Hank's dead.

He's gone.

My blood-soaked hands find his cold, dead face.

"HANK!" I cry out.

I'm snapped awake by someone smacking me across the face. I looked around frantically as I take in my surroundings. I'm chained to a wall in a huge, dark, damp, octangular room. The floor seems to be dirt and the walls are solid concrete. The ceilings are incredibly high, at least 25 feet. Near the top of one of the walls is a pane of reflective glass that's tinted dark green. One of the walls has a small, metal door.

Two of the other walls have chains attached to them, exactly like the ones that held me in place. My hands were bound up above my head separately and my arms were already sore from the position.

My whole body hurts, especially my face seeing as someone just kicked it, but I'm not injured. The serum worked, it's not like what I had before because everything still hurts, but I'm alive. I tilted my head up and was met with extreme pain. I looked the soldier who kicked me in the eyes and scowled.

"Hank?! Where is my Hank?!"

"You're new so I'll let that go, but it's best if you learn to only speak when spoken to here. You don't talk to me, only the boss and only to answer his questions. Break the rules or try to escape and we'll make you wish you were back in the ruble."

I nodded my head and the soldier walked away. He exited through the door and I was alone. Naturally, my first instinct was to pull on the chains, they were unfortunately very solid and not coming out of the wall anytime soon.

Where is Hank?

Did he survive?

Is he okay?

Is he here?

Where's Charles?

Where am I?

Why am I chained up in this place?

Who is this boss?

What does this boss want with me? Us?

Why the explosion?

Who was the target?

How did they know we were there?

It's not like answers were about to walk through the door or anything. I stand corrected, well sit corrected and silent.

The door opened and a very roughed up Charles was practically dragged into the room. Two soldiers brought him to one of the sets of chains on the wall and locked him in. Silently, they left the room. I waited patiently for the door to close before turning to Charles.

"What the fuck?" I asked.

At first, Charles didn't answer and I got the chance to really look at him. He was battered, bruised, and bloody. I looked at his eyes and he didn't seem like he was all there. He finally turned his head and looked at me.

"I didn't do this. I don't know who these people are or what's going on I swear. I just woke up and they were examining me and then they brought me here, I promise."

"Where is Hank?!"

"I haven't seen him since the explosion, I'm really sorry Crimson."

It didn't work.

He didn't make it.

My Hank is dead.

My sadness turned to fury. My hands instinctively moved towards Charles only to be met with a reminder of my current situation. Really? All this and I don't even get to get a hit in on this bastard?

"You're sorry!? Oh, that's rich. You get your best friend fucking killed and all you have to say is "I'm sorry". Hank McCoy is the sweetest most loyal man on the planet and you betray him?!? He stood by your side when everyone else left and this is what he gets in return?!"

Charles' head dipped down and he looked down at his hands, averting my cold gaze.

"No one was supposed to get hurt..."

"What was supposed to happen, Charles?"

"I was supposed to get her back..."

"Who? Charles?"

Charles looked at me again and his eyes were filled with tears. His voice broke when he finally answered:

"Raven."

Raven. No one ever dared to bring it up, but sometime back when Erik and I were locked in The Pentagon she left. She took off and it ruined Charles.

That's what all this was about? He was rifling through everyone's memories to try to find a clue... to find her.

"I understand. I don't agree with your methods, but I understand."

Charles' face shifted to one of surprise, with a hint of joy.

"You- you do?"

"I know it's not the same, but I understand love. You love Raven, you grew up together. Nothing will ever be the same as the bond of two people who grew up together. No one will ever know you or understand you the way they can. Jam- Logan and I were close, but we got separated young. I remember how bad it hurt to be away from him."

"Logan's gone, but Raven. She's not, but she's in danger. I don't know what it is, but a few months ago I just got this gut feeling that something was wrong. She needs me- she needs us."

"Once an X-Men, always an X-Men"

"Are we okay?"

"Not yet, you did stab my husband. You need some serious psychological help, but I do believe you."

"I'm am sorry about that, I just panicked and-"

"You did make sure he got sew up and didn't- uh- didn't die... so thanks for that I guess."

"I know I have no right to ask, but will you help me?"

"I will, not for you. For Raven and Logan."

"Thank you."

A few minutes of semi-comfortable silence passed. Then the door opened up again and a few soldiers walked in. One approached me and another went to Charles. I tried to watch the others who went over to the third set of chains.

The soldier in front of me started to obscure my view. He held up a bottle of water and pointed to his mouth. Remembering the rules, I silently opened my mouth and he poured the water in my mouth. He put the water down and instead spoon-fed me some awful, mushy, wet food that I think was rice at some point. I was thankful for the food and water, but god, I think prison food is better.

When they were done feeding us the soldiers left the room, all of them. I didn't get a good look at what they were doing at the other set of chains. I was about to ask Charles if he saw anything when the door opened once more.

Soldiers walked in, four of them. They were carrying someone into the room.

Author's Note:

WOOOOOOOO ANSWERS!

More questions, BUT ANSWERS

Any guesses as to whom this boss is?

And who could the soldiers be carrying inside?

See you next time!