Redemption

Chapter Sixteen

"What happened?" Storm demanded as she walked into the classroom. "What's so urgent?"

"Rogue's missing," said Wolverine.

"She also took our last boat,"

Professor X wheeled in.

"Who let Rogue leave?" he asked calmly. "I thought she was with the other kids."

"That's what I thought too," said Scott, "but she wasn't there. The kids said they hadn't seen her since class."

There was silence.

"There's something you should know," said Xavier slowly.

"What is it?" Hank asked. "Does it have anything to do with Rogue's disappearance?"

"It might," said Xavier. He looked directly at Logan. "Daken's gone."

"WHAT?" Logan bellowed. "When did he leave?"

"Around twenty minutes before you discovered Rogue was gone," said Xavier. "We had an argument and I assumed he packed his bags and left after it was done."

"AND YOU DIDN'T TELL US WHEN IT HAPPENED?!"

"I felt like the right time would come,"

"HE TOOK ROGUE AND OUR LAST BOAT! YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD US!"

Charles turned from the fuming Logan to Jean.

"We need to get into Rogue's mind to find out where they are," he said.

"Why not Daken's?" Jean asked.

"I can't get into Daken's mind, I tried but it didn't work,"

"We'll find them," seethed Logan.

"Do you 'ave a house out 'ere somewhere?" Rogue asked.

"I had an apartment," I said.

"Had?"

"Charles told me that he told my landlord I wouldn't be living there anymore," I said. "So I had an apartment." 

"'ow are we going to get a place to stay?"

"Do you have any money?"

Rogue shook her head, "Do you?"

"Nope," I said, looking around. "Shoulda got some when we left Utopia."

Rogue suddenly grabbed her head.

"What happened?" I asked. "Is everything okay?"

Rogue shook her head, her face contorted in a pained expression.

"I feel like something's moving around in my head," she said. "I feel like something or someone is looking for something." 

"Sit down," I advised, helping Rogue onto a nearby bench.

Rogue suddenly took her hands off her head, her pained breaths smoothing out.

"Rogue?"

Rogue raised her head and I instantly noticed that something was wrong. Her eyes weren't their usual color. They were red. I stumbled back.

"What the hell?"

Rogue rose, staring at me with those creepy red eyes.

"If this is a little X-men trick, please stop," I said. "It's not funny."

When Rogue spoke it wasn't her voice. It was that of an older woman, which I feel like I've met before.

"Whatever you're planning with Rogue it won't work," said Rogue-but-not-Rogue, taking a step toward me. "We're coming for you. Logan, Scott, Hank, StormKurt, and I are looking for you. You have nowhere to run Daken."

Whatever was possessing Rogue released her. Rogue collapsed.

"Rogue!" I ran to her fallen side. "Are you alright?"

Rogue groaned, "What happened?"

"You got possessed!" I said. "You had these red eyes and you were talking in someone else's voice! You — well it wasn't you at the time — said that the X-men were after us."

"Oh no!" gasped Rogue. "They're going to use me to track you! That was Jean who possessed me! If she's after you then you don't stand a chance!" 

"I'll be able to survive," I grinned, a plan forming in my mind. "I actually want them to find me." 

"They're near the docks," said Jean, her eyes turning back to their normal shade. "Let's go."

"Be careful," said Professor X. "Daken is unpredictable, and if he gets Rogue on his side he'll be unstoppable."

"Don't worry," said Logan. "Rogue won't join him."

He walked out, followed by his fellow X-men.

"So you think, Logan," said Charles to himself. "So you think."