Beautiful Ruins

Chapter 25

I shove Mystique off me, prepared for the fact her next move is probably to bang my head against the wall again. I glance quickly over at Clover, but she seems to be holding her own against Scarlett, who's currently transformed into a tiger.

"What do the avengers want with the cure?" Mystique asks me, I have no idea why she's assuming I'll tell her anything, but I might as well play along since I don't particularly want to fight her. Well, more I don't want to fight Scarlett.

"Wouldn't you love to know?" I smirk as a gust of air slams Mystique against the dark cave walls, I might not want to fight her but I'm not letting the fight end like the last one. I don't think I can physically or mentally handle Scarlett trying to kill me for a second time.

Mystique shoves me and kicks my legs out from under me. I fall to the ground but pick myself up quickly, I dodge as Mystique lunges at me, causing her to stumble. I quickly punch Mystique in the throat, winding her. Mystique shoves me and I land again the cave walls, I wince as I feel a sharp pain going through my back. Mystique attempts to punch me but I duck under her arm and twist her arm behind her back, causing her to cry out in pain. She shoves her arm from my grip and steps backwards, staring at me with narrowed eyes.

Wait, where's the blue vial Scarlett was holding? I glance around the cave floor, but I can't see it anywhere. That's all I have time for before Mystique lunges at me again, pushing me down onto the floor.

I quickly shove Mystique off me, rolling over so that I'm sitting on top of her. She glances up at me and I hate the fact she doesn't look bothered or afraid – she knows I won't kill her. If I was willing to harm the x-men, life would be a lot easier right now. Green vines come up from the ground, twisting around Mystique's body and pinning her to the ground.

I feel something kicking my back and I turn around to see Scarlett standing over me, still in her tiger form. She scratches my stomach and I cry out, my skin burning from the pain. Before Scarlett can raise her paw and scratch me again, vines entangle her body and begin to drag her back towards the cave wall. Scarlett turns into her human form, but I'm prepared, and more vines appear until she's pinned against the cave walls.

"Where's the cure?" I ask, Clover walks over to me, still gripping a knife in her hand. She looks suspiciously at Mystique and Scarlett, we both know they won't stay trapped for long, all Scarlett has to do is transform into something small and she'll be able to get out from the vines.

Suddenly Scarlett has disappeared, I glance around looking for a small animal and see a fly in the air. Scarlett is back in her human form, and she rushes towards the cure on the table, I use a gust of wind to bring it to me. It was a risky move, but Scarlett would have destroyed it regardless.

"With all your morals, you really agree with this?" Scarlett asks me, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms. I open my mouth and then shut it again, I don't agree with a mutant cure, but it exists and it's the best way to stop Mystique which can stop people from turning out like me. "I thought you were good now."

I roll my eyes, annoyed that Scarlett still knows me well enough to know I'd be conflicted over the cure. Suddenly Mystique breaks free and shoves me, I gasp as I drop the cure and it smashes, the blue liquid spilling onto the cave floor. This better be the fake one, I cannot return without the cure, this is my one chance at getting Steve to accept me, to realise I can do good things.

Scarlett waves another vial in the air, daring me to challenge her. I don't fall for the bait; she'll drop it as soon as I run. "Scar, come on. You've seen what they do firsthand, you don't want to stop it?" I know I'm appealing to deaf ears, but I want to give her one more chance.

"Why would I want to stop it? We've got the power" Scarlett says, smirking as she looks at me. "It's a shame you're so gutless, you have the strength and power to rule with us, but you're too cowardly to take it."

"Or she's brave enough to stand up to Mystique, unlike you" Clover snaps, glaring at Scarlett. Mystique walks over to Scarlett and I glance helplessly at Clover, any sudden move could cause Scarlett to drop it, I have no idea how we're supposed to get the cure.

Scarlett begins to unscrew the vial, looking at me with challenging eyes. Her blue eyes sparkling, she's enjoying tormenting me, knowing I can't do anything right now.

"Cut it out" Mystique orders, going to snatch the vial but Scarlett moves it out of her reach. "Shut it and give it here, now." Scarlett knows better than to annoy Mystique for no reason, I have no idea what she's thinking. Mystique attempts to grab the cure again but Scarlett moves it out of reach and suddenly throws it against the cave wall causing all of us to stare in disbelief.

My heart sinks, I can't believe I have to go home and tell everyone I failed at the one thing Steve asked of me. I close my eyes, am I destined to be a villain? I feel like nothing I do ends well; it just creates more chaos and destruction.

A gurgling sound gets my attention and I whip my head towards Storm and Mystique. I widen as I see Mystique's throat cut open, blooding spilling all down her outfit and to the floor. Mystique's body drops to the floor, and I see Scarlett smiling as she looks down.

My heart has stopped, my entire body is just frozen as I stare at Scarlett. I blink, I must be seeing things, there is no way Scarlett just slit Mystique's throat open. I stare and stare, shaking my head but nothing changes.

"It'll be easy enough to convince people you did it. I'll be the one in power now" Scarlett says casually, dropping the knife and walking past us without any words, she transforms into a wolf and sprints away. My mouth is dry, and no words are coming out. Scarlett just killed Mystique. I walk slowly over to Mystique, kneeling down to feel for a pulse. There's nothing.

"She's dead" I say, staring up at Clover. Clover comes over and pulls me up to a standing position, I wait for Mystique to move, to do anything. She doesn't move.

"Come on" Clover says, tugging my arm towards the cave entrance. I slowly follow her, my body still frozen. 

*Author's Note* Poor Storm, my bby.