𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬 - 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬

𝟐𝟏. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑽𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏

────୨ৎ────

LOGAN

"Hey, Scott, they were lookin' for you downstairs. You didn't show."

Scott didn't even glance in Logan's direction, his tone sharp and defensive. "What do you care?"

Logan crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe, unfazed by Scott's hostility. "Well, for starters, I had to cover for your ass, and Rory looked like she was putting herself through pure hell trying to figure out what was wrong with you."

"I didn't ask you to," Scott retorted, his voice laced with bitterness.

"No, you didn't. The professor did. I was just passing through."

Scott turned away, his gaze fixed on some distant point in the room. "So pass through, Logan."

Scott took a step closer, his voice lowering. "Rory's fine."

Logan tensed, his jaw tightening. "Is she now? Or is your head stuck too far up your ass to realize that she's not going to be okay until you are."

Logan's words hung in the air, filled with frustration and the weight of unspoken fears. Scott began to turn away again, but Logan's hand shot out, gripping his arm firmly.

"Hey, look, I know how you feel, Rory trying to sacrifice herself for you and you ending up losing your best friend—"

"Don't." Scott's voice was low, dangerous, a warning that Logan was skating on thin ice.

Logan ignored it, his tone softening as he pressed on. "When Jean died—"

"I said don't," Scott snapped, his voice breaking slightly as he cut Logan off, his eyes flashing with pain.

Logan sighed, his grip loosening as he let go of Scott's arm. "Maybe it's time for us to move on. We've got new threats, and you and Rory need each other. God, Scott, you lost your shit when she almost died, but now you won't let her in when she's seeing you suffer?"

Scott's gaze dropped to the floor, his fists clenching at his sides. The words hit home, cutting through the walls he had built around himself. He knew Logan was right, but the pain was still too raw, too real.

Logan watched him carefully, seeing the struggle in Scott's eyes. "Not everybody heals as fast as you, Logan," Scott finally said, his voice quieter, laced with bitterness, "and you can't comprehend the feeling of trying to protect someone you love from yourself."

With that, Scott turned and walked away, leaving Logan standing in the doorway, the tension between them unresolved. Logan sighed, running a hand through his hair as he watched Scott's retreating form

────୨ৎ────

In the quiet of the library, the soft rustling of pages and the occasional murmur of students created a peaceful atmosphere. Rory and Daisy were seated at a table near the large windows, sunlight filtering through and casting a warm glow over their study materials. They were chatting casually, exchanging stories about their latest training sessions and making light-hearted jokes.

"So, did you see Bobby trying to freeze the bathroom?" Daisy chuckled, shaking her head. "I swear he almost turned it into a skating rink."

Rory laughed, nodding. "I did, but I think he was just showing off for Rogue. Not that she noticed, of course."

Daisy grinned, about to respond when suddenly, her expression changed. Her eyes widened, and she clutched her head with both hands, her face contorted in pain. A sharp cry escaped her lips, startling everyone nearby.

Rory's heart skipped a beat, and she was at Daisy's side in an instant, her hands hovering over her, unsure of what to do. "Daisy, what's wrong? Talk to me!"

Daisy squeezed her eyes shut, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she struggled with whatever was happening inside her mind. Rory could feel the panic rising in her chest, her own abilities instinctively flaring as she tried to sense what was wrong.

"Daisy, please," Rory urged, her voice trembling with worry. "What's happening? Are you hurt?"

Daisy's eyes snapped open, locking onto Rory's with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. "You need to get to Scott, now!" she yelled, her voice urgent and desperate.

Rory's stomach dropped, fear and adrenaline surging through her. "What? Why? What's happening to Scott?"

Daisy's grip tightened on Rory's arm, her voice strained. "I don't know, but something's wrong! You have to go—he needs you!"

Without another word, Rory was on her feet, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't understand what was happening, but the fear in Daisy's voice was enough to propel her into action. She sprinted out of the library, her thoughts racing as she made her way through the mansion, desperately hoping she wouldn't be too late.

As she ran, Rory's mind swirled with fear and uncertainty. Whatever was happening to Scott, she knew she had to be there for him, to help him through whatever torment he was facing. The thought of him in pain, alone and suffering, pushed her to run faster, her legs burning with the effort.

By the time she reached their shared room, Rory was out of breath, her chest heaving. She didn't hesitate, bursting through the door and scanning the room for Scott.

"Scott!" she called out, her voice filled with urgency and fear.

────୨ৎ────

Rory burst into their shared room, her heart pounding in her chest, only to find it eerily empty. The bed was neatly made, the curtains drawn, and everything appeared in its place—except Scott. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for any sign of him, her anxiety mounting with every second.

On the nightstand, something caught her eye—a small piece of paper folded neatly in half. She rushed over and snatched it up, her hands trembling as she unfolded the note. Scott's familiar handwriting scrawled across the page, but the words sent a chill down her spine.

Rory, I'm sorry, but I need to do this alone. There are too many unanswered questions, and I have to find out what's been haunting me. I'm going to Alkali Lake. Don't follow me—I'll be back soon. I promise.

Her breath hitched, and her grip tightened on the paper. "Damn it, Scott," she whispered, fear and frustration mingling in her voice. She knew him too well to believe he'd just be back soon. The lake—where Jean had sacrificed herself—wasn't just any place. It held too many memories, too much pain.

Rory didn't waste another second. She threw the note aside, her mind racing with one thought: she couldn't let him face whatever awaited him alone. Without hesitation, she grabbed his car keys off the hook by the door, the familiar weight of them grounding her resolve. She knew where he was headed, and she knew she had to stop him from doing something reckless.

She bolted out of the room, her footsteps echoing through the empty hallway as she made her way to the garage. The mansion was quiet, the usual bustle of activity muted, as if the universe itself was holding its breath. Rory's heart pounded in her ears, matching the rhythm of her racing thoughts. What if she was too late? What if something terrible happened before she could reach him?

But she pushed those fears aside, focusing instead on getting to Scott as quickly as possible. The garage door slid open, revealing Scott's sleek car parked in its usual spot. She slid into the driver's seat, her fingers trembling as she fumbled with the keys before finally getting the engine to roar to life.

The sound of the engine was a fierce reminder of the urgency of her mission. Rory didn't hesitate as she shifted into gear and shot out of the garage, the tires squealing as she sped down the road. Her focus was razor-sharp, her only thought to catch up to Scott before he reached Alkali Lake. The road stretched out before her, but she didn't slow down, her determination growing stronger with each passing second.