Fervent Feelings

X3 Chapter 12 - You Left Behind Your Future

*pictured above is who i cast as a new character revealed later in this chapter*

"Again." Erik's voice reverberates through the cold, metallic walls of the training room, the command echoing with an almost tangible authority.

I hunch over, hands on my knees, gasping for breath. Sweat drips from my forehead, and every muscle in my body protests in agony. Across the room, Pyro stands, smirking, his posture relaxed, annoyingly confident. The flicker of flames dances at his fingertips, as if mocking my exhaustion.

My eyes drift upward to the one-way mirror where I know Erik and Mystique are watching. "This is never gonna work!" I shout, my voice hoarse and filled with frustration, my breath ragged. "Six months of this bullshit..." I mutter under my breath, the weight of the grueling training settling heavily on my shoulders.

"Focus on what you want... and let your feelings guide you," Mystique's voice whispers in my mind, a distant echo of a vague instruction she gave me long ago.

"Giving up already, Aristotle?" Pyro taunts, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. His smirk widens, reveling in my frustration.

I grit my teeth, pushing down the urge to snap back. "I told you that name once, and you've never let it go," I reply, forcing a half-smile, though it feels hollow.

"Suits you, is all." He hums, "'Aristotle treats emotions as purposeful responses to our world,'" Pyro mocks, his tone dripping with condescension as he mimics my voice.

Straightening up, I force myself to breathe steadily, willing the anger and frustration to fuel me instead of consuming me. My eyes close, blocking out the sterile, metal walls and Pyro's infuriating grin. I let my mind quiet, focusing on the flicker of emotion deep within. When I open my eyes, I close the distance between us with deliberate steps. My hand, almost gentle, rests on his shoulder. "Let me out of here," I murmur, my voice soft but commanding.

John's pupils dilate, his expression shifting to one of obedience. Without a word, he turns and strides to the door, opening it as if in a trance, his movements robotic and precise. I rush past him and out of the training room.

"Very good," Magneto's voice hums from the hallway, his presence looming as he approaches, helmet gleaming under the harsh lights. Mystique follows, her eyes observing with a sharp, unreadable expression.

"I want to leave," I state, my tone flat, devoid of emotion. The seriousness in my voice cuts through the air like a blade.

"But my dear, this is just the beginning," Erik replies, his voice smooth, almost patronizing. He opens his arms wide, a grin spreading across his face, as if inviting me into some grand plan.

"I don't need you people," I spit back, the words laced with venom. The thought of staying here, of becoming what they want me to be, churns my stomach.

Erik's eyes narrow, the lines of his face deepening with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. "Of course... if that's what you truly wish." With a casual flick of his wrist, a set of car keys flies through the air, landing in my palm with a metallic clink. The metal walls of the hallway part, revealing a blinding light at the end of the corridor, a stark contrast to the oppressive darkness of the compound.

I hesitate for a moment, fidgeting with the keys, my mind racing. But I don't give Erik the chance to change his mind. I turn on my heel and start walking briskly down the corridor, toward the light, my steps echoing off the walls.

"Erik," Mystique murmurs, her voice tinged with confusion as she watches me go.

"She'll be back," he smirks, his gaze fixed on my retreating figure.