At Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, the esteemed Lalia Azali serves as a dedicated teacher and is also this universe's Scarlet Witch. Endowed with formidable powers and a destiny she must face, Lalia confronts her fate amidst the school's hall...
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- Logan
Lia laid peacefully on my chest, her rhythmic breathing a stark contrast to the chaos in my head. I stroked her hair absently, wide awake and staring at the ceiling. It was 2 AM, and sleep was the last thing on my mind.
That building... it haunted me. I've seen it before. I couldn't shake the images from my nightmares. The inside of that place was a labyrinth of pain and terror, shadows of my past lurking in every corner. I could see myself running through the corridors, bloodied and desperate, but the details were always just out of reach.
Who were those figures? Why was I there? How did it all begin? The questions gnawed at me, refusing to let go. I felt like a caged animal, trapped by my own fragmented memories. I needed answers, but they were buried deep, locked away in the recesses of my mind.
I looked down at Lia, her face serene and untroubled. She didn't deserve to be dragged into my mess. Carefully, I slipped out from under her, moving slowly to avoid waking her. I gently placed her head on the pillow and pulled the blanket over her. She stirred slightly but didn't wake. I leaned down and kissed her forehead, a silent promise that I'd be back.
I slipped out of the office, the door closing with a soft click behind me. The halls were dimly lit, shadows dancing on the walls as I walked. I needed something to drink, something to take the edge off. My footsteps echoed in the silence, a reminder that I was alone with my thoughts.
The building loomed large in my mind, a constant presence that wouldn't be ignored. Faces flashed before my eyes, some familiar, others not. They were all part of the puzzle, pieces that I couldn't fit together.
As I walked through the dimly lit halls, the sound of a TV flickering on and off caught my attention. I kept moving past the living room, but something gnawed at me, pulling me back. I turned around and saw a kid sitting there, wide awake, changing the TV channels with just a blink of his eyes. I stopped in the doorway, crossing my arms, and just watched him for a moment.
"Can't sleep?" he asked, not even looking in my direction, but somehow knowing I was there.
I felt a smirk tug at the corner of my mouth. "How'd you know?"
He finally turned his head to look at me. "Cause you're awake."
I nodded, acknowledging his sharp observation. "Right. What about you?"
"I don't sleep," he said, turning his gaze back to the TV, the glow of the screen reflecting off his young face.
I studied him for a second longer, trying to make sense of a kid who never slept. Then, without another word, I walked past him, heading through the halls.
As I stepped into the kitchen, the soft hum of the refrigerator was the only sound breaking the silence. I caught sight of Bobby, once again eating yogurt under the dim light.
