𝘚𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 -and lost just as many reasons to keep going.
Natalie Parker, once hidden in the shadows of history, is a mutant unlike any other. Bound to the earth by blood and power, her touch coaxes life from st...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"hope,"
-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-
Logan and Charles pushed through the doors of the mansion. For a moment, it felt like stepping into a memory—until reality hit.
"Ah—" Charles stumbled, clutching his lower back. "No!"
He collapsed, and Natalie was at his side in an instant, catching him as he fell onto the bottom step.
"What's happening?" Logan asked, bewildered. "Can't he walk?"
"He needs the treatment," Hank said, already moving.
"I—I can hear them," Charles gasped, gripping his head. "Nat—help me!"
"I'm right here," she said firmly, grounding him with her touch. "Hank, go!"
Charles winced, hands over his ears. Natalie placed a hand on his lower back, trying to dull the pain. But it was too much.
"I can only do so much, Charlie," she whispered. As his pain spiked, she dug her nails lightly into his skin, releasing a paralytic poison from her fingertips—one she'd developed to help manage trauma. Charles exhaled sharply, his muscles softening just enough.
Hank returned, holding a syringe.
"He missed a dose. I added a little extra," Hank explained, breathless.
Natalie looked at the syringe, then Charles.
"You're still here," Logan said to him, stepping forward. "She's still out there. And they need you."
Charles unbuttoned his cuff and rolled up his sleeve. He looked up at Natalie, pain in his eyes—not just physical.
"Charlie.." Natalie whispered a plea.
His eyes softened and he sighed. But instead of taking the dose, he set the syringe down on the floor beside him.
"Hank," Charles said quietly, "help me to my study."
Natalie rose and followed as Hank lifted Charles and guided him down the hall. She opened a cabinet.
"You sure?" she asked softly, already knowing the answer.
"Absolutely not," Charles said, his voice heavy.
Inside lay his old wheelchair.
-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-
"When was the last time you were down here?" Logan asked, following them into the sublevel.
"The last time we went looking for students," Hank replied.
"A lifetime ago," Charles added.
The Cerebro scanner descended, scanning Charles' eyes.
"Welcome, Professor," a voice chirped as the doors opened.
