Layla

Chapter Fourteen: The Battle

(Edited the ending) 

Jean? Are you...getting this?" Layla asked Jean through her mind.

Once Layla had pulled herself together, pushing aside Peter and the memories of the past, she began searching for Charles. At first, she couldn't sense him, and it was difficult given all the activity that was happening in Cairo, and the fact that Charles was connected with this other mutant. As they neared closer to the pyramid that was being built in the center of Cairo, Layla was able to pick up Charles faintly. He was inside the pyramid, but as Layla went further into Charles's mind, she saw what the mutant was preparing Charles for. Layla severed the link, before the other mutant could catch on, and she sat there feeling shocked and scared. Shocked because this mutant was so strong, that he could take over Charles's mind, and she was scared because she didn't want to lose Charles. Though her powers still remained out of control at times, he had helped her try and maintain them. Charles was a mentor and a friend, and she couldn't lose him. Right when Layla was going to warn the others, Jean had spoken.

"He has the professor in the center of the pyramid. He's going to transfer his consciousness into the professor. If he does that, he'll have the power to control every mind in the world." Jean told the others looking just as scared as Layla.

Hank flew the helicopter around the pyramid, trying to find a place to land, so that they could get Charles.

"What the hell is that?" Moira asked.

Unable to sit in her chair, Layla unbuckled, and walked over to the cockpit to get a glimpse of what was going on. All Layla could see was debris floating through the air, being pulled in and swirled, like it was clinging to an invisible magnet. This debris had formed a large circle, and inside of it was a man. Layla squinted her eyes trying to get a better look, then pulled back when she saw it was Erik.

"It's Erik." Raven said as she held on to the hand rails.

Peter used his speed to get to the cockpit, and see what was going on, all while he kept chewing his gum. Layla stepped back, unsure what to do next. While part of her was eager to fight and get Charles, the other half of her was nervous and she kept rubbing her clammy palms against the leg of her suit. Raven turned her attention to the others in the back, even looking at her. All Layla could do was stare, while her hands shook at her sides. Layla grabbed her wrist with her hand, hoping that rubbing it would help ease the shakiness, but it didn't. Glancing up, Layla looked into Peter's dark brown eyes, finding herself lost yet comforted. She broke the contact, however, when Raven began splitting everyone up into teams.

"You guys help Nightcrawler get into the pyramid. Get Charles." Raven told Jean, Scott, and Layla. "I'll take care of Erik." She told Hank as she turned back, facing the cockpit.

"How are you gonna get through that?" Hank asked looking at the magnetic field Erik had built around himself.

"I can get you in there. I came here for him, let me help you." Peter told Raven.

"The rest of you, get Charles on this plane, and get him out of here." Raven ordered Layla and the others in the back.

"We're not leaving without you." Kurt spoke.

Layla's heart raced with fear when she had heard Raven's orders. Leaving without Peter?

Hell. No.

Peter was still her friend even though she had, once again, pushed him away. As if sensing her worry, Peter turned around. "Don't worry, we'll catch up." He told the others, and winked at Layla before he looked back at the window of the cockpit.