Layla

Chapter Seventeen: Broken Promises

Her head hung limply down over her shoulder while her dark hair cascaded down one side of her face, acting as a shield. Slowly, she opened her eyes only to close them again as she tried to regain consciousness. Her head was spinning, and aching. She went to move her hands only to find they weren't cooperating with her movements. She let out a small moan in protest, and opened her eyes only to see that her hands were tied down to a chair. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and her heart rate picked in speed as she slowly became aware of the state she was in. She tried harder to get her hands out of their tight restraint, but it was no use. Looking down, she found that even her feet were bound around the measly, wooden chair she sat on. 

"What the hell?" Layla mumbled grumpily as she looked around her prison, which turned out to be a run down motel room. 

Suddenly, the door to the room had opened, and her captor walked in, looking pissed off and cold. 

"Theo?" Layla asked looking confused and dumbfounded. 

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Hours Earlier  at X-Mansion

"Do you think we should push the test back?" Layla heard Raven ask. 

"Maybe. We'll see how she does." Charles said. 

"See how she does? Charles she drowned! Almost died!" Raven said angrily, raising her voice. 

"I know, Raven, but I know her! She'll still want to fight! Drowning and almost dying will not stop her!" Charles snapped back, sounding frustrated. 

"What are we going to do about the others?" Hank asked, changing subject. 

Layla slowly came back to consciousness, only to be blinded by those blasted lights above her. She turned her head sharply to the other side, but her temple throbbed painfully at the sudden action, and she let out a painful groan. This had ceased the others conversation, and their attention turned to her. Hank was the first one by her side with Raven and Charles following quickly behind. 

"Hey, Layla, are you okay? How are you feeling?" Hank asked as his eyes scanned her and her head for medical purposes. 

Layla grunted in reply while she rubbed her hands down her face, trying to regain her focus and get back on her feet. A heavy fog clouded her mind at the moment, and she felt exhausted, but she needed to get back on her feet. Especially after what she overhead, she didn't want the test getting pushed back. Everyone had worked hard, and she wasn't about to let that get delayed because of her. Reluctantly, Layla pushed herself off the table, sitting up with her legs hung over the side. 

"We're pushing the test back." Raven said as she eyed Layla, looking at the condition she was in. She didn't care what Charles or Hank had to say about it. This was her student, and she didn't want Layla pushing herself, or getting worse. 

"What? No, don't do that, Raven. I'm fine. I overheard you talking earlier. Don't push this test back because of me. I'll be fine! Everyone has worked hard to get here!" Layla argued. 

"I know, but you almost died!" Raven shouted, looking angry but worried. 

Layla laughed ironically to herself, throwing her head back. "Well, you forget I did die, and I came back." 

Raven opened her mouth to speak, but was at a loss for words. 

"You probably don't even know, but I can't die Raven." Layla shrugged, holding back the lump in her throat. She was not going to cry in front of everyone here, but Charles looked at her with sympathetic eyes, knowing what she was thinking. Quickly, Layla put her wall up before continuing. "Did they tell you I can't age? My ability to heal has changed so much that I apparently can't die now. What happened to me will not be a problem, and it would be ridiculous for all of you to push the test back. Like Charles said, I will fight and almost dying again isn't going to stop me." She replied caustically as she eyed each of them with stern eyes.