Layla

Chapter Twenty-One: The Stranger Wakes

There were many times he wished he could turn back the clock. 

Or had the ability to go back in time, but fate had other plans for him. 

He didn't have the ability to prevent what happened years ago to him or even a day ago. 

A day had only passed, right? 

He couldn't keep track. The last thing he remembered was pleading for help in front of the professor's door before darkness claimed him, and hell entered.  

Was he dead or alive? That he didn't know. What he did know was that he had to have been in hell. Scenes of what Layla could be going through tormented him every second and every minute. He tried to get to her, tried to help, but it all ended the same. She had been taken away while he remained helpless, listening as those heavy, steel doors echoed shut in the dark halls. Just when he thought it could be over, only scenes of his past came back to haunt him next. It had driven him insane, and taken him back to Stryker's prison when he was tortured. When he couldn't wake from his hellish nightmares he learned to control them. No longer was he being driven insane by those awful things. Instead he remained standing over rolling green hills, looking down at the stormy tides below him. There was no sunshine. Only a bitter cold that cut through his skin with every breath the wind took, and grey skies that took from the scenes true beauty. 

Here was where he remained, and he tried many times to wake but a force was keeping him at bay. Something or someone was not allowing him to wake, which further angered him as the days flew by. He came to the professor for help; to help him. So, why was he not allowing him to wake? The more days they wasted that meant more days of torture for Layla. Looking down at the dark, choppy seas below him, Xander promised he would never again betray Layla or do that to another mutant. 

"Now if you would just allow me to wake god damnit then I can help you." Xander muttered angrily to himself as he looked towards the sky. 

"What shall I call you?" A familiar voice asked behind him. 

The sound of the new voice relieved Xander, but angered him all at the same time. He was relieved to know one of them decided to make contact at last, but he was incensed with how long it had taken.

"It took you long enough." Xander said icily as he kept his back towards the professor with his hands buried in his coat pockets.

"I wasn't sure if I could trust you." Charles replied cooly while he keeping a watchful eye on Xander. 

"Fair, but I wouldn't have come back if not for a reason."

"How was I to know that?"

"When I pleaded to you for help while I was practically bleeding out on your doorstep." Xander said raising his voice as he turned to the professor. 

"But you took a dear friend of mine, and not just mine, but others as well! How was I to know you weren't going to do it again?" Charles seethed as he drew closer to the stranger in front of him. 

"I made a mistake! One of many I regret, but I came back to help you! I was a fool an idiot! There I said it, but I did it to get out! I was stuck in Stryker's hell hole for years, and when an opportunity arose I took it! But I know what I've done, and I want to get her back! Let me make things right." Xander pleaded while grounding his teeth in frustration.

"Stryker imprisoned you?" 

The news came as a shock to Charles, and a part of him couldn't help but feel sympathetic towards him. Why had he been a prisoner to Stryker, and how many other mutants were Charles wondered to himself.

"That doesn't matter at the moment. She does. Will you let me help you?" 

Xander patiently waited, keeping his eyes locked with the professor. He tried to read his mind, but Xander blocked him. If he kept him under for this long, why would he allow him to read his thoughts? They had to trust him, and they had to allow him to help. He wanted to help get Layla back, and he was the only one that could. The professor knew too, and Xander knew he was hesitant about allowing him to wake up in the real world. 

This was a risk Charles was going to have to take. It was for Layla, and the stranger who took her wouldn't have come back if he didn't want to help. At least that's what he hoped for. He had to believe that what the man was telling him was somewhat true.  

With a heavy sigh Charles asked, "What is your name?" 

"Xander. Xander Night." 

"Well Xander, let's go get our friend, but do keep in mind there are a room full of her friends that aren't too pleased to see you." 

"I don't care. All I care about is getting Layla back, and if they get in my way I'll find her myself." 

"I can assure you that won't happen." 

"Good. Then get me out of here."