Too Powerful? [COMPLETED!]

12- Alex's Memory

Alex:

I awoke to loud thumpings on my door.

“Merry Christmas Alex!!! Can I please, with a humongous present that I have for you, come in?”

I groaned. Only Rogue would be this enthusiastic at… I checked the clock. 6 am?  

Good grief.

“Come on in Rogue. The door’s not locked,” I croaked.

Rogue came bouncing in, excitement shining through her eyes. She was still in her black pajamas, and her thick hair was messy, but she looked far from being sleepy. She even remembered to wear her gloves. Rogue tossed me a large present, wrapped up in expensive red wrapping paper, and hopped on my bed.

“Here’s mine. Where’s yours?”

I stared at her incredulously. I wasn’t the slightest bit offended, though. It was so Rogue, that I had trouble hiding my smile.

“Merry Christmas Rogue! So nice not having to wake myself up,” I said sarcastically, while playfully rolling my eyes.

Rogue grinned and threw her pillow at me.

“Awh come on Alex! If you don’t give me my present, I’ll consider taking mine back, too”

I pretended to be affronted, but I was already reaching underneath my bed for her present. Unlike hers, though, my present was small- it was a beautiful friendship bracelet I had ordered from Tiffany's.

Despite the size, Rogue didn’t seem to mind.

“Okay, on the count of 3, we’ll unwrap our presents together, okay?” she said bossily.

“1…”

“2…”

“3!”

And there was a mad scuffle and loud ripping sounds as both of us tried to outdo each other in unwrapping the gifts.

Underneath the layers of paper, I could make out something furry. Excited, I pulled it out, and turned the fluffy thing around.

Rogue had given me a stuffed bear. Exactly like the one I had back home.

The one that was in the living room the day everything spun out of control.

The same color.

The same expression.

The same eyes.

The eyes that saw what happened.

I couldn’t help it, I gave a sharp gasp and dropped the bear on the floor.

“Alex? Alex! Alex, are you okay?”

Rogue’s voiced seemed so far away.

Tears sprang up in my eyes. My bedroom window sprang open. My breaths became quicker, faster.

I was losing it, and there was nothing I could do.

Like a dam that had been barred up for so long, memories started flowing through my head. Uncontrollably. 

Flashes of images I had tried to bury for so long, only emerging during my nightmares, danced across my eyes.

The field trip. The building burning. Watching Mystique taking the form of Storm. A massive tornado.

The cupboard door flew open. I could hear Rogue screaming, somewhere.

The police car. My mum, looking worried.

Pieces of wood snapped from the ceiling, narrowly hitting me. I could hear the bedsprings creaking as Rogue scrambled to get off.

The hall. The grand piano that I used to spend hours playing with, as a kid.

I could hear people shouting from a far. Was that Wolverine? Scott?

Oh, Scott, dear Scott, help me!

I tried to shout, but another flood of images drowned me.

My mum’s livid face.

No! I couldn’t remember this! I tried to will myself back to reality, tugging desperately at any shreds of real life I could still feel and sense. Scott’s voice. Scott’s hands on me, shaking me. Scott’s face.

I was shaking convulsively by now.

My mother, face down, on the thick carpet. Her face carved in shock.

Disbelieve.

Blood.

And then, everything went dark.