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▎ BEAUTIFUL CRIME ▎
»»-----　act two. another lifetime
CHAPTER NINETEEN ━━ haunted house

ᵒ .༄ ࿐ ࿔* 🌊♟💦
♯ ❝SHIT, SHIT━SHIT! ❞ 
⋆⋅ ━━━━ ‧ ༻✩༺ ‧ ━━━━ ⋅⋆ 

WHEN MAGGIE WOKE UP, THE WORLD WAS HAZY, AND ALMOST SOUNDLESS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ECHOES OF A CONVERSATION TAKING PLACE SOMWHERE OUTSIDE THE ROOM SHE WAS IN. Groggily, Maggie pushed herself up with her elbows, a low hiss escaping her chapped lips as pain shot through her aching body. The events at the Paris Summit replaying in her head, and she paused her movements. Her heart clenches, but she quickly reprimands herself.

She should not have held hope ━ not for him. No matter what her supposedly future duplicate had told Logan. Bitterness fills her as quickly as her false hope had left her. She gritted her teeth, willing her body to just forget about her pain. All she can think about it betrayal, and if she dared to feel it, a small spark of longing ━ longing for revenge ignites inside her body.

With a quick twist of her upper body, the chestnut haired woman manages to grab the remote controller of the television. No doubt every news outlet around the world would be covering the events that had taken place. The numerous camera's recording the whole showdown, giving plenty of so-called evidence to blame mutant kind no more.

She just hopes Henry doesn't let the kids see what had taken place, what the world would call her mutant brothers and sisters. And another part of her, didn't want the image the kids had of her be shattered. She had been proud to be a role model, a hero in their books. It had been all she ever wanted, and she did not want to lose it.

"Yesterday the Paris Peace Summit was rocked by the appearance of unidentified assailants, the likes of which the world has never seen. Mass hysteria has gripped the nation as people ask: where did they come from? Will they be back? And most importantly, are they friend of foe?━"

Maggie blinked as the television suddenly turned back, a soft buzzing only remaining. She turned her gaze towards the culprit she did not hear enter the room.

Logan, in all his bulky, sulking, brooding glory was leaning in the doorframe, casually holding the power plug of the television in is hand. A cigar was hanging from his lips, but as her eyes swept over him, he looked unharmed, unlike her.

But then again, he did have healing capabilities beyond any normal human being.

"Welcome back to the world of the living sleeping beauty."

Maggie glared at the man, pushing herself further up before throwing her legs over the side of the bed, bare feet touching the hardwood floor. "Shut it old man."

"Who you calling old?" Logan grunted out, eyes lingering on the brushes decorating her arms, and the one forming just above her browbone. "You look like you're dead."

She scoffed, as she stood up, shuffling about the room to grab the jacket strewn over one of the chairs in the room. "I feel like it." Her eyes roamed the room, momentarily faltering when her gaze settled on the window and the familiar view. One she hadn't seen for many, many years.

It was like a haunted house. But instead of ghost, the memories would terrorise her.

"Is..." Maggie paused, looked far more vulnerable than Logan had ever seen her before. "Did ━ did Erik kill her?"

"No." Logan shook his head, walking over the woman when he noted her struggling to keep staying upright. "They both got away." He slung his arm around her waist when he legs wobbled and she latched onto his shoulder.

"What's the plan?" Maggie breathe out weakly, hating how she had to rely on the man next to her. Or anyone for that matter. Relaying on people only hurt her in the end. It always did.

"They have ━"

Scuffling could be heard from outside her room, followed by a couple grunts and shouts. Both mutants exchanged quick glances before Logan helped her outside the room.

"What happened?" Logan inquired as the duo descended down the stairs where Charles was laying on the floor grunting in pain. "Can he walk?"

"He needs his treatment." Hank explained, who was no longer the blue beast he had been yesterday.

Charles indeed looked worse for wear. He was pale, eyes darting around the room and sweat clinging to every piece of exposed skin she could see. His hand were shaking as he tried to breath regularly, but it seemed nothing could calm the man down.

"Charles?" Maggie carefully stepped away from Logan, as she shuffled across the room to crouch down in front of the telepath. "Hey, Charles. Use your words buddy, what's happening?" She croaked out, her own voice cracking.

"I-I can hear them." He stuttered out as he screwed his eyes shut. "Make it, stop. Please make it stop."

"I'll go get his treatment." Hank rushed out as he ran across the hallway and down another corridor.

Charles screamed out once more, "It hurts! It hurts. Make it stop!"

Almost unsurely, Maggie reached out, fingers trembling as they acted on their own accord. Instinctively, her fingertips graced his face. "I'm here Charles. Hank will be back soon. I promise. He'll make it all better." As she rambled on, unbeknownst to her, water from a nearby vase had gathered around her arms, creeping up the limb.

She was so enraptured by speaking soothing words to the telepath in front of her, that she didn't even notice the faint glow the water started to illuminate until slowly, Charles wails of pain subsided into soft after shocking sobs. 

"What the hell are you doing?" Logan cut in, his eyes transfixed on the glowing water around Maggie's fingertips.

"What?" Maggie blinked, eyes diverting from Charles' to look at whatever Logan was pointing at.

Her eyes widened at the sight, but before she could say anything, Hank came rushing back towards them only to suddenly halt at the sight in front of him. Charles had quieted down, still breathing heavily, but he had opened his eyes again. Eyes that were focused on Maggie in awe. The same awe he had possessed during their times at the manor, training to take on Shaw.

"She's healing my mind." Charles whispered, almost as if only he himself was to hear the words. "You're healing me." He repeated, the volume rising higher to speak to everyone present.

"I-I don't get it." She didn't dare move her fingers, afraid the glow would fade and never return. "I've never done this before. I mean I used water to sooth injuries. Regulating temperatures and such, but, but this?"

Charles laughed, fully and gleefully, a sound no one had heard in a long while it seemed by the look on Hank's face. "Magnificent."

"Do you think...it's permanent?" Maggie wondered.

"No clue." Charles spoke honestly. He could feel the presence of the voices, could even hear them clearly, but there was no overwhelming feeling, or sparks of pain bouncing around. It was tranquil and soothing.

"Okay." Maggie nodded, "Let's see." She slowly retracting the water down her arms, the glow fading away as everyone waited with bathed breath.

For a moment it seemed everything was fine, and a wide smile spread across Maggie's face. Only suddenly, Charles faces scrunched up, a low hiss falling from his lips as he clutched his head. "Shit, shit ━ shit!" She exclaimed, quickly making the water move back her arms again. She frowned, energy straining when nothing happened. There was no glow, no soothing his pain. "Come one. Work!"

"Hey! Hey, pull yourself together!" Logan instructed Charles, crouching down next to a distraught Maggie cursing under her breath as she moved the water around her fingertips. "It's not over yet."

"You don't believe that." Charles denied hoarsely.

"How do you know?"

"As these go ━" He grabbed his left leg, "This comes back." He brought his hand back up to touch the side of his head, where Maggie's hands still rested. "They all come back." He moaned in pain.

"Look, I'm..." Logan hesitated, "I'm still here. And she's still out there. But we need your help Charles. Not like this. I need you. We can't find Raven, not without your powers."

When Charles remained moaning in agony, Hank hesitantly stepped forward, making Maggie completely move back. "I-I added a little extra because you missed a dose." He muttered sheepishly.

Maggie watched nervously as Charles started at the syringe, clearing weighting his options.

"Charles?"

They could only watch as Charles took the syringe from Hank, rolling up his sleeved. The needle did not touch his skin yet, but the trembling in his hand only increased as he shook. Tears were gathered in his eyes, but he didn't let them fall.

After a moment that felt like an eternity, Charles dropped the syringe next to him on the floor, running a hand across his face as he exhaled loudly and sniffed before focusing on Hank. "uh, Hank, do me a favour, would you help me to my study please?"

"Come on, I got you." Hank nodded, picking the man up without much effort and slinging his arms around his shoulders as he dragged Charles with him.

Logan held out his hand for Maggie, the chestnut haired woman still staring at her hands in confusion, swirling around the cold water between her fingers. She looked up at his hand came into view. Slowly, the woman returned the water to its previous place before gripping Logan's outstretched hand.

He easily hauled her back to her feet, "Can you walk?"

Maggie didn't answer immediately, testing out the strength of her legs. They still ached, and felt sore. But unlike how she felt when she first woke up, she felt stronger, and more secure on her feet. "I think so." She confirmed. "Keep close though." She added after a moment.

"Got it princess."

"Don't call me that old man."

Logan just laughed, following after Hank and Charles.

"Hey!" Maggie shouted, "Wait for me!" She quickly shadowed his steps.

It didn't take long for the duo to catch up to Charles and Hank, the latter already opening a closet in the back of the study. "Are you sure about this?" He wondered as he nervously eyed the wheelchair stowed away, collecting dust.

"Not at all." Charles offered his answer.

Maggie chuckled. "When have we ever been sure about anything in life?"

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Lol, it's been seven thousan years. Is anyone still reading this shit? I hope so because I still got a lot planned. Is Maggie also become an edgier version of Katara? yes. Do I regret these decisions? Not at all. Badass maybe is unlocking her healing skills whoop whoop!