I placed a chess board down in front of Charles. Logan was falling asleep in his chair.

"Fancy a game?" I asked. "It's been a while."

"I'm not in the mood for games, thank you."

I nodded and picked up a liquor bottle and a glass.

"I haven't had a real sip in ten years," I said as I poured the drink. I leaned against a table and took a small drink. I looked down into my drink. "I didn't kill the president."

"The bullet curved, Erik."

"Because I was trying to save him. They took me out before I could."

"Why would you try and save him?"

"Because he was one of us."

Charles shook his head and sighed.

"You must think me so foolish. You've always said that they would come after us."

"I'd never imagined they'd use Raven's DNA to do it."

"When did you last see her?"

"The day I left for Dallas," I replied, sitting across from Charles.

"And how was she?"

"Strong. Driven. Loyal."

"How was she?"

"She was... We were..." I paused. "I could see why she meant so much to you. You should be proud of her, Charles. She's out there fighting for our cause."

"You're cause. The girl I raised, she was not capable of killing."

"You didn't raise her, you grew up with her. She couldn't stay a little girl forever. That's why she left."

"She left because you got inside her head."

"That's not my power. She made a choice."

"But now we know where that choice leads, don't we? She's going to murder Trask. They're going to capture her, and then they're going to wipe us out."

"Not if we get to her first. Not if we change history tomorrow." We stared at each other for a minute. "I'm sorry, Charles. For what happened, I truly am."

Charles finished his drink and sat forward.

"It's been awhile since I've played."

"I'll go easy on you. Might finally be a fair fight."

"You have the first move."

I moved a piece forward with my powers. Charles sighed and moved his first piece. We went back and forth, taking our turns. After a while, the plane started to creak. Logan woke up, startled. Charles looked up at me, confused.

"Erik?" we heard Hank call. "Erik, release the plane!"

"It's not me," I replied.

Charles looked at me, puzzled, and said, "Then who..." Realization spread across his face. "(y/n)," he breathed.

He shot up from his seat and ran to the back of the plane. Logan and I sped after him. Charles threw open the door to (y/n)'s room and ran inside. I stepped inside and saw (y/n) thrashing around in her bed. She was crying out, as though she was in pain. Charles grabbed her by her shoulders and started to lightly shake her.

"(y/n)!" he shouted. "(y/n), you need to wake up!" (y/n) suddenly opened her eyes. She looked up at Charles. She was breathing hard with sweat on her face and tears in her eyes. "(y/n), it's alright. You're safe. You need to calm down. You're messing with the plane." (y/n) nodded and as she sat up, the plane creaked and leveled. "There you go."

"Charles," (y/n) said, trying to hold back her tears. "It happened again. I saw them. I felt them all."

"It's alright, (y/n). You're safe. It's going to be alright."

He wrapped his arms around her, letting her cry softly into his shoulder. Logan left my side as I continued to watch the two. After a few minutes, Charles pulled away from (y/n).

"You going to be alright if I leave?" She nodded. "Try to rest."

"I don't think I will be able to for a while, but I can try."

Charles stood and walked over to where I was. He stopped and looked back at (y/n) as she stood and moved to the window, staring outside. I looked at Charles.

"What happened?" I whispered.

"Because of her powers," Charles explained in the same volume, "she is attached to every mutant she meets. She feels the pain they go through until they die. Since Darwin died, she's been having nightmares. Darwin's death. Shaw's death. Me getting shot in Cuba. The torture and experiments our friends endured. Even every time Logan uses his claws."

I stared at him.

"She feels mutants' pain?" I asked.

"Every mutant that she meets, yes."

I looked at (y/n). Charles patted my shoulder before leaving. I stood there for a few minutes before walking towards (y/n). I sat down on the edge of her bed.

"It doesn't get easier," she whispered. "The pain doesn't go away. Sometimes the smallest things bring back the memories of their pain. I feel like I'm in their place, like I'm the one being cut up, torn apart, shot at, dying."

"You're right," I said, making her look at me. Her eyes were red from crying. "It doesn't get easier, but the fact that you understand what each of them is going through is special. When they feel as though no one understands what they are going through, they are wrong because you will know. You just need to stay strong and help those who are suffering."

"I've wanted to, Erik, but the pain is just so much that I can hardly move. All I could do was scream."

Tears started to fill her eyes again. I held out my hand to her. She slowly took it, allowing me to pull her next to me. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder. She buried her head into my shoulder and cried softly. I rubbed her arm, trying to comfort her.

"I'm so sorry, (y/n)," I said.