CHAPTER FOUR...

"The Presence of US Missiles in Turkey represents an unprecedented threat to the people of the Soviet Union..." The American news commentator said from the small boxed television set. Emma Frost and Sebastian Shaw sat across from it, watching intently. 

So far, everything was going as planned. Soon it would all be in place, and Mutant kind would finally become the superior race over mankind. And yet Shaw was still angry. His stomach still twisted, and his hands trembled with unused energy. He took a sip of his brandy.

"Warned Russian Foreign Minister Gromyko earlier today." Shaw felt a hint of satisfaction, but his smile never reached his eyes. "But he was quick to insist the Russians would not be the first to initiate any Military action." the satisfaction disappeared. A spark gone out in an instant.

Emma looked at him, slightly angered.

Shaw said. "Yeah, we'll fix that as soon as we get to Russia."

"Unless the CIA finds us first." Emma replied. Shaw didn't let his frustration show. He didn't want to think about the CIA right now. He didn't want to think about where she was at all. His greatest asset. His greatest weapon. Gone in an instant.

"I'll take care of them too." Shaw replied.

Emma flicked her beautiful blonde hair over her shoulder. "If that Telepath gets inside your head, he won't be as much fun as I am."

Shaw smiled. "Already in hand, my love." He got up and walked over to the mahogany desk. A large black box sat atop it. Shaw opened the case to reveal an exquisite ebony metal helmet. He picked it up as if he were coddling a child and turned around. Emma looked at him expectantly. He put the helmet on his head. The metal was cool against his skin, and it fit perfectly.

"The Russians," he said, showing the helmet to her. "Made me this." He looked at Emma gleefully. "So, what am I thinking?"

Emma stared at him intently, her eyes narrowed. She placed a hand on her hip, looking at his forehead harder. As she tried, Shaw thought if his new helmet would keep Leena out. The girl didn't know the extent her mutation went to. She dealt in emotions, not thoughts, and Shaw had been unable to find a way to keep her power out using the helmet. He just hoped she didn't practice using her ability. That she was still the weakened girl he saved all those years ago. If she learned to control it, she would have a power to rival his own.

Emma loosened, visibly distraught. Shaw smiled. "I don't know." He chuckled. He wouldn't tell Emma, but he had partly gotten the helmet to block her out as well. Shaw didn't like anyone getting inside his head, so he acquired the helmet as a precaution.

"I was thinking that you are the most exquisite thing I've ever seen in my life." Emma smiled, showing her perfect teeth. A part of Shaw knew he was lying, but he needed her on his side.

"And that this needs ice." he continued, holding up his glass. "There's a good girl." he said as she grabbed the drink and left the room.

Shaw sighed. If only Leena would see that his cause was just, if only she would see how he could make her life easier, better, if she joined him. But she had abandoned him, and nobody ever left Sebastian Shaw without consequences.

⭑✶⭑

When I wake again the next morning, the sun shines through my curtains, casting dark and light rays across my bed. I sit up, taking in the way the mattress molds to my body, and how the soft blanket gives me a small pocket of warmth.

After my nightmare, it took me hours to fall back asleep, but even then, the dreams came to me in flashes. The darkness is gone, but I feel it curling around my stomach, ice cold needles pricking my soul.

Drool is crusted to the edges of my mouth, and my hair is more of a bird's nest than corkscrew curls. I rub the sleep out of my eyes and throw off the covers. Moira came in last night with a pile of clothes for me to wear, and I gasp as I pull open the drawers to the dresser. There are little dresses with empire waistlines, flared pants and checkered skirts. I pull out three different cardigans, each one a vibrant pop of colour against this bare room.

I've never had this many clothes to choose from, much less been able to wear. Emma was always the one who got the fancy clothes and dresses, and I would always watch with envy as she tried on each outfit, lavishing in her stunning beauty.

After much deliberation, I end up going with a slightly subdued set of clothes. I'm wearing a chocolate brown sleeved shirt made of a ribbed cotton, with a lighter brown checkered skirt the ends just above my knees, and knee high beige socks. I try to brush out my hair, but by the time I've tied half of it up with a ribbon, my eyes are watering from the pain.

I look in the mirror one last time, and can't help but see how my clothes hang loosely around my slim shoulders, and my arms are so skinny I could probably wrap my hand around my forearm. My cheeks are sunken and there are dark circles underneath my eyes. Red pimples line the edge of my hairline, and my freckles stand out against ivory pale skin. This is what Shaw did to me. He beat me and tortured me until all that was left was a skeleton. I tuck my shirt into my skirt, making sure to cover my scars, then head out the door.

I find everyone in the lounge, where an assortment of breakfast has been laid out. Charles and Moira are deep in conversation on one of the couches, and Hank and Raven are talking on the other side of the room. There is no sign of Erik.

Before I can worry too much about whether he decided to stay, the savoury scent of food hits me full force. I rush over to the table and pour myself a huge mug of hot tea, then grab a plate and stack pieces of toast, eggs, bacon, sausage, and fruit.

When I was with Shaw, I barely got two meals a day, and the food I did get consisted of the bare essentials; bread, meat, a vegetable, and water. On the days that Shaw went out with Emma or for business, I never got anything. I turn and decide to head over to where Charles and Moira are sitting, even though they seem deep in conversation, I don't want to eat alone..

"Good Morning." Moira says cheerfully as I sit down next to Charles. He greets me with a sad smile. For a minute I wonder if he knows about my nightmare. It sparks a thought I haven't had before. Do I want him looking into my head? I know he might just be doing it to know me better, but I have so many memories that I don't want anyone to know. Just the thought of them brings tears to my eyes.

Charles clears his throat. "I won't look inside your head without your permission, Leena." I turn to him in surprise.

"Can you even control it?" I ask. "Who's thoughts you hear?"

Charles nods. "I can."

"Thank you." I say. I begin to eat my toast. The butter and grain melts in my mouth, the sweetness of the strawberries compliments the savoury of the roast sausages, and I golf down my eggs and beans, lapping it all up like a dog. I'm sure everyone is watching me. I have never eaten anything so delicious, and in no time my plate is spotless. For the first time in ages, my stomach doesn't feel empty. Charles and Moira smile at me, and I can feel Raven and Hank staring in my direction. But I don't care, I realize, because in this moment, the only thing that could dampen my mood is Erik leaving. The minute I think of him, my sheepish smile fades. Maybe he really did leave.

"Leena?" Charles' voice snaps me out of my daze. "Will you come with me, there is something I want to discuss with you." I wipe my face with a napkin and look at Charles. He seems on edge suddenly, from the way he's staring at me intently. A hundred different scenarios run through my head.

"Ok." I reply. I get up from where I sit, my legs protesting, and follow Charles out into the hall. Once he makes sure no one can hear us, he turns back to me.

"Leena, I haven't seen Erik yet." he says. My stomach drops. Of course, why did I expect him to stay?

"So he's really gone."

"I'm not sure." Charles says. "But can I ask you to keep an eye out?"

"Of course." I say.

"Leena, there is something else." Charles says. "From what I know about Shaw and what I was able to see from his head, I believe you're... you're incredibly important to him."

My mouth must be hanging open, because Charles shifts from foot to foot.

"No." I say, shaking my head. "That's not possible. He doesn't... He doesn't care about anyone."

"Not care, perhaps." Charles says. "But from what I was able to glimpse back on the Coast guard, you were part of his plans."

I can't seem to process what he's saying. Why would Shaw want me? Want my abilities? Was that the reason he kept me for so long, instead of just killing me? The thought makes me want to throw up all the food I just ate.

"I know that you think Erik is the only one who understands what you went through, Leena," Charles continues. "But I want you to know that I have seen what happened to you, and that you're not alone." I stiffen. Erik said that to me on the Coast Guard boat. I'm starting to think no one means it. No one really understands, I realize. Not even Erik, because he wasn't with Shaw for five years. He was never visited by Shaw in the night, where he sat next to me and stroked my hair, said how much he cared about me, then enhanced my power and watched as I screamed in pain, his every emotion tearing into my heart.

"Thank you." I say. "Let's hope you and him are both here." I turn around, my breakfast threatening to come back up. All I see is Shaw. what he did. What he's going to do. I want him out of my head. For good. But I can't, because he's all I ever see. He's my worst nightmare.

I turn to go to my room, but then I remember last night, and I can't face going back. My mind is racing, scattered with darkness and deceit. I can feel everyone's emotions pushing against my carefully constructed borders. My scar stings, and my whole body tenses. I can't go back to my room, I can't go back to the dining room. My carefully patched up stitches on the side of my face threatens to burst.

I need air. I turn back around and head for the front entrance. I open the doors and push my way outside. My lungs are grateful for the fresh air, and I let the tears come. I walk over to the concrete flower boxes and sit down.

Stop crying, I tell myself, please stop crying, you're stronger than this. But I'm not, no matter how hard I try, my thoughts always stray back to him and what he did. And every time they do, a knot below my ribs grows, tightening with anger until I feel like I might explode. But no matter what I feel, the inferno of emotion never erupts. It just keeps growing, spreading across my body until I want to burst. I can feel the shadows growing, feel my power expanding, but I don't know how to unleash it. I'm not sure I want to. Is that what Shaw meant when he said I might be able to control the dark energy like he can? Is this knot of emotions what's holding me back?

Shaw is like a volcano, constantly releasing his power. The leader, the bringer of destruction. I am just a mountain. A hill. Dormant and solitary, with something hidden deep beneath it, never to show itself. My hand twinges again, and the shadow from last night, the sadness and pain, dances in my palm. Only this time it hurts. Really really hurts. I cry out in agony as it spreads across my whole hand, filling my body with despair. Why did this have to be my mutation? I don't want to be able to control emotions, I don't want to use it as a weapon. I want the shadows to be gone.

"I want it all to be gone." I whimper. The shadows sink into my skin, and I fall to my knees, holding back a sob.

"Leena!" an eerily familiar voice calls up. But I'm too in pain to answer. Someone kneels beside me. I look up through tear stained eyes into those of Erik Lehnsherr. Even through the hurt, I let out a relieved laugh. He looks at me like I've gone mad. Erik helps me to my feet while I cradle my throbbing arm.

"I - I thought you left." I say through gasps. Erik shakes his head.

"I realized." he says. "That if we're to take down Shaw, we're going to need all the help we can get." I smile.

"I thought you worked alone." I say. Erik laughs.

"I did."

✶✶✶

"I... uh... I call it Cerebro." Hank says. I finish my climb up the stairs and enter a small, domed room. The walls have a yellowish tint to them, and a strange looking contraption sits in the middle of the room, appearing to be connected to the ceiling. Weird computer and toggle things are pushed up against one curve. I hang back near where the staircase just was.

Apparently Charles and Erik are going to be the ones that find the new mutants, without the CIA's help, and they're going to use this machine with Charles' ability to find them. I cross my arms over my stomach and lean against the railing.

"As in Spanish for brain." I say. Hank and Charles look at me, amused. Erik raises an eyebrow.

"I do read." I say. He smiles..

"Ok, so, the electrodes connect Charles to the transmitter on the roof." Hank says, and he gets this faraway look in his eye. I recognize it as him completely being in his element. Shaw used to get that look when he was making plans with Emma. I swallow the memories.

"When he picks up a mutant, his brain sends a signal through a relay. And then the coordinates of their location are printed out here." I follow Erik and Raven to where Hank is pointing to the computer. I don't know what any of it means, but I go along with it anyway.

"You designed this?" Raven says, clearly impressed.

Hank's cheeks go pink. "Yeah." I bite back my smile.

Charles stands under the wired helmet and places it over his head. I grin at how ridiculous he looks.

"What an adorable lab rat you make, Charles." Erik says, walking up to face him.

"Don't spoil this for me Erik." Charles replies.

"Oh, I've been a lab rat." Erik says. "I know one when I see one." I stiffen, and Erik and Charles both realize what he's said at the exact same moment. Erik turns to me, an apology written across his sculpted features.

"Leena--" he says.

"It's alright." I interject. "I was one too." I gulp. "And Charles fits the description." Erik smiles and Charles lets out a breath. Hank stands beside him and begins playing with the wires on his helmet.

"Are you sure we can't shave your head?" he asks. My previous stiffness willows away at the comment.

"Don't touch my hair." Charles replies.

"Okay." Hank goes over to the computers and begins switching buttons on. I go over to where Charles is now holding onto the railing and look up at the helmet. A million questions run through my head about how this device actually works, but I hold my tongue. If Hank built it, then I'm sure it works. The lights in the room dim, and we all crowd around Charles.

All of a sudden, a white light erupts the helmet, and Charles gasps, grabbing onto the bar in front. Ink appears on paper in the machine. Charles smiles through his gasps.

"It's working!" Hank says from the machine. I laugh. In no time, we'll have more than enough mutants to bring down Shaw.

I just hope it works. I just hope I'll be able to help.

AUTHOR'S NOTE... 

Hello! How are you liking Phantom so far? I would love to hear your thoughts and feelings about the story and my baby; Leena. 

What do you think about her relationship with the other X-men,  and how do you think she'll react to the new recruits coming? 

Personally, I love how much Erik cares about her, and Charles and Erik are literally the cutest parents ever. Also, don't worry, for those who came here for a romance of some sort, I'm planning out several romantic plot lines, you'll just have to stick around and see... 

Love, Mal