💥𝒢𝑜𝒹𝒹𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝒲𝒾𝓈𝒹𝑜𝓂💥 [𝒳-𝑀𝑒𝓃]

Chapter 18: Facing the Future

"Alone. Yes, that's the key word, the most awful word in the English tongue. Murder doesn't hold a candle to it and hell is only a poor synonym."

- Stephen King

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Elizabeth Grace's POV

I don't know how I got here. The last thing I remember is going to bed. Now, I'm... in the middle of a wood. In my life, I've never sleep-walked. Something tells me I didn't randomly start today. Looking down, however, I seem to find my answer to any of my questions. I'm laying on something—a sheet of metal.

"Erik," I say as calmly as if I were beginning a simple, everyday conversation.

"I honestly expected you to be frightened," I hear his voice reply.

"I haven't found a reason to be scared of you."

Erik steps from the shadows. He is dressed—how shall I say it—a bit differently than he was when I last saw him. He now dawns a bright red coat, black pants and boots, a black cape, and the helmet able to block telepathic signals that is now painted red with purple lining the face and around the edges. His look certainly is intended to make a statement.

"Nice outfit," I comment a bit spitefully... as if I can say much considering the same white-eyed owl from my suit has been so elegantly drawn onto the brace holding my bandaged right arm in place.

"Are you... your arm... I..."

"I'm fine," I spit at him.

"I'm sorry. I never intended-"

"To hurt me..." I begin to laugh. It's clear he has no idea... "I should be dead."

"The bullet struck your arm. I don't understand."

"That's not the bullet I'm talking about. The very bullet that PARALYZED my father wasn't meant for him."

"Paralyzed... is Charles-"

"Yes. It struck his spinal cord. He will be wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life."

"I didn't-"

"Know. I'm aware."

"But the bullet... what do you mean it wasn't meant for him?"

"The bullet in reference... should've gone straight through my heart. I couldn't think fast enough. Dad did. He pushed me out of its way and was paralyzed in the process."

"I'm sorry. I-"

"Save it."

"... You must think me a monster."

My mouth goes completely dry. I wish to say he's right... but I... I cannot. I can never bring myself to call him...

"Yet," he says. "It appears you can't. Even in hating me, you cannot do it."

"I do not hate you, Erik Lehnsherr. I do not loathe you nor love you. I feel nothing towards you."

Erik's POV

"I feel nothing towards you."

These words haunt me. They are the words I cannot stop hearing. It was this girl that had given me hope—the very thing I believed I could never feel again. She rekindled this very feeling that was greater than revenge.

Now, I have driven all of them away—including her. It wasn't because of what I would've believed could hurt her. It wasn't because of her arm or even her near death. It was because I had hurt the person that she held dearest and who held her dearest in return—Charles. What I've done is something I will never be able to fix. It is also likely something that this young girl will never forgive me for as long as either of us lives.

I have sought comfort in Raven—though it is much different. She could be considered soothing in this time that I have lost people who I never dreamed I might. If not for her, I fear I would've already broken past the point of no return.

On the night I met with Elizabeth, I came back with nothing short of heartbreak. It almost would've been better if she had just said she hated me. At least she would've felt something... but to be so void of emotion towards me... I am practically dead to the child.

Hiding the tears was a futile battle to say the least. I had nothing short of a complete breakdown that night. The look in her hurting white eyes—that had once been filled with such a joy—was now forever seared into my memory. I was the one who had placed the pain in them. Now, I would pay the price for what I had done. On the beach in Cuba, my thoughts of any penance I may have to endure would be imprisonment, backlash from humanity, even death... but never this. How much easier any of those would be than this.

Raven had come to see me, possibly hearing me enter. Granted, I did slam the door quite hard. Her embrace had been warm and loving. Something about it gave me a sense of quiet tranquility even if only for a moment. Of course, then the cold within my heart snuck in once again to remind me of the very words I'd heard from Elizabeth.

Raven's care has certainly given me something to keep going, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. However, nothing can give me true peace. My heart is broken—and seems beyond repair. A lover's care is far different from care... that felt like that of a daughter.

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Song: Monster by Imagine Dragons (Covered by RUNAGROUND)