💥𝒢𝑜𝒹𝒹𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝒲𝒾𝓈𝒹𝑜𝓂💥 [𝒳-𝑀𝑒𝓃]

Chapter 26: Banshee

"Death doesn't discriminate between the sinners and the saints. It takes, and it takes, and it takes, and it takes."

- Burr, Hamilton

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Charles's POV

Two and a half years later...

An ever familiar scream fills my mind and rings within my skull. When I awaken, the scream is still heard. This one wasn't only within my head. Of course, now, it couldn't be. I push myself out of bed and onto my feet. Standing has become a bit of an odd sensation now.

Hank has created a treatment to allow himself to shift between human and beast. The same derivative of this formula he later used to create a serum to treat my spine. It also dampens my powers. Now, I no longer am able to use my telepathy.

I walk into Elizabeth Grace's room to find an empty bed. She's not even hiding in there with invisibility. She's just missing. Initially, I fear the worst, but soon find that it seems no one has forcibly entered in any way. However, this still doesn't answer the question of where she is.
I step out of the room. Footsteps can be heard coming down the hallway. Looking up, I see Hank. His expression is one of concern.

"Is Liza ok?" he asks a bit frantically. "I heard a scream. What's going on?"

"I'm not sure yet, Hank," I tell him. "She's not in her room."

"We need to find her. We need to figure out-"

"It's alright, Hank. I'll find her and get to the bottom of this."

"Are you sure you don't want me to help?"

"If I need you, I'll let you know."

Hank nods his head and returns to his room. It's clear he doesn't have exactly the utmost faith in me. I begin searching the house for my missing teenager. Though I lack sleep because of things such as this, I will admittedly miss her. Following in my footsteps, she leaves for Oxford next week. She often teases Hank saying that he still wins in their little "competition." She will graduate Oxford at 17. He graduated Harvard at 15.

After searching the logical levels of the house, I finally decide to check the one place I vowed not to go—Cerebro. My hands shake as I open its doors. Inside, there is a lack of any Elizabeths... though it's obvious she's been there very recently. I should've known she would eventually use Cerebro. What she saw... is more than likely what resulted in the cry.

Not sure of her plan, I rush back upstairs. Every stomp of my foot pounds against the stairs below. I continue searching anywhere she might go. Suddenly, the front door closes. It hits with a loud slam—startling me greatly. Now, I am afraid.

I run to the door, throwing it open. It's too late. Wherever she's running off to, she's gone. Elizabeth Grace is absolutely nowhere in sight.

Elizabeth Grace's POV

I'm sorry, dad.

I'm sure he'll be quite angry when I return, but I know this is something I have to do. My legs carry me at full speed until I've left the estate. The gate seems a blur behind me as I pass. I walk—slowly now due to being out of breath—to the nearest bus stop just as a bus arrives.

I pay the driver and take a seat. During the ride, the images flash through my mind like a plague. It is something I couldn't scrub from my memory even if I were dead.

Sean. What I feared has come to pass. Trask experimented on Sean. Torture might be a better word for what was done to him. He was in agony when I connected with him through Cerebro... agony that was nothing short of inexpressible.

I felt only a spectator to his death. He could hear my voice, but I had no way to truly save him. My father would've been capable of his rescue, but he has forsaken his gift. I do not know how to correctly use Cerebro to control a mind as he can. It is a skill he will likely never teach me as his will to do such things fell with the school.

I could only try to use my words to comfort our dear Banshee as he died. His cries still fill my mind. I felt all that he did. I've never experienced such pain and agony in my life. He almost felt death as a mercy.

I shake thinking of this. An older woman in the row across from me looks at me with concern. I likely look as though I've seen a ghost. In reality, this would've been easier. Ghosts are already deceased... no one any longer has to worry about them passing from death to life. The deed is done. I know now what I have to do.

It takes several hours to reach Washington D.C. Throughout the ride, Sean seems to haunt me like a spector... one there is no chance of escaping. Voices rushes through my head again of all the students whose lives have been taken by that man. I'm thankful to be able to leave the bus when we reach our destination.

Exiting the bus, I make my way directly towards the Pentagon. It's obvious that getting inside will be nearly impossible. Luckily, being inside isn't the only option. I just have to get close enough... This will be a test of my powers, and it's the only chance I have.

Getting within what I hope to be range, I begin to center myself as best I can and search with my powers. I know what I'm looking for... who I'm looking for. My prayer is that I'm able to reach him.

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Song: Bleeding Out by Imagine Dragons