Dawn of the Evolved |•| Wakanda x Xmen

Chapter 24: Ororo

We left Sharon outside to stand guard while we entered the cave with Jacob taking the lead and Angel the rear. Despite having no apparent light source the tight corridors are a glow with a strange blue light. My breath gets shallower the further we get from the open sky. Soon I can hardly breath without wheezing.

"What's the matter?" Angel asks from behind me.

Slowly the details around me start to get more clear, as my lungs gasp harder for air. Why do I feel I shouldn't be here? We're on a mission.

"I'm fine..." I wheeze. "Just.. can't breathe."

Jacob stops. "Ororo do you need to leave?" I shake my head, but as I do that the ground starts to tip. Somehow I'm no longer standing and in Jacob's arms. I don't even remember when my legs stopped working.

"OK Ororo we're getting you out of here." Jacob starts to pull me towards the entrance. I find myself pulling away, I don't trust him.

"Let me go." I say weakly.

"I think it's wearing off." I vaguely hear Francis say.

"We have to hurry. They may not be far behind us. Magneto can't hold them for long." Angel complains.

"Don't worry I got this." To much protest, Jacob throws me over his shoulder. I try and shock him but only a weak spark comes out. He continues walking, the closer we get to outside the stronger I feel.

"Just drug her." Angel mutters.

"Not yet."

We are a metre away from the entrance. I gasp, it comes back to me in tidal wave. Kitty, Emma Frost, the school. T'Challa. With renewed strength I hear thunder rumble in the far a way sky, sparks dance along my finger tips.

"Let me-"

"Now!"

Before I can do anything I feel a sharp needle plunge into my neck. Suddenly, all feeling of urgency escapes me. Jacob puts me down. I blink twice.

"Are you feeling better?" He asks gently. Why does everyone else look so tense? Francis glares daggers at me and Angel has her hands folded across her chest.

"Yeah. What's wrong?" I hardly remember us turning back. "Why haven't we entered yet?"

Jacob frowns. "You started to look really sick. Maybe being somewhere without the sky only makes your claustrophobia worse. You can stay on watch with Sharon.

"That's probably a good idea." I say, but for some reason I'm thinking the exact opposite as I try to remember what happened in the last 5 minutes.

"Come one we have to complete the mission." Angel nags impatiently, the others follow her into the cave and I step outside to meet Sharon.

"What happened?"

"Claustrophobia."

"Ah okay."

I turn to her. "But I feel like -"

She puts her finger in front of my mouth, silencing me. "Nuh-uh. This isn't a social club; I don't want to hear about your feelings."

I bite my tongue and nod. She's right, what am I thinking? We have a mission.

**