Chapter 10

"Are sure this is going to work? Cause you need to be sure," Kenna said to Elixir. They were sitting at the bottom of the Hudson river right next to Manhattan.

"I'm sure. As long as I'm making skin contact with you, I can suppress your mutation. You'll be fine," said Elixir.

"But that didn't work last time!"

"It was already in you last time. I'll close the pores this time, stopping it before it starts."

"Are you sure we can't just get Crystal to launch us onto the street?"

"She's exhausted. I had to manipulate her adrenal production just to kick us down the river this far."

"Cause if this doesn't work that's at least thirty feet of water we got to swim through and I know you can do that thing where you make me vomit it out in one big steamy breath, but that only really worked with what was not already apart of me so while you might get some of it out you definitely won't get all of out," Kenna took a breath, "So unless you have some sick obsessions with watching disasters unfold we really really really need to be sure about this." Crystal closed her eyes and slumped over. The water she had been so diligently keeping back for such a long time found itself no longer bound to her will.

Kenna grabbed both of them tightly breaking apart her confines and swam for the surface as swiftly as she could. The others were already drying themselves on the pier when she pulled herself up. She was cold, but not anymore substantial then she already was. She dropped Crystal onto the ground but held Elixir with a firm grip.

It was a cloudy night. The pier they found themselves on was some type of sports complex with a myriad of empty arenas. If it wasn't for the brightly lit backdrop of the mega city they probably wouldn't have been able to see each other. "Alright, I know it's been kind of bitch to get here, but we're here. So," she noticed some of them were trying not to stare at her as she stood up to full height. She was at least three times the size of any of them, "What?"

"You're." said Elliot stammering.

"Naked," broadcasted Jono. Kenna looked down at herself.

"So I am," said Kenna.

"I don't see the problem," said Elizabeth. They all looked at her. "What? I'm naked all the time. I am naked right now."

"No you're not," said Elliot.

"This," she said, tugging at part of her imitation Crystal clothing, "Is my skin. You don't think the clothes just change with me do you?"

"That explains a lot," said Kenna who was confused as to why she didn't find any of her clothes to steal, "Yuuto? Do you have anything for this?" Yuuto rolled up his right sleeve. He pulled a black fabric out of the full length of his arm and offered it to her. "Oh, okay." She pulled on it but there was no end to it. It just kept coming out. "Oh cool it's just keeps going." She pulled on it faster. He grabbed the cloth and pulled back. "What?" He shook his head at her. She pulled slower until she had enough to fashion some basic coverings.

"Everybody good with this?" asked Kenna, showcasing her work. Nobody gave a straight answer. "Whatever, moving on. So behind me is war-torn Manhattan and somewhere in there might be the remains of John. Now does anybody have any ideas where he could be? Cause I have no idea," asked Kenna. Elliot raised his hand. "Yes! Elliot."

"Are you going to let Elixir go anytime soon?" asked Elliot.

"Not until I'm completely dry. Anybody else?" Elliot raised his hand again. "Do you actually have an idea this time?"

"I think you broke his arm." said Elliot. She looked down at Elixir. The arm she was holding him by was twisted and dangling unnaturally. She dropped him immediately.

"Elixir are you alright!? You gotta say something about these things!" yelled a concerned Kenna. He jerked and twisted his arm back into place. "I'm fine," he groaned, moving his hand arounds his ribs. As soon as he was done mending himself he walked over to an abnormally still Crystal laying sprawled out on the ground. He placed his hand on her causing her to cough up water. She was breathing now, but still not much for moving.

"Was she-," she tried to ask with fear in her voice.

"She's fine."

"Did I-."

"I said, she's fine." She looked at her own hand. Whatever Elixir had done to her was already losing its effect. Her skin was completely dry. She lost herself watching the mesmerizing affair of her swelling skin.

"Kenna," said Elixir snapping his fingers trying to get her attention

"Hm?" Kenna said snapping out of her trance.

"You didn't kill her."

"Sure."

"And I need to find the rest of John while I still have a chance."

"You're right," she shook her head, "It looks like parts of the city still don't have power. So let's say you, me, and Crystal cover those areas while the rest of you who can pass for not mutants covers whatever the light touches. Any questions?"

"How are we going to get back?" asked Elliot.

"We were always on borrowed time. As soon as Xavier figures out what happened he'll find us. I imagine he'll coordinate with Illyana from there. Don't worry about getting lost, just worry about finding John." Jono gave a thumbs up while Yuuto started passing out hard hats and clip-boards to their group.

"Elixir, can we talk for a minute?" asked Kenna, taking a knee next to him.

"Make it quick."

"Do you really think we're going to find the rest of John? Manhattan is a big place and things move around a lot. I'm happy to help, but I'm worried about you."

"I'm fine. We need to go."

"You keep saying that, but what if we don't find what we're looking for?"

"We will," he said walking away.

"Wait! I'm not! What about Crystal? She's still passed out!" She looked down at Crystal, then back at Elixir, then back at Crystal nervously. She gently threw her over her shoulder before catching up with Elixir.

"Elizabeth!" yelled Kenna as ran.

"What!?" Elizabeth yelled back.

"Don't get distracted!" Elizabeth rolled her eyes not dignifying her with a response.

The streets were dark and devoid of life. It reminded her of the forests she used to sneak around in. The debris digging into her feet were not unlike the foliage, the buildings were like the trees, even the sounds felt too familiar. From the distant to the uncomfortably close. Granted the ambient gunfire was nothing like crickets but the rhythm was the same. In either setting she always felt unwelcomed. Like her very presence was disrupting a delicate ecosystem. Kenna was only able to barely follow Elixir since his golden profile contrasted with the night. And even then, it was only a matter of time till she lost him entirely. "Elixr!" she whispered as loudly as she could. She had looked away for two seconds at the smoldering skyline. "Elixir! Where are you!?" she called out a little louder.

"Lost someone, have we deary?" asked the old lady. Kenna freaked out at first, until she realized the old woman was sitting behind a foldable table covered in what looked like hand-made scented candles. She hardly looked at her either. She waved her hand in front of the old woman with no reaction. It might just have been the lack of light, but it appeared as if she was blind. Kenna lowered herself to her and fought the urge to introduce herself.

"Yes, I lost my friend Elixir. Did you see where he went?" she asked, not wanting to assume anything.

"There's always a chance. Perhaps some illumination would clear my memory." Her accent leaned towards western Europe.

"Maybe you should light one of the many candles you got there."

"My, I wish I could, but you see, I'm selling these candles. And I couldn't possibly afford to use one for my own personal use." Kenna looked around.

"Kind of sketchy place to be selling wares isn't it?"

"Oh I know, but you see, with the power out any sort of light is in high demand."

"Okay, how much?"

"Fifty-thousand dollars a candle."

"Are you shitting me!?"

"These are quality candles my dear. You'll never find another one like it I promise."

"Are they drugs!? Are you selling me drugs!? Is this how drugs are sold!? I don't have that kind of money!"

"This is a bargain of the highest caliber. However, perhaps we can arrange a different way of payment?"

"You can't have my soul." The old lady started laughing.

"My goodness no? Nothing so Faustien. I was referring to a payment plan."

"Oh, my bad."

"I'm sorry to tell you this, but your soul and fifty thousand dollars would still only get you a candle." With Elixir undoubtedly getting further and further away and knowing she could probably just get the money from the human printing machine known as Yuuto she didn't see any real downside to this.

"Deal, so I can grab any of these right? That purple one really speaks to me."

"No deary, these are show candles. Yours will be delivered to you within ten to fifteen business days."

"Really? Whatever, do you know where Elixir is?"

"That rather yellow fellow?

"Yes, that's him!"

"He's over two blocks behind you." Kenna looked over her shoulder and while at first, she thought this blind woman was hustling her, but she did spot a hint of yellow down that way.

"Thanks! Bye!" she said standing back preparing for a sprint.

"Goodbye Kenna, it was a pleasure to meet you," the old woman said. Kenna turned around. The old woman's eyes met hers. Any sense of subtlety or stealth was dropped right then as she ran down the street towards the yellow. And just to make things frustrating the yellow she was running towards was now running away from her too. "Elixir! Elixir it's me! Stop running!" she yelled. He was a decent way ahead of her, but she was catching up fast. And she would have gotten there faster if it wasn't everything else going on. Every street she stomped on through was having its own little event. Firefights, parties, construction crews, firefights between parties and construction crews, and the odd cult worshipping a Leviathan like corpse all felt like they were there to specifically slow her down as she bobbed, jumped, and weaved her way through juggling Crystal all the way. It wasn't until she finally caught up to the yellow fellow did she realize the person she was chasing wasn't Elixir.

His full body hazmat suit was more yellow then gold which became more painfully obvious the closer she got to him. And it also explained why he was running from her. She slowed down. "Sorry! Sorry! I thought you were somebody else! I promise I wasn't trying to eat you or anything!" she yelled after him as he ran towards a more distinguished building. The sign read "The center for Discovery and Innovation" and the property was separated from the rest of the city by lush greenery. The witch had obviously lied to her, perhaps sensing her own trickery afoot. However, the man she scared the shit out of might still be able to help her. Maybe it was the hazmat suit, but the person seemed to radiate a certain scientific aura about them.

She crept up to the building and peeked in through the second story windows. The insides were bustling with activity. Hazmat suits and eerily familiar automatons alike were running in every direction gathering everything they could get their mitts on to bring to what looked like a bleeding hole in the wall. Two of them that seemed outside of the chaos caught her eye. The less elaborate one looked panicked and waving their arms around in wild motions. The language of his body described stories of being chased by some large creature.

Then they spotted her peeping in through the window. The flustered one pointed at her belligerently while the elaborate one shined a pen laser at her. Kenna half expected it to hurt, but it was simply a laser pointer. She didn't think much of it until all the automatons began to shoot at her. It was more surprising than anything. Sure, the bullets hurt as they went in, but they were promptly worked out with nothing to mark the event other than a puff of steam. She was more worried about Crystal's less stubborn anatomy when she turned tail and ran.

The streets were not going to work for her. That had become painfully apparent to her now. She didn't even bother checking to see if there was a small army of robots chasing her when she decided to scale one of the buildings. It wasn't easy. She was never much of a climber and the building was never meant to be climbed by someone like her. Kenna even nearly dropped Crystal several times to the point carrying her by the scruff of her clothes was the only real way she could do this.

Didn't end there either. When she got to the top, she hopped buildings to get even further away. Some of them could handle her, others couldn't. It quickly devolved into a game of "the floor is lava" on a scale that had never been seen before. The situation escalated even further when a small troublesome helicopter spotted her. It followed her around building to building shining a bright beaming spotlight down at her activities. "Can you not!" she yelled finally stopping to address the obnoxious pilot and his whimsical whirly bird.

In her justified outcry of frustration, she dropped Crystal from her teeth. And when she hit the roof of the building she woke up. And when she woke all she knew was that there was an obnoxious bright light shining down upon her accompanied by mechanical noises from the sky. Crystal swiped at the air. Whatever she did caused the helicopter to lose control of itself going into a spin. "Crystal what did you do and why did you do that!?" yelled Kenna. Crystal looked at her with an expression of sheer confusion. "Just hold onto me and do absolutely anything you can do to keep it in the air!" she yelled, throwing Crystal on her back.

They chased the distressed aircraft across the rooftops trying to figure out a way to save it without getting minced by those spinning blades. Crystal was managing to keep it from colliding with anything but keeping it above up indefinitely seemed to be beyond her influence. It seemed like this was going to be another disaster to add to her list until opportunity presented itself. The copter was veering over a dilapidated group of smaller buildings. As with every thought that had ever crossed her mind the idea was stupid, but it was only idea she had that was better than letting it crash. With a great deal of effort, she leapt off the roof and caught the helicopter by its base with both hands. Unable to support her weight they both plummeted into the desolate buildings below.

"Crystal," muttered Kenna. Even though she had just crashed through multiple floors she had somehow managed to land on her feet while holding what was left of the small aircraft above her head.

"Yes?" answered Crystal as little puffs of steam rose up around them.

"You're hurting me." Crystal had arms wrapped around Kenna's neck so tightly during the ordeal that Kenna couldn't breathe.

"Please don't do that again either," she said, easing up on her death grip.

"I won't if you won't," Kenna coughed.

"Where's everybody?"

"I don't know. Probably all dead with the way things have been going."

"You okay?"

"I think I am. It was touch and go there for a minute, but I think," she trailed off. A drop fell on her head from the helicopter. Or at least what was left of it. In the desperation of the moments before she had crushed it. Looking up at it now it was little more than a warped piece of metal wrapped around her trembling hands. Another drop fell on her face. Her breathing became erratic. She dropped it on the ground. Crystal called out to her trying to get her attention as Kenna stared at the remains.

"Look at me!" she yelled, "We will find Elixir!"

"Okay," said Kenna with unsettling calm.

"Everything will get better!"

"Sure," she said looking around.

"I will help you! I promise!"

"It's alright, I'm good, I'm fine. I'm fine fine fine fine fine, fine." Kenna pulled a piece of rebar off of the building and jabbed it through her forearm. The puncture roared as an inferno of vapors erupted from her skin with the force of a small steam explosion. She fought to keep it in. Her body was rejecting it with fervor. The more of her the mutation used to repair the damage the smaller she got. And the smaller she got the bigger the rebar got. And the bigger the rebar got the more of her mutation took from her to repair the damage it was causing.

A lethal cycle that could only be fueled for so long until there was not enough Kenna left to keep it going. When her mutation finally burned out, and the mist finally cleared, there she was. On her knees, at a normal size, still clutching the rod trying to hold back the tears. Crystal, worried for her life, walked over and ripped it out of her. Kenna tried to fight her off as she pulled water from the air and applied it to her arm. "Stop!" Kenna cried out.

"I'm helping." said Crystal.

"I don't want your help! Go away!"

"You don't mean that."

"You're hurting me!" Crystal let go. There was nothing more to do anyway. Crystal had given her enough to heal the more visible wounds. "Don't ever do that again," she said, backing away.

"I won't if you won't," said Crystal tried to say, forcing a chuckle.

"No, just don't, ever."

"You were hurting yourself."

"It's the only way for me to get back to me."

"But I was helping. You're better now."

"You're not though. Everything you've 'helped' with has only made things worse. So much more worse than it had to be. Stop helping. You're not helping. You're bad at it. Just sit here and wait for somebody to find you." Crystal ran the words through her mind over and over again in a stunned silence looking for anything that she could misunderstand. However, the look on Kenna's face said more than her words ever did. She was not wanted. She did as she was told and took a seat on a pile of rubble without another word.

Kenna wrapped herself up yet again and turned to leave. She had never been less prepared to deal with what was out there in the dark, but no matter what it was she was more willing to deal with what was to come then was here. Then her heart broke. Even with all the chittering of the city she could still hear the telltale sounds of sadness. She turned around. Crystal turned away from her. Even as she tried to hide it Kenna could tell she was crying.

The emotional friction within herself could have started a fire. The urge to leave, the urge to shuffle away everything that happened and move on, was strong. She let out a long sigh whispering a curse under her breath before walking back to sit next to her. "I'm sorry," said Kenna. Crystal turned away from her. "I'm hurt, and when I'm hurt, I hurt others. And that's not right. Will you please forgive me?" Crystal looked at her wiping away tears.

"Please don't do that again," said Crystal.

"We might need to start a list," said Kenna, trying to chuckle. She stared out into the city. "I wish Franny was here. She's so much better at stuff like this."

"She knows. She asked me to follow you."

"I figured," groaned Kenna.

"It's the first time anybody asked me to do anything important."

"You might want Elixir to take care of those claw marks if we see him again."

"I'd actually like to keep them. They'd be good stories if I ever see my family again. It will let them know I made friends. Or that I survived a wild animal attack. Both will make them happy."

"I'm sure they'll come visit or Xavier will give you some time to go visit them."

"Can you keep a secret?" Kenna thought long and hard about this.

"Maybe."

"What's the word again for a person that has fled their home country?"

"Refugee?"

"Yes, I am one of those."

"Oh, from where?"

"I can't tell you."

"Why? Is it like a mutant witness protection thing?"

"You'll look at me differently."

"Say no more. I understand."

"You do?"

"My home is not looked highly upon either."

"Where do you come from?

"Can you keep a secret?"

"Maybe?" said Crystal showing a hint of a smile.

"Ravenswood, West Virginia." Crystal gasped. "It has its own cultural identity that happens to enjoy things other than banjos! I'm not saying that banjos are not involved! But it's not as banjo centric as the world thinks it is!"

"What is a banjo?"

"The less you know the better."

"Is it bad?"

"Depends on who you ask. Just don't tell anybody."

"I am very curious now."

"How'd you end up on Xavier's doorstep anyway?"

"My sister's husband knows Xavier. He took me in as a favor."

"Cool,"

"I hope they're alright."

"Well, if they're as scary as you I'm sure they're fine."

"I'm not scary."

"In this very short trip I've seen you work with water, earth, maybe air, and Franny said you do fire stuff too. That's pretty intense. Some real avatar shit right there."

"Why do people keep calling me that?"

"How do you even do any of it?" Crystal tapped on her head.

"Psionically."

"What?"

"With my mind."

"What?"

"I have a base connection with primordial forces."

"What?"

"I just do."

"Makes about as much sense as anything else going on." Kenna shivered.

"Cold?" asked Crystal.

"A little," said Kenna. A fire manifested in front of them inches above the ground.

"Cool."

"Helpful?"

"Yeah." Kenna knew that with this supernatural campfire they could be more easily spotted, but she didn't have it in her to tell Crystal. They sat next to it admiring the scenery for a moment longer as night went on. "I don't know what I'm going to do Crystal."

"I know right. Do we find Elixir? Do we find the others? Do we look for John?"

"That man's dead because of me."

"We find Elixir first then?"

"Even if we do. There's going to be a day where I do this again and Elixir's not going to be there to clean up after me."

"It was an accident. You were trying to save him. I was the one that put him in danger."

"He might have survived the crash. I don't know. How do more well adjusted normal people deal with stuff like this?" As she finished the sentence a great pentagram of fire erupted in front of them. With it came forth the magic mutant foretold in Elixir's prophecy. She walked towards them toting a large glowing sword over her shoulder.

"Dah," Illyana said seemingly to nobody.

"Hi Illyana, I guess you're here to take us back?" asked Kenna.

"Dah," she said again. Kenna wanted to believe that "dah" was for her, but it was hard to tell. Kenna stood up only to be met with Illyana's sword in her face. It was a two-handed sword, but she was wielding with only one hand. "Nyet." Kenna sat back down. "Dah!" she said again to nobody. Another flaming pentagram encompassed them magically taking them back to a generic waiting room where everybody she had taken with her was sitting. Except for Elixir. Instead their seventh there was the large disappointed looking metal man known as Peter. Illyana gave her a look before disappearing into her flaming shape once again.

"Hi Peter," said Kenna sheepishly.

"No, this is no 'Hi Peter' this is bad."

"Where's Elixir?"

"Illyana went for him now."

"Why did she not get him first?"

"He can take care of himself. You can't."

"Debatable?"

"No debate! You could have been killed! Or worse!" he yelled in a very loud stern tone of voice.

"John is dead. Elixir needed help to bring him back. Why did he need to come to me for this? Why wouldn't you all help him?" A rage washed across Peter's face, but it receded quickly into sadness.

"We tried." The pentagram appeared again in front of them. Illyana and Elixir materialized out of it. He was fighting her the entire time.

"Take me back!" he yelled.

"Elixir that's enough!" yelled Peter.

"He's still out there! I can save him!"

"No, Elixir, it's over. John's gone." Elixir glared at him before composing himself.

"Understood," he said as his golden arm turned an obsidian color. He touched Illyana's cheek. She crumpled to the floor. "And now she's gone." Everyone backed up. The rage returned to Peter's face.

"Bring her back," said Peter.

"She's gone, Peter. It's over, Peter. You need to learn to accept that things are beyond your control, Peter. Everything's going to be fine, Peter."

Peter ran him through a wall. The whole experience was surreal. Nobody knew what was going on. Peter was angry Russian yelling. Demonic portals sprouting clawing arms opened up all around Illyana's body. Jono pulled off his coat and started blasting pure energy out of his chest. Elliot ran out of the room with a large duffle bag she didn't remember him bringing. Elizabeth bit into Yuuto's arm. Unable to follow any of it Kenna grabbed Crystal to chase after Peter cause it was the first thing that happened.

Turns out Peter had taken Elixir through several walls. It was an easy enough path of destruction to follow. It led all the way to the outside where she found Peter on the ground, dead. At least that's how it appeared. His hulking frame was still. Sprawled out across that grass with no breath to be seen. It was hard to look at. Not because of any sense of loss but because of the lack of the sense of loss. It felt unnatural feeling unconcerned about the scene that laid before her knowing that if she could find Elixir it didn't mean anything.

"There!" yelled Crystal. Elixir's iridescent skin caught her eye as he ran across the grounds. They gave chase.

"Can you put him in the ground?" Kenna asked as they ran. Crystal shook the earth around them violently. "Stop! What are you doing!?"

"Lots of stuff underground. Harder to move."

"That's right, there's like a whole sub-area to this place. What else can you do?" Crystal raised her hand to him setting the golden man on fire. "Stop! You might kill him! No fire!"

"But he's Elixir," said Crystal.

"What if fire's his one weakness! No fire!" Crystal put him out. It didn't even slow him down. "What else you got? Can't you use the wind to slow him down?"

"It's better for pushing." She pulled a small sphere of water out of the air.

"No," said Kenna. Crystal gripped it both lengthening it and freezing it into a spear. "Oh." She hurled it into Elixir who promptly pulled it out and kept running. "Keep doing that! I think it slowed him down!" yelled Kenna. Crystal kept on hurling the missiles, closing the gap between them until he had finally stopped. They were at a cemetery. There were many graves. He had only stopped to claw at the dirt of a freshly dug one. "Here lies John Proudstar'' the gravestone read "Friend, Warrior, and honored member of the X-Men." The once glimmering sheen of his body was now giving way to more of the creeping obsidian. Crystal raised her hand to him. "Hold up," said Kenna, "Let me talk to him." Kenna crept closer. Crystal gave her a look. "I know, I know, I gotta try though. I still wanna help too."

"Hey Elixir," she said, not expecting a response that was never given, "We talked about this, remember? We knew that whole trip was going to be a longshot." He continued digging. While the dirt was still soft, he wasn't making much headway. "Elizabeth told me some things about him, apparently she attended the funeral. They said that he only had one fear, and that was dying an old man in his bed. That this was the way he wanted to go. That this was an appropriate end to his story." She sat down next to him. He stopped digging but didn't look at her. "Can only imagine how it must feel. If I had the power of life and death at my fingertips like you do, I would definitely feel a great obligation to save those around me too." She paused, the blackened parts of his body had begun to recede. Gold was reclaiming the land. "But an obligation is not a responsibility. No one expects a band-aid to cure cancer. The problem you're blaming yourself for is bigger than any of us. It's not your fault."

He placed his arm on her shoulder. She thought nothing of it until she started feeling funny. Like something in her was off. "Your heart just stopped," said Elixir. Kenna felt around her chest. "It's okay, I'm still pumping your blood. Everything is still getting what it needs, but if I ever let go that won't be that case anymore."

"Elixir, please."

"It would be so easy to make you stop talking right now. Death, unconsciousness, collapsed lungs, severed cords, sealed lips, but I need your words."

"For what?" Kenna felt her blood pressure drop. She felt faint.

"Tell her to dig up the coffin."

"But you said there wasn't enough of him left."

"John will live. Even if it's only in the strictest definition imaginable. Then I will bring back Peter. Then I will bring back Illyana. Then everything will be fine. Nobody will ever die again, and we will go on like this forever and ever." He stood Kenna up with him and turned around. "Now don't you have something to say to her?" She looked at the concerned Crystal. Kenna was barely holding onto consciousness and it showed.

"Crystal, I know you're not going to like this, but you're going to need to do everything I say," said Kenna. Crystal's focus jumped between them several times trying to figure out what was going on. "Run!" Her body went into flux. Chemicals imbalanced themselves, neurons fired off and on, pressures rose and dropped wildly. To say it was painful would be generous cause at least that would imply some level of consistency. No, she felt everything all at once. Crystal raised her finger and shot a small bead of water right through his eye. He had trouble standing for a moment before regaining his composure. It would have been a kill shot for a normal person, but to him there was little to show for it other than the little blood he was wiping from his eye.

"You can't kill me, and even if you could, why would you? Who's going to bring you back the next time you die? I saved you Crystal. Do you even remember that? Kenna held onto us tightly that she crushed the life out of us. Now please, all I'm asking is that you help me bring back John. Help me bring back our friend," said Elixir as the hole she had just made closed itself.

"Let her go," said Crystal.

"Only after I have brought back John," said Elixir. The decision she made was not one she came to easily. It was with a heavy heart she raised the coffin from the earth and opened it. Inside was his vacuumed sealed remains arranged in anatomically correct manner. A sad attempt to make a body where there clearly was none. He reached out to them.

"Come one John. It's time to get up. They need you," said Elixir.

"That's quite enough," said Charles. Elixir's hand slowed to a stop. In the time between blinks the headmaster himself Charles Xavier stood there next to the exhumed grave holding his arm. Kenna's heart began to beat again. She wasn't sure if it was Xavier or Elixir was just too distracted to keep it off, but she didn't waste time breaking free.

"What are you doing?" asked Elixir.

"I'm sorry Josh."

"Do not call me that. My name is Elixir."

"I had always feared that I was leaning too heavily upon you."

"I have to keep them alive."

"Josh."

"That's what you asked me to do."

"There is a lesson to be learned here, an important one. Even with all of our gifts, even with all of our power, we are not immortal. Not in this way. Death will come for us all eventually. It's inevitable. However, so is life." He kept going, but Kenna was hardly paying attention. All she really cared about was that he was distracted. She got up. The malicious manipulation of her being had finally died down enough. With held breathe she ran at him. The irony was too beautiful to ignore. The smug arrogance of this immortal being was standing right in front of a beckoning coffin. He wouldn't die, at least she didn't think he would, and she didn't want him to. This was a school after all, a place of learning, and what better place to learn that death can be a gift than being trapped in a grave.

She fell over, but she didn't remember tripping. She also didn't recall leaving the cemetery, or where anybody went. She was alone in the forest. "That's quite enough out of you as well," said Xavier walking up behind her. She tried to mount a defense. Tried to come up with an explanation, an excuse as to why everything went so horribly wrong so quickly in every way imaginable. But she knew it was hopeless. She knew he knew everything she could ever possibly say. That he was aware of everything that had happened until now. And that she only knew this because he wanted her to know.

"I tried," said Kenna, starting to break into tears.

"You certainly did not."

"I never stopped trying, I swear."

"You never even started."

"What more could I have done!?"

"Perhaps it's a good thing we got to this point so early in the year. Not every student is the same and obviously my methods aren't working."

"What point? What does that mean? What's going on? Am I Expelled?"

"No, not yet. Kenna, no matter what happens you need to know that I still and will always believe in you. That being said, I can see now you'll require a more aggressive tutelage."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Please, when you see him, give Erik my regards."