The One-Eyed Man
Charles sat in the car, his expression a mix of frustration and indecision. He shook his head, unable to proceed or agree with Eric's plan.
He controlled the frogman, advanced slowly towards the human side.
Eric's demeanor turned cruel in an instant.
Eric seized control of a nearby gun and squeezed the trigger. A bullet whizzed through the air towards Nick Fury.
Reacting swiftly, Nick Fury turned and raised his hand, the bullet halted just inches from his left eye, eliciting gasps of horror from the surrounding crowd who instinctively sought cover.
The tension was palpable as the bullet hovered dangerously close to Nick Fury's eye, a testament not to Eric's mercy but to Charles's intervention.
Eric manipulated the bullet, bringing it closer to Nick Fury's eye as he taunted, "Feeling brave, Charles?"
The scene escalated as more guns were loaded, the metallic clicks echoing ominously in the air.
Charles closed his eyes in resignation, realizing he needed assistance. Perhaps Alex could help. After all, Anna was his student.
"You can't dodge them all," Eric sneered, scanning the area as if searching for Charles.
"Ahh!" The bullet breached Nick Fury's left eye in that moment, a grim testament to Eric's cruelty, with Charles as his unwilling audience and Nick Fury as his hapless victim.
Sabretooth stood beside Eric, his grip loosening around Eric's neck as if in a daze, oblivious to the recent events unfolding around them.
Eric noticed Sabretooth's actions and wasted no time in speaking up: "Charles, your Achilles' heel lies in your compassion." He remarked, his tone sharp with conviction. "If it weren't for that soft heart of yours we'd be in a much better position now."
As the dust settled, Nick Fury found himself with a bullet piercing his left eye, rendering him a one-eyed leader among men.
Charles watched Eric depart, a heavy sigh escaping his lips as he began to reflect on the state of the X-Men and their allies.
"I'll head to Alex's manor; you should return home," Charles declared, taking charge and steering towards their next destination.
Arriving at the grand estate, Charles was welcomed by the familiar face of the manor's butler, who ushered him inside without hesitation.
"Professor, it's rather late. What brings you here?" Katie, accompanied by Anya, inquired with genuine surprise upon spotting Charles within the manor's halls.
"I've come to see Alex. Go on and enjoy yourselves," Charles replied warmly, flashing a reassuring smile as he directed them to continue their adventures.
With Katie and Anya disappearing into the depths of the estate, Charles turned to face Raven who approached with a curious expression.
"Charles, what brings you here at this hour?" Raven questioned, concern evident in his voice.
"I've come for Alex; Anna has been captured by Magneto," Charles explained, his tone grave with determination.
"What?!" Raven couldn't suppress a startled roar, her eyes locking onto Charles as she exclaimed, "You claimed you'd just escaped from home! How did Magneto manage to catch up with you?"
"We fell right into Eric's trap. When SHIELD approached me, a mutant wielding spiritual powers took control of Bobby and provoked Anna. We had already located Anna, but Eric got there first. One step ahead," Charles sighed, shaking his head in frustration.
"And then?" Raven inquired eagerly, fixing her gaze on Charles.
"S.H.I.E.L.D and I intercepted Eric. He used the lives of the special forces sent by S.H.I.E.L.D as leverage. Nick Fury even lost an eye in the process," Charles explained solemnly.
"Now, I need to reach out to Alex. He's the one who can persuade Eric to listen, and time is of the essence," Charles added with a sense of urgency.
"I hate to break it to you, Charles, but you're a bit late. Alex has already figured out how to optimize and compensate for Anna's abilities. It'll take at least a day, and he specifically warned us not to disturb him," Raven chimed in, a hint of helplessness in her tone.
"This..." Charles looked dumbfounded, wondering if it was pure coincidence or a deliberate avoidance on Alex's part.
Upon reflection, it seemed uncanny. Not long after Anya joined him, two incidents like this had occurred. This time, Eric was even captured. It was understandable that Charles would be frustrated.
"Well, I'll do what I can to save Anna," Charles sighed, shaking his head helplessly. He turned and walked out of Alex's manor, acknowledging that, whether or not Alex was genuinely working on a potion to help Anna, he was their best hope for her rescue.
(End of this chapter)
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