Chapter 15

Estelle POV

Hank evaluates the Jean Doe, as Morph puts it, explaining how she's Jean Grey, the real one. Her age is proper, but the one who stands beside us is, older, a clone. She denies it, memories clearly there but even with that Scott won't stand by her. 

He's confused, we're all confused.

Jean Doe grabs Nathan and walks away, "Storm would have believed me."

Scott goes to talk to her.

I can't believe this is happening, leaving me to wonder if this is a common occurrence. Stepping away, I walk to the music room, pondering.

Logan is most likely, in the Danger Room trying to cool off his head. As for the others, I don't know. 

Playing a simple tune on the piano, I allow the music to calm me. Then I notice something moving in the corner of my eye. 

Standing, I rush to the door, but then I hear something get knocked down. I try to turn on the light, but it doesn't seem to work. 

Turning around, I come face to face with...me?

From the lab, when I was...far gone.

I mumble, "Why are you..."

Eyes dead, she reaches out for me, "No matter what..."

I cry, "NO!"

Touching the piano it grows rusty and old, making me stumble. Staring into my cold gaze, I rush past her, before running out to the hall.

The mansion is red and broken, the simple hallway seeping with a creeping hell. Seeing her chase after me she leaves a path of distraction behind. The red walls turning old and ridged. 

This can't be right, this has to be a dream.

I don't remember everything being so hot. 

So wrong.

"Please don't make me do this."

As she comes for me, I grab her, and she does the same, gripping my throat tightly. Clawing her chest she mumbles softly, "No matter what..."

Tears fill my eyes as my skin begins to wither, but even now I can't bring myself to kill her. 

To kill me.

The ground below fades causing us to fall into a hellscape. Demons and beasts surround us with pits of fire and lava below.

"ESTELLE!"

I hear Logan's voice, but my air starts to thin. My head grows fuzzy as she squeezes tighter. 

If I do nothing, I'll die. 

I can't die. 

Activating my powers, I watch her begin to wither with me. But feeling the heat around me grow as we grow closer to the lava, I stop.

Staring at her, at me, I take in her tired broken eyes. 

Her call for help.

As the pain sets in, my smooth skin grows wrinkled. But all I can do is hold her. I whisper softly voice strained, "No matter what."

A bright blue light flashes causing the illusion to fade As she releases my neck my clone returns my embrace before fading away. In the living room with the others, my body is restored, as if nothing happened. But that face, me, I was, truly...beautiful.

Jean's clone appears as Scott holds the original Jean, still in her hospital gown. The Goblin Queen is her name as she takes the baby, leaving us weak in her flash of light. 

Logan rushes to my side, making sure I'm okay. Cupping his cheek, Morph begins to explain who Sinister is. 

He decides to join Scott's and Magneto's search for Nathan. As they leave, Logan turns my attention back to him. 

"Are you ok?"

Meeting his gaze I mumble honestly, "In time."

Hank carries Jean to the infirmary. I remain by her side, holding her hand gently. 

"I know you don't know who I am, but we're waiting for you."

I still feel the phantom hand wrap around my throat, I grow still as she whispers in my ear, "No matter what..."

I look over, but she's nowhere. 

It's just me...

It's just my mind.

Looking at Logan I speak softly, "Can you get us some water."

He nods, walking away, to leave me alone with the resting woman. Jean begins to panic as she cries out in her slumber. As if pledged by a nightmare. Squeezing her hand a bit, I frown a bit. 

"Jean! Listen to me, you need to get ahold of yourself."

Squeezing her hand gently I open my mind, "Come to my mind, to my safe place."

She cries out, "Such pain, I must help!"

"You can just come to me."

NO POV

Slipping into Estelle's mind, Jean follows the warmth, child-like laughter, and sweet tunes of song. Opening her eyes, Jean finds herself in a quaint wooden home. Filled with photos of family, piles of sheet music, and remnants of joy.

Jean mumbles, "Where am I?"

Estelle, or a piece of her, comes out of the kitchen with a cup of tea.

"My home of course. Here drink this."

Taking the cup, Jean feels at ease allowing Estelle to lead her to the couch.

"Who are you?"

She smiles softly, touching Estelle's hand, flashes of memories come to her, "Once a frienemy, now just a friend."

Jean smiles, feeling comforted by the brown-skinned woman.

"You need to go back Jean, but before we do, know that you're not alone. That's the beauty of the X-Men, they're never too far."

Confident, and ready to fight she nods. The door opens revealing little Estelle, bright eyes and two puffballs on her head, "Come on! You're going to be late."

Jean leaves, but before Estelle goes, she sees a broken side of her, lost in the darkness of the forest.

Walking over to her younger self, she smiles, "If you see the sad one, invite her inside."

The little black girl smiles and nods, "Okay!"

Running off into the light, worry rests on Estelle's shoulders.

Estelle POV

Jean sits up, "Scott! He's in danger! I have to go."

Tying up her hair, Hank tries to stop her but she reassures him, "My body won't be an issue."

Watching her, time passes before she returns, smiling at us softly.

"Everything's ok."

The crew returns with Nathan, infected by a virus with no current cure. The only option is for Bishop to take him to the future, alone. That was the last time I saw Nathan and Madelyne left shortly after. 

Sitting with Logan, he holds me close. Tangled in each other beneath the covers. Winding down from the chaos that has brought me...a revelation. 

"Does this happen often, so much chaos?"

He rubs my back gently, "It comes with being an X-Men, comes with being a mutant."