Aces Wild
by Mirage
All characters are copyrighted by Marvel except, Sabine, Mirage, Shema & Ace, Those are ours. (Sabine & Shema are mine, Mirage is Mirage's and Ace is Gambit4Ace's)
Shema smiled as she kicked the small rock out of her way. As she stood in the small clearing of the heavily forested area, the wind carelessly flicked her hair over her shoulder, lifting it off of her back and swirling it around her eleven-year-old frame. Even at the age of eleven, the young child had lived through and experienced so much more than any adult could even fathom. Her eyes, constantly alert, picked up the staccato beat of footsteps coming closer to her. She listened to just three more footfalls and she knew exactly who it was. "Remy." Her face brightened with a smile as she turned to greet her young love.
"Shey," he spoke, his thick Cajun accent dancing on her ears as he walked over to her, kissing her lips in greeting.
"Remy," she purred, returning the kiss and grinning. Their moment was immediately disrupted with the sound of pounding feet and commotion in the trees around them. Remy's body went tense, stepping between Shey and the sounds, ready to protect her at all costs. Her eyes flickered over the tree line trying to tell what was happening.
"GIMME DAT BACK, MIR!" another Cajun voice yelled from the trees. Shey looked at Remy and the two rolled their eyes, it was Ace and Mirage.
"COME AN' GET IT, GUMBO!" the usually sweet eight-year-old voice taunted devilishly from the woods, obviously well ahead of the Cajun's. Remy laughed to himself then bent to kiss Shey again.
Mirage ran into the clearing. In her hand was a crumpled piece of notebook paper; the way she was clinging to it, you would have thought it was a matter of life and death. To them it was. Mirage immediately ducking behind Shey. "Hide me!" she pleaded breathlessly.
"I didnae take whatever that piece of paper is!" she said, stepping aside to reveal Mir's location to Ace.
"No!!!!!!" Mir laughed, moving to hide behind Remy. Her thick tight waves of midnight colored hair was tied back in a thick braid the constantly fell over her shoulder whenever she moved. Her hands clutched the piece of paper.
"Don' you dare hide behind me, Mir," Remy said, picking her up and moving her. "What's dat in your hand?"
Ace ran over as Mir clutched it to her dirty t-shirt, "GIMME DAT BACK!"
"Never!" Mir yelled, grinning at him. Her eyes flashed bright aqua light against her smudged face.
Ace pulled his arm back to slam it into her face, Mir always played rough now was no exception. He was about to hit her when Remy reached out and caught Ace's wrist. Mir flinched slightly, her eyes, narrowing. "What is dat in your hand, Mir?" Remy asked calmly.
Mirage smiled proudly, "It's a LOVE note!" she teased Ace with the captive note, holding it inches from his hand that Remy held onto. Ace lunged for the note but Mir pulled it away. Remy reached out and snatched the note easily from her hand. She looked up at him and narrowed her eyes, swinging her leg back to kick him in the shin.
"DAMN!" Remy yelled, letting go of Ace's arm to grab hold of his own leg. Ace immediately ran after Mirage, tackling her to the ground with no mercy, slamming her shoulder with punch after playful punch. Mirage returned every hit, as hard if not harder and her took it, dishing it out even more.
Shey crossed over to Remy to read the note over his shoulder. They both laughed softly as they finished the note. Slowly shaking their heads, Remy bent down to give Shey a kiss.
"Ewwwww!" Mir squealed from the ground. She shoved Ace off of her and jumped to her feet, "I saw Remy kiss Shey!" she laughed and ran back into the woods. Ace moved to follow when Remy stopped him.
"You wan' dis back, mon ami?" he said, holding out the crumpled note.
Ace grabbed the note and ran into the woods, following Mirage.
They ran for a while, Mir seemingly never ran out of breath, she just kept running. Ace tried desperately to follow and catch up but even though he was closing space quickly, he couldn't catch up.
Shey flashed Remy a quick smile and turned to run after Ace and Mir, hell if they were going to have all the fun. Remy laughed to himself and pursued, turning the entire thing into a great chase.
"MIR!! GET BACK 'ERE!!" Ace yelled breathlessly, as the got to the cave they all knew so well.
"NEVER!" she yelled back, taking a running jump into the water, and slipping in silently with the form of a veteran diver. Ace, never realizing how close to the water's edge he was, threw himself backwards against his momentum but was completely unsuccessful. He plunged headfirst into the water, coming up and gasping for air. His face flushed as he looked around embarrassed. From the opposite side of the water, he heard the sweet sound of not-so-innocent laughter. He grinned playfully and started swimming.
Shema looked up, seeing where they were, she of the four of them, knew this part of Washington best. She and Mirage had spent many a few nights here, wandering about, noting every detail of their surroundings. She knew the water was coming and heard Remy closing fast. She laughed, her plan already thought out.
"Shey," Remy teased as he ran up behind her, she heard him shift his weight on the soft wet leaves on the ground, knowing he was preparing to pounce. Shema ducked. "AAHH!!" Remy yelled as he pitched himself headlong into the water. The water splashed and Ace turned, giving Mir the perfect opportunity to flee the scene.
Mirage ran around the water, past the opening of the cave, to stand next to Shema. The two girls were thrown into a fit of laughter, watching the two Cajuns slink out of the water, wet and shivering. Shema looked at Mirage, her thick braid soaked through, her dirty T-shirt sticking to her tanned flesh. The laughed, the best of fiends, they had been through way too many escapades together to be anything less.
Ace fumed over to Mirage, his eyes deep red in playful anger. Shema looked and fled, not wanting to be in the middle of that one, but staying close, Ace knew how to play, but sometimes, he went too far, and hell if Mir would show pain or weakness by telling him or showing him it hurt. She stood tall as he walked over, not showing how badly she wanted only to turn tail and run away.
He stepped up into her face, leaning in so that his face was a mere fraction of an inch away. She drew a breath and didn't step down.
"Ace," Remy said, his voice low warning him. Shema looked to Remy, holding her hand up keeping him from stopping Ace. The two just watched, Shey's heart pounding, not knowing what to do, knowing Mirage would be furious if either she or Remy stepped in. She always was.
Mirage stood her ground, her eyes flashing angrily as she looked at him. He leaned in and without any forewarning he did the worst thing possible.
He kissed her.
She reeled back, shocked and confused. she stepped back, he has never EVER done anything like that! ~~WHAT THE HELL WAS HE DOING?!?!~~ her mind screamed so loudly even Shey winced. She jerked away from Ace and drew her fist across her chest, swinging out to backfist him across the jaw. Ace was thrown backwards, not expecting that at all. He tripped over his own feet and fell crashing to the ground. Mirage looked down at him, eyes wide, jaw dropped in surprise as a trickle of blood came from the corner of his mouth.
"Mir," Shema said quietly. Mir looked up at her, her eyes still wide with innocent fear. Shaking her head, she turned and ran into the wooded area, running blindly, confused and unsure as of what to think.
Remy moved to follow her, but Shey reached out and stopped him, "She duenna wan' t' see ye now, Remy."
"But--"
"Duennae start with mea," she hissed, moving to follow Mirage.
Remy crossed to help Ace off the ground, "I don' wanna know wha' made you do dat." Ace could only shake his head, and watch Shey follow Mir.
Looking up at Remy, Ace cocked his head. "Don' know." He raised his brow. "What made you d' it?"
Remy shook his head, running a hand through his hair. "Don' know." He smiled, chuckling as he patted Ace on the back. "When I find out, I let you know, Neh?"
Mirage ran as hard as she could, her mind reeling and her ears ringing with the sound of someone following her. Somehow her instinct told her to move upward. So she did, she climbed a tree, hiding in the branches.
Shey ran, but her left leg ached from the chase earlier and this was beginning to stress it. "Mir!!!!!!!!!!!!" She called out. She waited for a reply but got none. "Come on, Mir, It's mae, Shema" Again she got no answer. "Damn it Mirage! Stop being so childish. It's mae!"
Mir bit her lip, looking down on Shey from her perch. She knew Shey was in pain, she could feel it. But her wounded pride and humiliation was too much to handle.
Shey looked to the darkening sky. "You know we're gonna get a whoopin' fer this."
"Why?" Mirage asked in a hoarse voice.
"You know why, we're near two hours late, Momma and Mr. Essex ain' gonna like this."
"No, I mean why did he do it?" Mir asked softly.
"I dunno." Shey began hearing Mirage move to a lower branch. "They say, in this class Remy and I have t'get'er that, when boys reach a certain age, y'know. They start seein' girls in a different way. Wantin' t' kiss them and holdin' their hand and such. Girls go t'rough it too. Y'know, fixin' t'ier hair up all fancy like, wearin' dresses an' make up, just t' get the boys t' kiss them."
They both remained for a second then cried out in unison. "EEEEEEWWWEEEE!!!!!!" Then laughed.
"Well I ain' never gonna do that." Mir stated flatly.
"Me Either." Shey answered defiantly.
Mir looked down with a twinkle in her eyes. "Race y' 'ome?"
Shey smiled, jumping up. "Y're on!" She hollered running off as Mirage leapt down from the tree, chasing after her.
The girls ran all the way back to their home, stopping once they go to the back stoop--Momma would have been mad if they came in the front door. Shema reached up and quietly opened the door that adjoined the kitchen, with a quiet squeak the girls ran in. Shema grabbing hold of Mirage's hand as they tried to dash unseen to their room.
Unfortunately, unseen was not an option.
"Duen even try t' explain t' mea where ye hav' been," the voice hissed lowly from the parlor. Mirage jumped at the sound and gripped onto Shey's hand tighter, almost to the point where Shema winced. She stood tall, knowing why Mirage hid behind her. "Mirage, com' ou' from be'ind Shema," she demanded lowly.
Mir started to move out, Shema could only stand and watch. "Momma, I--" Mir started weakly.
"I duenna wan' t' 'ear it, Mirage. Com' 'ere," she said, locking her gaze on Mirage. As her eyes slowly scanned the child up and down they narrowed to thin slits as she saw the condition of Mir's clothes. Shema stepped up, "We were--"
Her words were cut off with a sharp crack to her face.
"'NOUGH!" Sabine's voice boomed. Mirage stood tall, stepping toward her mother. "Mirage, ye know wha' 'appens w'en m' daughters get there clothes dirty," her voice was low, chilling.
Mirage nodded, showing no weakness or fear as Shema, blood pooling in the corner of her mouth, did the same. The girls knew what came next, maybe Momma would go easy on them. Mr. Essex wasn't around, and if they could just keep quiet...
"Shey didn't DO anything!" Mirage yelled, her eyes flashing bright aqua light with her frustrated rage, "You have NO reason t' hit her!"
Without any delay, Sabine drew her arm across her chest and swung out, slamming her fist square into Mirage's jaw. Her head snapped back from the force of the blow, sending her reeling into the banister of the stairs. Her head cracked dully on the wood and she fell back, leaning against the stairs. Her bright aqua eyes were blurred with sheer pain and tears. Sabine stepped over to her, drawing her leg back, slamming her heel into the strong muscle of Mirage's thigh. Her body convulsed towards the pain, folding over to expose her back. Sabine saw opportunity and capitalized on it.
She reached down, grabbing a tight hold on Mirage's thick braid, pulling it up, mercilessly. Mirage screamed out in pain, he eyes squeezed shut, Shey stepped closer. "Duenna ye EVER, EVER tell mae wha' I do an' I duen have a reason t' do!" Sabine screamed, throwing Mirage to the banister. Her head once again clicked against the wood. Where her temple struck the corner, the skin had spit open and was slowly oozing blood.
"Momma, no..." Mirage pleaded helplessly, trying to sit up, trying desperately to stay strong. She bent down to pick Mirage up, holding her by her upper arms, squeezing so tightly anyone else would have screamed. Anyone else except Mirage and Shema. That pain was nothing. Sabine's eyes narrowed, enraged, not seeing anymore. She spun around moving to throw Mirage to the chair near the fireplace. Mirage never made it to the chair. She landed next to the fireplace, her head cracked on the stone mantle, as she rolled she knocked over the fire poker, laying limp, her mind on the edge of darkness. Sabine moved to cross to her, eyes fixed on the fire poker.
"Momma, stop," Shey said, steeping closer to Sabine. She just kept advancing on Mirage, noticing with almost pride how heavy her eyes were. She towered over Mirage's fallen frame, bending to pick up the poker.
"Momma!" Shey yelled, her voice booming through out the house.
Sabine drew the poker over her head, her eyes practically smiling as Mirage looked up to see her mother, standing over her. She watched in sheer horror as the poker came crashing down across her chest.
~~GOD, NO!! MOMMA STOP! LEAVE HER ALONE!~~ Shema's mind screamed.
The breath rushed from her lungs and she screamed as the poker came again, this time sweeping across her temple like her head was a mere golf ball. Her head snapped to the side, complete blackness taking over.
Shey winced. The scream came not only from Mirage's lips, but her mind. She stepped up to Sabine, knowing she wouldn't stop just because Mirage was fallen and unconscious.
Sabine lifted the poker again. Shema screamed out "Momma, ENOUGH!" Shey looked to see Mirage's eyes roll back and her head lull limply to the side. The building quaked, pictures fell from the wall, the dishes in the cabinets clattered with rage. Sabine turned on Shema.
"Ye devil child! Ye damned beast! ye are nuthin' mor' then the abomination of my MISTAKES! Ye will pay! Ye will feel the pain that you 'ave caused me! Ye both WILL!" she screamed, slamming the poker across her face, Shema reeled back slightly, her cheek burning under the blow.
Mirages mind called weakly to Shema's, ~~I want Mr. Essex...where's Mr. Essex? Why doesn't she stop?~~
Shey clenched her fists and telepathically took both Mirage and herself to an astral plane. Sabine had no clue she was undoing her wrath on the empty shell of Shema and Mirage and more and more with each passing blow she grew more aggressive and vengeful, beating them both in turn. Making it brutal if not life-threatening.
Remy and Ace walked down the darkened street, not saying anything just walking in silence. Remy's mind raced with thoughts of Shema, Ace's with Mirage. As if the two of them walked into a brick wall, they stopped.
~~GOD!, NO!! MOMMA STOP! LEAVE HER ALONE!~~
Shey's voice called loudly into the night, the urgency and tone made the boys jump. Remy looked to Ace and without speaking a word, turned to sprint in the direction of the Essex household.
~~Shhh,~~ Shey's mind cloaked Mirage. ~~Duennae worry, we're gonna be alright.~~ She hoped, knowing that on the plane they were safe, but their bodies were not.
Remy ran as fast as he could, getting to the front stoop with Ace right on his heels. They threw the door open not even bothering to knock, "Shey! Mir!" Remy yelled, coming into the parlor to see Sabine going to work kicking Mirage while beating Shema with the poker. Their eyes went wide, and Remy ran to her, dodging the swinging poker getting as close as possible without getting himself hit.
"Get away from yer little whores!" Sabine yelled as Ace and Remy moved in to intervene.
"NO!" Ace yelled back, moving to Mirage as soon as Remy got the poker away from Sabine.
~~It's alright, Mirage, help is here...~~ Shey said, with a strange calm.
Mirage just nodded and looked at Shey, her aqua eyes glowing dully as she watched in awe of her every breath.
"Ace! Get Mir outta here!" Remy ordered, noticing Shey was still conscious, barely but still conscious. Ace nodded and scooped Mirage into his arms, carrying her outside, paying no attention to her wounds, just wanting to get her away from this hell. Sabine moved to stop Ace but Remy stepped in her way. "Non," he said, lowly, demanding as he reached for a knickknack on the mantle of the fireplace, charging it in his hand. "No mor'," he said, throwing the small porcelain figurine at her.
Sabine screamed as she fell back, covering her face from the explosion. Remy spun, lifting Shema into his arms, turning to follow Ace, praying they weren't too late.
~~Mirage?~~ Shey's voice spoke softly.
~~What is it, Shey?~~ she replied weakly.
~~We caen go back now.~~
~~I don't want to go back... I hate going back...~~
Shema let out a long sigh. ~~We have t' go back...~~
~~FINE. You go back, I want to stay here...~~
~~You cannea stay 'ere, y'know that.~~
Silence replied.
Ace held Mirage tightly to him, his tear blurred vision fixed on the house as he listened to Sabine scream, and couldn't help but smile. He help Mir against him, knowing if she could she too would smile at the sound. He leaned down, pressing his lips lightly to hers, thinking it was the right thing to do at the time, but her brow furrowed with pain. Her entire body convulsed over, as she coughed, then fell back into his arms, a small trickle of blood running from the corner of her mouth.
"Mon Dieu! Mir!" he voice was tainted with fear. "REMY!" he yelled back over his shoulders, seeing a form approach.
"Ace! Mirage!" Remy yelled, running to them, Shey's frame in his arms. He held her, cradling her against him, her head resting on his shoulder as he cupped his hand around the base of her neck, protecting her as he ran towards the two.
"Over 'ere!" Ace called, waving a hand to them to show where they were. Remy's eyes were glowing red with rage and fear. Remy crossed easily to them, carefully laying Shey on the lawn, he moved to Ace who was trying to wipe the blood off of Mir's face with his shirt.
"C'mon, Ace, you gotta carry 'er outta 'ere," Remy said, quickly looking over Mirage's body, his eyes narrowing at the blows to her head and chest. Ace saw the concern in his eyes and panicked.
"Remy!" he called out, holding Mir close.
"Ace, get a grip, mon ami, we gotta get dese girls outta 'ere, can you carry Mir?" Remy asked, moving to lift Mirage and put her into Ace's arms. Ace nodded and got to his feet, his hand never leaving contact with Mirage. He held his arms out and Remy carefully laid Mirage in his arms. He held her with so much care and adoration, he cradled her against his chest, holding his fragile doll to him. "Now go, take her back to the house, I'll be right behind you."
Remy moved back to Shema, making sure Ace was on his way, he looked down at the blood pooling through her shirt. He held her against him, his eyes tearing with rage and helplessness. The tears streamed down his face, falling onto her battered cheeks.
Stepping up next to Ace he looked back at the house, "Lets git dese girls home." They ran, only wanting Mir and Shey to be safe, Remy got to the house first and kicked the door open, "Essex!!" he yelled, his eyes darting around looking for the man who could help. "Damn." He was nowhere to be found. "C'mon, Ace, bring 'er in here!" he yelled over his shoulder as Ace made his way up to the house. His eyes wide and scared as he clung to Mirage, not daring to loosen his grip on her, fearing she'd be gone if he let her go.
Remy rushed to the living room, carefully laying Shema down on the couch, "Ace! Mon ami, get da kit from de lab, you know where it is," he demanded, his attention fixed on Shey's fallen form.
"But--," Ace started, holding onto Mir.
"Non! Put her down 'ere next to Shey and go git de kit from de lab!"
Ace nodded, propping Mirage against the couch next to Shey. He turned and ran down the corridor to the laboratory. He returned shortly his arms held the medical kit that just might save the lives of the young girls. "Okay, mon ami, we gotta help dese girls, you've seen me and Essex do it 'fore, now you gotta 'elp Mir while I 'elp Shema."
He nodded, Remy's eyes fixed on Shema's bruised face. He could only watch as her brow furrowed in pain and her frame convulsed with a coughing fit, when it ceased, she fell back, a thin line of blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. "Mon Dieu," Remy breathed, opening the kit, he leaned forward to do what he could when the door flew open and Essex rushed in.
"What is the meaning of all this?" he bellowed, his eyes flickering between Mirage and Shema.
The boys spoke at the same time. "Sabine was-- Shey called out after-- with a POKER-- can't make her stop-- threw something at her--"
"ENOUGH!" He stepped over to the girls on the couch, Shema faded in and out of consciousness, Mirage was out cold, the trauma to her head was some of the worse Essex had ever seen on her before. Remy explained as much as he knew, and once he finished Essex merely growled a low "...Sabine..."
"What do we do?" Ace asked, panic in the undertone of his voice.
"Come, bring the girls to the lab, you two will assist me, we'll save the specimens at all costs, I've come to far with those girls to let the entire experiment slip away from me now," he spoke lowly almost to himself. The boys' eyes flashed red light with anger simultaneously.
Remy and Ace picked up Mir and Shey and carried them into the lab, each one watching and assisting as much as possible. Remy and Ace ran the X-Rays while Essex evaluated the girls. Shey's lung was badly punctured but it wasn't anything Essex couldn't fix. Mirage had numerous small internal hemorrhages but again, nothing Essex couldn't fix. Remy helped with Shey's punctured lung and Ace carefully helped stop Mir's internal bleeding and held her carefully in his arms as they finished on Shey.
Shema stirred slightly bringing herself and Mirage out of the astral plane but realizing they were not together, she drew a slow breath, feeling arms around her, she looked over to see Remy, his arms carefully protectively around her. She leaned against his chest, closing her eyes, the heavy throb in her head from sustaining the plane making her drowsy as she tried to keep Mir from feeling the pain. Remy kissed the top of her head as she fell asleep, safe in his arms. "I love you, Shema," he breathed as she fell asleep. His kiss sent shivers over her spine, it always did.
Mir's eyes fluttered open, and she looked around the bedroom she was in. Ace was there, right next to her his small hand, holding hers carefully. "Hiya, Mir," he said almost nervously forcing a smile.
She smiled warmly, the way she always does to make his heart skip a beat, "Hi, Ace."
"I have somet'ing for you," he said quietly, getting up to cross the room, he opened the closet, he slid the door open and he bent down digging through some toys and throwing things out of his way. Mir propped herself up on her elbows, wincing slightly as she watched him. He turned back to her and grinned, putting his hands behind his back.
"What do ya have there, Ace?" Mir asked, her voice angelic with false innocence.
He smiled and crossed back to her, sitting on the bed, " I wan' you t' 'ave somet'ing," he said nervously.
"Ace, if'n you put a snake in this bed I'll--"
"Non, its not a snake," he said, pulling his hands out from behind his back, Mir watched as he pulled out a small silver box. "This was my mother's," he said, opening the box carefully, she noticed his hands shook ever so slightly, "And this is mine, but I wan' you t' 'ave it." He removed a delicate silver chain, on it was a small silver ring.
"Ace..."
He moved to clasp the small chain around her neck, brushing her hair out of his way with so much care. Usually he grabbed a handful and used it to throw her to the ground when they wrestled. He was changing, Mir saw it, in the way he looked at her, in the way he smiled at her, in the way he watched her...
"It is my baby ring. I wan' you t' 'ave it. Dat an' dis," he said leaning forward, kissing her lightly on the lips, quickly he leaned back, ready for the blow that would follow. He squeezed his eyes shut, making his entire body tense.
Mirage laughed quietly and leaned forward, returning the gentle shy kiss. As soon as she did his eyes popped wide open, "Mir!" he said, his small voice excited and surprised. She laughed sweetly, shyly, pushing a tight crinkle of ebony hair out of her face. He'd never seen her so shy or so beautiful, "Mir... you... you... " he stuttered nervously.
"Oh, Ace, shut up or I'll nail ya one!" she said, the twinkle in her eyes softening her tone, reaching to mess up his hair. He laughed and moved to hug her, holding her in his arms, praying she wouldn't pull away. Ace had no idea to express how he felt besides holding her. To Ace's utter shock, she didn't pull away of hit him in the stomach. She stayed in his arms, and he actually felt her relax a bit. She leaned her head against his chest and shoulder, her bright aqua eyes closed, a smile on her lips as she draped her arm over his lap, relaxing, not fully, but enough in his arms. Eventually while Ace carefully ran his fingers through her hair, the two fell asleep.
From the observation room, Essex watched the monitors carefully. A sinister grin danced upon his lips as he watched his experiment advance. He turned to the other monitor, his grin quickly fading as he watched Remy pace in front of the bed as Shema sat up on her elbows, obviously upset. Just moments ago they were talking of their future and what came next and now. Essex leaned in closer to the monitor, watching with heated unease.
"Wha' is it Remy?" Shey asked once again.
"Don' keep askin' me dat Shey, I can't tell ya!" Remy yelled, his frustration getting the best of him.
"But--"
He crossed to her quickly, kissing her deeply, cutting her off the best way he knew how. "Non, Shema, I'm gonna go an' check on Mir and Ace," he said, reaching for the door. There was nothing for her to do except let him go check on the other two.
Remy knocked lightly on the door before letting himself in. His eyes darted to Ace and Mirage on the bed as Ace held her in his arms, carefully stroking her hair.
"Mon ami, c'mere," he whispered as to not wake up Mir. Ace sighed and got up from the bed reluctantly, moving to go speak with Remy.
"Dis better be important, Remy" Ace hissed lowly, stepping into the hallway, pulling the door closed behind them.
"Trust me, mon ami, it is," Remy said, leading Ace down the hall as he spoke in hushed tones.
~~Shey?~~ Mir's mind called out when she woke up and discovered she was alone.
There was no answer.
Lazily she kicked the blankets off of her legs and got up, going to the door, "Ace?"
No answer.
She let herself out of the room and walked down the hall, going to Remy's room, hoping to find someone in there. As she passed the door to the office she heard voices. Stopping, she leaned closer to the door, listening to the voices, her big aqua eyes lit up brightly.
"You, my Gambit, will be a part of the greatest single event in the history of mutants everywhere. If you do as I say, you shall receive your promised gift. If not, she will be given to someone else and they will do their bidding."
"You don' need t' threaten me, Sinister. Gambit'll get your job done de best way Gambit knows how to. An' if anyt'ing 'appens t' mah chere, you'll pay in full."
"Go prepare yourself, Gambit. You will know when the time has come."
The door pushed open and Remy walked out, not seeing Mirage hide in the shadow of the opening door. Hearing the faint sound of an open comm link, Mir listened.
"Let none survive, but do not harm the Cajun, leave him to me." The laugh that followed sent bolts of terror through Mir's frame.
That voice. I know that voice. Mir. Essex was Sinister. What of this promise? What gift? What the hell was he going to do with Shema and Remy and me and Ace for that matter? Oh My God... Mirage's mind reeled as she turned running to Remy's room. her small feet padding silently on the carpeted corridor.
"I mean, t'ink about it Shey, you have been.. y'know.. with Remy for a while now and now dat Mir is so.. y'know," Ace stuttered futilely, trying to explain himself.
Shey merely nodded and listened to him when the door flew open and Mirage ran in. Winded more of shock the physical exhaustion she tried to speak. "Mr. Essex.. Sinister.. Remy.. Gambit.. we gotta stop him! " her entire frame shook. Shey closed her eyes, looking into Mir's mind, hearing what Mirage heard for herself and understanding the broken speech Mir gave.
Ace saw the look on Shema's face and the tone of Mirage's voice and acted for the first time without Remy's cue. He grabbed Mir's hand and moved to the door, Shema right there with him. "We're getting outta here," Ace said lowly, too much knowledge in his young voice to be calming. He bolted and ran through the corridors, finding Remy just as he was leaving. "Don' go, Remy!" he yelled grabbing his arm.
"I have no choice Ace!" Remy said calmly, gently pulling his arm away from Ace, "If I do what Sinister wants, den we get de girls. We get t' take care of dem, and dey be ours. If I don' do what he says den we lose de girls an' we'll never see dem again and God knows what 'll become of dem an' us."
Ace just stared, shaking his head in disbelief, "Remy, what if de girls find out what Sinister promised us. What if dey find out why dey are even here?"
"Dey won' Ace, jus' let me go do dis, get de girls out. Take Mir and Shey home, let them pack a bag and git dem out. I'll find you when dis is all over." And with that Remy was gone.
Ace watched Remy run, and then turned to go back to the girls. Ace took hold of Mir's hand, and then grabbed onto Shema, pulling them out of the room and down the corridor and outside.
"Ace! What the hell are you doing?" Mir asked, trying to pull away from him.
"I'm gettin' you outta 'ere. We're going to your house, you're going to pack a bag and we will leave and get as far away as possible," Ace said, his voice tainted with knowledge. Mir looked to Shey, who walked along not struggling at all. Her mind seemed to be somewhere else.
The girls got inside and found Sabine sitting on the couch, her head in her hands. She appeared to be recovering from a heavy sedation. Mirage looked at her nervously as the three of them went upstairs and into Mir's bedroom. Ace grabbed her pillowcase off the bed and filled it with warm sweatshirts along with other clothes.
"Shema! Mirage! Girls, come down 'ere!" Sabine yelled weakly from the parlor.
Mir glanced to Shey who only shook her head and looked out the door. Ace finished packing and threw the makeshift bag over his shoulder, taking Mir's hand in his.
"We can't get out, she won't let us back out," Mir said weakly, squeezing Ace's hand.
"Mir, ye'll get out, I'll make sure of tha, leave it t' mea," Shey said as the three walked down the stairs and stopped at the base. Shey's eyes flashed deep golden in color and she stepped towards Sabine.
"Shey," Mir called weakly, but her pleas went unheard by Shema, her mind already set on something far above the cries.
"Get her out, Ace. Find Remy, I'll meet up with ye at th' theater," she said. Ace nodded and lead Mirage out, past Sabine as her eyes were fixed on Shey.
"I told ye I would get ye one day, didn' I Momma?" Shey said, her eyes flashing bright gold light in her rage. "Nae do I go back on m' word."
Ace and Mir ran just as the harsh sound of a battle erupted inside. Crying out, Mir just kept running despite the need to go back and help Shey, or at least take her share of the blows but Ace never would have had it, he never let go of her hand.
Remy walked slowly, his hands clenched into fists as he thought about what just was, the murders he couldn't stop, but instead the murders that he lead them to. He looked down as he walked, his mind racing with thoughts and images. Images and thoughts that were broken by the sound of running feet and choked off sobs. He looked up, seeing the frames of Ace and Mirage. He picked up his pace and ran to meet them.
"What happened, Ace?" he demanded, looking behind them for Shey.
"Shema stayed back, made sure dat I got Mir out alright, stayed behind t' deal wit' Sabine. Remy, her eyes..." Ace's voice gave and he could only shake his head.
"Mon Dieu," he breathed, his eyes lowering to the ground for a long time before he looked back up at Ace and Mir. "Ace, take her ahead t' the theater on the wharf, stay completely outta sight 'till I give de word. I'll take you t' a place where dey'll take care of you. We'll go back t' New Orleans, Ace. We'll go back t' De T'ieves Guild."
Ace nodded solemnly, knowing all too well of the place he spoke of. He grabbed Mir's hand and the two ran again, Ace leading the way. Mirage looked over her shoulder to see Remy running back to the house to get Shema.
~~He'll protect her, he wont let anything happen to her, he'll bring her back to me.~~ Mir thought helplessly, never thinking she'd be depending on Remy like this. ~~He wont let me down.~~
Remy ran up to the back stoop, kicking the door in. The first image he saw was that of Sabine, kneeling of the floor digging through the drawers she could reach. He face a mixture of clotted blood and swollen battered flesh. Walking past her, he went up to Shey's room. There was no sign of her whatsoever. That's when he saw it, the thick drying trail of blood leading to a space between the dresser and the corner of the room.
"Shema?" Remy breathed, moving for a better look. His breath catches in his throat as he finds her there, sitting in a deep crimson pool of her own blood. "Oh Shey." he moved to her side, carefully lifting her semi-conscious form into his arms.
She whispered softly, "I did it Remy, I got them t' safety and Momma duennae know where. I never broke, not once, I beat her, I fought back."
Before Remy could say anything he heard a noise behind him and turned to see Sabine stagger in, her knife in hand with every intention of finishing what she started.
"You tell that Mir that this be the same she'll get if'n I e'er get me hands on 'er." She slurred through a swollen mouth and battered face.
"You will not touch Mir, Mamma!" Shey yelled despite her weakness.
"An' wha' aboot yer lil' Cajun 'ere? Dieu ye really think he caen save yer soul?" she yelled, gripping the knife tighter.
"I will save 'er soul and send YOURS t' HELL!" he yelled. Sabine raised her knife and lunged at Remy. Suddenly she fell back, Sabine's form no longer imposing a threat. The eyes of the Cajun are wide in shock and his precious Shey lays slumped against the wall, unconscious.
"Ace? what just happened?" Mir's voice asked from the darkness of the Theater.
"I don' know, Petite. I don' know.."
"Shey, c'mon we gotta get outta here," Remy called softly, picking up Shey, putting her on her feet. She glanced at the fallen form of Sabine and didn't know what to think. She nodded weakly, forcing the pain to subside as they ran as hard as they could the trees to the beach in Washington.
"Remy," The little girl began, breathlessly. "Are you sure about this ?" She asked as the teenage boy drug her swiftly behind him.
"It's de only way, Shey." He replied, pulling her in to a small cave and tightly in to his arms. "I can't let them, won't let them do this to you anymore."
"But where caen we go ? We're not old enough to be taken seriously. We'll never survive on our own." She held him tight. "Besides, they'll only track us down." She pulled away, walking to the back of the cave. "We caennae run forever, not all of our lives."
"Maybe not." He began, building fire, charging the wood. "There may be someone out there who'll help us." He walked over, taking her by the hand, and lead her to the fire, getting a good look at her. "I've stood by too long, Shey. 3 years, 3 long years while you tried to hide the bruises." He turned her face to look at a large bloodied bruise on the side of her face."No one should do this to anyone, especially not you." He pulled her close, holding her tight. "We'll make it some how, I promise. This will never happen again, not if I can help it." He slowly lowered to the floor, holding her in his lap as she cried softly.
Her tears brief, she lifted her face to his. He kissed away her tears, ending with her lips, kissing them longingly." She pulled away slowly, laying her head on his shoulder. "I'm scared, Remy. What if they find us."
"Consider yourself found." Sinister snickered from the opening of the cave.
"No!" She screamed, jumping up, still holding on to Remy.
"Don't Shey. I won't let him have you." He lifted her face, kissing her passionately. He then grabbed a rock, charging it, pushing her behind him. "You said I could have her, that she was mine! Don't interfere!" He yelled, throwing it at them.
She saw that he was in danger, being that he as all she had now, she threw herself in front of him. "Remy! No!!!" She held him tight.
One moment he saw Sinister release a blast, then he was standing in a theater, Shey limp in his arms. "'Shey!!" He cried, feeling blood well between his fingers. He never felt the blast, she did. "No!" He cried, holding her tight as he dropped to his knees.
At the same moment Mir was screaming in pain, doubling over, clutching at her abdomen. Her scream were then matched if not deadened by the scream of tormented anguish, drawing her from the hiding place.
"Mir, no! Wait!" Ace called trying to stop her but she walked out to Remy instead, ignoring Ace's calls.
Mir walked to him slowly, "Remy, what have you done?" her voice is so young but the knowledge is beyond her years. Remy pulled himself away from Shey's body and walked out the tattered curtains of the theater, grabbing them, trying to pull them down to hide the body but everything he touched got charged in his frame of mind.
Ace came out slowly, ducking as the material exploded around Remy.
Remy ran back to Shey's side, pulling up pieces of stage and fallen material to cover Shey's body with. "Remy, what are you doin'?" Ace asked quietly. Remy was beside himself with anguish. His vision blinded with tears of sorrow and rage.
Mirage started lowly, "You were s'posed to protect her. You were s'posed out keep her safe. You were s'posed to bring her back to me and look at what you've brought me back..."
Remy broke, falling to Shey's side, the theater echoed with his mourning cries.
Ace knelt by Remy's side, carefully laying a hand on his shoulder.
Mir turned her back to them all. She didn't cry. She couldn't cry. If Momma ever saw her cry...
