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Post by Gambit on Dec 31, 2008 0:25:28 GMT -4
Although the image had changed, the voice was unmistakably that of the servant that he had followed here so naively. The man had spoken of a demon once, one from his dreams, and the priest wondered if perhaps he was dreaming now; a terrible dream that he may never wake up from. He had put all of his faith into the words God had spoken to him, and had followed blindly those who he though were sent to aid his journey. A mere human who could travel unnoticed without the need for doors or passages... what else could he have thought? Heaven sent, this one.
So why did he feel as if he was stumbling through hell?
Struggling to his feet, Remy could do little but obey. He would keep close this time, not let the shadows distract him again.
Nor the sound of someone – something – approaching...
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Post by Kurt Wagner on Dec 31, 2008 10:15:24 GMT -4
Determined not to make the same mistake twice, Kurt wrapped a hand around the priest's bicep and lurched quickly back the way he came dragging his companion with him. He didn't take the time to apologize.
The sounds of pursuit grew louder behind them.
"Here", he said aloud in somewhat optimistic advance of their arrival at the portal. As he pushed onward, he knew that the time for any hope of stealthiness had passed.
As they reached it, Kurt gave the priest an unceremonious shove toward the opening and turned back once more toward the sounds of their pursuer. Through the darkness, there was locomotive breathing and the steady thump of heavy feet.
And two growing pinpoints of light that burned like glowing coals.
Kurt sighed and dove for the portal. He knew that although for now he had escaped, he would pay for his trespass the next time he dared to return there. That is, if he survived what was to come. By the time he landed awkwardly in the polished hallway next to his companion, the shadows that covered Kurt's body had quickly vanished.
The portal oozed shut behind them.
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Post by Gambit on Jan 6, 2009 22:34:01 GMT -4
Jumping when the servant grabbed his arm, the priest didn’t have time to say anything before he was being dragged unceremoniously down the hallways. This wasn’t the time or place to argue, so he quickly recovered and kept up the pace. He only stumbled once when he dared glance behind them, but Kurt didn’t let him fall. The sounds were louder, closer...
“We ain’ gonna make it,” Remy whispered, the fear evident in his voice. Not a moment later, though, he was letting out a loud yelp as he was flung bodily through the portal that was suddenly looming before them.
Hitting the floor on the other side, the priest kept his eyes tightly closed, not daring to look around, or even move. They had made it. They were safe.
Yet he suddenly had the distinct feeling that the dangers had just begun.
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Post by Kurt Wagner on Jan 8, 2009 10:19:52 GMT -4
Kurt, too, felt the dangers of their predicament.
"We should wait", he said softly, hating the obviousness of what he had to admit, "before I try that again."
It meant that with the clock ticking on their window of opportunity the others were on their own for now...
...and so were he and the priest.
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Post by Gambit on Jan 8, 2009 23:26:38 GMT -4
Although time was of the essence, and he and Creed were supposed to be in this together, the priest couldn’t help but agree. That had been a harrowing experience, and... something had been aware of their presence. To go back in now... Remy didn’t even want to think of what could happen.
“But we can’t wait fo’ dem,” he said, forcing himself to sit up. “I don’ know how much time we got, be we’d be wise not t’ waste a minute.”
He had to gain his bearings, figure out where he was going. But most of all, he had to listen. If he listened closely, his path would be made clear, he was certain of it.
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Post by Kurt Wagner on Jan 10, 2009 13:31:06 GMT -4
Kurt also listened, but for something far more pressing and tangible. "What is that?", he asked at the sound of distant laughter and applause. No...not distant...it was coming from all around them. He realized it was issuing from TV monitors placed at intervals down the hallway. "Oh", he amended softly.
"Today we're gettin a special treat", said the voice of Colin McKay. "Ah'm not interviewin just one of them, Ah'm gettin ta interview them all! Hank McCoy, his lovely wife Emma Frost, and tha certainly amazin Miss Callie!!!" More applause.
Kurt tried to push it from his mind as he turned his attention back to the priest. "I am ready", he answered.
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Post by Gambit on Jan 11, 2009 15:04:06 GMT -4
When voices seemed to surround them from every direction, Remy flipped himself up into a crouch, a few simple playing cards appearing in his hands. Small, easy to conceal and even easier to throw, and while they were harmless in the hands of most, they were deadly weapons in his.
He only hoped his aim was still on. It was rarely necessary for a priest to need to use such abilities as his, and it had been years now since he had first donned the black garbs. He feared he would be too slow, his aim not true. Just one more fear to add to the quickly growing list.
As on edge as he was, it took the priest a moment to come to the same realisation that Kurt already had about the source of the voices, but it was still with reluctance that he put away his cards.
Standing up tall, he nodded once to the servant before closing his eyes. After a moment of silence, he opened them again. “Dis way,” he said and started to lead them carefully yet quickly down the hallway.
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Post by Kurt Wagner on Jan 11, 2009 22:36:18 GMT -4
Kurt followed.
"...well it is difficult anyway, Colin...", the voice of Doctor McCoy was saying from the TV screens, "...but you should try it when you're covered with blue fur...!" Kurt glanced up as they passed beneath one of them. The television crowd laughed. "Isn't that right, dear?", McCoy asked. The camera switched to his startled and embarrassed wife. More laughter from the crowd.
Kurt forced his attention away from it. "What are we looking for?", he decided to ask in the hope that he could do something to help. He felt he'd made a mess of things so far.
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Post by Gambit on Jan 11, 2009 22:47:49 GMT -4
With each step he took the directions became clearer. He was back on the right path, with God’s own hand leading the way. He easily blocked out the voices and the cheers coming from the television sets, and listening so closely to the directions, he almost didn’t hear Kurt’s question.
“I... don’ know exactly, but God does, an’ He won’ lead us astray,” the priest said quietly. He trusted completely in his faith. Maybe he didn’t know what it was he was here to do, but he knew that it was right, and that it needed to be done.
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Post by Kurt Wagner on Feb 1, 2009 14:16:33 GMT -4
He couldn't help wondering if they were all out of their minds for daring to believe in something so risky, so naive perhaps, based on nothing more than the conviction in the words and eyes of a priest.
Kurt realized that it didn't matter. If they were wrong, nothing would change. If they were right...then believing in any other option was a far more risky choice.
And beside all of that, this particular priest had nothing if not convincing eyes and words.
"Ja", Kurt whispered in agreement. He followed without any more doubt.
There simply wasn't time.
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Post by Hank McCoy on Feb 2, 2009 0:15:22 GMT -4
"...sometimes...", the voice of Henry McCoy was saying from the hallway's monitors, "it's enough to know I'm able to help someone..."
The television audience applauded their approval.
"...and even with the help of my lovely wife and brilliant assistant...", McCoy said as the camera flashed to reaction shots of Emma and a surprised and pleased Kyle as he spoke of too few hours in the day. "...I can't help but wish I could do more", he added, "Sometimes I wish there were two of me."
Emma made a joke at his expense and there was more laughter from the television crowd.
"Well", said Henry's voice and it echoed off down the hallway toward them. This time, it was several feet below the mounted TV screens. A dark shape moved at the far end of the corridor. "I must say that this is something I did not expect."
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Post by Gambit on Feb 2, 2009 23:45:56 GMT -4
Moving quickly yet cautiously through the hallway, with each step the priest took his confidence grew. For years he had been working toward this night, this moment, and now that it was here even his earlier trepidation was fading. He truly believed that this was his destiny and it would all work out because God was on his side.
As usual, when things appear to be going too easily and smoothly, it’s because something is about to step in and foil things.
What that something turned out to be, though, nobody could have predicted.
At first the priest thought that one of the television sets ahead of them was much louder than the rest. Then he saw the shadow move. A chilling spike of fear drove through his heart, and for a moment he thought that maybe they had not left the world of shadows alone, and that something had followed them. But the voice...
“Y’ ain’ de only one,” Remy breathed, stopping in his tracks, dimly glowing eyes fixed on the dark figure down the corridor.
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Post by Kurt Wagner on Feb 2, 2009 23:59:22 GMT -4
Kurt's heart raced.
"Unglaublich", he managed to choke out. He stole a slack-jawed glance at the nearest TV screen before fixing widened eyes on the misshapen shadow now moving towards them.
He took a reflexive step backward and behind the priest. This was very, very bad.
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Post by Hank McCoy on Feb 3, 2009 0:27:21 GMT -4
Eyes casting a glint of red, Henry moved closer toward them. Dim light shone from the television on a nearby pole and lit his bulk and bluish fur, making odd shapes dance across his face.
On the screen, a well-dressed Henry laughed at something Colin said and smiled warmly.
In the corridor facing the two intruders, his smile was anything but warm, and thickly furred muscles flexed across his shirtless form.
"A priest and a serving boy walk into a genetics lab", he said to them, as though he was starting some kind of joke. "...a highly secure genetics lab...", he amended and though the smile remained there was no mirth in it.
He stared at them with malice, lowering a little like a linebacker in a three-point stance.
"I have no idea where the rest of this joke is going, but if I had my guess before it's over..." Henry's smile widened. "...both of you are screwed."
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Post by Gambit on Feb 3, 2009 0:40:20 GMT -4
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Kurt move behind him and out of his vision, but Remy didn’t once take his eyes off the imposing figure that blocked their way. Not until the figure stepped into the light cast by the television. Only then did he look away, a quick glance up at the bright pictures on the screen.
Non, dat ain’ possible...
She hadn’t called him. She would have called him if the McCoy’s had left the studio. And they were still there, the evidence was almost blinding in the dark. The broadcast was live, the family still sitting and chatting amicably with everyone’s favourite television celebrity.
Yet in front of them stood Dr. Henry McCoy himself. Or some strange and twisted facsimile. Gone was the good natured smile and friendly tone; remaining was like the embodiment of fear itself.
“I t’ink I heard dat one b’fo’. De punchline wasn’t dat funny,” the priest replied, the witty words rolling off his tongue easily even as fear coursed, almost paralysing, through his entire body.
Almost.
“Désolé fo’ de intrusion, but we come t’ spread de word o’ God,” he spoke, producing a pocket sized bible from one of his coat pockets and holding it up in front of him. He had already begun to charge it with kinetic energy in preparation of an attack.
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