55 Chapter 55 - Prime in fury [1]

At the Xavier Mansion, on a full moon night, everyone was suddenly awakened by screams echoing throughout the mansion. The sound, sharp and piercing, tore through the air and stirred deep fears in all who heard it. Amidst the panic and confusion, Ororo and Logan were the first to act, instructing almost all the children to stay in their rooms.

Scott, Kitty, Kurt, and Jean were also awakened by the screams coming from Sara's room, refusing to stay in their own quarters while their friend seemed distressed. Jean tried to locate Xavier's position through her thoughts, but received no signal back, indicating that he was likely unconscious.

Meanwhile, Sara, on the other hand, was experiencing a significant shift in her thoughts. Previously, there seemed to be something blocking their minds, preventing penetration. However, this time, her thoughts were disorganized and chaotic, somewhat frightening. When Jean tried to enter Sara's mind, she was met with endless darkness, immersed in emptiness, while scarlet eyes watched her from a distance.

"Jean! What's happening? Can you hear me? Jean!"

Upon hearing Scott's concerned voice echoing, Jean slowly opened her eyes. Around her were her friends, along with Ororo and Logan, all looking at her with worried expressions.

"I... I think I managed to access Sara's mind" said Jean, her voice trembling slightly as she put her hand to her head.

Upon hearing this, everyone stared at her in confusion as Jean got up and put her hand to her head, trying to ease the throbbing pain.

"You did? How? I thought something was blocking her mind" remarked Ororo, placing her hand on her chin, with a pensive look.

"I accessed her mind... but it wasn't her" replied Jean, turning her gaze to Sara's room, which was a few meters away from where they were.

"What do you mean by that?" asked Logan, with a curious expression on his face.

"She was... different, from the other times" began Jean, trying to express the complexity of the situation. "It seemed like something was blocking my entry, but this time, her mind is in complete chaos. It was dark, like an endless void... Whatever is inside Sara's room right now, I'm not sure if we can call it by her name anymore"

Listening to Jean's words, everyone's expressions intensified into a mix of concern and determination. Slowly, under the moonlight that bathed the mansion, the only source of light after all the others suddenly went out, the six finally stood before Sara's door. The screams had ceased a few moments earlier, which brought a glimmer of hope that perhaps the agony had passed.

"Are you there, Sara?" Ororo asked cautiously.

No response came from inside. The six looked at each other for a moment, sharing an expression of apprehension. Then, Ororo began to open the door slowly. As the door swung open, it revealed the interior of the room under the silver glow of the moon. However, there was nothing inside. The room was in disarray, as if a wild animal had darted through it at high speed.

"No one's here" said Scott, as his eyes scanned the surroundings.

"That's strange. Her screams were echoing from here just a few minutes ago. How did she leave here without us noticing?" Ororo questioned.

Logan, who was closest to the door, scoped out the room with his keen eyesight. While the others seemed puzzled by the apparent absence of something there, his heightened senses picked up on a nearby presence. His suspicion was quickly confirmed when a viscous drool dripped onto his shoulder.

Logan quickly retracted his adamantium claws and assumed a defensive stance, ready to face any imminent threat. However, before he could react, something grabbed him and violently threw him through the window, propelling him out of the mansion and causing him to land in the garden with a dull thud.

The loud crash caught the attention of Scott, Jean, Kitty, Kurt, and Ororo, who quickly turned their eyes towards the noise, finding Sara transformed. Her ruby eyes and snakelike tongue, which seemed to momentarily savor the situation, gave her a frightening aura.

"Guys, I don't know about you, but she looks even scarier than usual" remarked Kurt as he slowly backed away.

"Easy, Sara! We're here to help" exclaimed Ororo, raising her hands in a calming gesture, indicating she posed no threat.

Upon hearing Ororo's words, Sara retracted her claws as a myriad of tentacles emerged from her back. Some of these appendages took the form of spears and swords, adding a threatening dimension to her transformation.

"Is it just me or does she seem ready to attack us?" inquired Kitty.

"Seriously? I hadn't noticed" replied Kurt sarcastically.

After Kurt's words, Sara advanced towards the remaining five. A loud explosion erupted in Sara's room, sending Scott flying out of the room. Kurt, agile as ever, intercepted him in the air with his teleportation, gently depositing him on the ground next to Logan.

Ororo restrained Sara with a wind shield, but unfortunately, it wouldn't last long. Sara demonstrated an incredibly greater strength than they had anticipated. Meanwhile, Jean moved away to go after Scott, and Kitty, on the other hand, disappeared as she infiltrated the ground.

With everyone out, Ororo finally felt more at ease to use all her power. Her eyes became even whiter than before, and she began to float lightly. Raising her hands high, Ororo began to summon storm clouds. Soon, the sounds of lightning and thunder began to echo. Then, a light followed by a deafening boom echoed through the area as Sara was struck by lightning.

Amidst the smoke, Ororo carefully watched the spot where the lightning had struck. Deliberately, she had reduced her power to avoid mortally harming Sara, but when the dust settled, a red dome made of tentacles occupied the spot where Sara had been. Confused, Ororo felt her feet being grabbed by tentacles that mysteriously emerged from the ground.

From the tentacles, claws emerged and superficially pierced Ororo's feet.

"Aww..." groaned Ororo in pain, her eyes widening as she tried to stifle the moans.

In the blink of an eye, a lethargic sensation enveloped her, her muscles weakened, and her strength began to gradually drain away. Slowly, Ororo was completely surrounded by the tentacles, leaving only her head exposed.

Sara finally emerged from the dome, rising to where Ororo was. With her mouth open, she attempted to bite Ororo's head, but was easily thwarted by red beams that struck her, causing her to recoil as she released Ororo.

Jean levitated her calmly in the air and brought her back near the others. While Scott distracted Sara, everyone looked at Ororo confused, watching her sweat and squirm from time to time.

"What the hell happened to her?" Kurt asked, confused.

"Sara poisoned her" replied Logan, his eyes fixed on Sara.

"Since when can she do that?" Kitty asked, her gaze alternating between Sara and Ororo.

"Maybe it's not her" said Jean. "Remember when I said there was something in Sara's mind? I think we can assume it's taking over her body now"

Hearing Jean's words, it only took them a few seconds to reach the same conclusion.

"Prime!" they all exclaimed simultaneously.

"But if that's the case, what can we do? Prime is part of Sara" Kitty asked, with a confused and uncertain look.

Logan simply got up and retracted his claws. The small cuts Sara had made on him were long healed, thanks to his extremely accelerated healing factor.

Logan recognized the urgency of the situation. Xavier, who could explain everything, was missing, and Sara, for some reason, was out of control. Furthermore, Logan wasn't sure of the potency of the venom Sara had injected into Ororo.

"Anyway, all we need to do is neutralize her. After that, we try to sort out this crazy situation" said Logan, turning his gaze to the kids next.

"Kitty, you and Kurt, look for Xavier. Jean and Scott, I want you two with me"

Upon hearing that, Kurt and Kitty nodded, then Kurt touched Kitty and Ororo's shoulders, causing them to vanish from the scene without a trace. Jean moved away from Ororo's side, who still seemed unwell, and approached Logan with Scott by her side. The three of them watched Sara, who narrowed her eyes. At that moment, the hunter had locked his gaze on his prey.