Chapter Text
While she's in the bathroom, Anna hears the tv turn on. It's a breaking news report. “Anna! Ya gonna want ta see dis!” Remy calls from the bed. She flushes the toilet and quickly washes her hands so she can see what's going on.
There are reports out of the new mutant nation of Genosha this morning that their leader, the mutant known as Magneto, is currently hospitalized due to being assaulted and battered last night by an unknown attacker. Anonymous sources close to Magneto have said that they suspect his so-called queen, the mutant X-Man known as Rogue, may be responsible for the attack that caused several broken ribs and massive internal damage. Doctors have told us that Magneto has been given a transfusion of blood from a mutant with a healing factor and should be released in the next few hours. An anonymous source close to both Magneto and Rogue has shared with us that their relationship was volatile and they would not blame Rogue for attacking him in this fashion.
“So that's what happened to Erik last night. Someone helped him and got him to the hospital…” Anna thinks aloud. She tries to remember what happened when they found him missing. She remembers the faint smell of burnt matches. “OH!!! OH MY… NO…” she says loudly as she suddenly realizes what that smell means, or who that smell points to. Remy almost jumps out of the bed alarmed by Anna's sudden outburst. “What? What ya t’inkin’? Do ya know who made Erik disappear las’ night?” he asks, not hiding his concern. He tries to remember what happened when they switched rooms last night and he too suddenly remembers the smell of burnt matches in the hallway. A look of surprise takes over his face and as he looks at Anna they both blurt out at the same time a name of a close friend, for Anna, a family member, “KURT!”
It's one in the morning and the gala is still going. There have been whispers amongst the attendees that their leader and his consort have gone missing. Madelyne Pryor, a member of Genosha’s ruling council, has also noticed that another has gone missing as well, Gambit. She can't help putting the pieces together. She thinks to herself, Gambit, Magneto, and Rogue all missing at the same time doesn't seem like a coincidence. What did Kurt say earlier when Rogue disappeared? ‘She wasn't feeling well and retired early…’ Gambit also went missing at about the same time…
The relationship between Gambit and Rogue was well known amongst mutants. A “will-they/won't-they” drama worthy of a daytime soap opera. Madelyne also knew from her telepathic abilities that Rogue was unhappy with Magneto. She could sense from Rogue a kind of unspeakable trauma; she was much too young for many of her so-called romantic experiences with him. She didn't have to invade Rogue’s mind, these emotions were bright red banners any telepath could pick up on easily. If Rogue and Gambit snuck away to finally be together, it would make sense. It would also make sense that Magneto would go to check on Rogue once he heard she wasn't feeling well. Had Magneto interrupted the secret lovers’ activities? Had Rogue finally stood up for herself and attacked her abuser?
Madelyne decides to call it a night and heads to the lobby elevators to go up to her own room. But as she waits for one to arrive, she changes her mind and decides to check on Rogue. She had always been so kind to Madelyn during her time as Jean. Rogue had also used her power to absorb the skills of a bigoted doctor who refused to provide medical care to Madelyne while in labor. Rogue delivered her child, Madelyne was in Rogue's debt and owed her a similar kindness.
The elevator doors open to an unfortunate scene. Madelyne was right, it looks like Rogue finally unleashed her pain on Magneto. Erik was crumpled on the floor, unconscious and bleeding. Madelyne kneels beside him and checks for a pulse, “Good girl, you didn't kill him; you just gave him what he deserves.” The absence of playing card fragments means Gambit wasn't involved; this was all Rogue's doing. Madelyne looks over Erik's limp body “Anna Marie, I am so proud of you right now. I really hope you ended things with this monster.” She hears footsteps and voices approaching the door across from where she knelt. The accents give it away that it’s Anna and Remy and they're getting ready to leave. Madelyne looks up and down the hallway and quickly teleports herself and Erik to the nearest hospital emergency room. She dumps him in the lobby before teleporting back to her room. The only sign that she had even been outside Anna's room was the faint smell of sulfur hanging in the air.