Games: A Cajun's Love

Rogue turned towards the door as the lights came on and the usual SWOOSH was heard. She was getting used to the young girl. She had found out her name was Rashelle. She didn't know why but she was beginning to trust her. Whenever she came with food she was always nice and talked to Rogue. Rogue looked to see a man come from the doorway. Rogue looked at him and squirmed towards the other side of the cell. She felt something in her telling her that he wasn't suppose to be here. She felt as if something was wrong about him. She could see him better as he came closer. Short black hair, and brown eyes. A scar was on his right cheek.

"I don't care what Sinister says," Rogue heard him mumble. "I'm going to make Remy pay."

Rogue watched the man open the cell door by touching his hand to a panel. She grabbed around for something to use as a weapon. "And he will pay," he said. Rogue looked into the man's eyes. Hatred and anger was all she could see.

Oh help, someone help, was all she could think. She reached for the collar trying to break it.

An evil smile crossed the man's face. "This is going to be fun," he said.

"GET AWAY FROM HER NOW JONATHAN!!!!!!!!!!!"

The man turned and Rogue looked behind him. Sinister stood there. He was angry. The man backed away from Rogue and walked out of the cell. "What the HELL did you think you were doing!!!!" The man shrugged and walked past Sinister with his head bowed. Rogue saw Rashelle rush in with her meal. Sinister closed the door and left.

"Are you okay?" Rashelle asked putting the tray into the cell.

"Where's Remy?" Rogue asked taking the cup of water from the tray.

Rashelle looked away. "I can't tell you," she said.

"Why not?" Rogue asked.

Rogue strained her ears and heard the last part " . . . like Sarah." "Who?" Rogue asked.

"I have to go?" Rashelle said and left.

Rogue looked down at the meal. It was soup again. Sarah, she thought. Where do I know that name? Rogue shut her eyes and tried to pull up the remaining memories she had from Gambit. Oh my!Remy's memories enveloped her. She closed her eyes.

Rogue's eyes opened to see the back streets of some city. She saw trashcans and garbage lying about. She saw people huddling close together. Rogue shuddered. It was pretty cold. She turned around to see two people she knew running down the street. One was Remy and the other was Rashelle. Both looked much younger.

"Come on p'tite," Remy said running down the street. Rashelle was behind him panting as she struggled to catch up. She didn't look much older than a ten-year-old. "We can't keep de boss waitin'."

"Just . . .pant . . . need to stop . . . gasp . . . for a breath," Rashelle said stopping to catch her breath.

Remy picked her up and began running. "Remy," she giggled.

"You wanna walk?" he asked her. She shook her head no. "Den shush, oh and one more t'ing p'tite, lay off of de donuts. You're getting' heavy."

Rashelle stuck her tong out at him. Remy laughed and ran faster down the street. Rogue ran after them. She saw the two go into an old three-story apartment building. Rogue ran to catch the door but was too late. She put her hand on the doorknob to try it. Her hand went through it. She walked through the doorway. She felt a tingly sensation pass through her. I wonder if this is how Kitty feels when she phases through things? . She followed the two up the stairs. Remy opened the door. "Sarah, we're home," he said. "SARAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Rogue watched the two run into the room. She followed. Rogue gasped as she saw Remy holding a young girl in his arms. She looked about nine years old. Her dark brown hair was covered in blood, as was the rest of her body. "Oh my god Sarah," Remy said.

Sarah's blue eyes looked up at Remy hauntingly. "It's not what it seems Mr. Le Boo," she said "It's not what it see . . . ."

"Sarah," Remy said crying. Rogue looked over at Rashelle. Her face was a ghostly white. She wasn't looking at Sarah though. She was looking out the window. Rogue followed her gaze. She saw the man who had tried to attack her running across the rooftops towards a figure. The figure turned. It was Sinister. He looked at Rashelle and put a finger to his lips. Rashelle fell to the ground. Remy dropped Sarah. "Rashelle," he said. He took her wrist and felt for a pulse. She had one.

"REMY," Rogue heard from the doorway. She turned to see a woman with long blond hair holding two bags standing in the doorway. "We have to go. The cops are coming. Oh my God. Sarah."

"Carry her p'tite," Remy said picking up Rashelle.

"I can't," she said. "My hands are full."

"We can't just leave her here," Remy said.

"She's dead Remy. We have to go. NOW!" the woman said pulling him down the stairs.

"But . . ." he said.

"We have to go," the woman said. Remy nodded and ran out of the building. Rogue stood in it alone looking at the body of a dead little girl. She went over to her. The girl's eyes opened. Rogue stepped back gasping."Avenge my death," she said. Rogue backed away. "Avenge my death." The girl was a ghostly white. Rogue took another step back. She shut her eyes.

When they opened again she was in the cell. Sinister was staring at her. "You monstah," Rogue said. He just smiled then left.

A black sadan pulled up to the old inn. Remy LeBeau, Gambit to must who know him, stepped out of the car. Dis place looks disserted, he thought. The inn was in a dire need of paint. Cobwebs hung from the corners. The windows were black with grime and dust. The grass was dead and vines grew over the doorway. Remy walked down the dirt path that was considered a road. The few houses, inn, and dinner that made up the 'town', if it was one any more, were exactly like the old inn. Guess ev'ryone left after what happened t'Sarah. If he be wantin' t'meet me here, den where he be? Remy walked back to the car and slumped down by it. He took out a cigarette, lit it and began to smoke. I guess I be waitin' f'awhile. XAVIER'S SCHOOL FOR GIFTED CHILDREN, NEW YORK

"Cerebro open 'mutant underground'," Xavier said staring into the computer screen in his office.

"Password."

"Password is secret," Xavier said.

""Password and voice print confirmed."

A red beam came from the screen scanning his eyes. ""Retinal scan confirmed. Opening 'mutant underground'. " Xavier clicked onto the words 'deceased or missing'. A huge list scrolled down the page. "Cerebro locate name 'Switchback'," Xavier said.

"Computing . . . . no files under that name. "

"Show all pictures of young woman age 15-30 under 'deceased or missing' files," Xavier said.

"Downloading. " Thirty pictures appeared on the screen. "Print," Xavier said.

"Printing. "

Blue team please report to the war room, Xavier projected to the blue team. He hovered, in his Shi'ar wheelchair, out to the hallway. He met Beast there. "Salutations Professor. What is the problem?" he asked.

"I need to see if any of you recognize one of these women as the girl by the blackbird," Xavier said holding up the printouts.

Beast looked down at them. "None on the first page. She was a blond," Beast said.

Xavier nodded. The two entered the war room to find the blue team sitting at the table. Xavier placed the print outs on the table. "Do any of you recognize one of these women as the one by the blackbird," he asked.

The team looked down. Wolverine picked up a sheet. "That's her Chuck," he said pointing to a picture of a girl with blond hair who looked no older than 15.

Xavier took the paper. "Thank you," he said. He passed the sheet to the other x-men.

The rest of the blue team nodded in agreement. "She was older though. Middle twenties," Cyclops said.

"Thank you," Xavier said.

"Sure Chuck. Why ya do ya know who she is?" Wolverine asked.

"I'm not sure yet Logan. I'll let you know as soon as I figure that out," Xavier said and hovered for his office. "Computer open all files on Haley Barns."

"Computing . . . downloading."

Remy threw down the rest of the cigarette. Rain began to pour down. Remy tightened the trench coat around himself cursing something in French. He heard movement around him. Someone was trying to sneak up on him. Breathin's too heavy. Whoever it is doesn't have a chance. Remy back flipped over his assailant whipping out his staff as he did. He struck the man behind the knee as he landed. Five cards were in his hands, charged and ready to be thrown.

The man dropped to his knees and turned around to face Remy. "I see your still as agile as before my 'friend'," the man said.

"Hello Charley," Remy said. "What's he wantin' me t'do?"

Remy looked at the man sitting on the ground who used to be his friend. He watched the man's eyes turn from their normal blue to a glowing orange. Remy looked at him readying himself for an attack when he remembered what Charley's power was. Boy can go into my mind. Make me watch my own memories. Gotta get away. It was too late. Remy fell down to the ground in an unconscious state.Noooooooooo . . . . SINISTER"S BASE

Remy opened his eyes. He looked about and saw he was lying on the steal floor. His head was pounding. "Gotta remember t'punch Charley one," he said to himself.

"REMY!" he heard yelled from behind him. It was Sinister's voice. He jumped up cards ready to fight. Then slowly he dropped them to the ground. He remembered this. He saw Sinister walk into the training room. A younger Remy stood by the wall smoking a cigarette. "This is a training session. It is to help you control your powers better not a break for smoking," Sinister continued taking the cigarette from him.

"Dis training session is boring mon frere. Dere's no challenge," the younger Remy said.

Sinister smiled at his newest recruit. "Fine. I believe it is time for you to meet your new team mates," Sinister said. "First however. You must fight me."

"You," the young Remy said startled.

Sinister nodded. He lashed out at the young mutant kicking at him. Young Remy blocked the attack and rolled away. Sinister smiled going after him again. The cat and mouse game went on for ten more minutes until Sinister finally got the younger Remy pinned against the wall. "What about you powers now Remy?" Sinister asked. "Do you have enough control over them to charge anything?"

Remy grimaced. "I get your point. I practice when I'm suppose t'kay?"

Sinister smiled. "I'll go run another program," he said and walked out of the room. Remy watched the younger version of himself turn around readying himself to fight. Have to be t'ankful for dat. Sinister did help me wit my powers

Suddenly the scene changed around Gambit. He saw two little boys running across the dirt rode. Women sat on porches with fans. The sun was right overhead. It was noon. He knew where he was . . . Holston, California. He walked down the street. The two boys ran right through him. He had to admit it felt odd. The feeling when a chill goes through your spine. Remy walked down the small alley to a small yard. A little brown haired girl was playing with a small doll. Singing a lullaby. It was Sarah. She looked up at him with her brown eyes. "Mr. Le Boo," she said. Remy swallowed hard. He turned to see a younger version of himself walk over to her with a glass of lemonade. "Here y'go p'tite," he said.

Remy closed his eyes. He knew this scene all to well. Sarah's powers would flare up when the two boys tried to take her doll. Remy'd take her from the town telling her she'd be safe. Taking her to Sinister, eventually letting her die. His eyes opened with tears in his eyes. He watched the younger him go back into the house to answer the phone. Remy bit his lip. He had stumbled onto her by accident. He was supposed to go to the town a couple miles down the road. The car broke down so he was stuck. He'd met Sarah's mom at the diner. Boy was she a looker. Had his one night stand but in the morning she was gone and she'd left Sarah with him. Remy brushed the tears from his eyes.

The two boys from the street ran into the yard. "Hey poo face," one of them yelled.

"Leave me alone," Sarah said.

The older boy grabbed the doll from her hands. "Give her back!" Sarah said.

The two boys tossed the doll over her head. "Stop it! Stop it!" she yelled. The doll flew over the younger boy's head and into the sewer. "Catherine!!!" she screamed.

The two boys stood silently. Sarah began to cry. "You lost Catherine!" she screamed. Her body was a light with a purple glow. The two boys screamed and began to run. They didn't get far. The purple light hit both of them knocking them to the ground unconscious. The younger Remy stood by the door. "Sarah?" he said.

The little girl fell to her knees exhausted. He picked her up. The older Remy watched him take her into the house. His eyes closed. "Help me Mr. Le Boo," he heard. "Help me." Remy's eyes snapped open. He was at the entrance of a theatre. Not just any theatre though. The theatre he last saw Rogue at. The theatre that holds some of his deepest darkest secrets. His red on black eyes narrowed as he stared at it. William Shakespeare's Merchant Of Venice was playing. People in long coats and jewelry were lined up to get in. Remy walked towards the back entrance he knew why he was supposed to remember this.

By the back entrance Remy saw himself standing there with two teenagers. "Yeah I know a place where y'can make easy money," he heard himself tell them. "Y' just gotta follow me."

The older kid looked at the younger and nodded. The younger Remy opened the entrance to the theatre and went in. The kids followed. He brought them to the boiler room. "How can you make money down here," the younger one asked him.

"See dat door over dere?" The two boys nodded. "Go through it."

The two kids and the younger Remy walked through the door. Remy followed them. Sinister stood there with Jon. Jon knocked the two boys out. "Good work Remy," Sinister said.

"Whatcha goin' t'do wit' dem?"the younger Remy asked.

Sinister turned to face the younger Remy. "You'll find out soon enough," he said and disappeared. Remy watched the images fade from around him. It was like a thick black smoke was covering his eyes. As his sight came back he could see an operating table with a person on it. It was the youngest boy. Sinister was over him tools in hand. Remy saw the younger him at the doorway. "Dis is what y'do t'dem?" he asked.

"They help me with my work," Sinister said.

"Y' kill dem." Sinister nodded as he cut into the conscious boy. The boy screamed. "Y'a monster."

"You brought them to me. What does that make you?" Sinister asked.

"I didn't know dis is what y'did t'dem."

"You should have asked."

Remy closed his eyes as the boy screamed. Visions of the boy and others being dissected flashed before his eyes, Sarah lying dead in a pool of blood. Remy fell to his knees. I'm never helpin' him again. Never. he thought as he brought his head to his knees. Nothin' could make me help him. Nothin' Remy heard a distant laughter in the background. It wasn't a mean evil laugh, it was sweet and playful.

"Ah thought ya'd enjoy a home cooked meal that ah made with mah own two hands." He heard. Rogue. Remy's eyes opened. She was sitting on the blanket with gumbo on her plate. She looked so beautiful. She looked at him and smiled. Remy smiled back. Suddenly a hand went around her throat. He saw Sinister holding her by the neck. "Rogue," he screamed.

"Remy, help me please. Remy," she said as Sinister disappeared with her.

Remy's eyes snapped opened. His head was pounding. He wasn't in his dream world anymore. He sat up slowly. He saw Sinister looking at him. "Are you ready to help me?" he asked.

"Oui," Remy said he said through narrowed eyes.