So sorry it has taken so long to update this! But it is so close to the end. Maybe one more chapter. Thank you so much for your love and support of this story!

I had never felt so hollow and empty.

Every step felt surreal. Like I was in a deep fog. Lost. Unable to see two inches in front of me.

The tears had stopped long ago. No one had said a word in hours. The only thing that could be heard was my shallow breathing. I felt shaky, lightheaded, and part of me longed to die right there in the middle of the woods. I had no desire to live anymore. I was in the most unbearable pain physically and emotionally than I had ever been in my life. How? How was I going to make it? What was the point? How much longer do we have? Is there even a destination?

Despite my agony, one thought was very clear. If this place wasn't real, I'd be very pissed.

I lost my best friends in the matter of days in the most brutal way and if this place wasn't real, I'd either kill every person that I could or kill myself. The latter was probably more likely.

Laura remained quiet but I could feel her pain too. Her pain was felt in silence because if she were to speak...it wouldn't be pretty. A common trait shared with Logan. She held on to me, both to support me and I think for comfort. I could feel guilt radiating off of her and though I wish I was kind enough to assure her it wasn't, my tongue couldn't be trusted right now. So I kept my mouth shut and let her guide me through the painful fog I was in.

After what seemed like an eternity, Rictor came to a stop. He looked at his paper, then looked around. He looked really confused then tried talking over the radio but all that responded was static. Laura looked concerned as Rictor spoke to them in spanish. That's when I started to think that this was really all fake and I felt anger swell up inside of me.

"What's going on, Rictor?" I ask.

He gives me a nervous look. "We are where we're supposed to be..."

"But nobody is here." I finish bitterly. "Fucking fantastic."

I'm seething now and even Laura looks scared. I stomp angrily around the woods. "Alright, you've won! You've got us!" I shout.

"Anna!" Rictor scolds me.

"Come on, now! Show me whatcha got! An army of fools? Booby traps? Mass electrocution?" I dismiss Rictor as I shout to the bushes.

"Anna! Shut. UP!" Rictor hisses at me.

I keep walking around, looking for any sign of life. I get angrier by the second. I had convinced myself that this place was real. Now what?

"You better be who you say you are or I'm gonna be real fucking pissed!" I continue shouting angrily at the woods. What I am doing is completely reckless but I could really care less.

"We wouldn't want that, would we?" A male voice emerges from behind me in the woods.

I quickly whip around, my gun pointed. "We mean you no harm." A warmer female voice says.

"Show yourself!" I demand.

"Point the gun down and we'll consider it." The first voice says.

"Not a chance." I growl.

"You want proof, we get that but we don't anyone else to get hurt." The female voice says again.

"Anna, I recognize that voice from the radio. Give them a chance." Rictor speaks up for them.

"Hey, no offense but don't you think if we were an army, that a little hand gun would save all of you?"

"I've worked with less." I snap.

The woman scolds the man then speaks to me again. "Okay, we're coming out unarmed. I'm right in front of you so please don't be surprised." She says.

Suddenly, the man and woman appear in front of us. A shield of invisibility had been hiding them all along. He was right. They could've killed us right then and there. The woman was a Hispanic woman who appeared to be her in mid thirties or forties and had shoulder link dark hair and her eyes were mix matched, one blue and the other green. Her expression was warm, kind, and I felt myself relax a little bit. The man appeared to be in his early late twenties and was either American or Canadian. He had light brown hair and hazel eyes. His expression was a little harder, suspicious almost but not threatening.

"Who are you?" I ask, my voice more even.

The woman stepped forward. "My name is Mariana and this is Damon." She points to her partner, who nods. "I was the one who spoke with Rictor over the radio. We're here to take you the rest of the way to Eden."

My eyes narrowed. "The rest of the way?"

"You didn't think we'd just give you the address to a mutant sanctuary without being skeptical ourselves, did you?" Damon smirks.

"Well you have your proof." I point to the kids. "These kids have been through hell to get to you. We've lost too much to get this far and find out this shit isn't real and is just a setup. So tell me. How are you going to convince me this isn't bullshit? Because I would much rather you kill us now than lead me through all of that."

Mariana's eyes soften as she approaches me. "You've lost someone close to you. Several people, actually. Because of this mission." She says sadly.

I shrug. "Are you reading my mind or is it just obvious?" I ask bitterly but feel my lip quiver slightly.

"A little bit of both." She confesses, giving a sad smile. "I know you've been hurt and I don't expect you to trust us right away. But I'll explain everything on the way. All I ask is that you take one more risk and I promise that you will see that this wasn't for nothing."

"That's a lot to ask." I say quietly as wave of dizziness hits me and nearly takes me to the ground. Several hands reach out to steady me as Mariana gives me a concerned look.

"You need treatment." She says worriedly.

"I don't want treatment." I wave her off, breathing deeply to keep myself from passing out. I look at the worried looks on the children's faces and then give Jamie a weary look. "If you are who you say you are, then get them to safety now and take care of them."

Mariana takes my hands. "You come with us and see for yourself that this wasn't for nothing." She says softly. "We can help you."

Another wave of dizziness hits me and my breathing becomes more difficult. "I don't...want help. I don't want...treatment. Just get them to Eden...like you promised." I whisper, tears pricking my eyes as I feel the adrenaline draining from me.

"Damon!" I hear Mariana call his name, which sounds far away as the ground gets closer and I barely feel the impact.

Frantic voices sound distant as I see several shadows surround me. Laura's face is the last thing I see before darkness overwhelms me.


I wake up to the feel of grass tickling my face. I open my eyes and see sun rays shining through a familiar tree. "Laura?!" I call out as reality hits me, looking around frantically. "Laura?!"

"She's not here, Anna." A familiar voice informs me.

I look up to see Charles standing a few feet away from me. "Charles, where am I? Where's the children?" I ask frantically.

"Calm down, Anna, they're alright." He says coolly. "You're safe as well. You've been here before."

I look around and see the outskirts of the mansion. I could hear people from inside the walls and realized that indeed I had been here before. In a dream except last time Logan was here. "Am I dreaming or am I dead?" I ask, earning a smirk from Charles.

"A little bit of both. You 'died' because of your injuries but you're being brought back as we speak." He explains.

"How? You told me last time that I was dying." I point out, feeling frustrated.

"You were. You are." He replies. "Your power has weakened tremendously but there is a mutant with a healing gift that is bringing you back."

I felt like cold water had been poured down my back. "I don't want to go back. I don't want this power anymore! It's a curse!" Anger rises up inside of me.

"Your power isn't being restored, Anna. Your simply being healed. It'll be like you're a normal human."

"I don't want be a normal human, I just want to die." My voice cracks as I hit the tree with my fist.

I feel a gentle hand on my shoulder. "You're afraid." He states.

"Damn right, I'm afraid, Charles." I snap. "Everybody that I loved is gone and I...I can't do it all over again." My eyes water. "I'm done. I've been done."

"You're afraid of the unknown. Just like you were when you escaped the concentration camps, when you were captured, when we found you." His eyes soften. "When you befriended Logan and started teaching." I flinch at his name which felt like salt in a wound. "There were many things you didn't understand and yet look at the lives you changed. Now look at the children who are now in front of you. They need you, Anna."

"They can find someone else. I had too." I reply bitterly.

"Yes, you did. And do you remember what that felt like?"

I look away. "It sucked. Sucked really bad." I whisper.

"You have every right to refuse to help them but I know you. And I know you know what the right thing to do is." He gives me that fatherly look I'm so used too.

I bite my lip hard and look away. "How long do I have to stay?" I ask.

"A few years." He answers softly.

My head snaps in his directions. "A few years?" I feel like the wind was knocked out of me. A few more years of being tortured by nightmares and regret? No. I couldn't. "No, Charles."

"Anna-"

"NO!" I yell at him, my voice cracking. "I can't do it, Charles. The nightmares, regret, the pain...I can't do it. I could barely do it with him, how am I supposed to it without you?"

"You suck it up and face it like I always told you too." A familiar voice suddenly catches my attention and I see that it sure enough belongs to my best friend.

"Logan." I breathe.

He looks different. Healthy, strong, and younger. Free of scars, pain, and torment. He looked better than when I had known him before.

He smirks. "Hey kid." He says my old nickname and I break as say his name again and throw myself into his arms. He laughs softly but I cry loudly into his chest as he holds me close. I felt safe, warm, and at home. Like I always did when I was with him.

When I pull away, I look at him in amazement. "Look at you." I say emotionally as I rub his arms and look him up and down.

"Yeah, check it out." He says as he lifts up shirt, his skin totally healed and blemish free.

My eyes water as I touch the place where he had been fatally impaled. My lips tremble and tears prick my eyes. "No scars." I whisper.

"No scars." He repeats softly as he wipes the tears from my cheek with his thumb.

A sob escapes my throat. "Logan, I'm so sorry. I tried. I-..."

"Shhh..." He comforts me as he takes my face into his hands. "It's not your fault, Anna." I shake my head but tightens his grip and looks me in the eye. "It's not. It happened the way it was supposed too. It sucked.."He trails off with a smirk. "But it was worth it."

"Was it?"

Logan gives me sad smile. "Yeah. It was. We knew what we were getting ourselves into, kid. It was a hell of a lot better than dying slowly. We both knew it was our last mission." He says then gives me a look I'm slightly afraid of. "It's not over yet."

I shake my head stubbornly. "It has to be."

"It's not, Anna. Those kids...they need you." He pauses for a moment. "Laura needs you. She needs someone to show her the way. Just like I showed you. She needs hope."

"And what about me, Logan? Where's my hope?" My voice cracks.

He gives me a sad smile. "In her. In the rest of those kids. Who knows, maybe you've spent your entire life preparing just for this." He wonders out loud.

More tears prick my eyes. "How can I do this without you? Without Charles? Everyone is gone." I whisper sadly.

"You'll figure it out, kid. You're the toughest chick I've ever known." He smirks as he wipes a tear from my face. "I'm not worried about you one bit."

I let out a choked sob as I lean into his hand. "I don't want to do this without you."

"I'm not going anywhere." He points to the ring on my finger. "I promised."

My lips tremble as acceptance finally starts to take place. "Ok." I whisper shakily.

Logan then kisses me tenderly on the lips then on my forehead. I hold onto him tightly. "Wait for me." I whisper my plea into his chest.

"I'll be right here." He whispers into my ear then pulls away. "Go kick some ass, old lady." He winks with a smile.

Before I can reply, I feel a terrible jolt of electricity in my chest. I cry out and look at Logan who is staring at me calmly. Another jolt. "Logan!" I gasp in fear but am cut out by one more jolt.


Suddenly, I'm surrounded by white light and I find myself gasping for air. As my eyes wander around and adjust, I realize that I am in a room. Then voices reach my ringing ears. "She's back!" A woman's voice yells and then I'm surrounded by faces and voices that sound mixed together. I feel weak and confused. What happened?

"Stay with us, Anna." A soothing voice urges.

"Where am I?" I breathe out, my voice barely audible.

I'm ignored as they continue to work on me. I groan as my senses start to come back and I can feel pain. My world spins and I close my eyes to make it stop. "Logan?" I ask for my friend. Where is he? "Charles?" I ask for him too. Where is everyone? "Logan." I say louder, my voice hoarse and in pain.

A gentle hand smooths back my hair, hushing me. "Settle down, dear. You're safe." A warm female voice says.

I open my eyes and see a middle aged Hispanic woman wearing blue scrubs and her dark hair back in a pony tail. "Where am I?" I whisper.

She takes my hand. "You're in the hospital, Anna."

"Hospital?" I say confused.

"Yes." She says kindly. "You almost died because of your injuries but we were able to save you.

"We? Who are you? What is this place? Where's Laura?" I try to sit up but a terrible pain shoots through my body.

"Easy." She says firmly as she gently pushes my shoulder down. "You're still healing."

"Where am I?" I ask again more frantic.

"You're in the hospital-"

"I know I'm in the hospital but where?" I snap.

She looks hesitant but then replies. "You're in Eden, Anna."

"Eden?" I repeat in disbelief. "Eden is real?"

"Yes." She shakes her head excitedly but then sees my skepticism. "You died on the field but we were able to bring you back."

It takes me a minute to comprehend what I'm hearing. "Eden is real..." I breathe. "I was with people. Children. Are they okay?"

Her eyes tear up but she smiles. "Yes. They're doing wonderful." She sits down on the bed and takes my hand. "I couldn't believe it when they showed up. That they had made it. As you know, we got separated when we all escaped. I had very little hope that they would make it but here they are. Because of you."

I swallow hard. "Eden is real..." I repeat. I shake my head becoming skeptical again. "I want proof-" I try to sit up but that's when the pain became stronger. I cry out, feeling the breath knocked out of me. "Why did you let me live?" I gasp as the woman starts to work again on me to get my pain under control.

"Anna?" A small familiar voice fills the room. I force my eyes open to see Laura with tear filled eyes. She has two people, the ones I saw earlier, on each side of her.

"Laura..."

Laura quickly runs to my side and hugs me, earning a pained gasp from me that took me off guard. But I return her hug and hold her close. "Are you okay? Are you hurt? Where are the others?" A flood of questions leave my mouth but she hugs me tighter.

"We're okay." She replies shortly and I hear no fear or clues in her voice so I continue to hold her.

My eyes cut to the man and woman in the doorway. Mariana and Damon, I think was there names. Mariana offers a warm smile, tears threatening her eyes. Damon remains stiff, a guard kept up, but at ease. "Where are the others?" I ask.

"Some are resting. A few are being treated for injuries. Rictor, for example, was shot and had to have surgery but he's alright. All of them made it though and will be okay." She assures me. I look at Laura and she nods her head, confirming their claim.

"Eden is real...Eden is real..." I whisper over and over trying to wrap my head around it. Everyone exchanges worried looks in the room but I ignore it and make eye contact with Mariana. "Do you run this place?" I ask Mariana.

She nods. "Myself and a few others, yes." She comes closer and sits on the end of my bed. "You must have a lot of questions."

I shrug and give her a tired look. "Just one."

I look her dead in the eye and ask the burning question I've had since I woke up.

"Where's your nearest bar?"