v.
The room was heavy with silence, the weight of recent events pressing down on everyone. Cecily sat quietly in her chair, her gaze distant, while Storm perched on the armrest beside her, a steady presence offering unspoken support.
“So, what now? What do we do?” Bobby finally asked, his voice carrying the uncertainty that everyone felt.
Hank let out a deep, weary sigh. “Professor Xavier started this school. Perhaps it’s best that it ends with him,” he said, his tone filled with resignation. “We’ll have to tell the students they’re going home.”
“Most of us don’t have anywhere to go,” Bobby replied, disbelief and frustration evident in his voice. “I can’t believe this. I can’t believe we’re not going to fight for this school.”
Cecily’s attention shifted as she heard the door open, watching as someone new entered the room. “I’m sorry. I know this is a bad time. I was told that this was a safe place for mutants,” the boy said.
“It was, son,” Hank replied.
But Storm stood, her resolve hardening. “And it still is. We’ll find you a room,” she said firmly. Then, turning to Hank, she added, “Tell all the students the school stays open.”
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
"Where are you going?" Storm asked, stepping into Logan's room and seeing him packing.
"Where do you think?" he replied, not even glancing up.
"She's gone, Logan. She's not coming back," Storm said softly, trying to reach him.
"You don’t know that," he shot back, his voice tense.
"She killed the Professor," Storm reminded him, her tone heavy with sorrow.
"It wasn’t Jean. The Jean I know is still in there," Logan insisted, a stubborn edge in his voice.
"Listen—" Storm began, trying to stop him, but he cut her off.
"Get out of my way," he said, brushing past her.
"Why can't you see the truth, huh? Why can't you just let her go?" Storm pleaded, desperation creeping into her voice.
"Because—" Logan started, his voice faltering. "Because—"
"Because you love her," Storm finished for him, her eyes searching his.
Logan paused, then shook his head. "No. I care about her, but I'm doing this for her," he said, his gaze shifting behind Storm.
Storm turned to see Cecily crouched down, comforting a young child. The small smile on Cecily's face contrasted with the tear she wiped from the child’s cheek. She pulled the kid into a gentle hug, patting their head as they nestled into her embrace.
Storm looked back at Logan. "Jean made her choice. Now it's time we make ours. So if you're with us, then be with us," she said firmly before walking out of the room.
Cecily watched out the window as the motorcycle sped away, the sound of the engine fading into the distance. He always left without saying goodbye.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
The front door burst open, and Logan stormed in, his face filled with urgency. "Cecily? Storm?" he called out, his voice echoing through the hall.
Storm descended the stairs, Cecily close behind her. "What are you doing back here?" Storm asked, concern etched in her features.
"I need help," Logan replied, his tone clipped.
"You found her," Storm said, reading the urgency in his eyes.
"Yeah," Logan confirmed. "She's with Magneto."
"Where are they?" Storm pressed.
"They're on the move," Logan answered, his voice strained. "I know where they're going."
"You’re saying you saw Magneto?" Hank asked, stepping into the room.
"Yeah," Logan said, already moving towards the door. "We’ve got to go now. They’re headed to Alcatraz."
"There are troops stationed on that island," Hank noted, his brow furrowed.
"Not enough to stop him," Logan countered, his determination palpable.
"Let’s suit up," Storm commanded, her voice firm as she led the charge.
"I can't believe this once fit me," Hank muttered, tugging at the snug seams of his old suit.
"If Magneto gets his hands on that cure, there’ll be no stopping him," Logan said, his voice tight with urgency.
"Can you estimate how many he has?" Hank asked.
"An army. And Jean," Logan replied grimly.
"And his powers have limits," Hank noted, "Hers do not."
Bobby looked around at the small group, anxiety in his voice. "There’s only seven of us, Logan."
Cecily stood silently by Storm, her fingers nervously picking at her skin. If anyone asked, she wouldn’t be able to deny just how terrified she was.
"Yeah, we're outnumbered," Logan admitted, walking over to Bobby. "But we lost Scott. We lost the Professor. If we don’t fight now, everything they stood for will die with them. I’m not gonna let that happen." He looked Bobby straight in the eyes. "Are you?"
Bobby shook his head, determination settling in. "Then we stand together, X-Men. All of us."
Logan turned, his gaze sweeping over the group. Bobby exchanged a look with Kitty and nodded. "We’re in," he confirmed.
"Let’s go," Logan said as the doors to the hangar opened, and everyone started heading toward the jet.
"They’re ready," Logan remarked to Storm as she passed.
"Yeah, I know," Storm replied, her voice serious. "But are you ready to do what needs to be done when the time comes?" She didn’t wait for his answer, turning to board the jet.
Cecily lingered behind for a moment, her fear evident. Logan turned back to her. "Are you ready?" he asked gently.
She shook her head, a dry laugh escaping her. "No."
Logan walked over, placing a reassuring arm around her shoulders. "We’ll be fine," he promised.
Cecily nodded, managing a small smile. Together, they walked into the hangar, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
The jet ride was quiet, each person lost in their own thoughts, the weight of what lay ahead heavy on their minds. As they neared their destination, the chaos on the ground became visible. Cecily leaned forward, her eyes widening at the scene unfolding below.
“Oh, my stars and garters,” Hank muttered in disbelief, causing Cecily to shoot him a confused look.
“Goin’ to stealth mode,” Storm announced, her voice steady.
As the jet descended, Cecily watched as the others landed with practiced ease, each in their own precise, calculated way. For a moment, she hesitated, wondering if she had missed some crucial part of the briefing on how to land gracefully.
Logan’s voice snapped her back to reality. “You men, cover the doors!” he shouted as he ran past the soldiers. “Everybody, get together! And hold this line!”
They all formed a line, bracing themselves for the imminent battle. Cecily could feel the nerves coursing through her, but she steeled herself. She knew what she had to do. She had to get to Jean first.
As the battle erupted around them, chaos reigned on all sides. The air was filled with the sounds of clashing metal, energy blasts, and the shouts of combatants. Cecily kept her focus, moving swiftly through the melee, her mind set on reaching Jean before it was too late.
She fought with fierce determination, using her abilities to neutralize every enemy that crossed her path. The knives she kept concealed in her suit became extensions of her will, striking with precision and deadly efficiency. Each movement was calculated, every attack purposeful, as she navigated the chaos around her, a whirlwind of power and steel.
Cecily's frustration grew with each new opponent she encountered. Every obstacle was an unwelcome distraction from her true objective. Her focus was razor-sharp, and every interruption only fueled her irritation. She had one mission, one target in mind, and none of these adversaries were it. The more they came at her, the more relentless she became, cutting through them with increasing impatience, her resolve hardening with each step closer to her goal.
Suddenly, an explosion rocked the area, and the watchtower was hit. "Take cover!" Logan yelled as debris rained down. Cecily ducked behind a pile of rubble, her heart racing as she watched flaming cars being hurled toward them. She quickly made her way to where the others were hiding behind a car with Hank.
Their eyes all flickered to a small object on the ground—it was "the cure." They exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them. "We work as a team," Logan said firmly.
"The best defense is a good offense," Storm added, her voice steady.
"Bobby! Think you can handle your old friend?" Logan asked, his gaze locking onto Bobby's.
Bobby nodded resolutely and sprinted off toward his target.
"Storm, we're going to need some cover," Logan called out.
"Right," she replied, her eyes clouding over as she summoned a thick fog that began to form around them, masking their movements.
Cecily wasn't far behind as she watched Hank strike Magneto with the cure. Her attention wasn't on him, though; if Magneto was down, he was no longer her concern. Her focus was entirely on Jean. She moved forward slowly but steadily, trying to reach her.
"It's over, Jean," Cecily said, attempting to break through the chaos in Jean's mind. She inched closer, her voice soft and persistent. "It's over. Come home, Jean."
To her surprise, Cecily managed to penetrate Jean's mind, and what she found was a maelstrom of darkness and pain, even worse than her own. "I’m not giving up on you, Jean," she whispered, her resolve strengthening. "We grew up together, you and me."
Now face to face with Jean, Cecily slowly reached up, discreetly pulling the last knife from her sleeve. She managed to draw it out unnoticed, but just as she was about to act, soldiers appeared over the pile of rubble.
"No! Don’t shoot!" Logan yelled out, but it was too late. The soldiers fired, and Jean's powers flared in response, stopping the bullets mid-air. The sudden shock caused Cecily to jolt, and she dropped the knife, revealing her intentions. The blade fell between them.
In an instant, both of them used their telekinesis to seize control of the knife, each trying to turn it on the other. They stared each other down—hero against villain, friend against friend, sister against sister. As powerful as Cecily was, she struggled, but Jean's Phoenix Force was overwhelming. Jean overpowered her, and Cecily felt the blade plunge into her chest, striking her heart.
In the aftermath, Jean's powers flared again, and she hurled Cecily backward, sending her crashing onto the ground below.
Cecily was slipping in and out of consciousness, barely able to register the chaos around her. The world blurred as waves of pain coursed through her body, making it nearly impossible to focus on anything else.
Through the haze, she heard Logan’s voice, desperate and raw. “Jean, I know you’re still in there!” he shouted, his voice cutting through the noise. He fought to get closer to her, but Jean’s abilities kept pushing him back. Still, he pushed forward, determined to reach her, until finally, he stood face to face with her.
“You would die for them?” Jean asked, her voice a mix of power and vulnerability.
“No. Not for them. For her,” Logan replied, his voice firm but filled with emotion. “For her,” he repeated, his eyes locked on Jean’s.
Jean’s face softened for a moment, and the fierce Phoenix Force receded as her humanity surfaced. Pain filled her eyes, and she whispered, “Save me.”
Logan’s heart broke at her plea. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, the words heavy with sorrow. With a final, anguished decision, he unsheathed his claws and struck, piercing her stomach. As she fell, a small, peaceful smile touched Jean’s lips, as if she had finally found the release she sought.
Logan gently lowered Jean to the ground, the weight of what he had done still heavy on his heart. But there was no time to dwell—he quickly turned and rushed over to where Cecily lay, her life slipping away with each passing moment.
He knelt beside her, cradling her fragile body in his arms, holding her head gently. Her eyes fluttered open, half-lidded and filled with pain. “Logan?” she whispered, her voice weak and strained.
“I’m here,” he assured her, his voice thick with emotion. “It’s okay, I’m here.”
“I—” Cecily tried to speak, but her words were cut off by a pained gasp. “I can’t catch my breath,” she whispered, a small, broken laugh escaping her lips.
“You’re gonna be fine,” Logan insisted, his voice cracking as he tried to reassure her, even though he knew the truth.
“No,” she breathed, her voice barely audible. “My body won’t heal fast enough.”
“Shh,” Logan soothed, trying to save her strength, but Cecily continued, her voice growing fainter.
“I never realized… my vision, it was talking about you,” she said, her words coming out in soft gasps. “He’s yet to see victory.” The phrase that had haunted her for months finally made sense, as she understood it was referring to this very moment.
Her breathing grew more labored, each breath shallower than the last. “I love you,” Logan said, his voice breaking as tears welled in his eyes.
Cecily looked up at him, a faint smile forming on her lips. “I love you,” she managed to whisper. And then, before anything else could be said, her breathing stopped.
She was gone.
“No!” Logan cried out, his voice filled with anguish as he held her lifeless body close. He stroked her hair back gently, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. He loved her—he would always love her. That would never change.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
If you looked out a window at the X-Mansion and gazed into the backyard, you'd see four graves lined closely together. The headstones marked the final resting places of Jean Grey, Scott Summers, Cecily Hill, and Charles Xavier. Four of the original X-Men reduced to memories and stone.
If you walked into Cecily’s room, you'd see a bed perfectly made, left just as she liked it. The vanity would be a chaotic mess, but the dressers tell a different story. They are adorned with pictures of Cecily with those she loved and who loved her in return. By the time you left the room, you'd understand that Cecily Hill lived her life exactly as she wanted to.