Not the Allies Expected(Zoltin, open)

[Rose North]

Rose had to get somewhere where neither Cain could find her... She had to keep moving, get as far away from any place where either of him would expect to find her. Stupid Future Cain. He scared the hell out of her, but not for reasons people might think. He'd done something to her...

Ever since Japan that pounding in her head became a constant companion. Sometimes it was barely even noticeable, just like a dull headache. Other times, like when her emotions weren't under reign, the pounding grew to the point of drowning everything out. During those times... It was like she was a kid again, her power acting on it's own. Soon, she was seeing things that weren't there. She had nightmares every single night. Sometimes, her whole body would feel like it was on fire, but after a few minutes it would vanish...

Over all, Rose was having to deal with way to much, and all because some madman injected her with something...

With some work, she managed to reach Canada. She had to get up to Alaska though. The Brotherhood was the closest group that was part of the mutant alliance. She had to warn them... The more time that past though, the worst things got.

Staying off the main roads, she leaned up against a tree, her breath heavy. Every time her heartbeat it felt like a hammer was being slammed into her skull. Each breath she took tasted like poison. Her limbs felt like lead, skin as white as sheets. Shapes that weren't real were splotching her vision. Slowly she sank to the drop, huddling there.

"You're never going to make it in time." It was Cain's voice... Mocking her. "Everything will fall and it will be all your fault." Of course he wouldn't say it like that, but this was all her crazy imagination after all. She had to have someone mocking and taunting her... And her subconscious hated and feared only one person above all else.

".... I won't fail..." She whispered. Encouraging these delusions wasn't the best idea, but she couldn't stop it. Every time she heard that grating voice she just wanted to tear him apart.

Suddenly, she heard something off in the distance. At first, she was sure it was just these hallucinations messing with her again. After all, who in there right mind would be way out here? Still, it made her wary. Gasping, she struggled back to her feet, using the tree as a support. It sounded like... footsteps? "Who's there? Show yourself." She tried to sound serious and dangerous, but.. Well when you looked sick enough that you couldn't even see straight it sort of ruined your whole intimidation act... After all, she could barely support her own weight, having to lean up to a tree to stay standing!

[zoltin]

Zoltin let out a sigh as he walked along one of the back paths to the runaway’s hideout. It had taken him longer then expected to go into town and get a new book. It had been close to dusk by the time he was finished and it would still take him a couple of hours for him to get home. He could just see the look on Wicked’s face when he finally got home. She would just laugh her head off and then proceed to tell him it was his fault for deciding to walk instead of taking one of the many vehicles that the Runaways owned.

Zoltin had wanted to walk though. It was often peaceful in this part of Canada since no one lived out here, the runaways’ base still a few miles off. Peace, now there was something that couldn’t be used to describe most of the runaways, though that was hardly surprising with a leader like Wicked. Zoltin shook his head out of his thoughts and continued up the path. It would be dark soon and he still had at least another half an hour before he was in the boundaries of it, and it would be dark soon.

It was when he was checking the binding of his bag to make sure it wasn’t breaking when he noticed the footprints. Someone was out here. Part of him was telling him to just continue on, he was late as it was, but Zoltin turned and detoured to where the footprints lead off too.

"Who's there? Show yourself." Someone called out to him as he got closer to where the footprints ended. They sounded defense and when Zoltin saw a figure in the trees he just stood there and folded his arms while speaking to the girl in a calm voice. “I was not trying to hide.” He took this time to study the young girl in front of him. She couldn’t be much younger then himself, but the first thing you noticed was that she was deathly pale, leaning against the tree for support. Her breath was coming out in short gasps. Concern entered Zoltins voice and eyes when he spoke to her next. “Are you alright? What happened to you?”

[Rose North]

It was a stranger… This couldn’t be a hallucination. Before now, all the illusions she’d seen were of people she knew in some way. So why would it make her see some complete stranger now?

Rose watched him cautiously, her eyes half narrowed. Who was this? Why were they here? And what was his motives? Had he thought she’d be an easy target before she wasn’t herself at the moment? He didn’t look like he had malicious intents… But her venture to the future… She’d learned it wasn’t that easy to trust people from her own time. After all, no one knew who was or wasn’t on Cain’s side… Not with his brainwashing…

But that was… genuine concern in his voice. Was he really concerned? Could this just be a random stranger that had just happened across her? It was possible… Even though the chances were rather slim.

“You… Who are you?” Crap, the pounding was getting worse. Rose flinched, a hand shooting up to hold her head as her breath grew even shallower. The episodes were getting worse, and far more often… Would the same thing happen to her that happened to Jason? No… She wouldn’t let that happen. Whoever this was… She just might need his help. If things continued like this, she wouldn’t last long…

What happened to you?

Rose tried to smile a little. A lot had happened to her… But she didn’t know if she could trust this stranger yet. Were they human or mutant? If they were mutant, who were they with? Those Runaways were in Canada, there was a chance that if he was mutant, he could be one of them… If he was one of them, she could beg them for their help. “Who are you with? Who do you follow?”

A sharp pain shot through her head, blinding her. Flinching even worse then before, she leaned against the tree a little heavier. How much longer did she have before things became unbearable? How long before it overwhelmed her. She'd have to rely on this stranger if she planned on making it out of this. "You... I need your help... Please... Not much time..."