CHAPTER 202 – THE LOST YEARS
Logan laid Illyana gently on her bed. She looked like she was just sleeping—except she wasn't the same girl who had chased butterflies that morning. Her hair was longer, face sharper. Seven years stolen in the blink of an eye.
Logan straightened, jaw tight. His knuckles itched to punch a wall.
He growled, "Damn it. How the hell am I supposed to tell Peter this?"
He lit a cigar right there by the nightstand, smoke curling over her like a shroud. The scent wasn't for her—it was for him. A moment to collect. He exhaled hard, then called the others.
Storm arrived first, elegant but tense, cape brushing the doorframe. Nightcrawler bamfed in after, the smell of brimstone clashing with Logan's cigar. Kitty crept in behind them, still wide-eyed from the night's chaos. And last came Colossus.
Peter stopped cold. His huge frame shook. He stared at the bed, at the girl. His mouth opened, then closed again.
Logan flicked ash into an empty mug. "Alright. I'll say it straight. I found the kid. But she didn't come back the way she left."
Kitty whispered, "She looks… older."
Nightcrawler tilted his head, tail flicking. "Ja. At least six, seven years older. Mein Gott…"
Colossus stepped forward, eyes locked on Illyana. "How?" His voice cracked like steel under strain. "She was child. She is… woman."
Logan took a drag, let the smoke curl between them. "Limbo. That place eats time like candy. I tracked her soul-scent. Fought through demons. Found her, but she wasn't a kid anymore. She lived years there. Seven of 'em. Alone."
Storm's hand lifted to her mouth. "Seven years in that nightmare… for a child?"
Logan's eyes narrowed. "Not just any nightmare. Belasco. The bastard had her. He meant to mold her, same way he tried with… with another Storm. Not ours. An older one. From some broken path of time."
Colossus' fists clenched. "Belasco…" His voice was a rumble of thunder. "He stole her childhood. He took everything."
Logan finally stubbed his cigar out against his boot heel. He stepped closer to Peter, looking up at the big man's tortured face. "Listen, bub. I ain't got the words to make this easier. But your sister's alive. That's what matters. You hear me? Alive. And she's gonna need you more than ever."
Colossus turned his face away. A single tear traced his cheek, catching the light. "Her laughter… her innocence… gone."
Nobody spoke. The silence was heavy.
Then a small sound broke it. A sniffle.
Illyana stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, tears already spilling down her cheeks. She saw Peter—and everything broke.
She threw herself into his arms, sobbing. "Peter! Brother! I didn't think… I thought… I'd never see you again!"
Peter froze for a heartbeat. Then his arms closed around her, massive and trembling. He held her like she was still that little girl, even though she wasn't.
"My snowflake… do not cry. I am here. I will always be here."
She buried her face in his chest, voice muffled but desperate. "Seven years. Seven years in that red place. Alone. I… I survived, Peter, but I thought I was forgotten."
Peter shook his head fiercely. "Never. Never forgotten. Every day, I thought of you. Every day, I prayed you were safe."
The others slowly backed out, giving the siblings their space. Storm brushed Kitty's shoulder gently. "Come. This is their moment."
Kitty nodded, eyes wide and wet. Nightcrawler lingered a moment longer, looking back at the pair, before bamfing silently away.
Logan was last to leave. He leaned in the doorway, watching Peter stroke Illyana's hair while she clung to him like a lifeline. His throat felt tight, though he'd never admit it.
'Kid lost her childhood. Peter lost seven years of her life. Nothin' I can do'll give that back. All I could do was drag her out of hell. And sometimes, bub… sometimes that's all you can do.'
He flicked the pendant once, feeling its weight in his pocket. Then he shut the door quietly behind him.