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Scott drove up to the lake, his motercycle's tires crunching on the gravel as he came to a sudden stop. He stepped out, his heart pounding in his chest, his thoughts clouded by the haunting whispers that had been tormenting him ever since Jean's sacrifice. The lake stretched out before him, a dark, still expanse of water reflecting the twilight sky.

As Scott walked toward the edge of the lake, his gaze fixed on the ground, the world around him seemed to fall away. The air was heavy with an unsettling silence, broken only by the gentle lapping of the water against the shore. He felt a strange, magnetic pull drawing him closer to the water's edge.

"Scott..."

The voice was soft, ethereal, and unmistakable. It cut through the silence like a blade, sending a shiver down his spine. He froze, his breath catching in his throat. It was Jean's voice, but it was distant, almost dreamlike.

"Scott, it's me," the voice continued, growing clearer and more urgent. "Come to me. I need you. Please..."

Scott's heart ached as he looked up, his eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of her. His vision blurred, tears welling in his eyes. He could almost see her—Jean, standing just beyond the edge of the water, her face a blur of emotion.

"Jean..." he whispered, his voice trembling. "Jean, where are you?"

The voice was closer now, filled with a pleading desperation. "Scott, come to me. Let me take away your pain. I'm waiting for you. You don't have to be alone."

Scott took a hesitant step forward, his legs feeling like lead. The pull was irresistible, and he felt himself moving closer to the water. His mind was in turmoil, struggling to reconcile the voice he heard with the reality of what had happened.

"No... this can't be real," he murmured to himself. "Jean is gone. You're not real."

The voice persisted, soothing and seductive. "Scott, don't fight it. I'm here for you. I love you. Come to me, and we can be together forever."

As Scott neared the edge of the lake, he stopped and closed his eyes, trying to fight the overwhelming pull. The memories of Jean's sacrifice flooded his mind, mixing with the haunting echoes of her voice. His heart was torn between the hope of seeing her again and the fear of falling into a trap.

He stood at the water's edge, the dark, still lake before him. The voice continued to call to him, a painful reminder of the loss that he was struggling to accept.

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LOGAN

The air in the mansion grew unnervingly still, as if time itself had slowed to a crawl. Suddenly, the Professor's voice echoed through the halls, filled with urgency.

"Scott. Scott. Scott. Scott."

Logan sprang from his seat, his heart racing as he tore down the stairs. He collided with Storm, who was just as frantic, both heading straight for the Professor's office.

"What happened?" Storm called out, her voice edged with panic.

"No clue!" Logan responded, his breath catching as they reached the door.

They burst into the office with a force that matched their fear. "Professor, are you okay?" Logan asked, his breath coming in short, sharp bursts.

The Professor's gaze was distant, his voice calm but filled with a sense of foreboding. "Get to Alkali Lake."

Logan didn't waste another second. He bolted out of the room, with Storm following close behind. The urgency in the professor's voice had ignited a fire within them both. They knew they couldn't waste any time.

As they raced through the mansion, Logan's thoughts were consumed by worry for Scott and for Rory, who was likely already heading to the lake. He couldn't shake the feeling that whatever awaited them at Alkali Lake was something far worse than any of them were prepared for.

Reaching the garage, Logan threw open the door to the jet, his mind already focused on the mission ahead. Storm followed, quickly taking her position to pilot the jet. They knew the way to Alkali Lake all too well.

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As Rory approached Alkali Lake, her heart pounded in her chest, the chilling air biting at her skin. She spotted Scott's motorcycle abandoned near the edge of the lake, its presence confirming her worst fears. Without hesitation, she sprinted through the thick brush, her breaths coming in quick, shallow gasps.

When she emerged from the trees, she froze at the sight before her. Scott stood in the middle of the clearing, his body trembling, his face contorted in pain. Phoenix, or what used to be Jean, stood before him, her hands on his forehead, her eyes glowing with a malevolent energy as she drained the life from him.

"Scott!" Rory screamed, but her voice was lost in the wind. Without thinking, she called upon her powers, warping reality around her. The trees twisted, the ground beneath her feet rippled, and the sky above darkened as she channeled all her energy into breaking Phoenix's hold on Scott.

Phoenix turned to face Rory, her gaze piercing through the altered reality. "You think you can stop me?" she hissed, her voice laced with dark power.

Rory didn't answer. Instead, she focused on Scott, his form beginning to waver, his strength slipping away. She knew she had to act quickly. With a burst of energy, she manipulated the very fabric of reality, creating a powerful force field around Scott, pushing Phoenix back.

Phoenix stumbled, her connection to Scott momentarily broken. But she recovered quickly, her eyes narrowing in anger. "You dare challenge me?" she snarled, her power surging as she retaliated. The ground beneath them shook violently, and the air crackled with dark energy as the two forces collided.

Rory stood her ground, her mind racing as she tried to keep up with the raw power Phoenix wielded. She bent reality again, sending waves of energy crashing into Phoenix, trying to push her back, to protect Scott. But Phoenix was relentless, her power overwhelming, and with a flick of her hand, she shattered Rory's illusions, breaking through her defenses.

The force of the blow sent Rory staggering back, but she quickly regained her footing. She couldn't give up—not when Scott's life was at stake. Gathering all her strength, she created a new reality, one where Phoenix's powers were diminished, where she was just Jean again. The world around them shifted, and for a brief moment, it seemed to work—Phoenix's eyes flickered, her grip on Scott loosened.

But Phoenix's power was too great. She screamed in rage, shattering Rory's illusion with a single thought, her power flaring uncontrollably. Rory felt the backlash hit her like a physical blow, knocking the wind out of her. But she refused to back down.

With one final surge of energy, Rory threw everything she had at Phoenix, warping reality to its breaking point. The two forces clashed violently, the air around them distorting with the sheer power of their abilities. But Phoenix was relentless, her power growing with every second, until finally, with a cry of triumph, she broke through Rory's defenses, sending her crashing to the ground.

Rory struggled to rise, her vision swimming as she fought to stay conscious. She could feel Scott's life slipping away, feel Phoenix's dark power suffocating her. But she wouldn't give up. She couldn't.

With one last desperate effort, she reached out, her powers flaring one final time. She didn't try to warp reality this time—she simply focused on Scott, on the love she had for him, on the connection they shared. She poured all of her energy into that connection, trying to reach him, to pull him back from the brink.

And for a moment, it worked. Scott's eyes fluttered open, his gaze meeting Rory's. But the moment was fleeting. Phoenix's power surged again, and this time, it was too much. The world around Rory went dark, and she felt herself slipping away, her last thought of Scott as everything faded to black.

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