At last, X opens her eyes.

They are still consumed by red.

Except --

"Elle."

X's voice is quiet, and strained at the edges.

"I did. I do."

Her hands are trembling from her efforts to keep them still.

"But I cannot -- "

The wind shifts again, and X stops speaking abruptly, body going tense as she resumes the struggle to stay so very still.

It might be the closest she gets to victory for quite some time.