Siren Song

Part Four

“Suspicions”

By Helen J. Lake

Shelton sighed and glared at the IV tube. The needle was in the back of his left hand and as he spoke, he gestured with his hands, causing the needle to pull and him to wince. I fought the urge to smirk at him, or offer to tie his arm to the bed.

“As soon as they let me out of here, the three of us will go to the apartment and see what is there,” he announced. “If anything was taken, or moved or…”

“Or added,” I concluded. “Maybe they were just trying to hide cameras.”

“Wouldn’t do them any good,” Logan replied. “That entire apartment is full of signal blockers—anything that’s not on the list of allowed things gets scrambled.”

“Professor Xavier really likes his gadgets, huh?” Shelton asked, grinning slightly.

There was a silence for a few beats. The three of us were in one small private room—a luxury given to the detective.

“Okay, fine,” I sighed. “I’ll be the first to say it. We all know that what the fireman said could only mean one thing: a mutant is after us. Maybe they’re not the ringleader, but they’re somehow involved. How else could the pilot light be out and the gas turned up without anything being touched?”

Logan grunted. “She’s right, you know. There’s just no other way.”

Shelton closed his eyes wearily. “I know…I just didn’t want to think about it. I seem to have a different worldview than the rest of the world. Instead of thinking that most mutants are evil, with a few good…I think most mutants are good, and just some are bad.” He opened one eye to peer at Logan. “And some of them are in the middle ground.”

“Charles is looking into the mutant angle,” I said, crossing my arms and refusing to allow my body to collapse into the nearby chair. “Nothing up till now has said that a telekinetic is involved.”

“ANNIE!!!”

I froze, hearing that horrible cry for help from Brad once more.

“Oh,” I breathed. “Oh no…it’s more than that. Someone who is telekinetic can also be telepathic—it’s almost a guarantee that they’ll have some of both.” The men looked at each other in confusion. “Remember, I can’t receive thoughts the way Charles can. I can only send them.”

I was rambling as the thoughts occurred to me, not caring if they were listening as I worked it out. “I guess I thought the pure panic of that moment in Brad’s life is what allowed him to contact me, even if he didn’t know I was telepathic at all. But what if this person, this evil mutant, made sure I would know exactly what was happening. What if when I saw the scene as Brad, and then from above him, what if that was the point of view of this person…?”

I stopped, feeling the fright squeezing my heart. Gulping loudly, I focused and looked up at my companions.

“You’re forgetting the big question,” Shelton said slowly. “Before, we concluded that they—whoever ‘they’ are—were after you because you’re a mutant. Why would a mutant be after another mutant, for being a mutant?”

Logan looked haunted. “Trust me,” he said. “There are some mutants out there who would hurt other mutants if they got in their way…”

“Who’s way could I have gotten in?”

We all jumped as someone knocked on the door. Logan was closest, but he didn’t look worried as he turned.

“Here come the reinforcements,” he muttered, opening the door.

Scott and Ororo walked in. I had never been so happy to see them.

“Ororo, One-Eye,” Logan said in greeting. I smirked.

“Hello, Logan,” Ororo said warmly, smiling.

“Annie,” Scott said, rushing to hug me.

“Hi, Scott,” I replied, being smothered into his shoulder. I pushed him away gently and he looked me up and down, as if checking for wounds. Shaking my head at his worry, I hugged Ororo tightly.

“Everyone,” I said, turning the attention to the guy in the bed. “You remember Detective Shelton.”

“Of course, Detective,” Ororo said diplomatically.

Scott nodded at him. “Okay, let’s go over what’s happened.”

We were kicked out of the room an hour later, but we’d caught Scott and Ororo up on everything by then. Promising he’d call as soon as he was out, Shelton began to grill the nurse about his family’s condition as we left.

“Well, I suppose we should go see the apartment,” Scott said.

“Yeah, but let’s not walk,” I said wearily.

Ororo gave me a strange look. “We brought a car,” she said.

“Thank God,” I replied. “I’m about to drop as it is!”

I dozed in the backseat as we made our way to the apartment. Scott had been there before, it seemed. I wondered about that—he’d been so close to me and never once tried to contact me. Of course, he’d been upset with me all of this time…

“Here we go,” Scott said, pulling into the underground parking garage. He pulled into the spot that corresponded with our apartment number and we climbed out.

Moments later, all four of us stood slightly inside the apartment’s door, looking around analytically. Nothing was too different, but there was a foreboding sense of something being not right.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Ororo said, echoing my thoughts. She reached into her large purse/bag, withdrawing a small device. She pulled it at both ends causing a screen to light up. Moving it back and forth slowly, it beeped at her. “No explosives,” she stated, watching the screen. “Nothing that shouldn’t be here…at least nothing is reading that way.”

Logan sniffed the air, trusting his own instincts more than the scanner. “One guy…I think he just looked through things.”

“He was after the diary, I’m sure,” I concluded.

“Diary?” Ororo asked.

Scott gave me a strange smile. “You still have that thing?”

I shrugged. “It has all of the memories of my time at the school…”

“Yeah yeah, it’s touching and stuff,” Logan grumbled. “I’ll check the kitchen.”

“Make sure they didn’t steal your beer!” I called after him. His left hand flipped up, one finger extended menacingly. I chuckled.

“Let’s spread out,” Scott suggested. “I’ll check upstairs.”

“We’ll look around down here,” Ororo agreed.

As Scott went up the stairs, Ororo walked around the dining area, aiming the scanner at everything. I watched her for a moment, then turned to look at the living room. Something was off…

“Ah,” I said softly. “Here’s our first clue…this couch cushion is turned wrong.”

Ororo appeared at my side with a digital camera. She took a few pictures of the couch and the askew cushion. Logan came out and glared at the bookcases nearby.

“No bombs in there, right?” I teased.

“No.” She smirked, then peered at me closely. “Didn’t you get any sleep at all last night?”

I shrugged. “Nightmares.”

Scott was coming down the stairs. “Is that all it was?” he asked, looking peeved.

“Did you find something?” I asked.

“You bet I did,” Scott said in a menacing tone. He stalked over to Logan, who was immediately on guard. The two men stared at each other. “I found,” Scott practically spat. “A bed that two people were sleeping in.”

Logan braced himself, as if he expected a physical attack. I decided to interfere without realizing it.

“That’s enough!” I yelled. Scott moved back roughly, nearly tripping as his feet didn’t quite touch the ground. His face turned to gape at me.

“Getting better at that,” Logan mused.

I ignored him. “Scott Summers, you will cease and desist with the protective bit. I’m a full grown woman, with a mind of my own and the right to do as I please.” I bore down on him, putting my hands on my hips. “You do not have the right to jump to my defense where it’s not needed. Now, before you decide that Logan and I were sleeping together, let me tell you that, yes, we were. Sleeping. Period.”

With the last word, I released the hold I had on him. Scott stumbled back a step, staring at me in astonishment. Ororo was silent, watching from the side. Logan seemed unimpressed as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“I—I’m sorry, Annie,” Scott said. “I…I don’t know what came over me.”

“Yes, you do,” I argued softly. “But we can talk about it another time. We have work to do.”

The mood was tense as we all began to compare notes. Logan was able to tell us that the guy had been in every room, and had even gone out onto the balcony. Our unexpected disappearance must have played havoc with the prowler. I felt a strange sense of victory about that.

I was in dire need of sleep, but I didn’t say anything. I sat on the chair in the living room, trying to keep my attention on the others as they spoke. Despite my best efforts, I dozed off.

“She’s smart, she’ll know!” Brad was yelling. He was tied up in a simple chair, his arms bound behind him.

My heart ached at the sight, and the sound of his voice…but I realized that I didn’t have a heart—I was not really there.

A dark figure stood over him. “Can I hit him again?” he asked the third person.

From the shadows, a grin could be seen. “No…it’s not necessary right now. She’s with us.”

I felt myself moving lower until I was closer to the group.

“What do you mean?!” Brad demanded. He peered around, as if hoping to see someone else.

“I mean, Mr. Lankin,” the mysterious unseen man oozed. “That I have brought her mind to us. She is witnessing all of this, though she will find that she cannot interfere, nor can she withdraw. Until I release her, she will remain with us.”

“Annie! Annie, love, wake up!” Brad screamed.

Brad, oh Brad…you’re alive!! I tried to say, realizing that this was happening in real-time.

“She’s trying to say hello, Mr. Lankin,” Grinning-Man declared. “But as I said, she cannot. Poor Annie. Does it hurt worse knowing that he’s alive?”

God…

“No, no…calling upon a deity won’t help. You should know better.”

I know you. Who are you?

“If you haven’t figured that out yet, it isn’t my fault.”

“Annie, don’t listen to him! He’s evil!”

There was an unspoken order and the Dark Thug smashed his fist against Brad’s jaw. His head hung heavily, unconscious.

No!

“Your fiancé should learn to be silent when I am speaking to a lady.”

Please…why are you doing this? What did I do to you?

“So…you admit that it’s you that’s done something. You are sure I am after you, aren’t you?” He laughed harshly. “Poor, stupid Annie. Maybe there is a much bigger fish I am after.”

No. I don’t believe that. It’s me. For some reason, it’s me.

Brad grunted and lifted his head. “Annie?” he whispered.

Brad! I sobbed. Sir, whatever I’ve done…I’m sorry…just let him go. Take me instead.

“Oh how noble of you, Annie!” He leered from the darkness. “I shall tell you something, Annie. I knew you once, and you were cruel to me. I reached out to you, and you swatted me away like a pest.” The grin became a grimace. “The sad thing is that once you wake up, you won’t remember a thing I tell you.”

Anger filled me and I mentally lunged for him. He jerked back in surprise and I felt his hold on me falter.

Release me! I demanded. Or so help me…

“Annie!” Ororo cried over me. She glanced up. “She’s coming around!”

Scott took my hand in his. “Annie?”

Logan stood slightly farther away, but looked concerned. Feeling strangely like Dorothy after her trip to Oz, I sat up and shook my head. There was something important I needed to say…

“Brad!” I exclaimed. “There was something…”

They exchanged a silent look of bewilderment. I ignored them and concentrated on what had just happened to me. I resisted the urge to close my eyes, fearing I’d fall back into that…

“I can help you, Annie.” Charles’ gentle mind-voice soothed my nerves.

“Here, drink this, Annie,” Ororo held a glass of water.

“No,” I croaked. “Charles is helping me find…”

“A telepath…he was able to draw you into a dreamlike state in order to manipulate you into seeing what he wanted you to see…”

I began to repeat what Charles said to the others. There was a strange sensation within my mind as he peeled away whatever defenses this other telepath had erected. Charles’ telepathy was stronger than any other mutant’s, so I felt safe in his hands.

I am afraid the image of Bradley was false.

“No,” I disagreed. “Use Cerebro if you have to, but I know he’s alive.”

To my surprise, he didn’t argue. “At this moment, the telepath is withdrawing in shock. It seems that you were able to startle him into losing his hold on you. That may work to your advantage should you square off with him in the future.”

If I had been tired before, I was exhausted now. Logan hefted me easily and took me up the stairs to place me on the bed. Scott followed to stand in the doorway.

“I’m not going to do anything to her,” Logan growled.

“Uh huh,” Scott replied, unconvinced.

“No fighting,” I mumbled. “Or I’ll kick both of your butts…”

Logan began to move away, but I reached out to take his hand. I was suddenly terrified of going to sleep. He seemed to read that in my eyes and sat on the edge of the mattress. Scott moved to stand at the foot of the bed and I smiled at him wanly.

“Two bodyguards…what more could a girl want?” I whispered.

“Sleep,” Logan said softly.

I watched as Scott startled at the gentleness. Logan covered my hand with his other, stroking the skin softly. Using my free hand, I reached beneath me to the image projector, switching it off. Logan smiled slightly and continued to pet my now-furry hand. My tail twitched as I began to fall asleep once more.

The next day, the entire Shelton family was released and sent home. But the detective didn’t allow them to stay; once they were packed, he sent the others to stay with a relative in the next state. I watched him as he paced in the small area beside the table. Charles had deemed the apartment to be the safest haven we had, despite the break-in. Before being called back to the school, Scott and Ororo had set up a new shielding system that would go off if a non-mutant tried to enter. Only Shelton had been cleared, and he was now staying with us.

“Why didn’t I know?!” Shelton asked the world in general.

I blinked slowly, stretching. “How would you have known? Charles is the strongest telepath in the entire world, and he hasn’t been able to find out who is behind this.”

The detective threw his arms up into the air. “What good is my empathy if I can’t tell when someone is messing with my house?”

Sighing, I stood and moved past him. “At least we know that this person is after me, and that I must have had an encounter with them in the past.” I looked over my shoulder at him. “That’s more than we knew before.”

“Okay,” Logan spoke up, peering out the window. “So what’s the connection to Jenkins at the school board?”

I considered that. “He could be someone I knew from the school.”

“Any teachers that were interested in you?” Shelton asked. He was sitting still, finally, a legal pad before him.

I searched my memory, wishing it was complete. “No one I can think of offhand…”

“What about a student?” Logan suggested. “It’s common for kids to have crushes on their pretty teachers.”

I flushed beneath my fur. I’d found I was more comfortable without the projector while we were in the apartment. Maybe I was even becoming more comfortable in my own skin.

“There always seems to be one boy who is a little ahead of himself,” I said, thinking over the crushes I’d noted before. “He thinks he’s more of an adult than he really is…”

“Did any of them make any overt comments?” Shelton asked. “Something that might have hinted at…”

“At this kind of evil?” I supplied. “I certainly hope none of my kids would be capable of this.” I sighed, scratching behind my ear. “There was one student who was a bit more dramatic about his feelings…but he was the hopeless romantic type. Poetry and things…There wasn’t anyone that scared me, or worried me. If there had been, I would have reported it.”

Shelton frowned. “Maybe a parent?”

A face popped into my head. “There was one. A single father of one of the girls in my class. Big guy, lots of muscles…what was his name?” Now I found myself pacing. “He was relentless. Even after I told him I was engaged, he pursued me. He even joined one of Brad’s classes to see what he was up against!”

“Sounds promising,” Shelton grunted. “If he was able to find out who your fiancé was, and where he worked, it’s possible he could resort to violence to get what he wanted.”

“But that was over two years ago,” I protested. “And he wasn’t a telepath…”

“You wouldn’t be able to tell,” Logan pointed out. “You can’t read people unless they send to you, right?”

“Damn,” I sighed, dropping back into my chair.

“Do you remember his name?” Shelton asked.

“Hmm,” I replied, staring at the polished table. “Wellford…Thomas Wellford.”

I was grateful for my disguise as I stood with Shelton before the front door. He glanced at me as he raised his hand to use the knocker. I nodded, clutching the portfolio pad to my chest. I was posing at Shelton’s rookie partner this time. The door opened.

“Can I help ya?”

I stared at the man before us. Thomas Wellford had been a health-nut, one of those at the gym every day, granola and health shakes and maybe even steroids kind of big guys. The overweight greasy man in the doorway couldn’t be him…and yet, I knew that face.

“Mister Wellford?” Shelton said, nonplussed. Of course he didn’t know how Thomas had once looked. “I’m Detective Shelton, we spoke on the phone.”

“Yeah,” Thomas said, running a hand over his balding head. “Come on in.”

He led us to the living room. His house was tidy, but full of old and decrepit furniture. The couch we sat on creaked alarmingly.

“Mister Wellford, we are investigating a homicide/robbery,” Shelton began.

Thomas looked surprised. “I thought you wanted to know about Annie Cirsei—the lady who disappeared!”

I was stunned. Most people knew that I’d vanished the same day that my fiancé was mugged and murdered. I began to wonder about his mental clarity.

“Miss Cirsei’s fiancé was the one killed, after he was robbed.”

I resisted the need to correct him. I was utterly convinced that Brad was still alive, somehow. Maybe I should be worrying about my own mental clarity.

“Oh God,” Thomas mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. “So you think that whoever killed him also kidnapped Annie?”

“Miss Cirsei’s whereabouts are unknown at this time,” Shelton allowed. “But we do not believe she was kidnapped. It appears that she left town in her grief.”

“What if she had something to do with it? Ain’t that suspicious with her leaving like that?”

“There was no evidence of foul-play,” Shelton said smoothly.

“Like hell!” Thomas argued. “I seen that classroom!”

“A strange occurrence,” Shelton agreed. “But that is not why we are here, sir. We wanted to ask you about your relationship with Miss Cirsei. We were told you were once actively pursuing a romantic relationship with her.”

Thomas laughed bitterly. “I tried, buddy, I really did. But she wouldn’t have nothing to do with me! She just flaunted her boyfriend and refused to even consider me…”

I bit my lip, taking notes faithfully. So far, Thomas hadn’t even given me a second glance as he and Shelton spoke. That was fine by me—I found his new appearance disturbing. Okay, and I wondered if it was my fault.

“Women just don’t give me a second look anymore,” Thomas said. I glanced up, seeing how he stared at me. “They think I’m some slob now. But I’ve got problems with my heart! I can’t exercise or do anything or my heart might explode or something!”

I tore my eyes away, unable to maintain the gaze. He was a sad portrait of a former impressive physique that had faded into mediocrity.

“We were also told that you enrolled in one of Mr. Lankin’s martial arts classes,” Shelton prodded.

Thomas looked sad. “Yeah. I wanted to see what was so damn special about this guy. I even volunteered to spar him…” He shook his head. “Whipped my ass. I was so humiliated, I never went back. I decided it wasn’t worth going after her anymore. Besides, my daughter found it terribly embarrassing.”

Shelton asked him a few more questions and we left. I had never spoken a word. I had been too afraid that I’d begin to apologize to the man.

“He’s not involved,” I told him.

The detective tilted his head at me as he drove. “I know.”

Watching the city as we went back to the apartment, I wondered if Charles had found anything yet.

“Annie, I would like you and Logan to return to the school in the morning. Detective Shelton is welcome, too.”

“Whoa,” I grunted. Turning to my companion, I explained, “Charles wants us to come back. You, too.”

He gave me an odd look; then nodded.

It was quiet in the early morning hours as the small car made it’s way down a lone road. I peered out at the wooded area, wishing I could go back to sleep, but knowing it was hopeless. I’ve never been able to sleep in cars. Sighing, I turned on the radio, tuning it to a light rock station.

“Oh God,” Logan grumbled. He slouched further into the backseat, glaring at me when I glanced at him. “Can’t you put on something that will help us wake up?”

Shelton turned the radio off. I looked at him in surprise, but his focus was on the road. No, not the road…

“Shelton?”

“There’s someone in the woods, following us on a motorcycle,” he said. “I can…feel his…I don’t know. Not anger, just like…duty, he’s got to do something for someone.” He shuddered. “Something not good for us.”

Logan was staring out the windows, trying to see the elusive figure Shelton had spotted. He growled under his breath. I glanced into the side mirror and saw the guy come careening onto the road behind us.

“Hang on!” Shelton said firmly, gripping the steering wheel.

In seconds, gunshots rang out. The window behind Logan was hit and shattered all over him. He glared out the empty window at the shooter.

“Down, down!” Shelton yelled.

I released my seatbelt and slipped down until I was below the window. Watching Shelton as he drove, I felt my stomach lurch. He weaved back and forth on the road, trying to become a target less easy to hit.

“Hit the brakes,” Logan demanded.

“What? With him waiting to kill us?” Shelton exclaimed.

Logan snarled, baring his teeth. “If you don’t hit the brakes, I’ll just step outside…”

I shrieked as he began to climb out of the broken window. The shots stopped as the motorcyclist tried to figure out what Logan was doing.

“Logan!” Shelton cried. “What the hell are you doing?!”

“Just keep driving straight for a minute…”

I couldn’t help it; I climbed up to watch as he carefully got his feet beneath him. In awe and fear, I saw him release his claws and yell…then he launched himself into the air at the shooter. Shelton zipped to the side of the road and hit the brakes as the motorcycle, and two men, went barreling past.

I jumped out of the car as it slowed, running to the middle of the road. Logan hit the driver with his fist—claws in—twice. Then he realized that he was in no position to stop the bike, and the driver was now unconscious. I took a huge breath, held it, and willed the bike and both men to stop. I wasn’t strong enough and I watched in horror as the front tire wobbled on the pavement. Logan scrambled, trying to get the handle-brake to work.

Closing my eyes, I pictured Logan…

Come on…slow down…slow…slow…stop…stop…

I heard a crash and my eyes flew open. The motorcycle was mangled against a tree, but just before it, two crumpled figures were on the ground. Shelton, who had jumped out of the car, and I ran to them.

“Uuugh,” Logan groaned. “You need more practice!”

I dropped to my knees, touching Logan’s face. There were scratches and cuts already healing before my eyes. Sighing in relief, I turned to see Shelton checking the unknown man’s neck. Fearing that I hadn’t been able to save him, I waited.

“He’s alive...” Shelton announced gravely. “But he’s probably bleeding internally.”

Logan looked up the road. “We’re not far from the school. They’ve got the best medical equipment in the area, and they’re closer than the hospital.”

Shelton nodded, then froze. His eyes met mine. “There’s someone else not far from here…I can just barely tell.”

“If they follow us to the school…” I breathed.

“I’ll take him to the hospital,” Shelton decided.

“We’ll take a back way into the school,” Logan agreed.

“Oh crap,” I groaned. “I hate the back way.”

“Tell the Professor there may be trouble,” Shelton suggested as he and Logan hefted the injured man.

I watched them take him to the car. Turning back to the motorcycle, or what was left of it, I knelt. I’m not sure what I was looking for, but I dug through the rubble. My eyes fell on a piece of paper trapped between two pieces of metal. My fingers couldn’t reach it. Concentrating on the paper, I watched it slide out and float towards me.

“What do you have there?” Logan asked as I caught the paper.

I grunted, opening it delicately. There was a crudely drawn map of the road we were on, with a large X. There was a bright red line drawn across the road, before the X.

“So he was told to stop us from getting to the school,” Logan interpreted.

I nodded, dropping the paper. “Let’s go.”

The hike wasn’t completely unpleasant, it turned out. The morning sun shown brightly through the branches overhead. I tried not to think about the man who was stalking us from afar. Shelton seemed convinced that he was far enough away…

Charles…I waited. He usually heard me and responded fairly quickly. But there was nothing. Charles?

“Freeze,” Logan said in a tone that wouldn’t accept any argument. I stopped and looked around. He crouched, pointing ahead of us on the trail. I could barely see a thin filament. We both looked up, spotting a large branch suspended above us.

“That doesn’t look like fun,” I commented.

“No,” he agreed. “But it does look like he knew which path we’d be taking.”

“Uh oh,” I declared, peering into the woods. “What now?”

He sighed. “If we hurry, we can get to the school before he realizes we are avoiding his traps. He’s probably sure we’ll get delayed by them and is taking his time.”

That sounded good to me, so I nodded. He pointed and we moved in that direction. He stepped up the pace and within minutes, we were moving at a near-jog. He led the way, keeping a wary eye on everything around us at all times. I experimented with building a forcefield around us with my telekinesis. At one time, I had been able to maintain a strong bubble oasis for an hour.

“Whatever you’re doing, quit it,” Logan grumbled.

“Sorry,” I muttered back.

He stopped suddenly and I was barely able to skid to a halt without running into him. I leaned to look around him at whatever he was staring at. The back entrance, hidden from outsiders and known only to those at the school…was boobytrapped. Explosives were wired all around the entrance with the entire network connected to the mechanisms that opened the door.

“Damn,” Logan sighed in frustration.

Charles…what do we do now? We can’t get in…

I waited, and again, there was nothing. Experimenting, I looked at Logan.

Logan, can you hear me?

He grunted, turning to see me from the corner of his eye.

I can’t seem to contact Charles…I think someone is blocking my telepathy from the school…

His shoulders dropped. “I was hoping the Professor knew how to defuse that mess.”

I wish I could use my telekinesis to just rip it down and throw it away. Something occurred to me. What if I just make the guy think we triggered it?

“And maybe the bad guy would think we were hurt or killed,” he completed. To my surprise, he seemed to be seriously considering my idea.

“Can you climb?” I asked, staring up at the branches.

He scoffed at me. “Good idea, the element of surprise…”

Within moments, I was up a tree. I had to turn the image projector off so that I could use my claws properly. When I thought I was at a safe distance, I looked down to see how Logan was faring. He scrambled to his own branch, looking none too graceful. I smothered a smirk.

“Okay,” he said softly. “This should work.”

I nodded. Ignoring the way my belly twisted in fear, I stared at the explosives until the image was burned into my brain. Then I closed my eyes. Drawing in upon myself, I created a picture of the explosives.

“Good…good,” Logan murmured. “Now…hit it.”

Taking a deep breath, I pictured the entranceway being opened. I could feel the weight in my hands, the moss and leaves that helped camouflage it…I flung the door open and created a sudden blast. The effort made me wobble on my branch, but Logan’s strong hand held onto my arm. I pushed the sounds in my mind outward, hoping our stalker would “hear” them.

Taking a deep breath, I opened my eyes. “I think I strained something,” I remarked.

Logan chuckled. His eyes searched the trees and the ground below us. The forest had grown eerily silent after the fake blast as the animals and birds fled.

At least the illusion scared them.

“Wouldn’t it be a good idea to just make a run for it?” I said. “If we get inside the school’s defenses, we’ll be fine. We can go to the main entrance now and…”

“Some murderous lunatic will be out here,” Logan argued. “He may cause even more trouble.” He looked at me. “Why don’t you go on ahead? I’ll dispatch him and meet you there.”

His hand was still on my arm. I covered it with my free hand.

“I’m not leaving you,” I declared, voice shaking.

Before we could argue further, the point became moot. Logan’s eyes widened and he shifted on the branch. He withdrew his hand and braced himself. Within seconds, a dark figure appeared.

That’s the Thug that was beating on Brad…

Logan huffed softly in acknowledgement. His eyes were the only things moving as the figure paused below the tree, eyeing the entrance.

“What the hell?” Thug muttered.

Logan suddenly allowed himself to drop, slamming into the shoulders of Thug. I scrambled to a lower branch, watching to see if he needed help. Logan was on his feet and stepping back as Thug drew a large knife. I tried not to laugh as Logan smirked and let his claws slide out. He held his arms out, ready. Thug stared, then made a disgusted face.

“You’re one of those goddamn mutants!” Thug exclaimed.

Logan grinned and the sight made me shiver in fright. “And you’re one of the idiots trying to kill us off.”

Thug slashed at Logan and I saw the claws gleam in the light. They parted, cuts on arms and shoulders. Logan shrugged as his wounds healed over within seconds. Thug’s eyes widened, but then his face twisted.

“Why are you following us?” Logan asked, circling.

Thug grunted, watching his opponent intently. I was unnoticed in the tree still, biding my time.

“Not much of a conversationalist, are you?” Logan needled.

“I don’t talk to mutants!” Thug declared with a sneer.

Jackass.

“I could have sworn that you just did!” Logan declared.

Thug launched himself at Logan again. I stared in fascination as Logan—no, he was in full Wolverine mode now—slashed carefully at him, nicking him and cutting him enough to lose blood slowly and not be deadly. It was a dangerous dance to be sure.

Thug withdrew, panting and shaking with effort. From my vantage point, I still couldn’t see his face clearly, but I could tell he was paler than before. Wolverine cracked his neck with an easy movement. The strange metallic sound made Thug pause and Wolverine took full advantage. Spinning and moving faster than before, Wolverine had Thug pinned to the nearest tree. The knife went flying into some brush.

“Now then,” Wolverine hissed. “Why don’t you answer some questions?”

Thug glared at him. Deliberately, he turned his head and averted his eyes. Unfortunately his gaze landed on me.

“It’s you!” he said in amazement.

I jumped to the ground, landing in an easy crouch. As I approached, I studied his battle-worn face. His nose was crooked—probably from being broken and not set—and there were small nicks and cuts on his cheek and forehead. I tried to picture him cleaned up and whole, hoping to recognize him.

“Have we met?” I asked, coming to stand just out of reach—in case he made a break for it.

He laughed. “Not really, but yeah.”

“Is Brad still alive?”

He stared in silence. Wolverine shook him once, making his teeth clatter together. “He was when I left.”

I swallowed my joy, keeping my eyes on his. “Who is behind this?”

He didn’t reply and Wolverine’s subtle harassment didn’t pry the answer from his lips.

“He’s a mutant himself, isn’t he?” I continued. “Why is he out to hurt other mutants?”

“He’s not after anyone but you.”

I hesitated, nodding. “Your friend is very hurt.”

He lifted his chin, clenching his jaw, and cursed. Wolverine let one claw slide up until it was right in front of Thug’s face. A warning.

“Is he paying you a lot?”

“I don’t need to be paid to hate mutants,” he spat.

I moved a little closer, letting him think I was off of my guard. “Does he want to kill me, or just punish me?”

There was a shift in his eyes. “He…wants to hurt you.”

“For something I did?”

“You know that.”

“What did I do?”

Silence. I waited patiently. Wolverine extended one claw after another, slowly, as if he was limbering up.

“What’s your mutation, other than looking ugly?” Thug demanded of me.

I bared my teeth. Pulling in on myself, I created the image of fire exploding around him. He cried out, wriggling against the tree as the flames licked closer to him. His panic grew until I ended it suddenly. He panted, sagging against Wolverine’s hands.

“I can make you think you’re burning to death. Only there is no fire…your death, on the other hand, would be quite real. The mind is an amazing thing…” The menace in my voice surprised me.

“Think we should take him to the Professor?” Wolverine asked.

I grinned, addressing Thug. “Oh, yes…he would be able to reach down into your very soul and pull out every detail of your miserable life…”

Thug looked up at me and I saw it in his eyes. Pure and unadulterated hatred and fear…followed by determination. I knew what was coming and could not speak or react fast enough.

“Aaaaaaaaagh!” Thug screamed, thrashing and shoving against Wolverine. Instinct took over and I saw the claws sink into Thug’s chest.

“No!” Logan—for the cry of anger was his—cried. He pulled away, and Thug dropped to the ground.

I was on my knees, knowing the wounds were fatal. Thug’s face relaxed somewhat and I saw the life draining from his eyes.

“Why?” I asked, nearly sobbing in frustration.

He made some gurgling noises. “You…wouldn’t let him…show you…”

“What? Show me what?” I asked. I was suddenly aware that Thug was much younger than he’d appeared at first. He could have been a student of mine at one time.

“He was…” he whispered. “…trying, but you...wouldn’t…you…he…”

He was gone.

On to Part Five…