After Erik had searched the grounds for any horizontally positioned bodies resembling Charles's body profile, he rendezvoused with Jean, Scott, Kurt and Jubilee in the estate's kitchen. It was already dark and everyone was concerned and hungry.
"The professor isn't on the campus, Mr. Lensherr," Jean said. "I couldn't sense his presence anywhere."
"And ve checked all da floors," Kurt added. Jean, Scott, Kurt and Jubilee stared at Erik Lensherr as they sat around the kitchen island. Erik had his arms folded across his chest and was intensely staring at the stove.
"Uh … Mr. Lensherr?" Scott asked.
"I heard," Erik said finally looking at the students. "Since I don't know how to work this damn old-fashioned stove – why doesn't Charles upgrade his appliances? – we're going to Crusty's."
"Whoo-hoo!" Jubilee hooted throwing her hands in the air. A moment of silence followed her outburst as Jean, Scott and Kurt gave her questioning looks.
"What?" She said, questioning their looks in return. "Crusty's has like the best fried chicken in New York. You guys got to get out more."
The kids piled into the backseat of one of the professor's open-top automobiles in the garage since no one wanted to ride shot gun with Mr. Lensherr. Once Erik fetched the keys from a cabinet hanging on the far wall facing the driveway, Erik got in, revved the engine and started it off at 50 miles per hour.
"Mr. Lensherr!" Kurt yelled from the backseat. "Your seatbelt!"
"I don't do seatbelts!" Erik yelled back. "But it doesn't mean you don't get to wear yours, so all of you buckle up or so help me I will buckle them for you!"
The kids sat in silence as Mr. Lensherr maneuvered the vehicle around the bends and curves of the road to Crusty's. It was a bit of a distance but Erik felt like it would be a good distraction for the kids to get their minds off of Charles's mysterious disappearance. Erik was baffled and unnerved since seeing Charles's empty wheelchair.
As Erik and the kids neared Crusty's, they saw an orange blaze illuminating the trees and sky in the distance. This made Erik increase pressure on the gas pedal, jerking the car forward in a fit of squeaks and cringing metal. Jubilee gave Kurt a concerned look as she scooted away from the side of the car towards the middle.
After a few sharp turns, Erik turned the vehicle into Crusty's parking lot. The kids immediately jumped out and rushed towards the building as Erik quickly followed behind. Scott led the way towards the crowd of people gathering outside to gawk at the flames erupting from the back of Crusty's building.
"This is insane!" One bystander exclaimed as Scott tapped him on the shoulder.
"What happened?" He asked.
"Shiiiiit," the man drawled. "The building just burst into flame as if the devil was cooking in the back."
"Seriously," Kurt exclaimed, eyes widening.
"No," a stout woman wearing a black apron said coming up behind them. "I think we had some faulty wiring in the back because I called the electric company to come fix it. Didn't think delaying their call would turn into something like this. Sheesh! Lord knows I'm about to be fired."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Jean said empathetically. She was already using her telekinesis to control the flames.
"Where's Lucas?!" The people turned towards a frazzled woman coming towards them. "I can't find my little boy. I think he might still be in the building!"
Before Scott could rush intot he building, Kurt vanished into blue and gray smoke causing people to back away and stare in alarm.
"That boy just burst into smoke!" The man exclaimed staring at the ground where Kurt was standing.
"Mutants, man," another person said as their little girl stared at amazement at the same spot.
"Where's Mr. Lensherr?" Jubilee said looking around as Kurt reappeared with the boy holding one of his blue fingers.
Erik was patrolling the back of Crusty's restaurant for any foul play when a shadow of a car caught his eye in the neighboring parking lot. Could it be a potential suspect? He extended his hand, fingers stetching from the palm, as he focused his power on drawing the Buick towards him.
Back to Charles and Sheryl …
"WHY IS CRUSTY'S ON FIRE?" Sheryl screamed staring out the back window of her car. "I DIDN'T EVEN GO IN THE BUILDING!"
"I don't know!" Charles replied equally puzzled. He placed a finger to his temple trying to determine if everyone evacuated the building safely. Charles could sense their panic and frustration of leaving without chicken as they rushed out the building.
"We should lend our assistance," Charles said shifting his weight in his seat. Sheryl looked at him incredulously.
"You want to go into the building that's on fire?" She asked, her voice unusually high-pitched.
"Well, not exactly," Charles replied realizing he wouldn't be able to do much.
"I think I did this," Sheryl suddenly said staring out the windshield.
"Sheryl, you did not," Charles said adamantly. "We don't know who did this or rather what did this. Wait a minute!"
"What?" She asked staring at him anxiously.
"I sense someone, or rather a group of people." Charles turned around and saw one of his vintage cars in the parking of lot of Crusty's with his kids jumping out. Pride swelled in his chest as he watched them confront bystanders and Kurt disappearing in a puff of smoke. Sheryl turned around to see what the Professor was watching.
"Who are they?" She asked.
"My students," He replied quietly, smiling.
"Awww," Sheryl said smiling momentarily before she felt the car jerk in place.
"What's happening?" Sheryl exclaimed as the Buick squeaked from the strain of metal against metal, as it appeared reluctantly to reverse. "I don't like this. Professor?"
"Erik," Charles breathed. He looked behind him and saw a tall figure standing at the back of Crusty's holding his arm out.
"Whoever he is, I don't think I like him," Sheryl exclaimed holding onto the steering wheel as she anxiously turned the key to start the engine. The engine struggled to start as metal started to concave on either side of them. Charles put a finger to his temple.
"Erik!" He mentally screamed while Sheryl held her head in her hands. However, it was too late. Charles felt a sharp pain in his wrist before losing consciousness as his upper body crashed into Sheryl's side.