Jean was upset. She hardly found the prank to be original. Sighing, she returned to her original task at hand. Scott was already several steps ahead of her. She had to find those students too. However, she had a sneaking suspicion that she already did. She just had to catch up.

She exited her room and jogged down the stairs, bracing herself for the chill outside. Jean was not quite used to the snow in her shoes as she stepped gingerly through the unplowed areas. However, it was easy to track down the students and differentiate between their footprints and the adults, using the holes in the snow to prevent her getting wetter. She did not see them when the snow hit her window, but she knew who they were. It wasn't hard to figure out the shadows, even without her powers.

Soon, Jean found herself caught in a circle of trees with trails leading in all directions. She halted and looked around. This is where everything got confusing for her. It was like several people stopped and then tried covering their true intentions by running one way and then another. Jean found Logan and Storm in the mix. It was easy to see that they both were searching (although she had doubts about Logan, that instigator). Scott was here too, probably conferencing with Storm or Logan or both.

She noted Bobby and Rogue's. They usually stayed together, but she saw that they separated and then got back together. It was the same with Kitty and Piotr's too. John was also an enigma. He joined one or more pairs and then disappeared altogether.

Jean heard someone running towards her. She was relieved to see that it was Storm. "Have you seen them?" she asked.

"No," Storm replied. She looked at Jean sympathetically. "It looks like you've had a bad night. Did you and Scott even get to start your movie?"

"No, we did not," Jean said bitterly. "They were by my window with their snowballs. Then, they ran in all sorts of directions."

Storm swore under her breath. "Logan noticed that part. But we missed them somehow. We were all over the place."

"Apparently we've been negligent, I'm afraid. It also means that they can be anywhere. If they're hiding in plain sight, they have a plan to keep it that way. What would be so obvious?"

"Or not so obvious. Scott and I thought they might have headed down the road to McDonald's."

"I doubt it. I really do. Why run out in the middle of the night and all for fast food?"

Storm regarded her carefully. "I agree. And what is the purpose of the exercise? Is this all a joke?"

"This smells of Logan," Jean complained. "I think he's up to it."

"Why would Logan get the kids to be up after hours and run around the property? He keeps them in line. He's also diligent in keeping them inside at night."

"I don't know, but I am willing to find out and soon," Jean vowed. "What have you and Scott found so far?"

"I am not sure where Scott is," Storm admitted. "He went down a path and Logan went down another. I can't say where they are now."

Jean grumbled something inaudible before speaking up to Storm. "I'll find them. Meet me back here in fifteen minutes. If I'm not here, wake up the Professor. He can use Cerebro."

Storm nodded and remained behind. Jean ran off, following what she thought was Scott's way. She immediately noticed that Storm didn't express the same energy as she did and thought it a little off. Jean shook her head. The worry must be heavy on her shoulders. If Storm knew that Kitty was one of the missing, she would be devastated. Jean knew that the two were close.

But for some reason, that too seemed a little out there for Storm. Jean stopped. Something clicked in her head. She had to dismiss it through. Her friend wouldn't be involved in breaking the rules. That was out of character for Storm.

The thought would not get out of her head though. Jean had to keep telling herself that it was not true, a mantra that rang in her head until she came to the next clearing. What she saw literally made her pause. It was an ice sculpture, like a home. She thought it unusual. She noted the castle-like features, with an opened drawbridge that covered a ditch and the towers with windows.

This was never here before. Unless someone went out everyday for the past month it was snowing…

Another thought came to mind. Bobby surely created this, but it would have taken him time and a lot of effort. Jean was familiar with his powers and had to expand on this thread. Sure, he was able to make small structures. Something this large came with a price…and that must have been Rogue.

Jean knew that the only way to solve this mystery was to enter this castle. Sighing, she carefully skidded across the snow and ice and tiptoed through the bridge. The building was sound, she found, and she relaxed a little more. But she never let down her guard, even when she entered the subzero atmosphere. She shivered and rubbed her arms against her sides as she walked through the lifelike historical showcase. From the tables and food to the servants that appeared centuries old, the winter wonderland was all too surreal.

She passed the main area and entered into what was a hallway. Again, it was period style fashions that decorated the blue and white walls. Jean went to touch a tapestry. Water slipped through her fingers as the heat from her skin made contact. She wiped it away. She jumped when she heard some rattling above her head. When she peered up, she saw a chandelier moving to and fro.

Nervous, Jean moved slowly forward. In the next corridor, there were doors. She didn't know which one to choose. The first few did not budge, locked into place like a normal entranceway. A few feet ahead, one did. Jean entered. However, her mind kept telling her to go back. She wasn't supposed to be here. She had to go back and wait for Scott, safe in their warm bed and waiting for him to return from this fruitless exercise.

There was a noise above. Jean didn't have time to think to move. She was quickly trapped in an ice cage. Grunting, she tried every way she could to escape. Unfortunately, the ice was harder than normal and the bars left little space between. There was no way out!

And that was when she screamed in fright and aggravation.