A/N: Coldrim is mean to Kurt. I might explain more at the end if I feel like it.

Kurt woke up to a rough hand clamping onto the back of his neck and yanking him to his feet. He moaned loudly and was rewarded by a hard shaking. "When will you learn?" Coldrim snarled.

Kurt felt his blood run cold. His Master was definitely drunk again…more than usual…and he was angrier than Kurt had seen him in a long time.

"I'm sorry…" He murmured, though it wouldn't do him any good.

"Sorry?" Coldrim spat.

Kurt was forced to the wall of the cage. Coldrim grabbed onto his tail with one hand, wrapping it around Kurt's right arm and pulling it straight, trapping it, while holding his left arm against the side.

"You belong to me you little brat. Can't you figure that out?"

Kurt whimpered as the end of his tail spasmed painfully in his Master's grip. "Jou are hurting me." He whispered.

"So, what?" Coldrim growled, tugging the tail harder and making Kurt yelp while pulling him closer. Something…an expression hidden by the shadows of his cage…something terrified Kurt as he was suddenly so close to the man that he couldn't breathe. His left arm was passed to join his tail in the man's other hand and suddenly Coldrim was touching him. The ex-ringmaster's right hand pressed hard against the boy's bare back, crushing his ribs against the bigger man. Hot, drunk breath washed over Kurt's ear. "Little wretch…when will you figure out that every inch of you belongs to me?"

Kurt shivered and pulled away with all the force he could muster, which wasn't nearly enough to break the man's hold. "Let go! Let go ov me! LET GO!"

Coldrim only pulled him even closer, monocle flashing. "What's the matter, Kurt?" Nightcrawler froze at the sound of his old name on the ringmaster's lips. "Aren't you used to being close to people? Don't you like being scared?"

Kurt shivered once and then he gave up. He let the man slip drunkenly to the floor, still holding Kurt trapped on his lap, like a cat or some other pet that he'd finally managed to calm down after a bath. Kurt slipped his tail delicately from the man's iron grip, wincing as the tip began to sting. At his master began to speak to no one at all, Kurt quietly curled up in the man's lap, letting him stroke his arms and his back and mutter on and on about how he belonged to him and how he would never, ever escape because he had nowhere to go.

After a few minutes, Coldrim finally drifted off. Kurt waited until the man was breathing evenly before sliding carefully from his lap. He shuddered as the cold night air wrapped around him, free at last. Kurt tried to stand and collapsed again, still shaky from Coldrim's unexpected treatment. He crawled to the bed in the corner and laid down, one hand slipping beneath the pillow to gather the necklace into his hand as he stared longingly out the open door.

The open door.

Kurt's eyes shot open. He was suddenly very awake. Without even being aware of what he was doing he was on his feet. He made it to the door when he froze.

There were people there, watching, waiting for the show. If he stepped out now, they would see him. They would call him a demon. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't take the next step. His head automatically spun towards Coldrim, waiting for the signal. He shook himself.

No! I don't have to listen to him anymore! I can be free!

But he couldn't move. Coldrim's monocle gleamed brightly in the dark, holding him in place. He turned his gaze away, but the image remained fixed in his mind.

He couldn't leave.

Freedom was one step beyond this door and he couldn't taste it.

Please…I'll come right back…Just von moment…just von day…!

His arms snapped around himself and he sobbed, stumbling back from the door as if burned. He dropped to his knees in the middle of the cage and for the first time in three years the words came easily.

"Please, Gott…I just vant to see Emily again. I vant to see my home. I vant to get out! I can't stay here, Gott. I can't help anyvon here. Pleaze…" He froze. Then he started over. "Dear Gott in heaven…I vill make you a deal. Iv you get me out, zen I vill dedicate my life to doing the best I can do for you." He stopped again. "I don't have anyzing to give. I 'ave money under ze pallet and a little gold necklace for Emily and I 'ave myself. I vill try to be good…I vill try…" He began to cry. "Gott, I give up!"

He continued rambling, not even sure what was coming out of his mouth anymore. All he knew was that somehow the wall was coming down. He could talk forever if he had to, and he wanted to. He needed help. He needed the guidance of the one being that had had it worse than he had.

Then something happened. Kurt couldn't put his finger on it, but he suddenly felt…calm. He stood up and walked to his bed, laid down, and fell asleep.

Coldrim's monocle flashed once and then went dim.

A/N: Quick comment before I continue. Yeah, the prayer was sappy. Sorry. I tried to make it as sincere as possible and when I'm upset that's what it sounds like. Better ideas are welcome. Okay, moving on!!!

"Kurt?"

Nightcrawler's eyes snapped open. They danced around the room blearily before coming to an unfocused rest on the man outside his door. Something about the man's dress seemed familiar. Kurt sat up, holding a hand to his head as he tried to get a closer look.

"Are you vearing a habit?" Kurt asked, his brow wrinkling in confusion. That wasn't right. Priests didn't come to the Emporium, did they? He took a closer look at the man's face.

"Kurt?" The man said again, stepping right up to the bars, his eyes staring into the boy's soul. "Don't you recognize me? It's Brother…"

Snap.

Kurt's eyes shot open. His breath came out in a gasp.

"Brozzer Pierson."

A/N Aaaaaand CUT! Okay people, break for soda and sugar! Please leave comments in the box you make by clicking on that button there.

"Hey, Tera. 'Ow am I escaping from Coldrim?"

"…um…*mumble*"

"Vhat?"

"I'mnotsure." (dashes off)

"…Jou have GOT to be kidding me…" (Kurt stares in shock before turning towards screen.) "Please, halp!!!!!"

If you need some ideas, here are my spoilers: Coldrim is a mutant, by the way. He is known to Cerebro as "Bonder". His gift is trapping people, forcing them to serve him and follow his suggestions by focusing his will through the monocle (it isn't just for looks!) on his right eye. There is a flaw, though. The bond can be broken when, and only when, (1) A stronger bond comes into play and (2) the monocle's power is disrupted or the monocle is destroyed. (This isn't easy to do, since Kurt has been Coldrim's servant for years. Not all bonds are pretty, but even dark ones can be powerful.) Luckily for Kurt, Brother Pierson had already bonded with the boy by winning his absolute trust three years ago. I'm just not sure it's strong enough to work…