The ride out to where Charles's place was bumpy and Alex of course complained all the way out. Misty didn't make one sound as the tires of the vehicle bounced up and down as they drove over potholes. It sort of reminded her of the time at Three Mile Island. How the she remembered the various trips off the Island and to god knows where. She remembers being blindfolded most of the time so it was of course dark. Voices and cigarette smoke would drift to her nostrils and cause her to choke. Misty's eyes flashed open and she saw Charles looking at her she stared back and for a few moments they had their own personal staring contest.

You should hide it, Charle's voice entered.

Don't read my mind. Misty then continued to ignore Charle's pokes and prods in her mind. When she turned she saw as Charles leaned back and looked at the ground. Misty looked to see Sean half dozed off and she couldn't help but give a small smile. How innocent he was back then.

The vehicle came to an abrupt stop and everyone clambered out and onto the gravel driveway. As Misty got out immediately her eyes fell upon the most beautiful mansion she had ever seen in her life. Words had failed her as she looked at Charles and Raven wondering how they could have lived in such a large place. But then again Misty had lived in a eight by nine cell for her whole life.

"Well well Charles," Erik said breaking the silence, "The hardships you must have gone through as a child."

Raven smirked. "I helped with those hardships. Come on, let's give them a tour."

Inside the gigantic mansion was polished red oak flooring, large glass window, flowers in almost every single room, escape routes that Charles had explained, rugs that had traveled from all over the globe just to be in this one single place and much much more.

Misty noticed a dark look loom over Erik's face as he seemed to be only half listening to Charles while the rest of his attention was on Misty herself. The young mutant bowed her head and then slowly looked up to see that Erik had his back turned on her.

"You alright?" Sean asked his voice made her jump slightly.

"Um…yeah," Misty managed, "I'm fine."

"…and now to you rooms," Charles's said.

Everyone was of course assigned to their own rooms, there was absolutely no sharing allowed. Misty's room had a large queen sized bed, a desk, a small bookshelf that was stuffed with books even some were lined up on the floor. A small heartily fire cackled in the fireplace off to one side and a coffee table and two large chairs were placed around it.

"Like it?" Charles asked.

Misty took in a shaky breath, she had never been in any sort of room like this in her entire life. All she could do was manage a meager nod.

"I'm here to help you Misty," Charles offered.

Misty sighed. "There have been a lot of people who have been trying to help me Charles."

"Any of them telepathic?"

Misty chuckled. "No none of them telepathic."

Charles smiled and then said, "May I?"
Misty turned to Charles fully and asked, "What exactly are you looking for Charles? If you're looking for happiness I promise you you won't find it."

Charles looked Misty directly in the eyes. "I'm only looking to help."

Charles motioned to one of the chairs and Misty reluctantly moved towards them and sat down. Charles allowed himself to sit in the one across from her and said, "Relax."

Misty took in a breath and exhaled, her eyes became pure white with sky blue swirled in and her bone tail stopped flicking nervously in the air and became still. Charles placed his fingers to his temple and dove in.

"Are you sure this will work?" a male voice asked.

"Positive, Ryan has explained that the girl is in complete control," Another male voice reassured.

Misty of course had the blind fold on so all she could hear was the snarling voices of both men bickering whether she was worth buying or not.

"Her powers are extraordinary," someone spoke.

"So I've heard, well open the stupid cage and let's see what this girl is capable of."

Misty heard the padlock on her cage click open and then the clip on the blindfold come off next. She immediately closed her eyes from the harsh lights above her glaring down.

"Get up your infernal thing!" a man's voice shouted.

After many years of fighting, escaping and the feeling of total helplessness. Misty obeyed and slowly crawled out of the dog-sized cage and stood on her feet. In front of her were five men dressed up in fancy military uniforms all staring back at her in horror and disgust.

"What is that?" one asked horrified.

Misty wanted to slap him with her tail but she restrained her emotions and just took what the man had said.

"Does she have any visible features?" another asked getting up.

"So far she has a bone tail and we suspect from the x-rays there are spikes al up her back."

Misty felt fear creep up around her but she swallowed and tried to ignore the man's words.

"How much?" the man who was standing asked.

"Depending on how long you intend to examine her."

"Two weeks tops."

"One hundred thousand."

Misty could hardly believe her ears. One hundred thousand! Was she really worth that much? No, these people are evil and they want to experiment on her. Torture her.

"You're mad," the brown uniformed man on the couch cried. He got up, "this is an outrage! We are not paying that much for this animal!"

Misty cringed, was that all she was? An animal? A filthy thing that no one wanted to touch?

"Gentlemen," her owner cooed, "remember that there are more of her out there. If you have your research down right now, this very moment we will be able to beat them."

Misty felt herself panic now, she would help bring down mutant kind. She didn't want to do anything except hide where she will never be found ever again in her life!

"Sold!"

Charles felt his subconscious return to him and then noticed that Misty was shaking. Charles tried to find comforting words but nothing came to him. He had just watched Misty being sold like a circus animal to military men. Misty got up and then opened her door. It was a plain and simple message; leave. Charles got to his feet and then walked outside.

"Two doors down on the left," Charles said before leaving.

Misty nodded thanks before shutting the door. She wasn't sure whether she wanted to see Sean right now or not her mind was too busy replaying the scene that Charles had opened up. She had remembered that day and the days that followed. The pain and the suffering that she had been exposed to and the cruel remarks from the guards who had been forced to watch over her. Silent tears rolled down her cheeks as she opened her door and then went down two doors to the left and knocked. There was a moment of silence and then the door opened. Sean was standing there and he immediately picked up that something was definitely wrong. He allowed her in and then rushed to Misty's side as she staggered.

"It's okay," Sean whispered. "I got you."

Yes Sean, Misty thought you do have me.

Misty sank to the ground and Sean followed her. Both of them embraced in silence.