She lay sprawled atop her bed, half tangled in sheets. She'd been tossing and turning half the night, Hope rose from bed and walked outside onto the balcony of her room, the soles of her bare feet going icy the moment they made contact with the floor outside. She ignored it, standing there with her night gown fluttering about her otherwise naked figure as she looked over New York. Everything was calm, still.
Fluffy, the Academy's guarddog's imposing figure slumbered in a curled ball of fur, as Hope walked jnto the common area… and yet, there was something strange about the dog's on this night. His breaths seem particularly labored as he stirred but did not rise and…
There was movement behind her, but before Hope could so much as consider what to do about it, she was taken hold of. She gasped as an arm wrapped her torso, pinning her arms down. She was flung down upon the couch. Hope gathered her gown around her and curled into a ball herself, much like Fluffy, to stare up at her assailant.
"…you!?"
"Me." Mystique stood at the end of the couch garbed in black leather, her red hair pulled into a tight ponytail, the mutant drew a length of rope from her bag and pulled it taught. "Change of plans, mutant Messiah."
"Change of…" Hope's surprise was melding into anger as she narrowed her furious gaze up at the woman. "What is the meaning of this!? How did you get-"
"Quiet," Mystique Said, and though the mutant was calm… her commands carried weight.
Hope swallowed, hugging her gown a bit tighter around her.
"My former sister," Mystique began quietly. "You've changed now. I'm sure you're aware Scott told us what happened. Charles. He sees things. Can go places. Look into the past and sometimes even… see the future. And, as it turns out, he's seen yours, Hope Summers. And it isn't good. For anyone."
Hope's eyes blossomed. "What are you talking about!?"
Mystique shrugged. "You don't have to believe me. That's why I snuck here in the middle of the night. Charles has other plans for you, you see. Scott didn't like you leaving so your to be in-prisoned, sounds nice doesn't it?"
"In-Prisoned!?"
"You heard me," Mystique said, advancing a step with the rope pulled taught between her gloves hands. "I'm here to steal you." She leaned down, readying a loop in the rope. "So keep quiet."
"I will not! You won't take me back you- oof!" Before she could protest any further, Mystique had snatched her wrist and twisted it till Hope had no choice but to roll onto her belly. She felt her hands being wrestled together and then wound in rope, tighter and tighter, her fingers wiggling uselessly as she was bound. The Mutant hopped onto her legs and Hope's feet were forced together too, her ankles wrapped and bound just as her hands has been.
"Get off me!" Hope shrieked as Mystique dismounted and drew a long black cloth from her pocket. "Now open your big mouth so I can shut it up for you."
"What!? You…" The cloth was shoved forcefully into Hope's opened lips. She bit down on it a fury as the Mutant woman gagged her tightly with it, knotting it behind her head. Her wide eyes, she was sure, were filled with fire and loathing as she stared at her captor. "Ymmn cmnd dmn thnnff!" She growled around her gag, but the cloth worked wonders at keeping her both quiet and incomprehensible.
"Shhhhh," Mystique hushed her with a grin.
"Mmm! Mmm!" Hope protested till Mystique hand drove hard against her bottom.
"Quiet!"
Hope did go quiet, but more out of indignation than obedience. Did she just get… spanked!? She certainly wasn't going to be escaping, wrapped, held, bound, gagged… Hope had never felt so utterly helpless before.
"Mmrrf…" Hope grumbled, wiggling in her binds.
"Shush. Get used to all that. When I take you back to Krakoa, Scott has plans on how to keep you from ever running away again. You're not going to be permitted to leave the island. And you'll be kept in tight restraints." Her smile broadened. "You're not going anywhere once we have you."
Hope felt her cheeks flush with color as she writhed again, shaking her head.
"Mmmmmph!"
"I said to keep quiet," Mystique warned her, tending to the fire again. "Save your mumbles for Scott. I'm sure He'll get a thrill out of hearing them."
Hope squinted.
"I'm sure we'll find…" the woman's eyes moved up and down her figure. "…good use for you. All of you."
That was the last thing Mystique seemed to intend to say. She turned and saw a flaming head right in her face " You know for someone who's trying to kidnap someone your not very subtle about it " Came the voice of Doyle Doormamu. Mystique quickly looked around as the lights turned on revealing the rest of the Strange Academy classmates who were at the Academy " Doyle you were right " Dessy said.
Mystique backed away " We will let you leave but Hope stays " Magik said " I cant allow that " Mystique said " Then we have no choice " Klaus said as sounds of chanting were heard, Ben's tentacles apepared, Hope swore Mystique was a paler colour of blue now " She is one of us " Mystique said " She made a choice to leave you like i did, you should respect that " Magik snapped, Mystique lunged at Magik only to get knocked back and out over the Balcony by a magical blast.
" Ill run a bath" Jessi said as Magik hugged hope, Doyle and Dessy were untying the mutant girl " You ok?" Ben asked, Hope read his mind, " Im ok" she said as soon as the gag was removed, Horror nodded, Hope's head snapped up as she was lead to the bath Jessi had spoken of, the heat was an alluring idea after all that cold.
She went to it and, she shed free of her flimsy nightgown, dirty and tattered now, and dipped a toe into the bath. It was hot. She climbed in, lowering herself graciously till the water bobbed just above her collarbone and her long brown hair spread around her jawline like a flower.
Heat encapsulated her. From the soles of her feet to her breasts and collarbone, it was like being dipped in dragon's fire. It awakened a desire in her to fight; Her eyes flittered to the window and Hope clench her jaw resolutely.
The Xmen would pay, starting with the one who she detested the most. Managing a smile for the first time in days, Hope rested her head against the bath rim and closed her eyes.
"Fuck you Scott Summers…" Hope whispered, relaxing entirely then.
