Chapter 3

'Running doesn't help, if you're on the wrong way.'

-Unknown

The kitchen was silent as Josh left, and the silence lasted untill they could hear the quick steps reach a door and it carefully closing. Then Xavier turned towards his students. 'Well?'

Scott put down the paper, wich he had seemed to be reading so that he could study Josh from behind his rubyquarts glasses. 'He's terrified.' he started, and got an agreeing mumble around the table. 'Especially of Remy and Logan.' Remy nodded in response. 'Qui. I gave 'im a sign I thoug't woul' calm 'im, but dat seemed to scare 'im even more.' He put his chin in his hand, leaning his elbow on the table. 'De boy's been in touch with de Guild, an' didn't seem to 'ave liked de experience.' Logan snorted. 'I can't think of any Guild I'd be more terrified off if I was a twelve year old pickpocket...-not- from the Guild. And exept for the girls in here, we could scare older men than him.' He lifted a hand at Rouges lifted eyebrow. 'Don't get me wrong, darlin'. I'm just talkin' about how sweet the three of ya look compared to the rest of us old weatherworn owls.' Rouge chuckled and wrinkled her nose a little. 'Ya try, Wolvie, an' ya do quite good somethimes. But ah agree...he looked like a mouse who just found himself in the lair of the cat. An he left like he was happy to get away withou...this easy.' Jean nodded. 'Happy to get away without a beating. Or worse.'

Josh closed the door carefully behind him and then leaned towards it, hiding his face in his hands as he tried to think. 'Great...just great. They're going to kill me.' The fact that they could have killed him every moment he'd been here if they wanted to flashed by, but he was to scared to take the chance. He ran his fingers through his hair, and then winced a little. His arms still hurt from the latest 'dicipline' he'd gotten, at the 'home'. He smiled bitterly. Home. Not the first thing he'd call it. Then he looked around the room, and quickly put all his things back in the bag, and then put on his thin leather jacket, pocketing a pack of cards. He'd survive, if he only came out of here. He'd find some people to trick, and get enough money to buy some food and perhaps a pair of less used boots before winter. He cursed silently as he remembered he'd forgotten to eat at breakfast, or even take something with him. But it was too late to go back, and he couldn't bring himself to take the chance of sneaking by the kitchen on the way out. Opening the window, he took the luxuary of one last glance. It was a nice room, and no bars outside the window. He could have liked it, if things had been different. But as things were... He sighed, and stepped out on the thin ledge outside the window, closing it behind him.

'So, we're going to take him in then?' Jean summed up, and looked around the table, getting nods of agreement everywhere. 'Then, someone should go and stop him before he reaches the walls.' she said in a casual, matter of fact tone. Remy got up, and chuckled. 'I'll go..."takes a thief to catch one", eh?' Xavier nodded before Scott had the chance to object. 'Remy can handle him.'With a nod, Remy quickly headed towards the backdoor. 'Any leads on w'ere he's at?' he asked over his shoulder. 'West wall.' Xavier answered before the door closed. 'Okey...did Gumbo leave any of that tar he calls coffee? I need to get my eyes open before I walk into something.' Logan asked as they returned to their breakfast.

The wall was there, within reach, but there was a long way over open terrain before he could climb over it...back to the 'safety' of the streets. At least he knew what to expect there. And how to survive. He was about to take the final steps out of his shelter, a few small trees and bushes about thirty feet from the brick wall, when something made him cautious. He couldn't say what it was, just his 'sixth sense' telling him to stay in cover. And he knew better now than to ignore that sense. About ten seconds later, he was given right. Remy, the thief with the accent, came walking along the wall. He wasn't shouting for him, so they couldn't have noticed that he was missing quite yet. Good. He'd just wait for Remy to pass, and then he'd have freedom again. But his body choose that moment to betray him. His stomach wasn't happy with having been in a room smelling so wonderfully of food, just to have it taken away again, and it growled. Josh cursed in his mind, as Remy turned his head. He must have acute hearing, he thought, as Remy turned his steps towards his hidingplace. 'Josh?' he said softly, and sent a shiver of fear down Josh's spine. 'I know you're dere, an' we shoul' go back 'fore you worry 'em pretty ladies in de kitchen, eh?' His head felt as it was filled with cotton, all of a sudden. Something with that voice...Josh shook his head. He couldn't be caught now, so close...had to go back, couldn't worry Jean...What?! No! 'Josh? 's dat your real name? Or 's 't Joshua? Like in de Good Book?' Josh smiled a little. Joshua...only mom had called him that. Before...her new husband...'No! Leave me alone!' With shock, he realised that he had said the last out loud, and darted out of his cover, making a desperate rush towards the wall. But he wasn't quick enough. Strong arms closed around him, and he was more or less lifted straight up. Fear washed in over him, and he started to fight feriously. 'Let me go!' Remy ignored his cry, and he was carried back towards the house, kicking and biting, clawing and wrigling. But his fear gave him powers he didn't know he had. All he could feel was this strong need to get free and, suddenly, he felt like he was on fire!

As he carried the struggling boy back towards the mansion, Remy tried not to curse out loud as the little feet and hands, not to mention teeth, left their marks on his arms and legs. 'De Professor's gonna get for this...' he muttered to himself, and then he blinked. The boy was glowing! 'W'at!?' he exclaimed, just before what had been a little boy only a couple of seconds ago had turned into...a red-hot, sparkling...man? That was the last thing he saw, before the world went dark.

Everything seemed so confusing. He was burning, and still not...He was hot, and yet cold. It was bright around him, and he felt like he was moving, still on the same place. Then, a feeling of falling, and everything went black.

Remy opened his eyes, and blinked. Josh laid on the ground, unconcious. He got up, and winced. He felt like he'd been caught in a meat-mincer. 'Can't be easy to be you, homme...' Remy mumbled, as he gently picked up the unconcious boy and carefully carried him back to the house.