* * *
Ah landed in a different world than the one Ah'd left. Outside th' airport everythin' was drenched in cool, bright light. It got in everywhere, even the darkest corners. Genosha seemed like a place where nothin' could stay hidden for long. The airport was on a rise, lookin' down a long slope into Hammer Bay. Everythin' was so neat an' clean. Past th' spires o' the city, a green haze of jungle, th' high blue sky an' the ocean everywhere. All that color almost woulda been garish except for the small, white houses dotted along the valley. The towers flashed silver in the sun an' I felt like Dorothy lookin' at the goddamned Emerald City.
"Places like this aren't supposed ta exist," Ah muttered, shiftin' my bag from one hand ta the other.
"But Genosha isn't like any other place." A female voice. Someone just over my right shoulder had heard me. Ah had ta force myself not ta flinch away at the sound. Ah had ta get information somewhere, so Ah pasted a cheerful look on my face and turned around.
About my height, maybe a little taller. She had dark eyes and dark hair done up like Wanda's--all spiky. Tryin' too hard messy, Ah woulda said on another day in a gloomier place. "It's just the sunshine. Gets me down," Ah replied, tryin' ta keep things light.
She smiled. "I guess I can tell you're not from around here."
"What gave me away?" Ah asked, sarcastic but not unkind.
"My name's Jenny, by the way."
"Rogue. Nice ta meet ya."
"This your first trip to Genosha, Rogue?"
"My first trip anywhere."
"How exciting!"
"Ah guess you're from around here." Girl was bright as the weather. Ah kept scannin' the crowd for that familiar Cajun face. So many things coulda happened between Massachusetts and Genosha. Ah had ta force myself not ta think about that blood on the grass. But it wasn't as if Ah'd expected him ta meet me at the gate with a kiss and a "HelloRogueAh'veMissedYou" while he wrapped his long arms around me. Ah don't think Ah coulda handled that anyways.
"Born and raised," Jenny said proudly. Then she appeared ta consider things a second. "Look, you're heading into Hammer Bay, right? Lemme give you a ride."
"You don't even know me," Ah protested.
She looked at me. "I guess I could take you down," she said seriously. Her eyes twinkled. Ah felt a stab o' panic rememberin' other twinklin' eyes and thinkin' mebbe Ah'd never see 'em again. Genosha was so big. Ah'd known it was big, but bein' there was a whole different story because Ah could see it was big. "Anyway, I'm going to my boyfriend's house to drop off some stuff. It's no problem at all for me to take you. Save you cab fare?" She was tryin' ta entice me then. Ah didn't even have cab fare. Ah didn't have any money at all.
"So much for takin' things on the fly," Ah thought.
"Thanks," Ah said aloud. "Ah really 'preciate it." Impulsively Ah added, "Ah was supposed ta meet my boyfriend here, but it looks like he flaked out."
Jenny's face immediately filled with concern. "Once we get to the city you'll be okay, right?"
"Oh yeah," Ah said dismissively, "Ah'll just find him at the hotel instead."
"Strange that he didn't show up though."
"Yeah. Strange."
Jenny's "car" turned out ta be an immaculately-restored Harley Davidson Logan woulda given his right hand ta own. Ah held onto Jenny's waist while she whipped it around curves, sometimes dippin' so low ta the side that Ah could feel the barest brush of asphalt. We arrived in Hammer Bay in record time an' pulled up in front of the biggest house Ah'd ever seen. The Institute coulda fit on the front lawn. Even before Jenny shut the bike off, a man was runnin' down the front steps ta see her. He was tall an' broadly muscled with a stern face that softened into anticipation as he got closer ta Jenny.
He didn't stop till he'd reached her, then he picked her up like she was nothin' and swung her around before pullin' her into a fierce hug Ah didn't think was gonna end. Ah felt the familiar stab o' jealousy watchin' 'em touch, but immediately scolded myself for bein' so black-hearted. Guilt was a familiar dance.
"This is my boyfriend, Phillip," Jenny said finally. "Phillip, this is Rogue. I gave her a ride from the airport."
"Gotta stop picking up those strays, J.R.," Phillip said, squeezin' her shoulder.
Ah think he was tryin' ta be funny, but it came off all wrong. Ah ignored the comment. "This is some house, Phillip," Ah said. "Ya must be loaded."
Phillip looked ashamed. He rubbed the back o' his neck with his hand. Not the reaction Ah was expectin'. "Not my place. It's my dad's."
"Ah'm sorry," Ah apologized, not knowin' what else ta say.
"It's okay, Rogue," Jenny said. "It's not your fault. Phillip and his dad...well, it's complicated."
"You don't need to drag her into my family problems," Phillip said angrily. "You don't even know her!"
"I can tell she's a good person. It's in her face." Ah almost laughed at that. It almost didn't seem like my real face without th' makeup.
"That's what you said about Tom," he said quietly.
"That's not fair, Phillip."
"Can I call you a cab?" Phillip asked, acknowledging my presence again. He was tryin' ta be polite, but the boy just rubbed me the wrong way. Had ta remind myself ta be civil.
"Ah can walk." Came out more curtly than Ah'd planned.
"At least have the young lady in for a moment, Phillip." Another person behind me. Ah resolved ta stop lettin' everyone just sneak up. "I raised you better than that."
"Hi, Doctor Moreau," Jenny said. Ah could see that she was squeezin' Phillip's hand pretty tight. Probably ta stop him from openin' his fool mouth again.
"And you are?" Doctor Moreau was a middle-aged man with steel grey hair that jagged into a deep widow's peak on his forehead. There was somethin' about his deep-set brown eyes that scared me. Some part closed off inside. Ah wondered if he even knew about it.
"Ah'm Rogue."
"It's nice to meet you, Rogue," Doctor Moreau said, shootin' Phillip a pointed look. "Why don't you come inside and rest for a moment?"
Ah looked back and forth between the two of 'em, wonderin' what the best thing ta do would be. Either way Ah was gonna alienate one of 'em. "That'd be nice, Doctor Moreau," Ah finally said.
"Please, call me David. I've asked Jenny to numerous times."
"But I'm just an old-fashioned girl, Doctor Moreau," Jenny said.
"Surely you wouldn't disappoint me in the same way, Rogue."
"Ah guess not."
Inside, th' house was even more impressive. Ah could barely take it all in- -parquet floors, the rich glow o' oriental rugs an' the quiet gleam o' silver. Felt like a church ta me. Made me nervous. Ah didn't know what ta do with my hands. David led me an' Jenny back into the kitchen. Phillip had disappeared into the house, still burning with annoyance.
"What can I get you?"
"Ah'll just have water."
"Water's fine." Jenny seemed more subdued. Ah figured she was probably thinkin' 'bout Phillip. "Which hotel is your boyfriend staying at, Rogue?" she asked me while David was gettin' the water.
Ah knew better than ta lie. Ah'd only be caught. "Well, Ah don't really know. Ah was hopin' Ah could call around."
Jenny looked confused. "I don't understand. Why wouldn't you know where he's staying?"
Sighed an' did my best ta look a little desperate. "He doesn't exactly know Ah'm here. Y'see, a coupla months ago he left ta start a new job in Genosha. He said he'd write an' call since Ah was supposed ta come out an' live with him when he got more settled. Ah got worried when Ah didn't hear anythin', so here Ah am. Ya probably think Ah'm real dumb, right?" Ah'd worked myself up an' my eyes were actually a little damp then. There was somethin' liberatin' about a lie well-told.
"I think that's really brave," Jenny said, touchin' my arm sympathetically. Her fingers almost brushed my bare wrist and Ah tried ta shrug her away without her knowin' what I was doin'. Ah tried my best, but her skin grazed mine. She felt the shock o' my powers an' her eyes widened a little bit. So much for my brilliant cover. "I think you should stay here at Doctor Moreau's house tonight."
"That's a little presumptuous, don't you think?" David asked. Ah wondered how much of our conversation he'd overheard. Ah wondered what he'd seen. Ah felt my palms begin ta sweat.
"It would be too generous," Ah protested. "Ah'm sure Ah'll find Remy. Ah'll be fine."
Ah don't know what happened next, but Jenny gave David a look. There was meanin' in it without doubt, but Ah didn't have the slightest idea what it was. "Don't be silly, Rogue. Do you know how many hotels there are in Hammer Bay? It's needle in a haystack time. Doctor Moreau works for the government, he'll be able to help you find your boyfriend."
"Yes, Rogue, I insist you stay," David said. Ah didn't like the way he was lookin' at me, like he was tryin' ta see inside. Ah crossed my arms over my stomach. There was nothin' else ta do.
* * *
Dey watched me all de time. Could feel dere eyes on me everywhere I went. Mystique had been dead serious 'bout de house arrest policy. Dey still didn't trust me and in de weaker moments, I didn't blame dem. I'm not trustworthy. Every minute I was in de house, I be plannin' ways t' get out. Oh de cage was plenty guilded and for de first day or so, we had our hands full just tryin' t' get everyt'ing up and running.
After dat everyt'ing slowed down considerable.
Passed de time in de gardens filled wit' mango trees an' mimosa. De whole country seemed heavy wit' de sweet scent. Piotr, John an' me played endless games o' poker and waited. We took sentry duties an' waited. Magneto wouldn't tell us what we be waitin' for. Second night, John got tired o' scribbling in de notebook he always carried an' went out.
"'Posed t' stay put, John," I told him.
"Don't spit the dummy (get very upset) on me, Remy. I'm just goin' out for a spot o' fun. Besides," he added wit' a smile, "Magneto and Mystique care fuck-all about what I do just so long as you stay right here."
"What makes you t'ink I'm stayin' here?"
He didn't answer dat one. Surprised when Piotr followed him.
"Khers nim (I don't give a damn). It is too boring here," I heard him mutter before he followed John out de door. Was hard t' get a read on Piotr. Made him difficult t' manipulate, but wit' him and John outta de house, I was free t' look for information on Doctor Moreau.
You might be wonderin' if I was concerned 'bout Rogue. Sans doute (doubtless), but den I had t' remind myself dat she was my tite pichouette (mischevious girl) and probably better at takin' care of herself den I was. Figured t' find Moreau den Trask. Figured dat Rogue would be dere wit' Trask, dat is if she'd even decided t' come t' Genosha in de first place. Dat gave me pause. T'ought 'bout how much I wanted t' see her. But worry never caused anyt'ing but wrinkled foreheads.
Easy enough t' hack de database when I helped t' set it up, but dere was not'ing. Tore de house apart looking for hard copies. No luck dere. Wasn't out of tricks, not by half, but de t'ing dat finally gave me information about Moreau was de Hammer Bay telephone book. Coo-yon (stupid). De address was all I needed t' have. Openin' de French doors into de garden, I slipped into de sweet, humid night and over de high garden wall almost as fast as t'ought.
Felt good t' feel de ground under my pounding feet. Memorized a street map de day before; part o' my t'ief's training was layout. Get t' know de terrain. Know your entrances an' exits by heart. Keep shortcuts in mind. Don't know how many times dat saved me from disaster.
Slid in and out of shadows. De city was strange at night. Felt like de couche mal (evil spirits) lurking. No one on de streets, not even so much as a stray dog. De whole city holdin' its breath for somet'ing and I knew I didn't want t' be dere when dat breath got let out.
Doctor Moreau lived at de end of a long street lined wit' date palms. De fronds rustled in de gentle night breezes. I circled de house, noted de security system--top of de line, but I also knew de company cut corners by only arming de downstairs windows. Tall pine tree at de side of de house was better dan a ladder t' me. De spicy scent was still in my nose and de sap on my fingers five minutes later when I jumped onto de roof. Lowered myself down until my toes caught de edge of a windowsill, clung to de side of de house and opened de window wit' one hand, keeping my body braced in de window frame. Dropped t'rough de opened window, soft roll when I hit de ground.
Never even heard de soft footfalls behind me. Dere was a flare o' pain at de base of my neck, de world flashed bright for a moment, de brightness hurting my eyes, and den not'ing.
Ah landed in a different world than the one Ah'd left. Outside th' airport everythin' was drenched in cool, bright light. It got in everywhere, even the darkest corners. Genosha seemed like a place where nothin' could stay hidden for long. The airport was on a rise, lookin' down a long slope into Hammer Bay. Everythin' was so neat an' clean. Past th' spires o' the city, a green haze of jungle, th' high blue sky an' the ocean everywhere. All that color almost woulda been garish except for the small, white houses dotted along the valley. The towers flashed silver in the sun an' I felt like Dorothy lookin' at the goddamned Emerald City.
"Places like this aren't supposed ta exist," Ah muttered, shiftin' my bag from one hand ta the other.
"But Genosha isn't like any other place." A female voice. Someone just over my right shoulder had heard me. Ah had ta force myself not ta flinch away at the sound. Ah had ta get information somewhere, so Ah pasted a cheerful look on my face and turned around.
About my height, maybe a little taller. She had dark eyes and dark hair done up like Wanda's--all spiky. Tryin' too hard messy, Ah woulda said on another day in a gloomier place. "It's just the sunshine. Gets me down," Ah replied, tryin' ta keep things light.
She smiled. "I guess I can tell you're not from around here."
"What gave me away?" Ah asked, sarcastic but not unkind.
"My name's Jenny, by the way."
"Rogue. Nice ta meet ya."
"This your first trip to Genosha, Rogue?"
"My first trip anywhere."
"How exciting!"
"Ah guess you're from around here." Girl was bright as the weather. Ah kept scannin' the crowd for that familiar Cajun face. So many things coulda happened between Massachusetts and Genosha. Ah had ta force myself not ta think about that blood on the grass. But it wasn't as if Ah'd expected him ta meet me at the gate with a kiss and a "HelloRogueAh'veMissedYou" while he wrapped his long arms around me. Ah don't think Ah coulda handled that anyways.
"Born and raised," Jenny said proudly. Then she appeared ta consider things a second. "Look, you're heading into Hammer Bay, right? Lemme give you a ride."
"You don't even know me," Ah protested.
She looked at me. "I guess I could take you down," she said seriously. Her eyes twinkled. Ah felt a stab o' panic rememberin' other twinklin' eyes and thinkin' mebbe Ah'd never see 'em again. Genosha was so big. Ah'd known it was big, but bein' there was a whole different story because Ah could see it was big. "Anyway, I'm going to my boyfriend's house to drop off some stuff. It's no problem at all for me to take you. Save you cab fare?" She was tryin' ta entice me then. Ah didn't even have cab fare. Ah didn't have any money at all.
"So much for takin' things on the fly," Ah thought.
"Thanks," Ah said aloud. "Ah really 'preciate it." Impulsively Ah added, "Ah was supposed ta meet my boyfriend here, but it looks like he flaked out."
Jenny's face immediately filled with concern. "Once we get to the city you'll be okay, right?"
"Oh yeah," Ah said dismissively, "Ah'll just find him at the hotel instead."
"Strange that he didn't show up though."
"Yeah. Strange."
Jenny's "car" turned out ta be an immaculately-restored Harley Davidson Logan woulda given his right hand ta own. Ah held onto Jenny's waist while she whipped it around curves, sometimes dippin' so low ta the side that Ah could feel the barest brush of asphalt. We arrived in Hammer Bay in record time an' pulled up in front of the biggest house Ah'd ever seen. The Institute coulda fit on the front lawn. Even before Jenny shut the bike off, a man was runnin' down the front steps ta see her. He was tall an' broadly muscled with a stern face that softened into anticipation as he got closer ta Jenny.
He didn't stop till he'd reached her, then he picked her up like she was nothin' and swung her around before pullin' her into a fierce hug Ah didn't think was gonna end. Ah felt the familiar stab o' jealousy watchin' 'em touch, but immediately scolded myself for bein' so black-hearted. Guilt was a familiar dance.
"This is my boyfriend, Phillip," Jenny said finally. "Phillip, this is Rogue. I gave her a ride from the airport."
"Gotta stop picking up those strays, J.R.," Phillip said, squeezin' her shoulder.
Ah think he was tryin' ta be funny, but it came off all wrong. Ah ignored the comment. "This is some house, Phillip," Ah said. "Ya must be loaded."
Phillip looked ashamed. He rubbed the back o' his neck with his hand. Not the reaction Ah was expectin'. "Not my place. It's my dad's."
"Ah'm sorry," Ah apologized, not knowin' what else ta say.
"It's okay, Rogue," Jenny said. "It's not your fault. Phillip and his dad...well, it's complicated."
"You don't need to drag her into my family problems," Phillip said angrily. "You don't even know her!"
"I can tell she's a good person. It's in her face." Ah almost laughed at that. It almost didn't seem like my real face without th' makeup.
"That's what you said about Tom," he said quietly.
"That's not fair, Phillip."
"Can I call you a cab?" Phillip asked, acknowledging my presence again. He was tryin' ta be polite, but the boy just rubbed me the wrong way. Had ta remind myself ta be civil.
"Ah can walk." Came out more curtly than Ah'd planned.
"At least have the young lady in for a moment, Phillip." Another person behind me. Ah resolved ta stop lettin' everyone just sneak up. "I raised you better than that."
"Hi, Doctor Moreau," Jenny said. Ah could see that she was squeezin' Phillip's hand pretty tight. Probably ta stop him from openin' his fool mouth again.
"And you are?" Doctor Moreau was a middle-aged man with steel grey hair that jagged into a deep widow's peak on his forehead. There was somethin' about his deep-set brown eyes that scared me. Some part closed off inside. Ah wondered if he even knew about it.
"Ah'm Rogue."
"It's nice to meet you, Rogue," Doctor Moreau said, shootin' Phillip a pointed look. "Why don't you come inside and rest for a moment?"
Ah looked back and forth between the two of 'em, wonderin' what the best thing ta do would be. Either way Ah was gonna alienate one of 'em. "That'd be nice, Doctor Moreau," Ah finally said.
"Please, call me David. I've asked Jenny to numerous times."
"But I'm just an old-fashioned girl, Doctor Moreau," Jenny said.
"Surely you wouldn't disappoint me in the same way, Rogue."
"Ah guess not."
Inside, th' house was even more impressive. Ah could barely take it all in- -parquet floors, the rich glow o' oriental rugs an' the quiet gleam o' silver. Felt like a church ta me. Made me nervous. Ah didn't know what ta do with my hands. David led me an' Jenny back into the kitchen. Phillip had disappeared into the house, still burning with annoyance.
"What can I get you?"
"Ah'll just have water."
"Water's fine." Jenny seemed more subdued. Ah figured she was probably thinkin' 'bout Phillip. "Which hotel is your boyfriend staying at, Rogue?" she asked me while David was gettin' the water.
Ah knew better than ta lie. Ah'd only be caught. "Well, Ah don't really know. Ah was hopin' Ah could call around."
Jenny looked confused. "I don't understand. Why wouldn't you know where he's staying?"
Sighed an' did my best ta look a little desperate. "He doesn't exactly know Ah'm here. Y'see, a coupla months ago he left ta start a new job in Genosha. He said he'd write an' call since Ah was supposed ta come out an' live with him when he got more settled. Ah got worried when Ah didn't hear anythin', so here Ah am. Ya probably think Ah'm real dumb, right?" Ah'd worked myself up an' my eyes were actually a little damp then. There was somethin' liberatin' about a lie well-told.
"I think that's really brave," Jenny said, touchin' my arm sympathetically. Her fingers almost brushed my bare wrist and Ah tried ta shrug her away without her knowin' what I was doin'. Ah tried my best, but her skin grazed mine. She felt the shock o' my powers an' her eyes widened a little bit. So much for my brilliant cover. "I think you should stay here at Doctor Moreau's house tonight."
"That's a little presumptuous, don't you think?" David asked. Ah wondered how much of our conversation he'd overheard. Ah wondered what he'd seen. Ah felt my palms begin ta sweat.
"It would be too generous," Ah protested. "Ah'm sure Ah'll find Remy. Ah'll be fine."
Ah don't know what happened next, but Jenny gave David a look. There was meanin' in it without doubt, but Ah didn't have the slightest idea what it was. "Don't be silly, Rogue. Do you know how many hotels there are in Hammer Bay? It's needle in a haystack time. Doctor Moreau works for the government, he'll be able to help you find your boyfriend."
"Yes, Rogue, I insist you stay," David said. Ah didn't like the way he was lookin' at me, like he was tryin' ta see inside. Ah crossed my arms over my stomach. There was nothin' else ta do.
* * *
Dey watched me all de time. Could feel dere eyes on me everywhere I went. Mystique had been dead serious 'bout de house arrest policy. Dey still didn't trust me and in de weaker moments, I didn't blame dem. I'm not trustworthy. Every minute I was in de house, I be plannin' ways t' get out. Oh de cage was plenty guilded and for de first day or so, we had our hands full just tryin' t' get everyt'ing up and running.
After dat everyt'ing slowed down considerable.
Passed de time in de gardens filled wit' mango trees an' mimosa. De whole country seemed heavy wit' de sweet scent. Piotr, John an' me played endless games o' poker and waited. We took sentry duties an' waited. Magneto wouldn't tell us what we be waitin' for. Second night, John got tired o' scribbling in de notebook he always carried an' went out.
"'Posed t' stay put, John," I told him.
"Don't spit the dummy (get very upset) on me, Remy. I'm just goin' out for a spot o' fun. Besides," he added wit' a smile, "Magneto and Mystique care fuck-all about what I do just so long as you stay right here."
"What makes you t'ink I'm stayin' here?"
He didn't answer dat one. Surprised when Piotr followed him.
"Khers nim (I don't give a damn). It is too boring here," I heard him mutter before he followed John out de door. Was hard t' get a read on Piotr. Made him difficult t' manipulate, but wit' him and John outta de house, I was free t' look for information on Doctor Moreau.
You might be wonderin' if I was concerned 'bout Rogue. Sans doute (doubtless), but den I had t' remind myself dat she was my tite pichouette (mischevious girl) and probably better at takin' care of herself den I was. Figured t' find Moreau den Trask. Figured dat Rogue would be dere wit' Trask, dat is if she'd even decided t' come t' Genosha in de first place. Dat gave me pause. T'ought 'bout how much I wanted t' see her. But worry never caused anyt'ing but wrinkled foreheads.
Easy enough t' hack de database when I helped t' set it up, but dere was not'ing. Tore de house apart looking for hard copies. No luck dere. Wasn't out of tricks, not by half, but de t'ing dat finally gave me information about Moreau was de Hammer Bay telephone book. Coo-yon (stupid). De address was all I needed t' have. Openin' de French doors into de garden, I slipped into de sweet, humid night and over de high garden wall almost as fast as t'ought.
Felt good t' feel de ground under my pounding feet. Memorized a street map de day before; part o' my t'ief's training was layout. Get t' know de terrain. Know your entrances an' exits by heart. Keep shortcuts in mind. Don't know how many times dat saved me from disaster.
Slid in and out of shadows. De city was strange at night. Felt like de couche mal (evil spirits) lurking. No one on de streets, not even so much as a stray dog. De whole city holdin' its breath for somet'ing and I knew I didn't want t' be dere when dat breath got let out.
Doctor Moreau lived at de end of a long street lined wit' date palms. De fronds rustled in de gentle night breezes. I circled de house, noted de security system--top of de line, but I also knew de company cut corners by only arming de downstairs windows. Tall pine tree at de side of de house was better dan a ladder t' me. De spicy scent was still in my nose and de sap on my fingers five minutes later when I jumped onto de roof. Lowered myself down until my toes caught de edge of a windowsill, clung to de side of de house and opened de window wit' one hand, keeping my body braced in de window frame. Dropped t'rough de opened window, soft roll when I hit de ground.
Never even heard de soft footfalls behind me. Dere was a flare o' pain at de base of my neck, de world flashed bright for a moment, de brightness hurting my eyes, and den not'ing.