I had left the note for Logan and Jubilee outside their doors and had made my way out of the mansion as quietly as I could. I ran across the damp grass, the midnight moonlight guiding my way. I opened the door to the garage and slipped in and closed the door behind me. I unlocked the Jeep and manually opened the Garage door. Throwing my bag into the back seat, I climbed into the leather seats of the jeep, started it up and slowly moved out of the garage.

I drove my way to the main driveway and took one last look at the school. To my surprise, the front door swung open and a small figure ran out. Jubilee. Her face was dripped with tears as she ran across the wet grass towards me, my note held tightly in her right hand.

I pressed down the accelerator and speed towards the gates. As I reached the main road, I paused, looking back in the rear view mirror. Jubilee had sunk to the ground on the driveway, her arms outstretched towards me, her body shaking as she sobbed. Looking back towards the road, I turned left and continued down the road, silent tears running down my face.


I dumped the Jeep at a bus station, fourteen miles north of the mansion. I changed into some of Jubilee's clothes that I borrowed to put Logan off the scent and sat down by the road.

As the sun rose I began to walked down the road, holding out my thumb in hope of a ride. Lucky, a trucker stood pity on me and I was soon miles away from the mansion, riding in the cabin of an eighteen wheel diesel truck. As he made his final delivery for the day, he stopped at a bus station and opened the door for me.

Taking the hint, I nodded and climbed out of the truck. As he drove away, I stared at the dirty sign swing gently in the breeze. The bus station has closed down. Sighing, I walked down the main road, think about what to do next. Decided to find out where I was, I walked into the nearest shop and up to the counter.

Seeing no one was around, I looked at the variety of necklaces and bracelets under the counter.

"They're surppression bracelets for mutants?" I spun around to find a old man standing behind me.

"Pardon?" I asked back.

"The Bracelets are surpression devices for mutants. You know, to suppress their powers?"

I looked him, his face calm and serious as he moved behind the counter. "A pretty girl like you can never be to careful" he said with a sleazy smile.

Looking down at the bracelets, I selected one and slowly pointed it out the old man.

"Can I have that one?" I asked. With a puzzled expression, he picked up the bracelet and handed it to me.

"Ten dollars please". I handed over the money and left the shop.

Walking across the street, I sat down on a stiff park bench overlooking a children's playground. The children playing in the afternoon sun ignored me as I looked carefully at the bracelet. It was made out of silver with red gems gleaming up at me. Slipping off my glove, I fastened the bracelet to my hand. I felt a needle press into my skin underneath the silver and my skin began to tingle, painfully at first, but after a few minutes I couldn't feel it at all.

Pulling off my other glove, I stared at my bare pale hands. A young girl came up quietly and sat beside me on the bench.

"What's wrong with your hands?" she asked.

Smiling, I looked at the girl, her blue eyes shinning with curiosity. She reached out her hands and grabbed mine. I smiled in triumph as she turned my hands over in her tiny hands.

"There's nothing wrong with your hands" she stated, letting go of my hand, moving to stand in front of me.

A single tear rolled down my cheek. "Now what's wrong?" she asked, placing her hands on her hips.

Unable to find words, I gently took her in my arms and hugged her. When I let go of her, she gave my a puzzled look and ran off to join her friends. I stayed on the bench until the sunlight began to fade and the kids had gone home.

Pulling my bag over my shoulder, I walked across the park, to the group of shops on the other side. All the shops were closing as I passed them. I kept walking as the row of shops finished, the road became gravel and dusty. In front of me, a sign BAR flashed in bright red letters. I opened the door and stepped in the smoky room. I felt many pairs of eyes following me as I approached the bartender. I sat down on the stool and looked around the bar. The bartender leaned over the bar at me.

"You want something?" I stared back at him. "Water please"

He gave me a disapproving look, but still gave me the drink. Sensing that I was not welcome, I skulled down the water and headed for the door. A cold wind greeted me as I opened the door and wrapping my coat more tightly around myself, I stepped outside. Walking slowly down the road, I pulled my bag off my shoulder and searched through it for a thicker coat.

"Don't move." came a voice from behind me as I felt something sharp pushed against my back.

I dropped my bag as an arm came round my waist and reached inside my shirt. I stiffened as the rough fingers rubbed against my stomach.

"Please don't" I begged as he reached higher up into shirt and played with my bra.

Sick to my stomach, I slammed my foot into his groin. As he loosen his grip on my waist, I hooked my foot behind his knee and brought him down. Kicking the knife from his hand, I reached for my bag only to have my feet disappear as they were kicked out from under me. An explosion of colour filled my eyes as my head hit the ground. I struggled to see straight as he grabbed my hair and dragged me across the ground. I screamed as my coat was grabbed from me and my shirt ripped open. I sobbed as I was held down and his hands pulled at my pants.

"Stop!" came an uncertain voice. He released his hold and I looked around for the voice that had saved me. A hand came out of nowhere and I was pulled me to my feet. My vision cleared and I found myself standing next to rifle bearing man pointed at my attacker.

The attacker held up his hands in resignation. "Fine, fine." He pointed at me "You asked for it" he said threatingly before staggering off into the darkness.

Lowering the rifle, the other guy held out his hand "Name's Marco"

I took his hand and shook it. "Marie"