Chapter Eight: You'll Never Walk Alone

I must have dozed off at some point, as I awoke with a start, jerked upright, and hurriedly looked around me. Something was wrong. I could feel it. I could sense terror…dread…panic…what was going on? Had Constantine found out where we lived? From downstairs I could hear Chloe and Fliss talking, calmly, easily. Chris was in the other bedroom; he was also perfectly all right.

So it was nothing in the immediate vicinity. But I could still sense that something was wrong, somewhere fairly nearby. I glanced at the clock: almost noon. I had been asleep for about two hours. I got off the bed and headed downstairs. Chloe and Fliss both looked up as they saw me, and both of them gave me a smile in greeting. Chloe's was bright and happy, while Fliss' was a shy, almost apologetic grin. She was still feeling bad about earlier.

"Are you two all right?" I asked. "Is everything OK?"

Chloe looked a little puzzled, "Yeah, fine. Why, what's up?"

"I'm not sure. I can sense feelings coming from somewhere close by. Somebody near us is terrified, afraid that they're about to die."

"Who?"

"I can't tell."

"Where's Chris?" Fliss asked.

"He's upstairs. It isn't him. I wonder if…"

"If what?"

"Tell you in a minute. I just want to check something."

I went into the front room to put on the TV. Chloe was beside me and Fliss followed behind us. I picked up the remote control; there wouldn't a news program on at this time of day, but I could check the text pages and read the headlines. I flicked on the first channel, and was instantly greeted by a newsflash.

" – motive remains unclear," the newsreader was saying. "They remain adamant that they will speak to nobody other than Neil Rosiçky – "

What? What was this? I listened intently.

"For those of you who are just joining us, a brief recap," the newsreader said. "We are interrupting our regular broadcast to bring you news of a mutant attack that occurred less than an hour ago in Edinburgh's Princes Street. Three mutants, as yet unidentified, seized a bus carrying more than thirty schoolchildren, killing the driver. Their leader issued a statement a short while ago, saying that the children would be killed one at a time, starting at noon, unless his demands were met. So far his only demand has been that he be met by a Neil Rosiçky. Whether or not this is the same Mr Rosiçky who is wanted by the police in connection with the murder of Cornelius Matthews, remains to be seen. So far there has been no appearance by anyone of that name. It is now twenty minutes to twelve – twenty minutes until the first child is due to be killed."

Chloe gasped and put her hands over her mouth. Fliss exclaimed, "Neil! It must be Constantine! He's trying to force you to confront him!"

I said nothing, keeping my attention on the news broadcast.

"We are now able to bring you the first pictures from the scene of the attack," said the newsreader, and the screen switched to show a somewhat unsteady image of Princes Street, the main shopping thoroughfare of Edinburgh. "On the left of your screen you can see the school bus. The three mutants are believed to be remaining inside the bus, but…wait, one of them appears to be emerging!"

I watched as the camera zoomed in slightly, and Constantine stepped out of the bus on to the pavement. Traffic had been completely stopped, and a half-circle of journalists and onlookers had formed around the bus, being kept at a safe distance by police. Constantine ran his eyes over the crowd, as if looking for something, then he stepped back inside the bus. I realised he must have been looking for me.

"The police are unable to move to confront these mutants, who have threatened to kill a child if anybody other than Neil Rosiçky approaches the bus," the newsreader continued. "Apparently a special army unit is on the way, but they are not expected to arrive until after twelve o'clock, too late to stop the killing of the first child."

I thought of all the parents who must be sitting at home or at work right now, glued to the TV or radio, each frantic at the thought that the children in danger might include their own. Constantine would carry out his threat and kill the children if I didn't appear – I had no doubt of that. I had no choice but to do what he said, and go to meet him. I had turned to head for the door when the newsreader spoke again, "Wait, this is just in. The leader of the mutant attackers – the man just seen on your screen – has been identified as one Constantine Matthews, son of Cornelius Matthews. This attack may be an attempt to seek some form of revenge against Rosiçky, the man accused of his father's murder. A mutant himself, Rosiçky's whereabouts are unknown, and police are very sceptical about whether or not he will appear today. Once again, ladies and gentlemen, a recap…"

I ran for the door and grabbed my jacket from where it hung in the hall.

"You're going?" asked Chloe, who was right behind me.

"Of course I'm going."

"I'm coming with you."

Fliss gasped, "But Chloe, you're – "

I gave her a sharp look, reminding her that she wasn't supposed to know about Chloe's pregnancy. She fell silent.

"Chloe, you can't," I said, holding up my hand to forestall her argument. "No – Chloe, I have to go alone. You heard what the newsreader said. Those kids will be murdered if anybody other than me goes near the bus."

"You are not going alone," she said. "The three of them will kill you. We're going with you. We'll hang back and stay in the crowd until you need our help."

I sighed, then said, "All right. Get Chris down here right away. He's the only one who knows how to drive."

"Drive?"

"Of course, drive!" I exclaimed. "The first child is going to be killed in twenty minutes! Do you really think we can walk from here to Princes Street in twenty minutes? Hurry! Get ready!"

I opened the front door of the house and scanned the street, looking for a suitable vehicle. Normally I wouldn't think of stealing my neighbours' property, but this was an emergency, and we would return it afterwards. I heard Chloe running up the stairs yelling for Chris, and Fliss watching me anxiously. A moment later, Chris was at my side, yawning, "I was asleep! What's so important it can't wait?"

"I don't have time to explain!" I said hurriedly. "We have to get to Princes Street in less than twenty minutes, and you have to drive us there. Choose the car you think looks fastest. Don't ask me why, just do it!"

Chris shrugged, "That sports car across the street is probably our best bet."

"Right. Can you hot-wire it?"

"Hot-wire it?" he asked, sounding offended. "I grew up in Leith; of course I can hot-wire it."

"Then do it. We'll be right behind you."

I was glad that Chris had the sense to respond to the urgency in my voice, and not waste time with questions. He ran across the street to appropriate the car, and I ushered the girls after him. Almost subconsciously locking the house door behind me, I began to run towards the car. Chris had picked the lock on the door, and was in the process of hot-wiring the engine. Fortunately the owner of the vehicle, presumably inside his house, did not appear to be aware of what was going on, and nobody tried to stop us. The four of us climbed into the car, and Chris threw it into gear, pulling away from the kerb. I offered up a quick prayer, Oh, God, please let us get there on time. Please keep those children safe.

"How fast can we get there?" I asked.

"Ten, fifteen minutes," he guessed. "Depending on how carefully I drive."

"Get there as fast as you can without doing anything stupid."

"Right. Do you want to tell me what this is about?"

"Constantine's holding a bunch of school children hostage. He's going to kill them one by one if I don't put in an appearance. The first one will be killed at noon."

Chris whistled, "Bloody hell. What are you going to do?"

"I don't know. Talk to him, see what he wants, I suppose."

"He wants you dead. How are you going to keep him from killing those children?"

"Chris, do I look as if I know? I only found out about it five minutes ago. I'm trying to think of a plan, but nothing's coming to my mind."

"The most important thing is the safety of those children," said Chloe, unconsciously rubbing her hand against her lower torso, where our own baby was safe.

"No, the most important thing is Neil staying alive to stand up to Constantine," said Chris. "If Neil gets killed, who's going to stop Constantine from killing as many children as he wants?"

"I can't let either of those things happen," I said. "I have to keep the children safe and keep myself alive. There has to be some way of doing it. I just need to think."

"What do you want us to do?" asked Fliss.

"Wait in the crowd until I give you a signal," I said. "Then come out and help me. If I'm incredibly lucky I can somehow get all three of them to leave the bus, then we can try and finish them. We can't let even one child die. This is my fault, in a way. I was stupid to think Constantine would sit quietly and bide his time until our next fight. I should have known he'd try and tip the balance somehow."

"Do you think the X-Men will help us?" Fliss asked hopefully.

"How can they? Even their jet can't get here in twenty minutes. We're on our own. We have to do this ourselves. This is our real test. It's our sworn duty to protect innocent human lives, remember."

She nodded. Chris glanced in the rear view mirror and swore, "Damn it. Police car. I'm going a bit faster than I should."

"We can't stop. You'll just have to lose them. And don't do anything stupid."

"Can't you use your power to stop them?"

"I'm saving my power for facing Constantine. I'll need it."

"True. OK, hold on. Here we go."

Chris pulled into the middle lane of traffic and increased speed, pulling away from the police car.

"Please keep your speed under control," Chloe begged. "Don't hit anybody!"

"I won't. Trust me."

"How much driving experience do you have?" Fliss asked dubiously.

Chris raised an eyebrow, "Do you really want me to answer that? Just trust me."

How he did it, I would never know, but somehow Chris managed to thread the car between the lanes of traffic, safely avoiding hitting anything, steadily leaving the police car behind. We were coming up on Princes Street with almost ten minutes to spare, when the traffic in front of us was no longer moving, and we had to stop.

"I was just beginning to enjoy that," Chris grinned, parking the car. "Come on, we'd better hurry."

We piled out of the car and began running towards the steadily growing crowd ahead of us.

"Stay here," I said to them, once we were inside the crowd. "Spread out a bit, give them multiple targets. If I'm about to get killed, and I haven't signalled you…just use your judgement. You'll have to weigh my safety against the lives of those children. Wish me luck."

Chloe gave me a quick kiss on my lips. Fliss pecked me on the cheek, and Chris put an encouraging hand on my shoulder. I took one last look at my three truest friends, then I turned and began walking towards the edge of the crowd. People were tightly packed together near the front, and I had to shoulder my way through. Struggling past journalists and cameramen, I finally made my way to the front, where a policeman stepped in front of me.

"Sorry, son, you can't get any closer," he said. "It's too dangerous."

I lowered my sun-glasses to show him my gold-pupilled eyes, "I'm Neil Rosiçky."

For a moment the officer gaped, then he turned to look for his superior, "Inspector!"

A second policeman hurried over, demanding, "What? What is it? Can't you keep the crowd back?"

"This lad says he's Rosiçky."

The inspector looked at me, "You? What do you know about this? What's behind this attack?"

"I don't know," I said. "Look, I don't have time to stand and talk. It's five minutes to twelve, and if you don't let me to that bus, a child will be killed!"

"Do you have any proof that you are Rosiçky? We can't let anybody else near the bus."

"He's got the gold eyes, sir!" the junior officer exclaimed.

"Those could be easily faked," the inspector snapped. "Contact lenses, most likely. I need real proof."

"Why don't you ask the guy in the bus, see what he says?" I demanded, my anger beginning to rise. "You want proof? I'll show you."

Impatiently I raised one hand, and used my power to lift both policemen off the ground. I lifted them only a few inches, then lowered them back down. This time the inspector was convinced, and a little terrified.

"All right, I believe you, now go and do something for those children!" he shouted, ushering me forwards.

I walked steadily towards the bus, and I heard the murmur of conversation in the crowd fade into silence, everybody waiting anxiously to see what would happen. I stopped a few yards away from the school bus, and could see through the windows the faces of the children: sobbing, some screaming, terrified beyond belief.

"I'm here, Constantine!" I yelled.

The door of the vehicle was pushed open, and he stepped out on to the tarmac surface of the road.

"Let the children go," I demanded.

Constantine laughed, "You're in no position to tell me what to do. I think you'll find I hold all the aces."

"Why did you ask me here? What do you want me to do?"

"I'll tell you in a minute. Get on the bus."

I remained where I was. Constantine snarled, "Do what I say, or I'll kill one of them."

I had no choice. I moved towards the door, and he shoved me inside. Within the vehicle, I could get a closer look at the hostages. The children were not very old, all aged about seven or eight, and all of them were looking at me with petrified pleading in their eyes. Ocelot stood over them, holding his hands at his side, his long, menacing claws visible for all to see. Nightshade leaned against the wall, glancing emotionlessly at me, her arms folded, her lithe, nimble form coiled like a spring, ready to jump into action.

"Nightshade, tie him," came Constantine's voice from behind me. "He can't use his mind power if his arms are tied."

He threw a length of rope towards the assassin girl, who stepped towards me, and began pulling the rope around my arms. Unfortunately, Constantine was right. This would prevent me from using my telekinesis. It would require several more years' experience before I could learn to manipulate it by thought alone. As Nightshade began to tighten the knots that held my wrists behind my back, I telepathed to her, Do you really want these children to die?

She jumped a little out of surprise, as most people did when a telepath first 'spoke' to them. She made no response, continuing with the knots.

Nightshade! I tried again, you can't do this! You're an assassin but you're not a child murderer! Remember why you killed Mindstorm!

That got through to her. Her hands loosened on the ropes, and she was caught in indecision. For a moment she deliberated, weighing her options: to go along with Constantine and be responsible for the deaths of innocent children; or to help me keep the children alive, while risking the chance that she might have to suffer Constantine's wrath. Eventually she made up her mind. Unpicking the knots, she began to re-tie them, looser than before, knowing she was giving me the chance to help the kids.

My hands tied, she stepped away, and Constantine came over to stand before me.

"So," he said. "Now that you are powerless before me, I have a question."

"What?"

"When we first met, in the courtyard at my estate, I said that you were the only mutant in the world powerful enough to stand in my way. You said I was wrong, and that there were mutants more powerful than you, who could stop me."

"And?"

"I want to know who they are, and where I can find them."

"Why?"

"I would have thought that was obvious. I will hunt them down and kill them, after I have killed you. Then there will be nobody left to stand up to me. Tell me who they are."

I said nothing. Constantine's eyes narrowed, and he moved closer to me, "Tell me."

I remained silent. He turned to Ocelot and snapped, "Bring me a child!"

The feline mutant grabbed the arm of the child nearest him, a small Japanese girl, and pulled her towards Constantine. She screamed, "No! I want my mummy!"

The other children began to cry and wail in terror as their friend was led away.

"The next one of you who utters a sound will be instantly killed," Constantine snarled impatiently, and the children fell silent.

Ocelot pushed the ashen-faced, horrified child in front of him, and flexed his clawed hands. Constantine smirked at me and said, "If you want that girl to live to see her next birthday, you had better tell me what I want to know."

I hesitated. Constantine lost his patience and yelled, "Ocelot, kill her!"

"No!" I screamed, as Ocelot's claws descended towards the girl's neck. "Stop! I'll tell you! I'll tell you!"

The cat-man relaxed, bringing his arms back to his sides, and I felt gratitude and relief pouring out of the little girl. Constantine said, "Go on."

"Professor Charles Xavier; Westchester, New York," I said hurriedly. "Erik Magnus Lehnsherr, also known as Magneto; I don't know where he is."

"Anybody else?"

"No. Just them."

"Good. I'm glad you could be so co-operative."

He moved away from me, and beckoned Nightshade and Ocelot to him. The three of them began discussing in low tones, doubtless deciding how to use the information I had just given him. Temporarily ignored, I began working at the ropes around my wrists, trying to see just how loose Nightshade had left them. I looked over at the small girl who was still standing where Ocelot had left her.

Be brave, I told her, I'm doing everything I can.

She nodded, and I saw the tiniest spark of hope began to flicker in her eyes. I hoped it wasn't to be extinguished. The ropes were moving now, and my hands were almost free. I glanced over at my enemies; the three of them were standing at the front of the bus, away from me, but more importantly away from the children. I had both hands free now. I knew what I had to do to save the children. Ocelot was keeping his eyes trained on me, but from the way I was sitting he couldn't see that my ropes were untied. I pushed out with my telepathy, sensed the minds of my three friends in the crowd outside, and sent to them, Get ready!

Moving like a flash, I swivelled, raised both arms, and launched a huge telekinetic blast at my three enemies. Constantine and Nightshade were caught completely unawares; Ocelot, with cat-like reflexes, had tensed himself in preparation, but that didn't stop the three of them from being thrown cleanly through the front windscreen of the bus, the glass shattering and hitting the pavement around them.

Now! I telepathed to my friends.

"Stay here!" I told the children. "Don't get out until I tell you it's safe!"

"Good luck," the little Japanese girl said.

I smiled at her, and hurried to the front of the bus to see what was happening outside. My enemies were cut and bleeding all over from the glass, but Constantine was using his healing power – the power he'd stolen from Antaeus – to restore himself and Nightshade. He had moved on to heal Ocelot when I leapt out of the bus to confront them. Constantine saw me, and turned a malevolent, hate-filled gaze in my direction.

"You're dead," he hissed. "Nightshade, Ocelot, watch out for his friends. They'll be here somewhere."

Ocelot bared his long, pointed teeth in a predatory grin, and Nightshade activated her invisibility, disappearing from view. Constantine lifted his arm to use his gravitational power, but I was one step ahead of him. I used my telekinesis to hold his arms in place, and he struggled against my power. His phenomenal body strength – the other gift he had stolen from Antaeus – came into play as he flexed his arms and fought against me, pulling them ever higher, into a position where he could use them to create a gravity field. He gave a snarl of triumph as he succeeded, and used his power to launch me across the street. I tried to slow myself, but I was still moving at a fair pace when I hit the metal railings running along the side of the street. Rising painfully to my feet, I glanced over the railings, down to the railway lines that led into the Waverley train station. A crowd had gathered down there too, spellbound by events taking place up above. The crowd up on the street were backing away nervously, a frenzy of camera flashes almost blinding me.

Fliss had appeared at the edge of the crowd, near the railings, firing lightning bolts from her fingertips, aiming at Constantine or Ocelot, I couldn't tell which. Constantine dodged one, and pointed Ocelot in Felicity's direction. The feline mutant extended his claws and began moving at a run towards Fliss. Chris jumped in to block him, and assumed a defensive stance.

"Here, kitty, kitty," he taunted.

Ocelot growled and swiped through the air with his clawed hands. Chris dodged and chopped him on the neck. Ocelot shrugged it off and slashed at Chris, cutting a gash in my friend's shoulder. Chris cried out, stumbled, and Ocelot grabbed him, thrusting a wiry, sinewy arm around Chris' neck. He struggled, but the cat-man was too strong. I moved over to help him, but Constantine was heading in my direction. Nightshade materialised in front of Chris, and her index finger began to mutate into her assassin blade.

Nightshade! Stop! I sent, but I knew she wasn't listening.

Chris was still struggling against Ocelot, no nearer to escape. As Nightshade's killer blade stabbed through the air towards him, his survival instinct took over, and he changed into liquid. The poisoned blade passed harmlessly through him, and, unable to stop her momentum, Nightshade stabbed Ocelot through the chest. The feline howled. Nightshade withdrew her hand as quickly as she could, but it was too late. Chris had re-coalesced and was back on his feet, ready to challenge Nightshade. The dying Ocelot kicked him solidly in the ribs, breaking half his rib-cage, knocking him through the air to hit the railings. Chris lay motionless on the ground. Ocelot was curled on the floor, convulsing, in his death throes, then he stopped moving, and I could sense his consciousness no longer. Nightshade was approaching Chris, her features tainted with fury at having been tricked, and she was determined to make no mistake this time, stabbing down towards my friend's unmoving body.

Fliss hit her squarely in the back with a lightning bolt. Nightshade screamed as she was thrown over the railings and down on to the train lines below. She tried to land on both feet, but the drop was too much, and she sprawled on her front. Rolling over, Nightshade stood, and had just enough time to look up before the express train hit her at full speed. For a brief, tiny second, shock registered in her mind, along with something else: regret. In her last conscious thought, Nightshade regretted the fact that she had never taken me up on my offer, the fact that she had stayed with Constantine. It was too late for redemption now.

Constantine's scream of anger, sorrow and disbelief reverberated through the air, drowning the terrified shrieks of the crowd. The one who called himself Invincibilus ran to the railings to look down on the twisted, mangled body of his beloved. His rage was almost a physical thing leaping through the air towards my telepathic brain. But it wasn't me his fury was directed at. It was the one who had killed Nightshade. It was Fliss.

"I'll kill you!!" he roared, turning in her direction. "I'll torture you to within an inch of your life, then heal you and start all over again!"

Fliss panicked and backed away, launching a lightning bolt at him. It hit Constantine in the chest, but he didn't even feel it. Immune to pain, he healed himself, and raised his hands to destroy her.

"Over here, Constantine!" I yelled.

He turned, as if he had just remembered I was there. His priority changed. As much as he wanted revenge on Fliss, he knew he had to kill me first. He was alone, but I knew he didn't care. Ignoring Felicity, Constantine faced me, and prepared to do battle. In the few seconds I had, I tried to prepare myself both mentally and physically. I knew this would be our last fight, the deciding confrontation. The freedom of the world and the safety of countless innocents rested on my defeating him once and for all.

It was the final showdown between us, between good and evil, light and dark, Oculus and Invincibilus. Only one of us would walk away alive.

A/N: As always, please review. I love getting your feedback, and it'll get you a faster update!