Chapter 34: Bone and Mind, of Marrow and Psylocke.
Betsy sat in her room in the Acolyte base. Actually, it was more of a cell than a room, and as she knew from having looked it over many a time, it had no visible ways to break out.
She was in the cell because she tended to wake up well before Berserker, and therefore, had about an hour every day that she was under her own control, except for the rare battles with the X-Men, where he was almost invariably defeated.
She leaned back against the wall of her Spartan room, which contained only a mat on the floor for sleeping. She wished fervently that she could get out of here, but knew that, unless she got lucky one day on a mission, it wasn't going to happen.
As she sat, she remembered all the things she had been forced to do, and tears began to form.
NO, I will not cry. I will not give them that satisfaction! Thought Betsy, even as her tears began to spill over.
She just wanted her family back. She wanted to go home, to be with her father and mother, her brothers...
Finally, Betsy broke down, and, for the first time since the Hand had taken her, wept.
In the medical lab at the institute, there was quite a different scene. The Acolyte known as Marrow was awake, and was not pleased with having been captured.
My first mission against them and I get captured! What kind of shit is that? Were Marrow's thoughts as Mrs. Sefton checked her burns.
"Well, little missy, you seem to be much better. A few days bed rest, and you'll be free to go." With that the institute nurse left the Acolyte to her thoughts.
Evan stood outside the door to the infirmary. Ever since he had brought her in after the battle, he had been concerned about the Acolyte's health. Mrs. Sefton smiled at him.
"She's awake, finally, and in good health. Really, all she needs is some bed rest."
"Can I go see her then?"
"Yes."
Evan smiled, and walked past Mrs. Sefton, entering the infirmary.
"What, come to gloat?"
"No, come to check up on you."
"Cut the crap. What do you X-Men want, intelligence, plans, what?"
Evan stared at her, shocked. "What makes you think we want anything?" He asked hotly.
"Magneto's always talking about how your all liars, and Berserker says you all torture your captives."
Evan watched her, his eyes pitying. "Have we tortured you yet? We don't want anything. All we're going to do is treat your injuries, then let you go. That's it."
"Why do I not believe you, bony?"
He shook his head, "Last I checked, you were a little bit bony too."
She watched, shocked, as the other mutant left the room.
Several days later, she was proclaimed in full health, and, as Evan had said they would, she was let go on the front lawn.
As she left, to return to the Acolyte's base, she reflected on her time at the institute. She had been treated with nothing but kindness by the residents, who had all visited the patient during her stay, and had made some attempts at conversation. She hadn't been beaten, or tortured, and they hadn't lied when they said that they were going to let her go.
Maybe, maybe Magneto's the liar. Thought Marrow, as she began the long walk to the nearest rally point.
