Kitty moved silently through the building. She avoided the bustling and noisy offices, sensing somehow that a kidnapped crippled boy would be stored someplace quiet and out of the way.
She glanced up the wall and started climbing it as though there were a ladder there until she passed through the ceiling and came up the floor of the next story.
She glanced around. This floor sounded like offices too. These people are supposed to be high rollers, right? She wondered. Sooo… Maybe the penthouse?
And so she continued to climb until she came out through a plush red carpet.
She crept through the office slowly. It was lavish and ornate yet furnished mostly in white.
Kitty slipped up behind a high-backed, wooden, second hand wheelchair. It was obviously old and had been shoddily repaired. Dirty and threadbare blankets wrapped the boy as he stared out through the window.
Kitty hesitated when she saw his arm. It reminded her of a celery stalk. It was thin and looked as if it would tear with a crunch under the slightest effort.
And then she saw his image in the glass. He was staring right at her via the reflection.
"Are… Are you Brian?" She whispered.
He seemed to bob in place but didn't really move.
"Brian?" She asked, approaching slowly and peeking around the chair.
He seemed to be hissing softly – maybe.
"Br…" And she stopped when she saw his eyes.
He was pleading with her, tears running down his face. "…eeeessss….."
And she realized from the bobbing of his eyes that he was saying "Yes."
She gasped and swallowed. "Betsy… told me what happened. I'm here to get you out of here."
His facial features shifted – but only ever so slightly – and she realized that he was trying to smile.
She took several breaths as she came up and turned the chair away from the windows. "I'm taking you out of here… But maybe not the way you think, okay?" She began pushing him for the back wall. "Now, just trust me. I'll get us out of here so don't panic. No matter what happens."
He swayed in his seat. He was swimming in emotions – relief, excitement, fear of discovery, joy and a whole host of others.
His nose itched violently.
But he knew it was pointless to try and do anything about it.
Kitty began pushing faster and faster towards the wall but he didn't pay it much attention, and then, as they got right on top of the wall he blinked.
And the sun was shining warm on his face.
The breeze felt as though it were rustling his hair from the inside.
The world was bright and beautiful. They were outside the building and floating lazily toward the earth below.
And for the first time in more than five years, Brian Braddock looked at the world in wonder. Wow… He made his eyes comb the view and tried to take in every little detail. I'm flying…
His breath caught in his throat and he choked slightly, but forced himself to keep looking.
I always said I'd give anything to fly without a plane… He was struck by the bittersweet horror of it all. And I guess I had to in order to get here.
He felt Kitty squeeze his shoulder reassuringly and he relaxed just a bit as they continued to sink to the ground.
I wish I could say it was worth it… He moaned slightly and Kitty smiled, hoping that their luck held and they made good their escape.
In the alley below Forge panicked.
I can't let her finish! Who knows what she's doing? And he dove for her. He didn't know how to fight. And he wasn't sure what he was going to do if she fought back – but he dove non the less and grabbed her by the hair, so that his palm was right over the mark on her forehead and dragged her deeper in to the alley.
His arm burned as though there was a current running through it and he could hear her whining as though it caused her pain.
I don't understand… He admitted, wincing as a sharp and jabbing pain began to creep up his arm.
I can't hold on much longer…And then he saw Kitty. She was floating down to the ground. She spied him too and he nodded, jerking Illyana away and getting ready to run.
When he saw Kitty move he whipped Illyana away from him and began to run back down the alley.
Illyana lay where she fell. Somehow the breaking of the contact was just as painful as the actual experience and she arched her back , grabbed her head and whimpered on the ground.
I'm sorry… She thought to herself. Sorry… So, so SORRY!
And, slowly, breath by breath… it began to subside, but it would be a good half-hour before she could stand and a full two hours to make it slowly home.
Kitty ran with Brian. She cut right through the corners of the buildings and ran with all her might. She didn't appear to have been followed.
Forge ran, gripping his arm. It felt worse for having let go of her and he felt like he was dragging it along with him. He could still flex it but it was numb with pain.
And then he whipped around the corner and his eyes fell on Brian for the first time.
"Whoa." Was all he could say.
Brian's body glowed all over. He was wrapped in spiritual chains and his organs seemed to be impaled with great astral spikes that kept him from moving.
Kitty looked at Forge. She could tell he was seeing things again.
On the astral level Brian flickered briefly, like a bug zapper.
"Oh." Forge said slowly. "I get it." I think…
The light that he radiated, just for a moment was exactly the same color, brightness and intensity – of the astral flame of the lighthouse when Forge looked upon it.
"I can do that." Forge said out loud.
"Forge, the police station's this way!" She began to run but he caught her and stopped her.
"No." He said plainly. "We have to get him to the lighthouse."
Kitty met his eyes. "Why?"
"I can't explain it. But he needs to go there now if he's ever going to be well again. I just know it."
Kitty swallowed and cast her eyes to the motorcycle. "Can it take all three of us?" She asked.
"It'll have to."
And less than a moment later there was nothing left in the alleyway but an old and abandoned second hand wheelchair.
Emma intentionally waited for the third ring of the phone before answering.
"Yes?" She said plainly.
"Emma, good evening." Sebastian chuckled slightly. "I'm calling to inform you that you have a go ahead to approach Wagner tonight with an official offer and you are to report your results to us before the night is out. Are we understood?"
She swallowed and looked worried but her voice was clear and strong. "Of course."
She hung up the phone. Damn…
She took a deep breath and looked out her apartment window. The Mutant Advisor is the most powerful position in all of Britain. What use is the club if you've got that kind of power... She considered. Maybe if Kurt isn't interested in my offer…
She swirled the brandy in her glass.
Maybe he'd be interested in the services of a very playful telepath.
She smirked.
I do hope he could find some … position … for me.
And she tossed back her head and downed the glass in one swallow.
