Chapter 8

As the others were fighting the other Acolytes, Kurt stocked up on carrying explosives into the warehouse. Kitty got the task of distracting Colossus away from Kurt's job. Seconds later Kurt teleported out and Kitty hid away.

Inside the warehouse it was all stuffy and dusty. Kitty could hear all the commotion outside. She looked at the crates labeled TNT and wondered what would become of Colossus after she just lit one stick. She heard pounding and all around her, the walls shook, that was the signal. She phased her upper torso through the wall and grabbed onto Colossus's broad shoulders. With all the noise going around, Kitty couldn't hear herself think or even realize what she said to Colossus as she dragged his body into the warehouse.

Once inside, he threw her off him. Kitty landed on a bunch of boxes as they crushed beneath her. Knocked out cold, she blacked out. The last thing she recalled was the explosives going off.

The police came and drove off the Acolytes. All but one they ran back into their metal spheres. "Move out!" Logan screamed to all those who were still conscience. The police had no chance, both the X-Men and the Acolytes made a get away before they even got out of their cars. The X-Men had left the building.

"Half-pint, where is she elf!" Logan extended his adamantium claws at him.

"She was in the warehouse. That's the last I saw of her," panic washed over Kurt's face. "She probably got out but then was arrested." He said more worried.

Then suddenly Mr. McCoy came out to get Logan. "She's in the infirmary, quick." Everyone followed him down to the sub-level med-lab, where they all gathered around Kitty's bed.

"How'd she get here?" Jean asked.

"Well, Mr. Rasputin brought her." Mr. McCoy said and pointed toward Peter. Kurt was outraged, running at top speed toward the tall Russian, and then throwing punches at him with all his strength. "Kurt, cease this at once." Hank ordered, but it took Scott and Evan to pull him back.

"What is he doing here Beast."

"As I have told you Logan, he brought Kitty in. If it wasn't for him--"

"If it wasn't for him, Kitty wouldn't be like this!" Kurt shrugged off Scott and Evan's hold on him, but didn't advance.

"You were the one who risked her life in that building of explosives." Peter shouted back.

"You were the one that probably lit them--"

"ENOUGH!" The room was silenced by Hank's outburst. "Now I don't know who's pulling your tail Kurt, but this is neither of your faults!" Kitty began to stir. "Everyone, leave." He told them, the others looked at him but didn't acknowledge the order. "Now!" He raised his voice again. "You two stop and come here." He pointed to Kurt and Peter as the others left. "Whatever you two have against each other, is it more important than losing a friend." At this Kitty began to stir. "Talk to her," then Hank left as well.

Kitty woke up with the most agonizing pain. Kurt went to her side, blocking Peter's way to get even remotely close to her. Once the pain killers kicked in, Kitty could focus onto who surrounded her. She fixated her eyes on Peter, and almost, instantaneously, her heart rate rose. "What are you doing here?" She asked, above all scared and angry.

"Katya I--"

"I don't want to talk to you," she said in a pit of rage. "I don't even know who you are anymore." She hissed at him, looking disappointed. He looked at her beaten and bruised body, "Just leave." He heeded and followed her words. With a sullen face he exited the mansion five minutes later.

Peter was a rogue, judged for a crime he did not commit . . . at least, part of him did not intentionally mean to do it. All he could do now was run, run and take the cowards way out . . .the thing is, he wasn't about ready to give up.

The other Acolytes made it back to Magneto's stronghold, and he knew why Peter hadn't returned to him.

"But Magneto, sir. Remy saw with his own two eyes, that Shadowcat and Nightcrawler killed our poor comrade." Remy implied, but he was only covering for Peter. Magneto paced around, confirming it from the others. They of course actually believed Remy's story, and soon got Magneto to too.

"Very well then, since he is no longer with us, as you say, then I have no further use of his family for blackmailing him, they will have to be disposed of." Remy's jaw dropped to the ground.

"Mon dieu! You can't do that. You have no reason to." Remy stepped forward, clearly that was a mistake he would pay for.

"You work for me Cajun, what I say goes. If you wish to make things complicated like Peter, then by all means . . . I dare you," Remy didn't dare say another word. "No? Then I suggest you keep your mouth shut." Magneto looked tired from this long day and the others were dismissed, but Sabertooth remained loyal and obediently at his master's feet.

"I want you to go to Russia, kill his family and make it look like an accident. I don't trust that Cajun as far as I can throw him." With that, Magneto walked to his quarters.