A/N: Yikes! It's been too long. I never noticed. At least I'm updating. If you want me to keep writing this story then R R and let me know. Because I will finish this, even if it takes another year.

Chapter 59 – Death Trap

They went in the shadows, using the darkness for camouflage and cover from any seeing eyes. The door was a few feet away as they crept down the dank alley. Mist swirled around their feet, reaching up their thighs like the hands of the dead.

They were in two teams of three. Storm and Kurtis had stayed back in the jet, hiding it under the invisible force and waiting for any call of distress. Pyro, Cyclops, and Gambit were in one group while Jean, Tristian, and Logan were in another. By the way Gambit described the basement, they would need two teams. It was too big to cover together and Rogue and Bobby were in there somewhere, maybe hurt and so was the creature and God knew what else Emma had hiding.

Cyclops put his back to the wall and while Jean traced the inside with her mind, trying to see if anyone was in. She nodded and gave the thumbs up. Gambit just walked past them, ignoring all precaution and opened the door, moving inside.

Cyclops grabbed him by the arm. "Wait."

"No need. She knows we're 'ere," he said. "She knew we'd come for 'em. This was her plan along."

Cyclops growled and shoved him up against the wall. "You tricked us."

"No, I didn't," he said, holding his hands up innocently. "I didn't even want to come in 'ere. I wanted nothin' to do wit this. Frost is smarter than us all, ya hear. She planned this, otherwise we wouldn't be 'ere right now."

Cyclops kept his hold on Gambit, not believing the Southern man. Tristian put a hand on his arm, easing him off. "He's right, Scott. Emma's behind this. There's no need to be careful. She knows we're here. She'll attack when she's ready, that's why we have plans."

Cyclops stared at Gambit before taking a deep breath and releasing him. "All right. Let's go then." He headed down the stairs until they came to the end, meeting the maze of the basement where shelves lined the place and stairs led to other directions. They could either go down or right.

"We'll go downstairs," Tristian told Jean. He looked at Scott. "You three take the right, go down any staircase you find just stay away from the south part of the basement. Emplate's there." He saw Gambit shiver beyond his control. "We'll get Rogue and Bobby."

"You sound like you know this basement," Pyro said.

He nodded. "I've been down here enough to know my way around…so does Gambit."

Gambit nodded slowly. "Anyone who works for her does."

Tristian started down the stairs. "Keep your ears and eyes open. If we get into trouble we'll need the back up." He made his way down the stairs, his boots clinking against the metal steps. He had no doubt in his mind that they knew he was there. No doubt that they could hear them. They were just waiting, quietly waiting in the deep shadows to take them over.

He followed through the winding paths of boxes and shelves, tracking the way he knew the basement, knowing Emplate was there somewhere, waiting for them as well just as Tristian awaited the creature that played a part in ruining his life.

"Tristian," Jean whispered and grabbed his upper arm. She was looking straight ahead wit worry. He followed her gaze until he rested on the two unmoving forms thirty feet away I the clearing under a dull yellow light. It was Bobby and Rogue he was sure of it. But that meant the others were there, waiting for them to go to them. They were the trap and Tristian knew they'd walk right into it.

Jean moved forward but he stopped her with his arm. "They could be hurt."

"Yeah, but they're put there for a reason. To get us to fall in the trap. It's not smart for all of us to go for it,' he glanced at the two bodies. "I'll go. I can heal them."

She shook her head. "Then I go with you.'

"It's dangerous, Jean."

"I don't care dammit. I'm sick of people trying to protect me all the damn time. I'm going with you. We're powerful together."

He stared into her eyes, she was fearless. He nodded at her and looked at Logan. "I want you to go around this shelf and get a good view to watch what happens."

"When do you want me to help?" he asked.

"You'll know," he told him and looked once more at Rogue and Bobby. They were hurt, he knew that for a fact. Just as he knew Frost, Stryfe, and Cain were there waiting for them. All of them were. They'd be outnumbered and out ranked especially if the plan they hide was exactly what he thought it was. This was a death trap, he knew it. Just as he knew not all of them would leave there alive. But they didn't know. At least not yet. "Believe me you'll all know."