Rebekah

Isaac's staring at me like I just sprouted an extra head. I check. I haven't. I suddenly feel glad the others have left us alone.

"I'm just saying, he may have a point. It doesn't mean I agree with his methods."

"Rebekah, Magneto is the single most evil mutant on the planet."

"No he's not. Look, throughout human history, we've always lashed out at those different from us. The Crusades, the Holocaust, which Magento experienced, the xenophobia of 17th century Britain… It's always been there and it always will be. Even when there's supposed to be equal rights, women still lose out on posts to men and blacks are still treated inferior by quite a few. So I don't think mutants and humans can ever peacefully co-exist-"

"So you're saying Magneto is right!"

"No. I'm not. I'm simply saying he has a point. Violence isn't the way to end this and mutant supremacy will never work. But Xavier's dream? It's a house of straw. One tap and it'll all fall down."

"I can't believe you're saying this…"

"Look! Back home, there were the fascist groups, the people who said that Britain should belong to the Britons. And so on. Hatred is a part of the human animal. We can't get rid of it."

"You're so pessimistic!"

"No! I'm a realist. I can actually see what's going on!"

He snarls and marches off. I don't follow. One word my brother constantly uses to describe me is stubborn. And pig-headed and various other insults. All in all, it boils down to me refusing to ever back down from a fight until I've either won or been proved completely and utterly wrong. But I know this time, I'm partially right. Xavier's dream won't work but neither will Magneto's. Unless you count Utopia as 'mutant-kind finding it's Eden'. But mutants and humans are too different. It's okay for Isaac, he's already getting to grips with his powers. But me? I'm a human in a house full of mutants. I've already been threatened by one of the most powerful mutants alive. I'm alone and afraid and I'm stuck in a world where things like Stamford –OK, not Stamford, but things almost like that- happen on a weekly basis. I can't run fast, I'm not strong, I'm not invulnerable. I can't heal if someone shot me. I almost understand why people hate mutants. Even looking at Isaac, who I've been writing to for over three years, I feel scared. He can run fast, walk through walls, heal, teleport, has super-senses and can probably shoot lasers out of his eyes. All within 24 hours of arriving here. I can't do squat. Unless you count tearing my shoulder muscles and blushing when faced with Nightcrawler. Sighing, I sit down, being careful not to jerk my arm too much. With my left hand I start tracing shapes in the dirt. I look down and want to start crying. I've drawn my family. Suddenly angry, I swipe the earth, wiping their faces out.

"STUPID!"

I lean back onto the tree. Then I stand. Someone or something is watching me. I glance around, trying to see what it is. To my relief, a small grey cat jumps out. I love cats. They're so…proud and graceful.

"Hey Puss. Hungry?"

The cat looks at me with a mixture of shock and slight disdain.

"A two-legger who speaks Cat? I'm impressed. However, my name isn't Puss. It's Silver Paws. And I am hungry."

I move backwards so quickly I hit my head on the tree. I distinctly heard that cat speak English! However, my brain is a little confused right now so I decide to talk back.

"If you come with me, I can possibly get some food."

"Mince?"

"I don't know."

"Steak? Chicken? No liver."

"Errr…"

"Yum. I think I like you. Lean over."

"Why?"

"I want a lift."

I forgot how demanding cats were. I lean over and Silver-Paw drapes himself around my neck.

"So two-leg, you speak Cat?"

"I…I suppose."

"What's your name?"

"Rebekah…"

"You spoke Two-legger there two-leg. I mean, do you have a Cat name?"

"No. Why don't you name me?"

"Need a feature to be named. I am Silver-Paw, fastest and most agile cat in the woods. Until you earn a name, we have nicknames for you."

"What will you call me then?"

"Slave."

"Err…"

"How about Two-Tongue. You speak both Two-legger and Cat."

"Okaay."

I walk carefully, not wanting to displace Silver-Paw. Either he's a mutant cat. …Or I'm a mutant human. What a rubbish mutation. Being able to talk to cats. OK, it is cool and all and cats are very interesting but…Isaac can copy powers. And I'm stuck with talking to cats! I manage to wobble into the kitchen and Beast looks up from what looks like a Twinkie-stuffing fest.

"Hello."

"Do we have any mince?"

"Don't talk Cat, Two-Tongue. The Blue-Fur won't understand."

"Why do you have a cat with you?"

"Err… I met him in the woods and we had a conversation?"

"A…conversation…?"

"Yes. I said 'Hey Puss. Hungry?' and he started lecturing me."

"Oh."

"That was my reaction. Can he be a mutant cat?"

"I am a perfectly normal cat, thank you very much."

"Look, I was just wondering."

"Err, Rebekah…"

"I was talking to the cat."

"I think we need to do some tests."

"Mince please."

"Can I get some mince?"

"Or chicken?"

"Or chicken?"

"Rebekah, is that cat telling you what to do?"

"He's a cat. Cats rule the world and they're cleverer than Dr Doom because no one actually realizes they rule it."

"Too right Blue-Fuzzball."

Isaac

As soon as I was out of sight I slipped into slow-time and sped off. How could Rebekah betray everyone like that that? I slithered through the house everyone frozen like statues around me. I stole Kitty's sandwich out of her hand and belted out the house quickly. Less than a minute later I was chewing Kitty's sandwich thoughtfully on the edge of the cliffs on the coast. The sea breeze was sharp pang to my delicate senses. The sound of the waves and the salty scent must have drowned out my senses because I didn't hear the man's approach. I looked around at him. He was the sort of person you wouldn't want to bump into on a dark night. He was tall, broad and dark with an ugly scar running down the side of his face. His eyes were like burning coals as if he had caught me doing something wrong.

'What are you doing here?' He asked roughly.

'Enjoying the view, what does it look like?'

'I don't like you. Get out of here.' My temper almost exploded but I managed to keep it in check. His suspicious behaviour intrigued me.

'Terribly sorry, I'll be on my way.' The man didn't say anything. I could feel his eyes boring into me all the way down the cliff. As soon as I was out of sight I zoomed back to where I had been sitting but the man had disappeared. I inhaled slowly trying to pinpoint where the man's location was. I walked over to the cliffs and started to descend them. The man's scent trail led further down the cliff until it reached a tunnel puncturing the cliff face. I had never considered myself a claustrophobic but I didn't really like small dark spaces. Cursing myself for managing to get dragged into whatever this was I crawled into the dank passage. The worst thing about having Logan's senses was I could the creep crawlies scuttling right above my head. After about halfway I realized I should have just phased through the rock. It was too late to turn back now though. Eventually I saw a light in the distance. Ignoring all the comments within my mind saying 'do not walk toward the light' I kept going. I peered out cautiously. There was no one in sight. I dropped down onto the ground. My ankle twisted but seconds later it was fine. I heard someone coming. I quickly phased and stepped into the wall. Two men walked by including the man I had met on the hill. They stopped inches away from where I was standing.

'So when do we deliver the drugs Carlo?' The man said to the other.

'Don't use real names you dim-wit. Someone could be listening.'

'I don't think so. We're two hundred feet under ground.'

'Shut up! It's not your job to think. The drugs will be delivered at midnight. Make sure you're ready by then.' I could feel myself over heating. I couldn't stay in the wall much longer. I didn't have the stamina Kitty did. The men were still talking. I couldn't do it. I threw myself out of the wall. Their eyes widened when the saw me. They yelled out and started to kick me. I didn't have the energy to fight back and they weren't giving me a chance to heal. After about a minute they stopped. Carlos reached down and grabbed my hair. He jerked my head up pulled my face close to his.

'You must be one of those mutants. I gave you a chance to walk away and you didn't. No matter. Down hear, no one will hear you scream.' Despite my situation I smiled at the famous line. I beckoned him closer. He craned his neck to hear what I had to say.

'Has anyone ever told you that your breath stinks?' Enraged he tried to punch me but I dodged easily. Thankfully my healing factor had kicked in. I slipped into slow-time and three seconds later it was all over. I was getting stronger by the minute but I was still feeling weak. I was breathing heavily. I was so tired I didn't even notice the men walk in. There was an explosion and I span around. Two security guards stood there with smoking pistols. I looked down curiously and noticed the two small holes in my chest.

'Oh damn,' I said crashing to the ground. Through narrowed eyes I watched the guards come nearer. They both pointed their guns at my head. I closed my eyes. I didn't know if I would survive this and I didn't really want to find out. There was a loud blast followed by muffled thumps. I realized the bullet hadn't pierced my skull and I opened my eyes. Kitty Pryde stood over me with an outstretched hand. I seized it and she hauled me up.

'Thanks,' I panted.

'Forget about it.'

'How'd you find me?'

'I was watching you. I saw you speed off and I was curious to where you were going. So I followed you.'

'You were watching me?'

'Don't flatter yourself. I was curious. They don't call me Shadow-cat for nothing.'

'Well, it's a good thing you were. Otherwise I'd probably be a colander by now. Would have been a bit better if you'd come earlier though.'

'Why's that?'

'Oh nothing,' I said concealing my wounds.

We both walked down the passage the guards had come down. I staggered and only just managed to keep upright by grabbing the wall. Kitty halted.

'Keep going. I'll be with you in a sec.' I said breathlessly.

'What's the matter?'

'It doesn't matter. That curiosity of yours is more a nuisance than a gift,' I said good-humouredly. Kitty looked at the thin trail of blood that had followed me. She looked concerned but she didn't say anything. I could feel the bullet holes start to close up.

'Whew. Getting shot isn't half as much fun as it seems on TV.'

We continued down the corridor. The passage came to an end suddenly. I peeked around the corner. Dozens of boxes were being piled on top of each other.

'We've seen all we need to. Let's go. We'll inform the police on the way.'

We stole along the passage quietly. We turned the corner and bumped straight into the four guards that had been knocked unconscious. Kitty continued walking straight through them like nothing had happened.

'I wish I could absorb fighting skills,' I said to myself throwing a clumsy punch which glanced of the man's head. He returned the favour with a punch that rattled my brain.

'Um, a little help here,' I said. Shadow-cat turned around with a surprised expression.

'You want my help?' I nodded frantically. Kitty swung her leg round connecting with two of the men's jaws. The other two ran off in fright. Kitty flashed me an arrogant smile and floated through the ceiling.

'Hey, no fair,' I said. I tried to float like I had when I had fallen through the floor. Maybe I could just speed crawl through the tunnel I thought to myself. I quickly ruled that option out. The thought of all those bugs didn't sound too appealing. I jumped up into the air and phased and like a helium balloon I floated gently through the rock. I hoped I would have the stamina this time. Otherwise I'd be stuck forever. I looked around. I was standing out in the open. I had made it. Kitty stood a way off from me one hand resting on the Black-bird.

'What took you so long?' She grinned. I made a face.

'You coming?' She asked.

'I'll run thanks.'

When I got back to the mansion I called the police and informed them the location and the way to get there. The perpetrators would have got away but the operation would be crushed. I felt a thrill of satisfaction but something was still bothering me. My conversation with Rebekah's still unnerved me. Hopefully things would look better in the morning.