Rebekah

I hear the engine stop then start again. I begin to sprint towards the gates. Surely...

I arrive just in time to see the black van take the corner at the end of Greymalkin Lane at a ridiculously high speed. I shift without thinking and the cheetah streaks along the road. But a cheetah is a sprinter, and can't keep its top pace up for long. Within a few seconds, my chest is on fire and I have to stop. I inhale deeply, memorising the scents of the van and its lone male occupant, then limp back to the mansion, stopping to pick up the ragged remains of my clothes. This is why I try not to shift when I'm dressed. It leads to me running around with my coat and only my coat on.

I burst into the room just as the others all stand up from some sort of meeting.

"Thief's been kidnapped!"

Okay, I'm pretty sure that's not true. If anyone had tried to kidnap Isaac, they'd be a red smear on the wall. I'm not happy about that, but it's the truth. And I need the truth right now. The others all exchanged worried looks before Jean and the Professor shoot off towards Cerebro and Scott and Logan run out with me to the gate. Then I'm quizzed for ages. What did the van look like? Am I sure Isaac was on it? Did I speak to him before he was taken? If I did, then why did I leave? Did I fight with Isaac? Is it possible Thief went with his kidnapper willingly? Did I get a good look at the kidnapper? Do I know the van's plates?

It hurts my head and I sit down, clutching it.

"Head hurts."

Logan immediately jumps to my defense, telling Scott to let me alone while I sort things out. Things aren't helped by a neighbour coming up, requiring me to quickly turn on my image inducer, and informing Scott that they saw a cheetah running down the road after the van and so the students should all be kept inside safe until the police and animal control arrived. Scott glares at me from behind his glasses before asking if it wasn't just a greyhound. The neighbour's adamant she saw a cheetah, spots and all and Logan quickly hustles me inside, leaving Scott to argue.

Just as we're about to go in, he rests a hand on my shoulder.

"No one would blame you if you just sneak into Kurt's room and go home."

I shake my head.

"I... I can't. There aren't any mutants back home. If... If I go back like this, I'll never be able to touch anyone. Ever."

And Logan just squeezes my shoulder.

Isaac

"How did you find me?" I asked. "I'm honoured to meet the famous Frank Castle."

The Punisher smiled, impressed. "You've done your homework. I noticed you straight away on TV. You looked suspicious. Then you backed away. Moments later there was a shout, and then the suspect and you mysteriously disappeared. After I figured out you were American, and obviously a mutant, the X-mansion was the first place I looked at. And if I figured it out, other people won't be far behind. In fact, the FBI are probably at the mansion right now."

"I'm not American."

"Well, if you're going to do my job, you have to do it right, American or not," he said with another rarely used smile.

"Aren't you angry?"

"You're taking out the trash, the same as I've been doing for years. And you have more reach than I do. You can make more of a difference if you do it properly. Where is that man you kidnapped by the way?"

I looked down. I couldn't help remembering Rebekah's disappointed look.

"So you killed him?" Frank asked.

"Yes, I killed him. He was guilty." I said soundly.

"Trust me kid, I wasn't criticizing you. But you need to know how to do it right. And I'll show you."

"Where are we going?"

"If I told you I'd have to kill you."

I grinned in spite of myself and my thoughts gradually drifted towards the X-Men. I wondered what was going on.