Playing With Fire (EDITING)

Kidnapped. Again.

Megan and Kitty finished laughing and started to walk back in the direction of HQ.

"Guys," I called, not moving from my spot. A slight breeze picked up and I stuffed my hands in my jacket pockets. "Guys!" I called after them again since they hadn't heard me the first time.

"Aren't you coming?" Kitty asked, spinning around.

I shook my head. "I can't go back. Please don't make me."

They exchanged a look before returning to where I stood and waiting for me to speak. "Can't you just..." Megan began.

"No." I shook my head again. "There's nothing I can do to fix what happened. What's done is done. My being around Xavier isn't going to be good for anyone."

"Let's at least drop by to get your stuff, alright?" Kitty suggested.

"You don't even have to come in," Megan added.

I sighed and gave in. "Fine."

"Where will you go if you won't stay at HQ?" Kitty asked.

I shrugged with my hands still curled in my pockets. "Not sure. Might find my uncle and see what he says."

They both nodded and we crossed onto a shortcut that wound through a couple back alleys to save time. The breeze became constant and as the sun went down, the air grew colder. I hunkered into my jacket for warmth until we passed into an alley between two looming brick buildings. The breeze was cut off but the buildings blocked the sun; the shadows to either side of us were dark and chilled the air more than in the open.

After a few minutes, jogging footsteps and familiar voices reached us. Megan poked Kitty and they made eye contact before pulling me into the shadows.

"It's Kurt and Doug," Megan explained. "Let's spook 'em."

When the boys rounded the corner, the three of us jumped out from our hiding spot and yelled 'Bah!'.

Kurt hit the brakes before he jumped a foot in the air and his eyes widened. Several unrepeatable words escaped his mouth and Megan punched him. "Wash that mouth, Wagner," she said, laughing.

Doug came to such a sudden stop, he tripped and knocked into me with enough force to send the both of us tumbling across the hard, cold pavement. I sat up laughing, and hopped to my feet, reaching around to offer Doug a hand.

He accepted my hand and I helped him to his feet, both of us smiling and laughing together. When we turned around to rejoin Megan, Kitty, and Kurt, I hadn't taken two steps when a powerful grip wrapped around my torso. A brawny arm pinned both my arms to my sides and a knife held my chin at an uncomfortable angle.

"No squirming," a deep voice ordered.

Kurt was quickly bashed over the head and collapsed to the ground near me. A man grabbed him and quickly tied and gagged him with a handkerchief and plastic zip ties.

I watched as Kitty was lifted off her feet and shoved roughly to the ground again by a man dressed all in black or navy. In the fading light, it was hard to make out colors and outlines. The same man dragged her to her feet again before slamming her into a wall. He lifted a rag to her face and her body slumped to the ground motionless.

Doug already lay unconscious on the ground with a gag in his mouth and his hands tied behind his back. Megan was being held in another man's arms with a knife to her throat. The man who had just finished tying Kitty held the rag to Megan's face as well and she too went limp.

The same man lumbered toward me. I knew what I would smell even before the rag came anywhere near me.

Chloroform.