A Friend that Bleeds

"The body of fifteen year old, Jenna Sonders was found just outside of Kingston today. Sonders was reported missing three days ago, and was reportedly last seen exiting a night club. Her body was discovered this morning by a pair of local school children. Officials have confirmed Sonders had been raped before mutilation, and an official autopsy is scheduled to be performed later this evening.

F.B.I. specialists were at the scene. And it is believed Sonders may be another victim of the 'mutant marker'. If it is confirmed, Sonders will be the thirty-nineth victim in this serial killer's five month hunt.

An official warning has been issued to the neighboring town of Bayville. Bayville women are asked to be cautious. Travel in large groups or with a male. The male's age is unimportant, fficfficials have confirmed the 'marker' is wary of carriers of the y chromosome.

Victims ages range from seven to twenty-one, hence all teenagers and young women are asked to adhere to the new town curfew of seven o'clock. Elementary and Junior High Schools are requiring children be dropped off and picked up, by family members and guardians.

In other news, the President arrived in Uganda yesterday..."


"Forge, how can y' watch news this early in th' morning?" Rogue asked, entering the kitchen.

Forge unwraveled himself, from where he was leaning against the island, coffee cup in hand. "I like to be informed," he replied, turning as she opened a cupboard and pulled out a box of pop tarts.

"Yer turning inta Hank," she replied, freeing a S'mores from it's package and taking a bite.

"I am sitting right here," Hank commented from the table.

She shrugged, pop tart between her teeth, and straightened her book bag.

"Going to school?"

"Yea." She freed the pop tart and waved it about. "Ah have this project fer history..."

"How are you getting there?"

Her brow furrowed slightly. He was hedging. Forge leaned against the counter.

"Ah was gonna take th' bus."

"Well, I'll drive you."

"Thanks Forge, but really-"

"I insist. Besides, I could probably help you." She stared as he put down his cup and pulled out his keys. "Come on."

She looked to Hank, who didn't look back, busily pouring over some book. "Okay..."

As they left, Hank looked up, before closing his book and going in search of the Professor.


~~~~~~


"I'm afraid there's no definite pattern, Magnus."

"Keep searching, Charles, there has to be."

There was a knock on the door, and it opened to reveal Beast and Wolverine. "There's been another attack," Hank supplied.

"Another girl. Fifteen. Raped and murdered, same as the others."

"Mutant?"

"They didn't specify..."

"But there is no need, if they have already linked her to the 'marker'."

Beast nodded, and Xavier sighed.

"Where was she discovered?" he asked.

"Kingston."

"'Officals' believe he's headed to Bayville," added Wolverine, with a snort. Beast nodded. "They've issued an official warning. And initiated a townfew.few."

"The battle has come to us," Magneto stated.

"Magnus, there is no reason to believe we are to be held responsible for his capture. Countless government agencies-"

"Are doing crap," Logan interrupted.

"I must agree with Wolverine," Magneto said. "You may not have children, but I have a daughter. Placing her in an Institution may not have been one of the kindest ways to deal with her, but I would still tear someone limb from limb if they were to harm her."

Xavier nodded. "And we must think of our students."

"'N 'Ro," Wolverine added, to nods.

"Very well then," Xavier replied. "Here is what we shall do..."


~~~~~


"Like, why is everyone staring?" Kitty whispered to Danielle, as the two walked down the halls. The darker girl shrugged. "Everyone's been acting strange since this morning." Kitty sniffed, as a pair of students began to whisper as they passed.

She nearly shrieked, when Kurt appeared in front of them. "Kurt!" she cried, palm to her chest. "Don't do that!" She swiped at him, but he side stepped it, looking beyond her,r her her shoulder. "What are you doing anyway?"

"Just wanted to see if you vere all right," he replied.

"We're fine."

"Kurt?" Danielle asked, turning to look behind her. "What are you looking for?"

"Nozing," he replied quickly. "Vell, go t' run!" And with a bamf, he was gone. Amara shrieked somewhere down the hall.

"That was weird."

"Yea, even for Kurt," Kitty added. She grabbed Danielle by the arm and tugged. "Come on."

"Kitty, where are we going?"

"To get some answers."


~~~~~~~~~~


"What do you mean you won't tell us?!"

"I'm sorry, Kitty," Lance said, arms up. "I can't."

"I don't believe this!" she cried, turning to stalk off. Danielle followed. "Hey Kitty! Danielle! Wait, I'll walk you to class."


~~~~~~~~~~


"Pietro, ah swear t' Gahd, if y' don't stop following me! What do y' want anyway?"

"To be around you, of course. Oh, wait a minute!" He raced off, and then reappeared, batting at his shoulder, where his jacket was letting off smoke.

Rogue shook her head, opening her locker.

"So, what class do you have next?"

"None of yer buisness."

"Well, of course." He snatched her schedule, before she could stop him. "Oh good, math. You have math with Bobby, right? Which means, I can be with Wanda..." he trailed off, mumbling to himself, and gesturing in directions with his fingers, as if mapping out something.

Rogue snatched her schedule back, and turned, crashing right into her newly appeared brother. "Hi, Rogue!" he greeted cheerily, with a small wave.

"Kurt," she hissed, "What are you doing here?!"

"I've come to walk you to class." He grabbed her books, but she tugged them back. "Ya have a girlfriend fer that!" she snapped.

"But, I want to walk wis you."

She groaned, as he pulled a little brother pout, and released her hold. He took her books, tucking them under one arm, and they started down the hall.

"So, what's all this about?" she asked, as Pietro zoomed off.

"Vhat's all vhat about?"

"This! All of this!" She waved her hands around. When he simply looked at her, she threw up her hands. "Ah get up this mornin', and Forge insists on takin' me t' school. When Ah get t' school, people are talkin' and whisperin' and pointin' but not the usual khand. Ah'm bein' stalked-"

"By who?!" he nearly shouted, and began looking about wildly. "Have you seen him, vhat's he look like?"

"Kurt, what're y' talking about?! I meant all of ya. And Pietro won't leave me alone, he's followin' me around like some kicked puppy."

Kurt took a deep breath, and exhaled. "Oh...is zat all?"

"Kurt, haven't y' been listening?!"

"Here's your class!" He shoved her books back into her hands, and pushed her in. "Kurt!" But he was gone.

Bobby and Roberto were standing, having shot to their feet the moment Kurt pushed her into the room. Something was definitely wrong.


~~~~~~~~~


Tabitha sighed, poking at her cafeteria breaded fish. "Has anyone noticed something really strange is going on?" she asked. The rush of answers from the others was more than enough confirmation.

They'd all been hearded to the same cafeteria table, in the middle of the room, the boys having taken up what appeared to be a bandwagon approach, sitting at highly unrandom tables that surrounded their own.

"Has anyone heard anything?" Amara asked.

"Nothing but the way people hurry to shut up when I pass by," Jubilee retorted, with a snort. The others made appropriate noises of confirmation.

Around their own huddled, hushed conversation, a million others were going on, all eyes focussed on them. "It cannae be because we're mutants, can it?"

"I thought they got rid of that prejudice after that meteor shower last month," Wanda replied.

"Good gossip's always good," added Tabitha.

"Yea, but it seems more than that," put in Jubilee, "Like..." She looked around. "Like they're just waiting som something terrible to happen to one of us..."

It made sense. Especially given the boys' overprotective attitudes. But, protection from what? That was the million dollar question.