Unchained Instinct ( Complete)

Chapter 34

“What is going on, Professor?” Kurt asked. “Who has Hank been trying to reach all night? And where has Jean and Scott gone?”

Charles let out a sigh. He’d hoped they’d contact Cassie by now, but Jean’s report had come to him only moments before and Jean’s and Scott’s belief that Mystique was behind Cassie’s disappearance sent a rush of apprehension through him. He hadn’t wanted to worry Kurt...or give him any more reason to feel guilty over Mystique’s actions.

“Kurt. Come sit down.”

Kurt came, looking tired yet anxious, wound up with fear. The lad’s rage had calmed considerably, but what Charles hadn’t anticipated was that the calmed rage would leave a vacuum, allowing despair to slip through into the gaping ravine and take its place. Kurt balanced on the edge of that ravine, walking a tight rope and ready to fall.

“Is it Cassie?” Kurt said. “Tell me what’s happened.”

“We don’t know, Kurt. It appears that Cassie is missing. Scott and Jean went to her home and found the remnants of a struggle. We believe she’s been forcibly taken from her home.”

Kurt’s gaze turned inward, taking in this information then his gaze fixed on Charles, features going hard. “It was Her, wasn’t it? Mystique. She’s hurt Cassie...because of me.”

“As I’ve said before, Kurt, do not take blame for Mystique’s behavior or her actions.”

“How can I not?!” Kurt shoved to his feet, stalking away and turning to pierce Charles with those golden eyes. “How is it not my fault? She’s my mother! She should be put away somewhere so she can’t keep hurting people.”

Charles reached out with an imploring hand. “ We don’t know yet what has happened, but we are going to find out. I promise you we will and we will find Cassie.”

“How?!” The despair was rising inside Kurt, the anger fighting to get a hold again as well. “First we can’t find Logan and now we can’t find Cassie!”

“Kurt, I need you to stay calm. Logan and Cassie need you to stay calm.”

Hands went to Kurt’s face, fingers raking back through his tousled hair. “This is insane,” the boy said through gritted teeth. “She’s insane.”

“Mystique is a very disturbed woman, yes,” Charles agreed. “But we must find a way to deal with what she’s done. Our concern is to find Logan and Cassie. We need your mind clear, Kurt. Please try to control your emotions.”

Anguish flowed over Kurt’s features, eyes squeezing shut. Charles watched the boy struggle to gain control, a fight he knew too well. A long held breath rushed out of Kurt and a nod came. Bright eyes opened and rational thought prevailed once again.

“I’m sorry, Professor. I’m not being much help. I’m...just so worried. Logan is everything to me. He’s my life now.”

“We will find him. Logan is strong, stronger than anyone I’ve ever known.”

“But he’s also vulnerable,” Kurt replied and the maturity of that analysis surprised Charles. “You know he is, Professor. Emotionally, Logan has more land mines than the average person...or even the average mutant.”

Charles let out a sigh. “Your perception is keen regarding Logan. But let’s not think too hard on the consequences just yet. We need to stay focused on rescue.”

Kurt nodded again and looked away.

A sound caught inside Charles’ head, soft sobs so filled with despair, his heart fluttered and ached with the pain of it.

‘....help me,” the voice cried out in a tone faint and nearly indiscernible. ‘Please...someone...hear me.’

Charles tuned his thoughts inward, searching for the voice, reaching out mentally.

‘Charles,’ the voice wept. ‘Please...help me. Jean.’

‘Cassie?’ Charles sent out. ‘Cassandra Martin?’

‘Charles!’

‘Quiet your mind, Cassandra. Where are you?’

‘I...I don’t know. A cave. I’m...going to die...here, Charles! Help me!’

Terror and despair, pain and desperation hit Charles like a physical blow. He felt Kurt beside him, hands on his arm and shoulder.

“Professor, are you all right?”

He gave a nod and put up a hand. Kurt seemed to understand, but didn’t leave Charles’ side.

‘Cassandra. Listen to me.’ Charles let confidence and assurance exuded from his thoughts. ‘We will find you. Stay where you are.’

An hysterical laugh wafted into Charles’ mind, the girl on the verge of breaking down all together.

‘Cassie?’ He sensed her trying to calm, trying to fight off the hysteria of her situation.

‘I...I will stay where I am. I can’t go on....anyway.’

‘Are you hurt?’

Again the hysteria tried to get it’s claws into Cassie and again she fought it back.

‘My arm. She...broke my arm. My...ankle. I fell. I can’t see, Charles! It’s so dark...so impossibly black!’

‘All right, my dear. Just stay where you are, stay calm and we will find you.’

He sensed relief in Cassie’s mind, but the terror had not disappeared, nor the agony she had tried to hide from him.

“Professor!!” Scott’s voice drew Charles out of his thoughts and back to the parlor room.

He focused outward again and Scott stood before him, holding onto Jean.

“I touched her mind,” Jean said. “Cassie’s mind, then I lost her.”

Charles allowed a smile and nodded. “That’s because she connected with me. Gather the team. We need to hurry. Cassie is weak and injured. I don’t know how much longer she can survive.”

Hank appeared in the doorway, obviously drawn by Jean’s and Charles’ words. “You’ve found Cassie?”

In Hank’s eyes, Charles saw something beyond concern, something beyond caring. “Not quite, my friend. But soon. We will find her. That I promise.”