A lone figure sat motionless beside a tree, the moonless night concealing his body, the wind blowing downwards protecting him from one's sense of smell. And being a thief, helping him break into the mansion grounds with out being detected by electronical divices. He had this planed down to a science, the fact that Wolverine wasn't patrolling the grounds was a stroke of good luck on his part. Instead; was the tall looming figure named Bishop intimidating as he was, Demise was still grateful as to how things were going.

Bishop was now making his rounds towards the lake walking slowly with weapon carefully slung over his shoulder. Demise scanned the rest of the area with the utmost discretion, nothing could go wrong. . . nothing. Moving away from the tree the black clad man moved silently but casually, LeBeau still had his other senses if not sight. Standing below the Cajuns bedroom window Demise located a small detonating device out of his jacket pocket fidiling with the controls.

Backing up a step his arm went backward and then forward in an easy motion throwing the little grenade at his window. Timed to explode in three seconds he need not throw it with enough force to brake the glass. Demise turned to face away from the building not willing to move away. The sounding explosion was not loud, but the wall and glass shattering was, however. He now had to move fast. Without waiting for anything to clear, Demise flew up to the nice sized hole in the mansions side and walked into the awaiting room.

" Hello Gambit, long time no see eh? "

Dodging the card that was thrown his way in the process, but LeBeau was cut from the flying debris, Demise could feel it and a little scratch was all he needed. Remy visibly paled, the charge that was threatening to be released from his hand to his cards faded somewhat. And the mighty Gambit who had been in fighting stance dropped to one knee, desperately trying to keep his composure. Demise pressed harder, watching LeBeau crumble; it was an intoxicating feeling, if he had time he would make him suffer more but as it was time was out. With a painful moan that escaped his throat, Remy looked at Demise with murder in hes eyes, then simply collapsed.

Demised ran over to pick him up and flew away, already out of eye sight as Wolverine, Rogue, Storm and Iceman ran into the room. Rogue still in p.j's as was Ororo, Bobby in boxer shorts and Logan still in uniform.

" What the hell? where's Remy? " Rogue looked desperately around the room. The thought of Remy, in his anger, blowing out the wall, disapearing as all the disbris was inside the room. Evidense of foul play, further increasing her distress.

" Why y'all just standin' there like a bunch of gapin' fish? We gotta find Remy! "

" Calm yourself Rogue, you are not going to help matters by indulging in theatrics. "

" Bobby took this opportunity to interupt the conversation. " Wow, you'd think he would have at least cleaned up a bit before leaving. I mean look at this mess.

" If you will Rogue, please take to the air and report if you see anything. "

" He's already gone 'ro, the scent goin' cold. Not helpin' matters by it being so damn windy. "

" Well ah'm gonna go take a look see anyhow. " With that Rogue flew out into the night.

"Do you know who was here Logan?"

" Sorry darlin, nobody I know. "

" Then we must wake Jean..." As if on que Phoenix burst into the room.

Gambit stood poised in fighting stance with cards glowing and ready to strike; the thought of, Who de hell be 'ere? Kept running through his head. But the unnerving fact that it could be so many people didn't help at the moment. He would know in a few minutes. And then like something out of a movie, a dark figure appeared standing there; smiling like a mad man.

" Hello Gambit, long time no see eh? " The man said it casually as if meeting an old friend in a bar. Mon deiu, I t'ought he be 'way fo' life! With the indentity now revealed, Gambit threw one of his cards, hoping to push him out onto the lawn and avoid major structure damage to the mansion. But Demise swiftly evaded it.

The charge in his hands flowing. Remy made a move to throw yet again, but pain suddenly flowed throughtout his body instead. The feeling of being suddenly noxious started, then a migrain headache. Gambit fell to his knee, struggling for breath he couldn't quit seem to catch.

The memory of Demises powers was in the back of his mind; like some one faintly yelling at him to get up and stop his attacker. Remy looked up at Demise, as another wave assaulted him. It felt as if his lungs were giving out on him, his limbs turning against him and the the headache increased to a hard pound. It was all anyone could take, as sweet oblivion engolfed him. Yet the encombering blackness frightening in the knowledge that the attacker could then do anything to him, he'd be helpless and unknowing.

He felt warm. Looking around at his surroundings everything for some reason looked fuzzy. He was in a white sterile lab, everything in the room sparkeled with cleaness. But for some odd reason he could hear running water. The room itself for all the sparkling clean was bathed in fear, and it emenated in strong waves. Remy turned and headed for the door, opening it and finding himself at the edge of what looked like a twentyfoot wide river. The water splashed up and rushing by with speed.

Looking around Remy got the full picture as to where he was. The river came down from a drop sorta like a small water fall. He could hear voices up on that high ground. The door he had come through dissapeared and in it's place was New Orleans bayou and swamp land. Infront right across the river was a well beat trail that suspiciously got darker and narrower.

Remy turned and once again listened to the barely audiable voice above the water fall. Out of no where the ground beneath him gave way, throwing him into the water. Yet he was sitting in only an inch of water. Getting up Gambit steped further out onto the river expecting to stay above. But the river had it's own idea and sucked him down into it's deth. Remy swam to the top, his lungs searing for oxygen. The top layer turned to thin sheet of ice impeding his progress. The tempreature of the rushing water also dropping. Curling his fingers into a fist, Remy began hamering the clear frozen ice until cracks began to spread and his hand broke through; grasping air his lungs desperately needed.

Gambit slowly crawled across the frozen water, his body shivering from loss of heat. And steadily made his way up to the top of the water fall. Following the path around the still moving black water. The crunching of fresh green leaves could be heard beneath his feet. Reaching the top he stood straight and almost proud like; staring at a man sittin in a cozy red chair facing away from him. Wary to go near his mystery visiter, Gambit crept closer and stoped as the man called out to him. " Gambit. . . . Gambit!! "

Then the mystery person was up in a flash and before him in such speed it would have put Donathon Bailely to shame. Remy looked at him again, as the man's face cleared and he saw with certainty it was Demise. A long forgotten aquaintence. Pain. It throbed within his jaw; flooding up into his temples. Demise striked again. This time harder, catching the Cajun across the cheek bone. Causing yet another dull thud of pain. Remy woke up.

" Finally the man of the hour wakes up. "

Remy blurely looked at Demise, but said nothing. Nor could he even if he had wanted to. A silver gag of ducktape was happily denying him speech. Remy could also feel a dull throb in his face where Demise, had actually punched him.

Demise looked at the auburn haired man before him. Tied so nicely to the plain wooden chair, hands cuffed behind and over the chair, feet tied to the front legs of the chair. Demise stood there simply admirering his handy work; as rage began to creep once more into his body.

" Now. I doubt your still wondering bout why I got slightly bad feelings about our parting. But maybe you are. Perhaps it's just slipped your mind like a few other things eh? " Demise walked over into another room and came back holding a newspaper.

Remy looked around the house he was apparently in. From what he could gather, the building was big. The living room he was stuck in was huge. But oddly barren; like nobody had been living here for awhile, or had just moved in or out. He was set so as he was facing the far wall which had a beautiful fire place. The ceiling was high and the walls painted a friendly faint blue.

Demise stood directly infront of the bound Cajun. " See this 'partner'? " Demise pointed at the newspaper's bold black heading in one of the pages, it read, 'Thief murders gangsters for jewels' An inch or so down was Demises colored picture, a picture taken six years ago.

The photo was of a glaring young man with short black hair; neatly cut above the ears and shaved up the back, with the bangs hanging down in his face. And it was a handsome face with a small goatee. Dangling in his left ear was a small silver earing. The photo was labeled Adrean Hollow.

Demise now had long black hair that fell just below his shoulder blades tied back in a loose pony. With still a handsome face, no facial hair, but in his nose stood proudly a septum peircing and his right eyebrow was peirced three times, two silver hoops; with black beads and the other was a barbell. In his left ear three silver small hoops hung, and a cartilege stud in the upper lobe. In the other ear his buttom lobe was peirced only twice, with a hoop and a smal stud. Adrean stood at 6'1, and at the moment was wearing a black t-shirt and black bagy pants, with pockets on the lower thigh.

" Would you like me to read you my favorite lines LeBeau? hmmm? " Demise grabed Gambits long russet hair in his fist and manually nodded Remy's head, yanking down and up. Shaking off the few strands of hair that he'd pulled out in the process.

" Adrean Hallow, earlier convicted to ten years in LosAngeles Maximum prison for mutants. Murdered five known criminals and one young man and a women who were later reported to be visiting. In an attempt to steel the 1.5 million in cash, found in a blue duffle bag at the scene. " Demise stoped reading and pointed at Remy.

" That was your fucking bag asshole!! " Demise stopped and looked as if he was collecting himself. " How much did you make off with Le Beau? How much fucking money did you fucking take! " Remy just sat there, all he could do and glared at Adrean.

" We was supposed to be partners member? Or did you plan on setting me up to take the fall the whole time? " He took a step forward striking Remy once more across the head. " God damn LeBeau, you have any idea what it's like in those fucking cages they call mutant prisons?! hmmm? No. I suppose not. " Adrean ended in a calm, thoughtful voice.

Through out Demises speech and meladrama remarks, Remy had been attempting to pick the lock on the hand cuffs, but had discovered the lock stuffed with something. So tactfully decided to try anther route so to speak. And was now trying to squeeze his hang through the one cuff, but was only acheiving in robbing the skin on his wrist raw. His powers were nulled, how he did quit know for sure yet, but suspision as to Adreans powers were leading him to believe it was his doing. And he still felt sick. It was the only description that came to mind.

Demise wasn't the only angry party in the room. Fustration at not having been able to already get out of his restraints, the fact that he was helpless to the punches he was receiving and how easily it seemed he'd been abducted. The only thing that seemed to be going alright was his vision, although everything was still in shades of red, color had been occasionaly making an appereance.

Demise stopped and looked as Gambit long and hard his sharp eyes noticing LeBeau's struggles. " Are you actually trying to get loose? Do you think me stupid?!! " This remark was shouted in deafening tones. Demise struck out, kicking Gambit squarely in the chest, knocking both him and the chair over. Hitting the floor with an 'umph'. Demise continued his ranting. " You still think me niave? Is that it, think that ' oh it's just Adrean, the dumb guy probly doesn't know what he's doing!! " Punctuating the sentence by visiouly kicking Remy in the ribs, and then again for good measure.

" I'm sorry where are my manners? " Demise went around and picked the chair up with Gambit still attached to it. " Must have lost them sometime during the years when I was in PRISON!! " He looked like he was going to continue his ranting a bit more, but instead walked over to the window. Still staring outside; smiling, he did continue, but in a calm voice. " You remember this house Gambit? It's the very same place we were supposed to sack together, the very same house you backstabbed me you asshole. "

There was a knock at the door, and Demise walked over to it; still smiling. Opening the door, four people dressed in blue shirts and white pants walked in. " Over there boys. " Demise pointed over towards Gambit, and spoke once more. " I thought and thought about how I was going to get my revenge and nothing seemed bad enough, and the thought of you escaping didn't help either. Then one night I was watching this movie, and the idea struck me! " Adrean gave a few gleeful laughs but settled for the lunitic grin he loved to wear. " See you later eh? heheheh. bye-bye Gambit. "

The four men closed in on Remy, helpless and not for the first time that night worried. They came at him each producing some sort of equipment. The one that was in the lead produced a hepadermic needle with fluid already splashing around inside. He motioned for one of his partners to restrain Remy further, in a quick motion the needle was stabbed into his upper left arm, the fluid squeezed quickly into his body. Another held a set of padded cuffs for both his hands and feet, and what looked like another, more effective gag.

By now Remy was squirming in new, desperate attempts to escape. More hands pressed down on him holding him still as the sting of the needle was felt in his arm. Muffled curses and demands were unreconizable beneath his current gag. And yet again for the second time thar night, he felt him self start to drift off into unconsiousness. But not passing all the way out. Remy could see, hear and feel what was going on. His body however wouldn't listen to his mind, instead becoming like lead, unmovable.

The four men were efficient in their work, having done this at least everyday in their job. They restrained Gambits hands behind his back, the buckle on the padded cuffs having been remodeled for the Cajun thief. His feet were next, quickly being cuffed also. One of the four, a big muscled man steped forward. Picking Remy up by the waist and slowly placing him on his own shoulder. Nodding to Demise on the way out.

Demise watched as all five got into the white van. The writing on the side proudly announced ' Greens Asylum ' Laughing again at his own genious, Adrean headed out the back door. Hoping into his own lttle two door black civic. There were still things left to do.