“If they had a list, it’s gone now. We didn’t leave much behind.” Summer folds her arms behind her back and starts to pace in small circles. “I’m pretty sure they found me because I don’t keep a low profile, and I was heavily involved in cleaning up after that Manhattan incident. With the aliens.” Her face is bleak and her voice goes sort of toneless as she talks through the memory.
“I had a meeting that day with som—with my sister. I think she wanted to warn me about them, but they got to me first. Broke into my apartment while my roommate was gone, drugged me. I don’t know what it was, but it was an injection, and it took effect very fast. I remember it made me feel like all my senses were wrapped in cotton. I couldn’t feel. Not my own emotions, not anyone else’s.
“They forgot, or didn’t know how soon they had to redose me, and I was able to get a cry out very briefly. My friends tracked me down that night. They didn’t have me very long.”
“I’m glad to hear they found you.” He smiles, still the concern filling his face. “Do you think there’s still more out there.. more members of this group?” He asks carefully. Even though he’s keeping a low profile he needs to be sure there won’t be anyone spying on him or his students. He already has to hear so much complaining of the rules but he had created them only to keep his friends safe.
“Are you keeping a low profile now? I must warn you.. after certain accidents occurred the CIA is searching for mutants like us to interrogate. The world is now aware of our existence and it’s not yet certain how to react to us.” He taps the armrest worriedly. How many mutants had CIA and those— Midnighters captured? “Don’t understand me wrong Summer. I only wish for your safety. You’ve already been through a lot..”
“I can’t keep a low profile. I’ve got a job to do. People to protect. And my identity is already out there.” She sighs, still pacing, reversing direction. “We — my friends did a pretty good job on the mansion, and although I didn’t ask how many I know there were a lot of deaths. Without the mansion, though, they’ll have to set up a new base of operations, and rebuild a lot of what they lost. That’s going to take a long time.”