CAPABLE

Xavier sat brooding behind the heavy oak desk in his office, the atmosphere darkened by his stormy mood. He rhythmically tapped his fingers on the desk top, a outward sign of the turbulent emotions churning inside of. Anger simmered in his chest, directed both at the circumstances he found himself in and the lack of progress on finding Halle.

Four agonizing days had passed since Martha's ambush at the warehouse. Four days since Xavier had helplessly watched Halle be ripped away right in front of his eyes. Four endless days of combing the city for any trace of her or Martha, to no avail. Four days of barely sleeping, fueled by raging determination to get Halle back safely. And still, they were no closer to answers.

Monty stood before the desk, warily detailing the fruitless search efforts so far. Xavier only half-listened, Monty's rapport fading into background noise as vivid memories overtook Xavier's thoughts...

He was back in the warehouse, the acrid smell of gun smoke burning his n