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New York is so...busy... Laura thought, watching the crowds of people crossing the square on their way home from work, heading out for the evening or strolling arm in arm with with their partners. She was seated outside the small coffee shop, the evening air cool enough for her to be comfortable in her light jacket. As she watched, a couple walked past holding hands and she felt a stab of jealousy.

That could have been me and Julian...

'Here we are,' Sue said, interrupting her thoughts as she placed two cups of coffee on the table, taking the seat opposite Laura. 'So, how are you?'

'I am...okay,' Laura began, stopping when she saw Sue's expression. 'I... have been thinking a lot about Julian since we broke up...and I feel angry...'

'With him?'

'Yes...and with myself. I let him get close and now...it hurts. Perhaps I am better off alone...'

'That's not true, Laura,' Sue said, reaching out to take her hand.

'I don't...' Laura began, stopping as her nostrils flared and she looked round towards a man in a long trench coat walking across the square.

'Laura?' Sue asked as she pushed back her chair and headed after him, following him across the square.

He smells like a killer...

He disappeared down an alley and she broke into a run, forcing her way through the crowd. As she approached the alley, she heard a cut-off scream and she rounded the corner, her nostrils flaring at the sharp smell of blood. The man that she had seen was crouching over the body of a woman, her eyes staring at nothing. Even from this distance, she could see that her throat had been torn out. With a hiss, the man turned towards her, opening his mouth to reveal rows of razor-sharp teeth. He lunged towards her, his fingers extended like claws. Laura dodged the blow, twisting his arm behind his back and wrestling him to the ground, her forearm pressing on the back of his neck. However, he was stronger than she expected. Breaking free from her grip, his claws ripped through her abdomen and she hissed in pain. Next second, he was on her and it was all she could do to keep his teeth from finding her throat. He hissed again, his eyes wild with hunger as his jaws snapping in front of her face and she extended her claws with a snikt.

I'm sorry... she thought as she plunged her claws into his neck, the two blades piercing his throat. He gave a gurgling hiss and collapsed, the light fading in his eyes. With a grunt of effort, she pushed the body aside as Sue appeared at the mouth of the alley.

'Laura? Are you alright?'

'Yes...' she said, struggling to her feet and Sue caught her as she stumbled.

'Okay...okay. Come on. We need to get that looked at...'

'Nearly done,' Sue said, finishing applying the dressing to Laura's abdomen and pulling off her surgical gloves. 'It's not too bad, but you'll need to take it easy for a couple of days. Try and get some sleep...'

'Have you found out anything about the man I killed?' Laura asked and Sue frowned.

'We can talk about that in the morning...'

'Please,' Laura said. 'Do you know who he was?'

'...his name was Phillip Carter. He was a mutant. According to Reed's tests, his powers included certain...predatory instincts along with his...more obvious mutations...'

'...like me...' she whispered and Sue frowned.

'Listen to me, Laura. You're nothing like him...'

'We are both killers, Mrs Richards. What if I become like him?'

'We wouldn't let that happen,' Sue said standing up and giving her a kiss on the forehead. 'Now, you need to get some rest...'

Somehow, her words comforted her and she lay back as Sue tucked her in.

'Thank you, Mrs Richards...'

'Good night, Laura. I'll see you in the morning...'

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. Any comments, reviews or constructive criticisms very welcome.