Disclaimer: I do not own anything but my OC Riley.

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Chapter 2: Hitchhiking

~ Northern Alberta, Canada

I couldn't believe I was doing this. I sat against an old, dirty window, Marie - oh, wait, that's right, she doesn't want to be called like that anymore. She wants to be called 'Rogue'. I don't understand why she chose that name in specific. I looked for the definition in my iPod but the ones I found didn't make much sense to me - or perhaps I was just so stressed out that I wasn't thinking clearly.

I felt extremely bad. By the time I got to the house she had her things all packed up. She begged for me to go with her. At first I declined, explaining how dangerous and crazy the idea was. Running away...never thought I'd hear those words being uttered by her. The fact that I too was a mutant - that was for sure and I'll tell you soon why - kicked in and the paranoia of what my parents would think and do were more of a sucker punch to my heart. I was afraid. Afraid of thinking about what they could be capable of doing. My parents weren't bad people, they simply believed that being a mutant was no other thing than an illness. They'd take me to a hospital and try to find a cure...everybody knew no such thing existed. So what would they or the doctors do once they saw no possible cure? Or figured out that this was no illness and therefore could not be treated but controlled?

Soon I found myself in my room, packing things up too. My sketches, money, iPod, some clothes, and pictures - I wanted to have something to keep me going. Knowing myself I'd grow guilty and depressed about leaving them, so I kept something that would make me believe I had them close to me. A small tear fell down my cheek and I hastily wiped it away with the gray sleeve of my oversized jacket. It had a hoodie and was also warmer because of the thicker cotton. I kept stealing glances at the man driving the truck. I never liked putting much trust in strangers when I was alone, yet I was with Ma - Rogue. Still, I felt uncomfortable - and I wasn't saying that just because I was sandwiched against the hard door because of Marie.

I have no idea how the girl managed to fall asleep - I was the one who always fell asleep everywhere; floor, couch, school bus, car, railings, counter, table...you name it. That's how I got my nickname from many people: Sleeping Wreck. I didn't care. At first it bothered me quite a lot even when I never said anything, but soon enough the words slipped through one ear, then exited through the other leaving no trace in my head.

Before we'd gotten to hitchhike with anybody, strange things happened as we made our way through streets and later on snow. I had explained to Marie - I don't care if she wants to be called 'Rogue', Marie is my best friend, mutant or not - that my theory was being a mutant just like her. She got mad. The girl actually thought I was teasing her. That's when she explained what happened to her boyfriend when she kissed him - which was the reason as to why I was wearing gloves like her. I didn't want her to feel excluded or like everybody would look at her because of them - she didn't say it but I could tell - so I grabbed the ones - the only ones - I had and slipped them on. Hers were full on, black wrist gloves. Mine looked like they were fishnet with black flower-like prints on them, opened, not fingerless because they didn't have divisions for each finger and reached all the way to my elbow. They almost made me look like a Goth but the jacket, purple themed, button up, flannel shirt, faded light blue - almost white - jeans that flared from the knee down and shiny black converse sporting sparkly rainbow laces pretty much killed that label. I had wanted to hide my hair but all I could do was borrow a dark purple, hand knit beanie-hat from Marie. When she told me her grandmother had made it I hastily tried to give it back - she knew that I felt extremely uncomfortable with wearing something that was sentimentally worth a lot. I ended up wearing it anyways.

Anyhow...what happened as we were strolling along the almost deserted street. We were surrounded by pine trees so tall they'd cast a shadow over the entire pavement - if it was sunny that is. It had started to rain, when suddenly it started pouring down strongly; I realized I wasn't getting wet despite the strength with which the droplets resounded everywhere around us. Marie had noticed that she wasn't wet either. Can you believe she freaked out? Honestly, that hurt me more than I'd ever admit. Sure I was stunned about what had happened to her, but I quickly switched to comforting her instead. I have no idea how I was doing it, but there was this...this invisible barrier you could say that was preventing the water from touching us. The water fountain came rushing back into my mind. Realization struck me then. My mutant gift - at least one of them - was related with water. The sudden hunger I'd been having and the change in hair were still not clearly explained by this founding, but it was a start.

Want to know what else happened? Yeah...uh...this part was very strange and I made Marie promise that she wouldn't mention it to anyone - to which she replied sarcastically, mentioning that there was nobody else but me who she could mention it to. Very valid point. Still, I'm not saying I didn't like it. I just want to be able to control these abilities before going back to my parents - yes, I haven't mentioned it to them and I don't know if I ever will... When we were walking Marie was the one that noticed the small roots and plants emerging from the concrete, right on the path I had walked on. Plus the little patches were almost exactly shaped like the soles of my shoes. I still don't understand how I did that but I'm planning on figuring it out. Honestly? I think it's the stress that's making me do all this.

I tugged down at the hem of the sleeves on my jacket. I hated heat but cold wasn't exactly peachy either. Sleep was trying to take over me like it had done with Marie but I was not letting it win this battle. Unfortunately...I found myself fighting a losing losing battle. Tiredness had something to do with it too. Before I could fully fall asleep though the truck came to a stop. My muscles were surrounded by the laziness radiating off my bones...I did not want to get up. When somebody started shaking my shoulder though I knew my nap time would have to be at another time.

"Hey, get up, were here." My eyelids fluttered open - yes, they actually did - but the sight that awaited me outside the window was not the one I had expected.

"Marie!" I whispered hurriedly as I dragged her half-asleep self out of the man's truck and out to the cold snow by the sleeve of her jacket. "Where are we? You're our map, remember? This doesn't look anything like what you told me it would." She seemed to finally get a grasp of reality as she gazed around her at the scenery we'd just been dropped off on. She turned instead to the man who told her that this was indeed Lotham City, which was where she told him to give her a ride to. "Next time be more specific. I was kidding that day when I said that stuff about the cigarettes." We were in front of a uh, tavern? Bar? Whatever. It looked like a warehouse from the outside. It wasn't my type of hangout place anyways. Panic surged through me as Marie started moving towards the entrance. Hurriedly I grabbed her shoulder and turned her around to face me. "Where do you think you're going?" I asked as I finished turning her around. I looked warily at the snow covered cars around us. She went to reply something but it seemed to die in her throat. "What?" I asked, looking at her weirdly when her eyes narrowed at me, like she was studying me. "What?" I repeated a bit more loudly this time.

"Your eyes." She said quietly.

"What about them?" For a second, I thought my eyes might've been red or something. Perhaps it was obvious a few humiliating tears slipped out?

"The left one, it's green." I blinked. What?

"What are you talking about?"

"Your eye. It changed. It's green." I stayed rooted for some seconds to that spot as the cold surrounded me. Great...

"Never mind. Let's get out of here." My arm was tugged the opposite way, towards the place oozing testosterone, beer, cigarettes and brawn. She's lost her mind. "Marie! What are you doing?" I hissed as low as I could - I didn't want to attract any unwanted attention. Instead she turns on me and hisses back, "I'm Rogue now, remember?" With that she started making her way back in. With no other option left, I followed after my best friend. I couldn't convince her to stay outside, I couldn't stay outside alone...if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

At the center of the bar, and the center of everyone's attention for that matter, a cage fight was in the process of culminating. I stared, unblinking. So this is what it looks like up close? My dad and brother would kill to see something like this. Personally, I scrunched my nose when the mixed smell of beer, smoke and sweat reached it. Gross...well, sweat can't be helped, it's mostly the beer and smoke that make me want to gag.

I ended up somehow sneaking in past Rogue and right in front of the battle cage. Why? Call it curiosity if you must. So when a man was suddenly thrown roughly against the metal fence that I was standing directly in front of I jumped back, startled. I bumped into a buff chest which I quickly stepped away from. Now I realize there's even a frigging announcer in there. Why do men indulge in violence so much?

A man - I suppose the one who threw the other one against the cage and startled me - leaned against the opposite side of the cage from where I was. Therefore when I squinted a bit I couldn't make out his form very well - plus I was dumb enough to forget my glasses. I honestly can't tell if he got a good beating, but he was just casually blowing thick cigar smoke through the bars. Apparently, the crowd wasn't in his favor much because they were currently booing him. Shouldn't they be cheering for the winner? Oh. Unless most of these guys were acquaintances with the one that lost. The announcer seemed to take this to his advantage though.

"Ladies and gentlemen, in all my years I have never seen anything like this. Are you going to let this man walk away with your money?" Isn't it Canadian money? What good is it go - oh, never mind I can't remember half the stuff we were given in Economics. Why did I even think about that anyway?

Many people shouted at that though, disagreeing with the suggestion. One tough-looking man rose up from seemingly nowhere - to me -, claiming that he would fight the guy who was being booed and entered the cage. This guy practically radiated confidence and macho ego. Stu? The name for some reason did not suit him. I hope he gets a beat down...I froze. Hold the phone, since when do I think like that? Well...I do but not often. Maybe when watching wrestling with my dad and brother but this was live and I felt kind of...bad about it.

As Stu started shaking himself and getting ready, the announcer leaned in to whisper something. I wonder what it was because 'Stu' looked slightly bewildered.

I couldn't believe my eyes as he walked up behind the other guy's back and brought his fist down hard. That's not fair! A second blow. A third one! Isn't he gonna defend himself? Subconsciously I leaned forward as anxiety filled me. When I put my small hands on the edge of the cage, I quickly retrieved them. Small vines and leafs started entwining through the fence. Calm down Riles. The other man dropped and Stu kicked him forcefully while he was down. Still not fair! I felt a sudden urge to just go in there and...and what, exactly? It's not like I can just march into the cage and be an actual challenge.

Crrrnnnnnnkkkkk!

The noise painfully reached my ears. While I had been musing my weakness to myself I had completely missed the other man's retaliation. Which had apparently been knocking knuckles with Stu - who had been heading in with another punch ready.

Was that actually a metallic clang? It sounded like it to me... Stu's fist looked like it was in agony from how he was clutching it and the obvious reflection of pain on his face. The man who I thought would eventually lose followed with a hard, firm punch of his own, then a freaking head-butt. More sounds that were remarkably similar to metal on bone came from the cage. Stu was practically plain knocked out with the head-butt as he fell on his back and stayed where he was. The crowd then started going wild - negatively, because boos were viciously being emitted.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the winner for tonight and still king of the cage...the Wolverine!" Wolverine? What a strange stage name. Now I managed to get a better look at him. He had dark hair put in a strange fashion, equally dark eyes and a chain with a dog tag-...dang. I hadn't noticed...how fit he was...more like ripped. When dark eyes met my penetrating, mismatching gaze I felt my face heat up considerably before lowering my face so the hood of my jacket hid me from him. I quickly made my way back to Rogue, ignoring the kick he gave Stu. Rogue was actually watching, fascinated by the fight. I think she noticed the same thing as me.

"Do you think-?"

"I'm pretty sure he is. He knocked the other guy out with just a punch and a head-butt." She quietly nodded. We silently walked and sat by the bar. We spent hours like this; me, growing fidgety and bored. I hadn't realized it at first, but soon I managed to note that Marie was intently looking at the jar in front of her that had a label: "Tips is not just a city in China." There was money inside. I nudged her just as the bartender came over to us.

"You ladies want something else?" Then very cautiously he moved the jar away. "Or you just stickin' with your water." I felt my cheeks heat up immediately. I quickly shook my head for the both of us. The cage fights were long over so the business in here was very slow and quiet. Personally I was mostly paying attention to the TV. I leaned forward and placed my elbow on top of the counter of the bar, putting my fist against my cheek as I looked up lazily at the TV.

Suddenly I heard a voice.

"I'll have a beer." I was facing away from the voice but could easily tell that whoever said that had just take a seat right next to me. I caught Marie looking to the left, at somebody else beside me, with a fidgety stare.

"Once the welcoming point to thousands of immigrants, Ellis Island is opening its doors once again, this-"

I didn't dare and turn for some reason. I could smell the smoke of a cigarette though. Yuck. The bartender handed a beer over to the person.

My head snapped back up to TV when I heard a particular word. Mutants? Exactly at that precise moment, my gaze fell down on the glass of water in front of me. If I tried, could I make it move? If I did, what could I do with it? My musings were rudely interrupted when I heard somebody else speaking.

"You owe me some money." I frowned and strained - just in case - to listen better. The voice sounded familiar someho-

"Come on Stu, let's not do this right now." Ah...Stu! The man from the cage fight that got knocked out by the Wolver-...oh...oh...so that means that this whole time...he has been sitting next to me. Way to go dumb blonde.

"No man takes a beating like that without a mark to show for it." He won't quit, won't he? I mean, I know I'm a girl and all, but I'm pretty sure that common sense would tell you that after a beating like that one you ought to leave the guy alone. I dared myself and cautiously looked over. I was too close so I didn't manage to see Stu. However, 'Wolverine' was facing my way slightly, so our eyes locked instead. He had been nonchalant about the situation from what I could see, the minute he saw my face however his body seemed to have grown the slightest bit tense.

"Come on buddy this isn't worth-" Stu shoved his friend away and suddenly leaned in closer to the man who currently wouldn't leave my eyes alone. Oh- wait...that's right my left eye changed color. Is that what he's looking at or just me?

"I know what you are." At this I gave a start, straightening and hiding my hands away from anything they could touch. I was growing tense and during the fight I made freaking vegetation grow just by touching a surface. His eyes seemed to flash with something.

"You lost your money; keep this up and you'll lose something else." His voice was even and as low as Stu's, but I had a feeling that for some reason my presence didn't sit well with him. It took me a few seconds, but I realized that perhaps he just hadn't expected a young girl to be sitting next to him - much less be so close when a guy was trying to incite him. Stu seemed to have backed off and I returned my gaze to my glass of water. My eyes widened a fraction when I saw that the water was bubbling and steaming slowly. Was that because I was mad at this guy and his mutant racism? I saw it before it happened. A knife. I heard as Stu whipped out the small blade, actually managing to see the swing in slow motion - just like the ball at the game. I rapidly looked at the man beside me in alarm, eyes wide. Before I could utter anything I saw his eyes flash before turning to me.

"Look out!" Marie screeched from behind me. He stood, turning to the left - opposite side of me - and hit Stu once which caused him to hit a wall behind me. Wolverine cornered him and stuck his fist out. My jaw dropped when I saw two metal...I can't say knives, literally come right out of his knuckles, said knuckles being dangerously close to Stu's throat. Slowly, as a warning, another one started coming out in-between the other two. It stopped shorter than it should have, touching Stu's throat. I was frozen at that moment. So much that I didn't notice until it was late that the bartender had grabbed a rifle and went to point it behind Wolverine's head.

"Get out of my bar, 'freak'." At this moment, everybody else had stopped what they were doing and were tensely watching the scene, some even standing up. I even glanced at my water, and saw how vapor was starting to come out at the word 'freak'. I saw him turn his head slightly at the bartender, his gaze swiftly falling on me and I think Marie too. Was he debating whether or not he should fight with us here? Suddenly he swung his other hand, slashing through the rifle with another pair of metallic claws as if the weapon was made of butter, pointing his new set of claws at the bartender as said man stood back, arms raised. Mmm...I think not. He stayed in that position for some time, looking back and forth between Stu and the bartender before finally retrieving his claws with a metal 'chng!'. He glared at practically everybody in the bar and left. I followed his form. Marie doing the same.

"Let's go." She said. Grabbing her duffel bag and standing up. I was quicker, grabbing her arm and forgetting about the now empty glass of water.

"Where?" Marie looked at the entrance of the bar, where Wolverine had just gone out. "What? No!" I said lowly. Was she insane? "You're crazy! We can't do that!" She looked at me pleadingly.

"Riley he's a mutant too."

"So? Not all mutants are trustworthy - and I'm not saying I'm judging, but you're asking me to go with a complete and total stranger."

"He won't know." I raised an eyebrow at this.

"How 'won't' he know?"

That's how we ended up somehow managing to sneak into the back of his trailer. I don't know how we managed to catch up and jump inside with our bags and him not noticing a thing - I had a bet with Marie. I'm rather sure he knew the guy had whipped out the knife before she yelled out. So how come he didn't notice a pair of clumsy teenage girls jumping along for a ride? He had a truck with a trailer and a smaller part attached to it, we simply hid beneath the covers - with me fidgeting every now and then. I was uncomfortable but at least we weren't walking. Can you believe this time I did fall asleep? I think all the stress finally wore me out. The sound of the engine dying however, jolted me awake in a flash. I looked up at Marie, panic written all over my face. Why was he stopping? Footsteps slowly approached us. I stayed still as a rock. Don't move a muscle...eek! Something poked me! Hard! The cover was roughly and abruptly thrown away from us, majorly blowing our cover. I was facing away so I couldn't see, but by the look on Marie's, he caught us.

"What the hell are you doin'?" I heard his gruff voice say. I stayed completely quiet, letting Marie - who was the one that got us into this mess - speak.

"I'm sorry, we needed a ride. Thought you might help us." I glared at Marie. I never said that, she did.

"Get out." He said roughly. I didn't think about it twice before mounting off, I would've grabbed my bag but he grabbed both of our bags as Marie was getting off and threw them down on the snow. This is really embarrassing. I looked down, face heating up when I saw a vine slowly growing beneath my feet. I stepped on it so he wouldn't notice.

"Where are we supposed to go?" I looked up at him when Marie said that. He wasn't looking at me.

"I don't know." He said, fixing the carp and logs.

"You don't know or you don't care?" He still didn't glance my way.

"Pick one." I felt a bit of anger sweep at me. Okay, that was just rude. He walked towards the driver's seat in his truck when Marie said something else.

"Ah saved your life!" She exclaimed.

"No you didn't." He said, getting inside and turning on the engine. I stuck my hand out. She only stared at it. "What?"

"Pay up. Told you so."

"He only said that so he wouldn't have to owe me anything." I sighed, dropping my hand. Great, way to go keeping your chocolate promises Marie. The truck drove away, reaching the curve and suddenly stopping. My jaw dropped for the second time today. Once again, that man being the cause of it. Marie grabbed her bag and started running towards it.

"Hey!" I ran after her. I can't believe he actually stopped...I guess he's really a nice guy beneath a tough exterior.

The ride was dead silent. Once more, I was sitting in an invisible and illegal seat between the driver of the hitchhike and my best friend. I barely moved at all, trying to sit as still as I could. I was unnerved since I few minutes back. The guy kept glancing at me, like he was trying to make a double-take.

"What's up with you?" I have a start when I heard his voice coming out of the blue. I looked up to see him alternating between me and the street ahead. I frowned, confused at his question.

"You're doing it again." I turned to Marie again. She too was glancing at me. What is everybody looking at? "Your hair. It's going back to normal now." I looked down. Huh, it's true my hair is entirely dark again. It's shorter though. I ripped off the beanie, noticing how two pair of eyes trained on my scalp. I took my hair and threw it forward. It was cut in the same layers as before but now instead of reaching toward my stomach like before it reached just the end of my chest - not that long, not short. Just medium.

"Here..." I said absentmindedly at Marie as I handed back her beanie. My hair was normal again, that's a relief. "What about my eyes?" I asked her. She opened her mouth and closed them again.

"Still...still mismatching." I let out a breath, seeing it come out in a gust of cold. She turned to the man then. "You don't have anything to eat, do you?" He looked at her, then me and reached over to a compartment. This means he reached over me, making me lean back as much as I could. He gave her something but I couldn't see what it was. Marie glanced at me when she was taking off her gloves. Ah, my strangely big appetite. I forgot. As if on cue I felt my stomach grumble. I still shook my head and let her have it. Even though I technically was hungry, my appetite was long gone. I watched as Marie devoured whatever it was that she was eating, finishing in record time. I think we just earned pity points. Although I am rather sure we've established that we're all mutants here, I can just feel it.

"I'm Rogue." I glared at her for using the name. I liked her old name. She nudged me then, as if I was a little kid and she was scolding me for being rude. I glanced at the man, he had his eyes on the road.

"Riley." I said quietly. He glanced down at me for a second, his eyes meeting mine yet again.

"Were you in the army?" His eyes flickered to Rogue and then down to his chest, where his dog tag was. "Doesn't...doesn't that mean you were in the army?" He swiftly hid it inside his shirt, not answering the question. This time I nudged Marie instead. He was kind enough to give us a ride - although under the guilt-trip card - even when we stowed away without permission, he didn't need to open up and tell us his life story. Marie looked out the window - maybe abashed - and then looked back into his trailer. I felt my legs starting to grow itchy out of the blue. Probably mosquitos. As careful as I could I reached down to my lower, right leg to scratch the skin through my pants.

"Wow." My head snapped up.

"What?" Both me and the man said at the same time, we moved our heads again, staring at each other with cautious looks before turning our attention back to Marie. I was still leaning over, scratching.

"Suddenly my life doesn't seem so bad." I deliberately hit her arm with my free hand.

"Hey, if you prefer the road-"

"No, no! It's fine she's just joking." I cut in quickly, leaning back again, going to scratch my left upper arm instead.

"Yeah, it looks great...it looks cozy." I felt my face heat up at her answer. God, she is a terrible liar. That and suddenly the roles seem to have switched - I can be super quiet, which is why people say I know when to hold my tongue, but usually I'm just a blabber while she just adds what she thinks every now and then. Right now I'm the one who seems the quietest - then again, that's the first impression I seem to give basically everyone. I had had my hands hidden in the long sleeves of my oversized jacket, whereas now Marie had even he gloves off so she started moving them together to get some heat to them. I felt bad at that moment. I could've hugged her and put my hands over hers just to warm her up...now I couldn't.

When the man moved I looked up at him, startled as he turned something on...and then went for Marie's trembling hands. My eyes widened.

"Put your hands on the heater." Marie flinched back before he could touch her. He retrieved his hands. I couldn't tell if he was hurt by this or simply surprised that after she stowed away and later hijacked with a total stranger, ate food from a total stranger and even tried to make small talk, she would be afraid of him touching her. "I'm not gonna hurt ya kid."

"It's not you." I answered for her when I saw the hesitation cross her eyes. He looked down at me, he probably would've forgotten I was there had I not nearly been invading his personal space in the front seat. "She just...can't touch people..." I felt bad explaining it so I looked at her to continue.

"When people touch my skin, something happens." I scratched my head. More description Marie...

"What?"

"I don't know. They just get hurt." He nodded, mildly satisfied with the answer. Then he glanced down at my and my hidden hands.

"Oh, um, no I don't...I don't do that...I'm weirded but I don't do that." Marie cracked a ghost of a smile at that. It's true. My mutation is wacko.

"Well if you get cold, there's the heater." I nodded, smiling. He frowned not really looking at me but probably wondering, 'What the heck is she smiling about?' Ah yes, my real, weird side is coming out. Lately I had been much more somber than I usually am. I saw his hand move to the top of the steering wheel, finding myself looking at his knuckles. There was not a single mark on them. This time, my mouth went running without my brain.

"When they come out...does it hurt?" I asked, looking at his face for an answer in case he wouldn't give me one. He stared at his knuckles, cigar on his mouth as he spoke.

"Every time." I bit the inside of my right cheek. How can he stand that? Suddenly I glanced at Marie...Rogue, and felt immensely guilty. These two people...they had a run for their money with their mutations. Whereas all I do is toy with water, grow a little vegetation and see things in slow motion. My mutation is not at all an obstacle in my life. Theirs? Their life 'is' their mutation.

"So what kind of a name is 'Rogue'?" When he said that a grin spread across my head, looking at Marie.

"Told ya." She glared at me but still answered back.

"I don't know," She still looked at me, "What kind of a name is 'Wolverine'?" I turned my head to him. He looked reluctant for a few seconds before he spoke once more.

"My name is Logan." Logan? Mmm...nice name. I nudged Marie, prompting her to reveal her true name just like he - and I - did.

"Marie." We both sort of smiled a little, satisfied with having successfully broken the ice. "You know you should put on your seat-belt Riley, you too." I looked down and realized that I didn't have a seat-belt on.

"I would but I'm not legally seated, remember?" I told her, reminding her that in truth there were only two seats, therefore two seat-belts.

"Listen kid, I don't need any advice, I know how to-" Just at that moment a tree can crashing down right in front of us. I would've grabbed onto something but this time I didn't see things in slow motion, instead I just felt my body fly and I crashed through the windshield. I felt the glass cut through my skin nearly everywhere on my body. What was surprising though, was that even when I harshly met the snow, I was still conscious. I laid there. I couldn't move. Everything hurt. That's when my eyes caught the other figure a good few feet away from me. I landed a bit farther. Oh my God...is he...? No, if I'm still conscious he has got to be okay.

"Riley!" I heard Rogu- ugh! Marie! Marie! Marie! Marie! It's Marie not Rogue!

I glanced at Logan, seeing how he started to slowly move and get up. I coughed, turning over so I was laying on my back instead. I had managed to somehow cover my face with my arms but now my hands, arms and shoulder were bleeding. I could feel the shards from the windshield. It hurt.

"Kid, hey kid!" I groaned and tried to stand. Was that Logan? I felt a hand on my back, helping me sit up. Immediately I grabbed my right shoulder. "You okay?" I only whimpered as I felt the sharp glass embedded on my small shoulder. I saw him out of the corner of my eye glancing at it. He looked up quickly.

"Kid! You okay?" I think he was talking to Marie. "Hey!" She must've been shocked or something and hadn't answered him. His hands moved behind my back and under my legs, lifting me up with ease and started walking back to the truck. I winced when he moved my shoulder as he lifted me, receiving a worried glance. We were almost there but he halted abruptly. I looked up at him. His eyes were darting back and forth, his nose moving...was he sniffing? And they say I'm weird. He put me down quickly - mindful of my shoulder - and not a second after somebody jumped on him. I jumped and tried to scoot back, but the pain that shot up my arm prevented me from doing so. I craned my neck to see Marie desperately trying to take off the seatbelt.

"Marie..." I croaked out, reaching my arm out. I couldn't do anything. My head was pounding and my ears felt hot - despite laying down on pure snow. Out of seemingly nowhere I saw Logan land on top o the windshield, Marie letting out a shriek of horror and shock. Something roughly grabbed the back of my jacket and hauled me up. I gasped and let out a wail of pain - my shoulder felt like it was set on fire as I was whipped around to face a man. A burly, hairy, and savage looking man with sharp claws and fangs. His eyes were extremely dark and his hair was long, unkept and dirty. He growled lowly at me as I put my small hands on his, that were now gripping the front of my jacket, leaving me suspended high above the ground.

"What do you want?" I asked, my voice cracking with fear as I limped about, trying futile ways of kicking him, but every part of my body was screaming with each movement. He leaned closer and...I think he freaking sniffed me! I tried to pull away but he flinched back abruptly and growled at me. I just stared, completely confused. He looked at something behind me, alarm crossed his eyes momentarily before he threw me as if I was a bag of garbage. I landed roughly and the impact blew away the air from my lungs.

"Ugh!" Was all I could let out as I gaped at the tremendous amount of horrible, excruciating pain spread throughout me. What the heck? Was is this? It feels like... "Oh no!" I choked out. This was how I felt in the shower, when I fainted. Just like then, I blacked out. Except this time it was practically instant and my mind felt completely fuzzy as the cold of the snow fogged everything away.


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