A Nameless Story
Chapter 4
I patiently waited, and slowly raised my hands in front of me as the man flew through the air towards me. I narrowed my eyes, and spun to the side when he was a second away from me. I didn't like turning my back on Stryker, or being separated from my car, but as his fist flew at me, I realized I didn't have much choice. I quickly threw a punch of my own, and hit his inner elbow, causing his arm to buckle and break before he could hit me.
I glared, and backpedaled as he lunged again. I noticed he wasn't even favoring his arm, and I was sure I had broken it. Damn regenerative mutants… I swore heartily, and danced out of his way, punching him hard on the back of the neck. I needed to get my swords, I needed to get distance, this man was way stronger than I could ever hope to be, and equally as fast.
His arm snapped out quickly, and cut my arm. I scowled, backed up and checked out my arm. The blood was already drawing back into the wound, but it looked like I got swiped by claws. I scowled, and looked over at him. He was just standing there, and grinning, showing me his hand. I tensed when I saw he had long claws where fingernails should've been on a human.
"Well, you little bastard…I think that's cheating," I muttered, spinning out of his grasp again. I edged myself towards my car, and my swords. I could 'call' them to me, but it was too risky, and I didn't want Stryker finding out exactly what powers I did, and didn't have. If he found out, he'd know exactly what I could and couldn't do, and would plan around that. Stryker was a cold hearted bastard for sure…but he was indefinitely cunning, resourceful, and smart. I doubt he'd ever made the same mistakes twice in his life.
The man laughed, and I got a punch to his face in. He wasn't even phased, and continued to lunge at me. I danced away, but each time he kept getting closer. I clenched my teeth, and tried to focus on keeping the monster at bay, and keeping away from him. Damn, I'm out of shape…
He swiped his claws against my side, and I felt them scrape bone. The pain centered me some, until it healed a second later. I was getting tired of this dance. "Can I at least spare my poor sunglasses?!" I asked exasperated as the man raked his claws down my arm. I kicked him hard in the face, breaking his neck. He punched me hard in the gut and I spat out blood, feeling my stomach pop before healing.
God damn, I needed to get the hell out of here. It was evident that neither of us would win, so I didn't really see the point.
"What the hell is the point behind this? Neither of us will win!" I shouted at Stryker, and the man paused. I took off my sunglasses, and tossed them on the hood of my car. While I was turned the man grabbed me by the throat, and I grabbed him by his, and flipped him over me and to the ground without thinking.
He fell to the ground with an 'omph' and I froze. I slipped, that wasn't good…no, it wasn't good at all. Shit. Time to run, before I bugged out.
I turned on my heel, and ran at Stryker, more gun fire rained down, and the man chased after me, but I ran anyway. Past them all, out onto the highway then to the empty parking lot. I didn't look behind me, determinedly. I felt something swipe at my long hair, and I reacted, turning and kicking them hard in the face. Damn it!
"GOD FUCKING DAMN THIS SHIT!" I swore, sprinting away from him. He grabbed my ankle, and pulled me down to the ground. I snarled, and sucker punched him. He raked his claws across my collarbone and shoulder. In turn, I kneed him in the stomach as hard as I could. He grunted, and I was clawed at again. I must've hit him in the face twelve times, and it felt like he clawed me several, before I managed to squirm out from under him.
I ran again, and tried to remember something, ANYTHING that would help me in this situation. I didn't have my swords, so I was at a disadvantage. Not to mention, the man was fucking built like a dinosaur. I needed to breathe, I needed to push the monster back. I ended up in the woods, and I couldn't hear the man behind me. If he was some kind of animal, the other scents would mix with mine, and confuse him. So long as I stayed still, and didn't run, in theory, he should run off after a damn deer, or squirrel.
I stopped behind some tree, and held my breath, closing my eyes. I needed to calm down…I thought of kids faces from last night, and they helped me calm down, and force the monster back. I heard deep laugher, and the sound of something scraping against wood.
"I know you're here…" He drawled, and I scowled. I hated the cat and mouse game murderers liked to play. I smiled, I was in the shadows, I could get away to my car, the get back to the institute.
"I'm not actually. I'm just a figment of your imagination." I said loudly, and I felt something swipe by my ear as I rolled out of the way. The twigs dug into my back, and I had to pull a few out. Damn that stung a bit. The man and I kept circling one another, I was in a light patch, and I'd have to dive into the shadows and hope the man didn't grab me.
"You know, tall, dark and psychopath, you're really starting to piss me off," I snapped, when he wouldn't let me get into the shadows. He grinned, the moonlight showing off his elongated eye teeth, and various other pointed teeth. It kind of grossed me out some. I narrowed my eyes, and he only grinned wider, twisting his handsome face into a sinister animalistic one.
"Well girly, your turning out to be a lot more fun than Stryker promised." He said, his voice a deep growl. I scowled in response.
"I'm so happy for you. Unfortunately, I do have a prior engagement, so…" I said, turning on my heel and lunging for the shadows behind me. Damn man was faster than I thought because just as my finger tips reached the shadows, I was yanked backed, and smashed into the ground. I spit out blood when I smashed into the ground, as my rip broke and pierced my lung. I twisted on the ground, and yanked my foot back towards me, pulling the man down some, before I slammed my foot hard into his throat. It connected with a crunch that made me sick.
"Give me back my fucking foot!" I yelled, kicking around to try and get free while he choked. He broke my ankle, and I clenched my jaw. I sprung up at him, kicking him under the jaw, and grabbing his wrist and breaking it. He released my ankle, and I jumped off his shoulders, making a mad dash for the shadows, but again, he nabbed me. I turned, and punched him hard in the temple, trying to knock him out. It didn't work, and he gripped me and a bear hug to keep my still. My bones ground together, and I squirmed.
I really wanted my katana's right now.
I managed to wiggle my knee up, and slammed it forcibly into this kidney, causing him to double over, and grip his stomach. He had blood dripping out of his mouth, but he tackled me to the ground regardless, pinning me into the dirt.
I glared.
"I'm sorry, but this is moving a little too fast for me, I don't even know your name," I snarked, trying to free my hands so I could bash him in the skull. He grinned and plopped down on me, knocking the air out of my lungs. Damn he was fucking heavy.
"Name's Sabertooth. You got a name?" He asked, and I managed to get one hand free to punch him in the face. I kept punching him, aiming for weak spots, throat, head, nose…
"Nope." I said, my words venomous and angry; wiggling out from under him, and sprinting into the shadows; disappearing. I silently started to move, shadow to shadow before I heard Sabertooth laugh.
"I can smell you girly…" He said walking towards me. I felt my annoyance spike at being called a girl. I was an old fucking lady! Not some five year old! I moved, and he followed, I tried to fade deeper into the shadows, and move through them, but the moonlight faded them too much, all I could do was hide out in one like a damn fish in a barrel.
He lunged again, his claws out, and I ducked low, circling around a tree. He growled in frustration, and I smirked. Eat that you asshole. His arm darted out to the side, and his claws latched into my shoulders. I grabbed a tree branch, and stabbed him in the arm as he ripped me out of the shadows. I rolled, and my back hit a tree.
"Gotcha girly," He said, advancing on me, and I looked down. I was impaled on a damn tree branch. I broke the branch, and pulled myself off of it, and tried to make another break for it. I tried to run in to the thicker woods where there were darker shadows, but he grabbed my hair, and yanked my back, slamming me back into the ground. He brought his foot down hard on my legs, shattering them. I tried to use my arms to pull myself away, but he grabbed my by the throat and lifted me up.
"I win girly," He said smiling horribly. I looked at him blankly, before my eyebrows furrowed in anger.
"You haven't won, and my name isn't girly," I said, my voice cold, and I punched him, and kicked him. My legs were half way healed. He plunged his hand into my gut, grabbing my spine. I ground my teeth together, fuck that hurt.
"Yeah, then what is it frail?" He growled leaning towards me, and I kicked him in the balls. He dropped me, and I tried to pull his hand out of my internal organs. Once I got his hand out of my gut, I punched him in the face again, hard. My knuckles stung from the impact, but the pain soon faded.
"Well, it's not frail either, try again." I said coldly, elbowing him across the face. He bit down on my arm, sinking his teeth in deep. I scowled, and tried to pull back. He wouldn't let go. I punched him hard and fast in his stomach, and he finally let go with a laugh. I frowned, and hit him in the nose, feeling it break. I backed to get some space, when he grabbed my arm, grinning like the devil. He hit me so my head snapped back to stare at the moon.
His grin reminded me of the old man. They both had smiles that would give the devil a run for his money. I broke away from that though, and quickly used the momentum of his punch to flip backwards. It was like in slow motion, and I realized for a second I had lost control again. Then it was back, the ground rushing up for me, and I righted myself so I landed on my feet.
"Why won't you just fuck off and leave me alone?" I asked rhetorically, as he stood watching me. I was tensed, ready for him to spring. He grinned and shrugged.
"Why don't you just tell me your name baby?" He said, and I glared. I crossed my arms.
"Don't call me baby," I snapped avoiding the question.
"I wouldn't have to if you gave me your name…" He prompted, walking closer. I didn't walk backward to keep equal distance between us; I'd fight close ranged before I'd trap myself.
"Nameless." I said coldly, and against my better judgment, this guy was a real piece of work…
"Seriously?" He said, and I scowled.
"Does it look like I'm fucking joking to you?" I said, my voice harsh and annoyed. A cloud passed overhead and I grinned.
"I'd say it was nice to meet you, but really, who am I kidding?" I said, dropping in the shadows behind me. He lunged at me, and I watched him for a moment. He pressed the intercom thing in his ear.
"Stryker, I lost her, for now." He said, and I disappeared back to my car. All the military people had left, and grabbed my sunglasses, throwing them on before driving back to the institute. I grabbed a coke from the back, and chugged it. I was fucking stressed as hell, not to mention I'd need to find new clothes. I sighed, I couldn't go buy clothes looking like this, people would call the cops. I'd have to borrow something for now.
I turned on the radio, and the same song blared.
"These battle scars, don't look like their fading, don't look like their ever going away, they ain't ever going to change, these battle scars-!" The man sung, and I clicked off the radio. I'd have to dig out my Pink Floyd CD's, at least they didn't remind me of things I didn't want to think about. I pulled into the institute, passing a motorcycle. The motorcyclist swore, and jumped off his bike to follow me as I parked. I got out, bringing my swords with me.
"What the hell happened to you?" Logan asked grabbing my shoulder and looking down at my ruined clothes. He quickly stood up the motorcycle, and moved towards me more.
"I ran into some trouble. Not a big deal." I said dismissively, my hands clenching the sheathes of the swords.
"You smell-," He started, and I cut him off.
"Thanks Logan, you're really boosting my self confidence." I said sarcastically. He looked concerned, and I walked into the building. He smiled.
"I wasn't done, you smell like Sabertooth." He said, and I looked at him. He must've had an animal mutation as well.
"Yeah, I fought with him. It wasn't fun, let me tell you." I said, walking towards the kitchen. I felt a buzzing around my head, and I shoved it off. It came back, very persistently, and I shoved it away again.
"Rouge and Pyro showed back up here, freaking out. Professor had just decided to go and find ya." He said, his tone gruff as he lit a cigarette. "I don't think he was happy you left grounds with 'em."
"Well, they were fine, so I don't see why it's a big deal." I said quietly, somewhat grumbling to myself. Sherlock and Rouge were fine, and I was fine.
"I think he was more worried about you," He said, correcting me. I looked him in the eye, searching his expression.
"I don't understand why." I replied absentmindedly. In truth, I probably wouldn't ever understand why someone would worry over me personally. If I did something stupid, it was on me, not them. And if I died, well, no skin off their backs. It wasn't as if I'd had a short and uneventful life. I knew where I was going when I died too; there was no heaven or redemption for me. If I was lucky, I'd probably end up in purgatory. But the chances on that happening were pretty slim.
"I'm going to hell," I murmured to myself, while we were walking up the stairs.
"You're not," Logan argued, and I stared at him, before my lips tightened, and I glared at the hallway in front of me.
"If you knew what I've done, you wouldn't say that." I said, my voice giving away what I was feeling. It held cords of sadness and regret while my face stayed emotionless.
We walked into the Professor's office. He didn't look too happy…Eh, he'll get over it.
"Would you like to explain what happened while you were out?" He asked, and I scoffed. I gave him withering look underneath my sunglasses that said 'don't try and pull the bad child card, I'm older than you'.
"That Stryker guy you mentioned? Well, he caught up with me at a Waffle House. They shot me a good few times, and when I told him to fuck off, he unleashed his hit man Sabertooth on me." I explained, gesturing to my ruined clothing. "I'm not going to lie, I got a bit roughed up." I finished, crossing my arms. I'm amazing my bra was still holding up with all the slash marks and bullet holes.
"You fought with Sabertooth?" Xavier asked, concerned and a little shocked. I shrugged.
"It don't really count it like that, because he's immortal. It was more like me beating the living shit out of him, while he cut me into ribbons and tried to drag me back to Stryker." I said, uninterestedly. I took off my sunglasses, folded them up, and set them down gently on Xavier's desk.
"Well Professor, I have a hunch they'll be safer with you. If you were them, which I wouldn't blame you if you do, don't get them scratched. Their irreplaceable." I said, backing up to lean against the wall, gripping the hilts of my swords hard.
"I'll be sure to take good care of them," He said, smiling. I smiled, but it quickly faded.
"I don't know why there after me, but after Big Boy tried to rip my spine out through my stomach, I don't think they're the negotiable type."
"Stryker, I've heard that name before…" Logan said, and I looked over at him.
"You probably have. He was a big hotshot, kind of like the Kingfish was in the 20's, no one could touch him, either. Then he got screwed over on some project he had on Liberty Island. The whole thing was pretty hush, hush but his name was thrown around a bit during the seventies." I explained.
"Yeah, maybe that's it…" He grumbled, looking off into the distance like he was trying to remember something.
"Ah, yes. The other reason I wished for Logan to accompany you places, is the fact that you two came from very similar circumstances." The Professor said.
"How so?" I asked, and Logan started paying attention again. The Professor took a deep breath.
"Both of you are immortal, and both of you can't remember your pasts." He said, and I looked at Logan surprised. He shared my look, and I looked back at the Professor. He was smiling softly.
"I think you should go and converse on your own, then. See what you can learn." Xavier said, and we both walked down into the kitchen. We both took a seat at the island, and I began sipping on my soda.
"So, do you know how you lost your memory?" I asked, and he shook his head no.
"Do you?" He asked, and I looked away.
"Yeah." I answered quietly.
"How?"
"Sensory deprivation was how it started. Then, after some of the training he put me through, I don't think I wasn't that sixteen year old girl anymore…I had changed, for the worst, and I killed many people. I still try and remember the past, before I was sixteen though, through meditation." I muttered.
"Is that why you were screaming last night?" He asked, taking out a beer.
"Yeah, I was stuck in a memory." I said reluctantly. He nodded in understanding.
"I have nightmares sometimes, where I'm stuck in a tank and I'm in a lot of pain…" He said, then popped out his claws. "I think it has to do something with these," Logan said, and I looked at his claws. Metal like that was not natural…
"My nightmares are a lot different than yours." I stated, taking a swig of my soda, and laying my hand on the table. I kept my katana's in my peripheral vision, just in case anything happened.
"Yeah? What was your nightmare about last night?" He asked, quirking an eyebrow at me. I sighed, and leaned back in my chair.
"If you really want to know, it was about a family I killed in the French Revolution. At first, I was ordered only to execute the father, but then he brought up the family to the old man, and he had me slaughter the entire family. It wasn't…it's not an experience I want to ever repeat." I said, looking away guilty. I was such a horrible person, I've sinned so much…
"Why didn't you just go against your orders?" He asked, and I frowned.
"I was put through a very extensive torture when I was sixteen. They utilized sensory deprivation extensively, to wipe away the person I was. After that, I was just a monster…" I said softly. He put his hand over mine. I looked up into his eyes, wondering exactly why he did that. He gripped it softly, and I looked at him blankly.
"You're not a monster." He said, and I shook my head sadly, pulling my hand back.
"But I am, you just can't see it. I've hidden that person away, the monster. But it's always close to the surface." I whispered, closing my eyes. Guilt flickered up in my chest. Suddenly, a few kids walked in.
"What are all you doing down here?" Logan asked, putting out his cigarette. Pyro, Rouge, Bobby and Kitty were among the few.
"The X-Men left, so we thought we'd come down here," Bobby explained. I stood up, and walked out discreetly. I wanted to be alone right now, and the roof was the best place. I climbed out my window, and walked up the side of the wall to the roof.
I sat on it, dangling one leg off the roof so it was bent at the knee, and keeping the other foot planted on the rooftop. I rested my arm on knee and slouched comfortably, standing both swords up with my other arm.
The breeze gently blew some strands of my hair out, and I looked out at the sky. I remembered the few friends I did have…
The beautiful man during the American Revolution; when I was sixteen, who had proposed to me. I didn't love him, but it was close. I think he had always been my best friend… At least until the white room. I found him later, after my 'training', but by that time he was an old man. A sour old man, with no wife or children. He softened after I had seen him, and then he died in the rain. I missed him…
The atmosphere became heavy, and it snapped me out of my memory.
Something was off again. I tensed, and turned to look behind me, when I was hauled up off my feet and slammed into the roof. I unsheathed my swords, before I felt them get knocked away. I braced my feet under me, when something large kicked me, propelling me off the roof. I narrowed my eyes, standing before I fell off the roof.
It was Sabertooth, crouched in front of me, grinning that devil smile. It made me a little sick, just like the old man's used too.
"FUCK OFF!" I yelled, diving for my swords, which were under his foot. He punched me hard in the throat, and I punched him in the gut. I stood and choked for a few seconds, before the bones in my throat reassembled themselves.
"Well, lookie what I found…" He said, his voice a rough drawl that mocked kindness.
"Obviously it wasn't your sense of mercy or compassion," I said, my voice breathy and rouge from the punch. Damn that fucking hurt. I kicked him, catching him under the jaw. He leaned back a little, and took the time to straighten up and get my bearings.
"Now, that wasn't very nice…" He commented, cracking his neck. I scowled in response.
"Great, you're a fucking hypocrite. You want to try that again?" I said, my words carrying an attitude that would make a teenager go, 'damn,'.
He threw himself at me, and I dived under him for my swords. He seemed to anticipate me, and managed to kick them off the rooftop. As I fell after them, he grabbed my ankle, breaking it.
I kicked him hard in the face, and turned, springing up into a standing position.
Oh man I was royally fucked up the ass, hand to hand combat, with this guy? Jesus do the world a favor, and just ship me to hell early. I mean, I was formidable without my swords and the immortality thing helped, but holy shit. This guy was built like a god damn mountain!
In case you were wondering, this takes place at the start of X2. Obviously I've changed some things... Hope ya like it anyway, and please review! :)
