Chapter 6: The Reality of Things
(Takes place one month after Chapter 5)
Kayla yawned and sat up and bumped her head on the ceiling yet again. Rubbing her head, she hopped off the top bunk and down onto the floor. Logan was still asleep on the bottom bunk, but she couldn't sleep.
They had been on the road since their encounter with the police some months ago. They slept out on the streets and wherever they could, while her father made money in cage fights. She had to admit, he was good at the kind of stuff, but it got quite boring after a while just watching. After their first month on the street, Logan had managed enough money to swindle a small mobile home. It had a kitchen that only she could fit without difficultly, a small table and across from the tables was there bed. In the far corner was a washroom which Logan could never fit into and never used.
His snoring filled the home as she got a can of coke from the fridge. She was bored, and was worried about Eric. She had not seen him and was afraid he was jailed. But then again, he would probably be too quick anyway, Kayla thought as she tossed out the empty can. Slowly opening the rickety door at the back, Kayla hopped out and surveyed her surroundings. They never stayed in a place too long, and Canada was definitely colder than the States. She hated to admit it, but she missed her life at the mansion.
* * *
Logan had heard her walk out the door. He grudgingly pulled himself up, and seated himself at the small table in which it faced the back window. Kayla was standing outside, seemingly depressed. He sensed she was worried about her friend, and that she missed the mansion, though she would never admit it. Sighing unhappily, he got up and made himself some toast. He had to fight in the cages in bars or else he would never be able to support himself and his daughter.
Putting on his worn leather jacket, Logan stepped outside, the snow crunching under his boots.
"Hey kid," he smiled, "how are you today?" Kayla turned around to greet her father. Her eyes were lowered on the ground.
"How did they get all the kids out of the mansion?" she asked, the question has been bothering her for a long time.
"Most of them escaped using the tunnels, or that's what I heard," he replied solemnly. Logan placed a hand on her shoulder.
"When the search settles down a bit, we'll find them." With that, Logan walked off to the bar, for another drink and another fight. If she had not teleported into the jet, she would've been captured with the rest of them and he felt somewhat glad she had disobeyed him. Kayla then too headed for the bar, but she avoided going in. Many of the people there thought it would be funny to swindle kids, and force them to play cards with them. Luckily, on those occasions, her father had come to the rescue. As she neared the bar, several kids were hanging around the door, with a sneer on their faces.
"Heh, I'm so glad they passed that mutant law, those half breeds deserve that anyways," the boy with the blonde slicked back hair said, "I can't believe anyone who wants to live with them. In my opinion, they should be killed." That phrase made her blood boil. Her eyes narrowed, and they turned wolf-like as she kept her distance from them, but stayed close enough to listen to their conversation.
"My father told me," said another boy, he had scruffy brown hair and freckles, "that mutants are just barbarians. But I'm glad too you know, Jace?"
"Hell, if there was a mutant here, I would love to beat the crap out of them," replied the tallest boy, "or I ain't Big Mike." The three sniggered, and took occasional sips from their beer bottles. Jace, with his blonde hair greased back stared at Kayla, "what are you looking at punk?" He looked down at her feet then back up again, and sized her up.
"You know, we don't do well with eavesdroppers," he smirked, "do we boys?" The other two smiled and crossed their arms. Kayla did not flinch or move, but she just stood there. She had an advantage over them, but would she use it?
"These are my friends, Mike and Gord," he said, whispering in her ear, "They're kinda more brawns than brains. But nevertheless, you're still kinda on the downside." His smiled revealed the sickly white teeth hidden underneath.
"Sorta wimpy beating up a girl, don't you think? Aren't there any boys here you can pound?"
"Well, we ain't wimpy enough to beat up a drunkie, so a girl's the next best choice."
"Those men don't look drunk, try your luck there little kid." Kayla walked past the three and into the bar. Jace had a stricken look on his face which was then replaced by a look of anger a few seconds later. He walked over and slammed the door shut just as Kayla went to open it.
"What did you say?"
"I said, go away go pound some little boy."
"You know people who talk like that to us get beaten up bad."
"People who don't do what I say aren't alive to tell you what happened. Let me in." Jace's hand was firm against the door, and he was backed up by two taller and more muscular gang members.
"We'll see how good you are. Mike grab her, and Gord, a good pounding for this one." Before the slow, lumbering Mike could grab her, Kayla jumped back, and ran off the porch of the bar. Gord was headed straight for her while Jace was giving instructions to Mike. Kayla did not bother on staying behind and listening and headed straight for the bar's backdoor. The door was locked, but with the help of her claws, she jammed the door open. Inside was a ring, surrounded by a tall fence, and two men were fighting in it. As she walked closer, she noticed that it was Logan and some other guy. Though she never witnessed the matches before, she had heard rumors about the "Wolverine." Her father was actually winning the battle, and just when the three dumbfounded gangsters came inside the match ended, with Logan as the winner. Their eyes locking for a moment, Jace immediately dispatched his goons to chase Kayla as she rushed back outside. Mike tripped her with his giant foot and Kayla fell onto the snow.
"Time for payback, girl" he spat as he punch her face. The impact of the punch almost made Kayla pass out with the certainty of a big black bruise. She pulled herself up before Mike could land another punch.
"If you can catch me," said Kayla droopily as she attempted to hobble away. But Jace wasn't going to let her go so easily, he sent Gord after her as well. Kayla had a headache and couldn't see as well due to the blow on her face as she tried to walk to the nearby forest. If her skeleton was not made of adamantium, her head would have been broken. Jace had decided his two clumsy friends could not catch up to Kayla, ran after her himself.
"We're not done with your pounding," he grinned, flashing his disgusting white teeth again. Kayla flinched slightly but kept her steady gaze at Jace. He seemed to have not noticed that she flinched. He then bound her hands together with a rope to the nearby tree. Mike and Gord had finally caught up with the two, and Kayla had only begun to realize the kind of beating she would be receiving. The two pummeled her with punches, while Jace stood behind them with a smug look on his face.
"If I really tried, I could kill you two."
"Fat chance girly. What are you going to do? Scream? Hey what do you think she can do Mike?"
"Wail, heh." Kayla struggled against her bonds wanting to unsheathe her claws to kill the boys. She knew if she had done that, she would've given away their anonymous identities. Her eyes lowered slightly and waited for her beating to end. She could not kill them, they didn't understand.
After an hour of torture, the boys were called by their fathers as it was the closing time for the bar. Kayla was left with a heavily bruised and swollen face, and was still tied to the tree. Luckily there was no one nearby and she slashed the ropes away with her adamantium claws. She continued to limp towards the mobile home but unconsciousness had soon reached her and she feel into the freezing snow.
"Kayla? Y'all right kid? What happened?" Kayla opened her eyes, her hair felt as if it was frozen and could not feel her face.
"What? I was outside, how did I get in here?"
"I carried you back in, what happened? Looks like you were fighting in the cage or something kid." There was a tingling sensation in her fingers and it was the only signal that told her she was in control of the body.
"I-I got beaten up by some kids," she said slowly, as if she had a difficult time recalling the events, "'cause I was eavesdropping on their conversation about anti-mutants."
"Well you already know that there were anti-mutant riots, why was this is such a big difference. Here, kid, this ice pack should help with the swelling." Kayla accepted the icepack and put it on her already numb face.
"I never heard those words come from a person that wasn't on the radio or TV." she sighed, "I guess I've finally learned about the reality of things." Logan closed his eyes, he did not want his daughter to live in the world, the part in which he had fought so hard to support.
"You know, maybe Magneto is right," Kayla said, speaking her thoughts, "perhaps we are like a separate, more advanced race, and we cannot coincide peacefully." Logan had somehow known one day she would say this, one day she would consider joining Magneto's side.
"Do you know how I have adamantium claws and bones?" he asked and Kayla shook her head, "it was the humans that gave them to me, and somehow it has passed onto you. And amazingly, I am part of the X-men and we protect the humans. Still, I don't feel hatred, not anymore."
"Why," Kayla asked, interrupting him. Logan normally would feel slightly angered if he was interrupted but this was a special circumstance and he let it go.
"Because not every human is like that, Kayla," he continued, "your mother wasn't like that." Kayla for once in her life had opened her eyes. She saw the cruelty of humanity, but despite of that, she was conceived by its love. She now saw why there were X-men, she now knew why her father spent time serving as one, because Magneto was wrong. He assumed everyone was like that, not knowing that the thoughts of humans were very similar to a mutants, they vary. Logan saw the understanding in her eyes perhaps the mention of her mother helped.
"You understand now don't you?"
"Yeah, Magneto is wrong."
"You could say that kid, but he's just got this misconception thing that's all, and is too stubborn to see that." Kayla chuckled, she had met Magneto briefly before, and knew that he was a strong-willed kind of person.
"What did you mean by not anymore?"
"My memories of my former life were taken away from me when I got my claws," he explained, "but at Alkali Lake, I learned it didn't matter anymore. I found a home at the mansion, and nothing more." Kayla had never asked about his past, his childhood, and felt somewhat at loss. He didn't know much about her past either. Glancing at his watch, Logan grabbed the mattress from the upper bunk and placed it on the floor.
"What are you doing?"
"Going to bed, it's late kid, plus you're hurt."
"Why down there?"
"'Cause you're in my bed." Kayla had only realized that she was in his bed not hers, and Logan could never be able to sleep on the upper bunk anyways. Closing her eyes, Kayla had fallen into an easy, comfortable sleep. Logan too had closed his eyes and began to dream.
He was in a bed, a larger more comfortable bed and the sun was shining through the window. The sun shining through the window? His mobile home had very few windows and they were all very small. Opening his eyes, Logan saw that he was indeed sleeping with a woman. He sat up suddenly and looked around. It was a small bedroom with a large window to the right of the bed, and it seemed awfully familiar. Logan shifted his gaze to the woman curled asleep at his side. She seemed familiar too. She began to stir and opened her hazel eyes.
"Logan? You're up already?"
"W-who are you? Was I sleeping with you?" Logan was very confused. He did not know why he was inside her apartment sharing the bed, and where was Kayla? Had he gotten drunk and left her?
"Honey? I'm Amy remember? Your would be wife." She lifted her finger, showing the gold band the was worn around her ring finger. Amy edged closer beside him and rested her head on his chest.
"Wife?"
"And our daughter? Kayla?" Memories soon began to flood into Logan. Amy was his girlfriend and he had asked her to marry him, how could he have forgotten?!
"How come I forgot everything?"
"You were the Weapon X, and t-they took that away from you."
"Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant? I wouldn't have left you."
"I was afraid you would be mad honey, like you are now. You didn't see like you wanted to be a father at the time, and I didn't want to burden you." Logan sighed and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a more intimate embrace.
"She is everything like you Logan, please don't be mad."
"I'm not, I was feeling a little guilty that's all darling."
"What is this place?"
"It was the apartment we bought with our savings." The statement sounded quite blunt and Logan felt somewhat at loss, how could he forgotten these things? But then again, he was confused about his feelings because he still had lingering feelings for Jean. Amy must have sense that about Logan because she said, "honey, I know I am dead now, and this is all but a dream, but please take care of Kayla for me." Logan gave her a loving kiss and smiled.
"Don't worry, I will."
(Takes place one month after Chapter 5)
Kayla yawned and sat up and bumped her head on the ceiling yet again. Rubbing her head, she hopped off the top bunk and down onto the floor. Logan was still asleep on the bottom bunk, but she couldn't sleep.
They had been on the road since their encounter with the police some months ago. They slept out on the streets and wherever they could, while her father made money in cage fights. She had to admit, he was good at the kind of stuff, but it got quite boring after a while just watching. After their first month on the street, Logan had managed enough money to swindle a small mobile home. It had a kitchen that only she could fit without difficultly, a small table and across from the tables was there bed. In the far corner was a washroom which Logan could never fit into and never used.
His snoring filled the home as she got a can of coke from the fridge. She was bored, and was worried about Eric. She had not seen him and was afraid he was jailed. But then again, he would probably be too quick anyway, Kayla thought as she tossed out the empty can. Slowly opening the rickety door at the back, Kayla hopped out and surveyed her surroundings. They never stayed in a place too long, and Canada was definitely colder than the States. She hated to admit it, but she missed her life at the mansion.
* * *
Logan had heard her walk out the door. He grudgingly pulled himself up, and seated himself at the small table in which it faced the back window. Kayla was standing outside, seemingly depressed. He sensed she was worried about her friend, and that she missed the mansion, though she would never admit it. Sighing unhappily, he got up and made himself some toast. He had to fight in the cages in bars or else he would never be able to support himself and his daughter.
Putting on his worn leather jacket, Logan stepped outside, the snow crunching under his boots.
"Hey kid," he smiled, "how are you today?" Kayla turned around to greet her father. Her eyes were lowered on the ground.
"How did they get all the kids out of the mansion?" she asked, the question has been bothering her for a long time.
"Most of them escaped using the tunnels, or that's what I heard," he replied solemnly. Logan placed a hand on her shoulder.
"When the search settles down a bit, we'll find them." With that, Logan walked off to the bar, for another drink and another fight. If she had not teleported into the jet, she would've been captured with the rest of them and he felt somewhat glad she had disobeyed him. Kayla then too headed for the bar, but she avoided going in. Many of the people there thought it would be funny to swindle kids, and force them to play cards with them. Luckily, on those occasions, her father had come to the rescue. As she neared the bar, several kids were hanging around the door, with a sneer on their faces.
"Heh, I'm so glad they passed that mutant law, those half breeds deserve that anyways," the boy with the blonde slicked back hair said, "I can't believe anyone who wants to live with them. In my opinion, they should be killed." That phrase made her blood boil. Her eyes narrowed, and they turned wolf-like as she kept her distance from them, but stayed close enough to listen to their conversation.
"My father told me," said another boy, he had scruffy brown hair and freckles, "that mutants are just barbarians. But I'm glad too you know, Jace?"
"Hell, if there was a mutant here, I would love to beat the crap out of them," replied the tallest boy, "or I ain't Big Mike." The three sniggered, and took occasional sips from their beer bottles. Jace, with his blonde hair greased back stared at Kayla, "what are you looking at punk?" He looked down at her feet then back up again, and sized her up.
"You know, we don't do well with eavesdroppers," he smirked, "do we boys?" The other two smiled and crossed their arms. Kayla did not flinch or move, but she just stood there. She had an advantage over them, but would she use it?
"These are my friends, Mike and Gord," he said, whispering in her ear, "They're kinda more brawns than brains. But nevertheless, you're still kinda on the downside." His smiled revealed the sickly white teeth hidden underneath.
"Sorta wimpy beating up a girl, don't you think? Aren't there any boys here you can pound?"
"Well, we ain't wimpy enough to beat up a drunkie, so a girl's the next best choice."
"Those men don't look drunk, try your luck there little kid." Kayla walked past the three and into the bar. Jace had a stricken look on his face which was then replaced by a look of anger a few seconds later. He walked over and slammed the door shut just as Kayla went to open it.
"What did you say?"
"I said, go away go pound some little boy."
"You know people who talk like that to us get beaten up bad."
"People who don't do what I say aren't alive to tell you what happened. Let me in." Jace's hand was firm against the door, and he was backed up by two taller and more muscular gang members.
"We'll see how good you are. Mike grab her, and Gord, a good pounding for this one." Before the slow, lumbering Mike could grab her, Kayla jumped back, and ran off the porch of the bar. Gord was headed straight for her while Jace was giving instructions to Mike. Kayla did not bother on staying behind and listening and headed straight for the bar's backdoor. The door was locked, but with the help of her claws, she jammed the door open. Inside was a ring, surrounded by a tall fence, and two men were fighting in it. As she walked closer, she noticed that it was Logan and some other guy. Though she never witnessed the matches before, she had heard rumors about the "Wolverine." Her father was actually winning the battle, and just when the three dumbfounded gangsters came inside the match ended, with Logan as the winner. Their eyes locking for a moment, Jace immediately dispatched his goons to chase Kayla as she rushed back outside. Mike tripped her with his giant foot and Kayla fell onto the snow.
"Time for payback, girl" he spat as he punch her face. The impact of the punch almost made Kayla pass out with the certainty of a big black bruise. She pulled herself up before Mike could land another punch.
"If you can catch me," said Kayla droopily as she attempted to hobble away. But Jace wasn't going to let her go so easily, he sent Gord after her as well. Kayla had a headache and couldn't see as well due to the blow on her face as she tried to walk to the nearby forest. If her skeleton was not made of adamantium, her head would have been broken. Jace had decided his two clumsy friends could not catch up to Kayla, ran after her himself.
"We're not done with your pounding," he grinned, flashing his disgusting white teeth again. Kayla flinched slightly but kept her steady gaze at Jace. He seemed to have not noticed that she flinched. He then bound her hands together with a rope to the nearby tree. Mike and Gord had finally caught up with the two, and Kayla had only begun to realize the kind of beating she would be receiving. The two pummeled her with punches, while Jace stood behind them with a smug look on his face.
"If I really tried, I could kill you two."
"Fat chance girly. What are you going to do? Scream? Hey what do you think she can do Mike?"
"Wail, heh." Kayla struggled against her bonds wanting to unsheathe her claws to kill the boys. She knew if she had done that, she would've given away their anonymous identities. Her eyes lowered slightly and waited for her beating to end. She could not kill them, they didn't understand.
After an hour of torture, the boys were called by their fathers as it was the closing time for the bar. Kayla was left with a heavily bruised and swollen face, and was still tied to the tree. Luckily there was no one nearby and she slashed the ropes away with her adamantium claws. She continued to limp towards the mobile home but unconsciousness had soon reached her and she feel into the freezing snow.
"Kayla? Y'all right kid? What happened?" Kayla opened her eyes, her hair felt as if it was frozen and could not feel her face.
"What? I was outside, how did I get in here?"
"I carried you back in, what happened? Looks like you were fighting in the cage or something kid." There was a tingling sensation in her fingers and it was the only signal that told her she was in control of the body.
"I-I got beaten up by some kids," she said slowly, as if she had a difficult time recalling the events, "'cause I was eavesdropping on their conversation about anti-mutants."
"Well you already know that there were anti-mutant riots, why was this is such a big difference. Here, kid, this ice pack should help with the swelling." Kayla accepted the icepack and put it on her already numb face.
"I never heard those words come from a person that wasn't on the radio or TV." she sighed, "I guess I've finally learned about the reality of things." Logan closed his eyes, he did not want his daughter to live in the world, the part in which he had fought so hard to support.
"You know, maybe Magneto is right," Kayla said, speaking her thoughts, "perhaps we are like a separate, more advanced race, and we cannot coincide peacefully." Logan had somehow known one day she would say this, one day she would consider joining Magneto's side.
"Do you know how I have adamantium claws and bones?" he asked and Kayla shook her head, "it was the humans that gave them to me, and somehow it has passed onto you. And amazingly, I am part of the X-men and we protect the humans. Still, I don't feel hatred, not anymore."
"Why," Kayla asked, interrupting him. Logan normally would feel slightly angered if he was interrupted but this was a special circumstance and he let it go.
"Because not every human is like that, Kayla," he continued, "your mother wasn't like that." Kayla for once in her life had opened her eyes. She saw the cruelty of humanity, but despite of that, she was conceived by its love. She now saw why there were X-men, she now knew why her father spent time serving as one, because Magneto was wrong. He assumed everyone was like that, not knowing that the thoughts of humans were very similar to a mutants, they vary. Logan saw the understanding in her eyes perhaps the mention of her mother helped.
"You understand now don't you?"
"Yeah, Magneto is wrong."
"You could say that kid, but he's just got this misconception thing that's all, and is too stubborn to see that." Kayla chuckled, she had met Magneto briefly before, and knew that he was a strong-willed kind of person.
"What did you mean by not anymore?"
"My memories of my former life were taken away from me when I got my claws," he explained, "but at Alkali Lake, I learned it didn't matter anymore. I found a home at the mansion, and nothing more." Kayla had never asked about his past, his childhood, and felt somewhat at loss. He didn't know much about her past either. Glancing at his watch, Logan grabbed the mattress from the upper bunk and placed it on the floor.
"What are you doing?"
"Going to bed, it's late kid, plus you're hurt."
"Why down there?"
"'Cause you're in my bed." Kayla had only realized that she was in his bed not hers, and Logan could never be able to sleep on the upper bunk anyways. Closing her eyes, Kayla had fallen into an easy, comfortable sleep. Logan too had closed his eyes and began to dream.
He was in a bed, a larger more comfortable bed and the sun was shining through the window. The sun shining through the window? His mobile home had very few windows and they were all very small. Opening his eyes, Logan saw that he was indeed sleeping with a woman. He sat up suddenly and looked around. It was a small bedroom with a large window to the right of the bed, and it seemed awfully familiar. Logan shifted his gaze to the woman curled asleep at his side. She seemed familiar too. She began to stir and opened her hazel eyes.
"Logan? You're up already?"
"W-who are you? Was I sleeping with you?" Logan was very confused. He did not know why he was inside her apartment sharing the bed, and where was Kayla? Had he gotten drunk and left her?
"Honey? I'm Amy remember? Your would be wife." She lifted her finger, showing the gold band the was worn around her ring finger. Amy edged closer beside him and rested her head on his chest.
"Wife?"
"And our daughter? Kayla?" Memories soon began to flood into Logan. Amy was his girlfriend and he had asked her to marry him, how could he have forgotten?!
"How come I forgot everything?"
"You were the Weapon X, and t-they took that away from you."
"Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant? I wouldn't have left you."
"I was afraid you would be mad honey, like you are now. You didn't see like you wanted to be a father at the time, and I didn't want to burden you." Logan sighed and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a more intimate embrace.
"She is everything like you Logan, please don't be mad."
"I'm not, I was feeling a little guilty that's all darling."
"What is this place?"
"It was the apartment we bought with our savings." The statement sounded quite blunt and Logan felt somewhat at loss, how could he forgotten these things? But then again, he was confused about his feelings because he still had lingering feelings for Jean. Amy must have sense that about Logan because she said, "honey, I know I am dead now, and this is all but a dream, but please take care of Kayla for me." Logan gave her a loving kiss and smiled.
"Don't worry, I will."
