Despair

" I don't know Sheriff. It looks like some sorta animal attack." The deputy was looking at the body. It was all he could do not to gag. " Witnesses say it was some cage fighter, came running out there when they heard the screams start. Some sorta fight broke out. A girl was involved. Got the tapes from the camera." The sheriff, his gut hanging over his belt, thinning gray hair on top, hunched deeper into his coat. " Let's get out of here and get an APB posted, then we search the county, maybe get the feds or state boys to help." The two men left the crime scene, leaving the forensics team to finish up.

A little while later.

" Logan, Logan can ah come in? Logan ya in there? Come on let me in, ah don't wanna be alone right now." Marie was banging on his motel door. She clutched her green cloak tighter, bracing against the cold wind. It was snowing harder, and she had never felt more alone than when Logan and her had split up to go to their separate rooms.

Logan finally answered the door, a towel wrapped around his waist. Marie was in shock. She didn't even know anything about him. The whole ride into this town she had envisioned seeing him naked. Her cheeks were blushing profusely. Logan grabbed her hand and nearly yanked her into his room. " Hey kid, you gonna gawk at me all night or you going ta turn around so I can get dressed." Logan smirked at her, he could smell her excitement and it was driving him wild. He had to lock the animal part of himself away. At least before he did something Marie would regret.

Logan turned around and finished toweling off, grabbing his clothes and laid them out. Marie was finding the dresser very interesting until she spotted the mirror. Her face started to turn many shades of red as she saw him standing behind her. Lean and tall, his six-foot frame was a mass of rippling muscles. He was absent-mindedly scratching at his stubble-covered chin, then slid his boxers on. Then he pulled on the rest of his clothes, a pair of jeans and flannel shirt. " Kid, your awfully quiet for someone who doesn't want ta be alone." Logan slid to the end of the bed, then reached out to touch her around her waist.

" Come on. Tell me what's bothering ya."

" Oh Logan, ah... ah'm a mutant and ah can't touch ya cause ya'll die and ah don' want ya ta die. Ah'm gonna go in the morning, ya don' have ta worry. 'Kay. Ah kin take care o' mahself, ah jus' wanna ta say thanks for saving me." Marie broke down into tears.

She tried to pull away but Logan wouldn't let her go. He made shushing noises to her and held her tightly, allowing her to take comfort in his arms. " Hey kid, everything's all right. I'll take care o' ya and you don' have to worry." Logan looked at her where she had fallen asleep in his arms. " I'm a mutant too Marie. Nothing is ever going to hurt ya again." He whispered the last part. God, I hope she didn't hear that, not good to be attached to something. Not that he believed that as he drifted off to sleep.

Sirens closing in on the motel interrupted his heavy slumber. At first he didn't want to wake, but then realization dawned on him that they would be coming for them. Grabbing his overnight bag and extra clothes he rushed to Marie's room and grabbed her bag. Placing them in his truck he then ran back to his room to get Marie. Marie was jostled awake as he peeled out of the motel lot. Police cars flew by, only to make sharp u-turns after the fleeing truck.

" What's going on Logan? Why we running?"

" Cause of them." Logan jerked a thumb behind him.

" Well maybe you should have your seatbelt on and why are the cops chasing us."

" I killed two of the men that attacked you, I... I lost control and killed them cause they were going to hurt you. I'll understand if you hate me."

" You're not an animal Logan, ah understand what ya did for me. Ah want ya ta know that-" Marie was cut off as the truck went spinning out of control, careening off the road and smashing into a tree. Marie was saved by her seatbelt, but Logan went flying out the windshield.

The sirens making loud noises as the police were catching up. Marie stared at Logan's prone form, some thirty feet away half buried in a snowdrift.

Oh My Gawd, Marie thought, he's dead.

Then Logan started to rise. Staggering to his feet he turned to look at Marie.

" Kid ya all right? Kid?" Marie watched as he came towards her. She tried to move and smoke was starting to fill the truck cab.

" Ah'm stuck!" She called to him.

Smoke was billowing out now from behind her. SNITK! Logan's claws extended from his right hand. Three nine inch blades jutting from between his knuckles. The police were arriving and were starting to get out of their cars.

Yanking open the door, he swiped his clawed hand down fast. Marie flinched, but saw as the seat that was restraining her parted under the blades.

Grabbing Marie by the hand he turned to flee. Officers were shouting for them to stop or they would fire. Logan wasn't about to stop and kept going. That's when the shots rang out. Logan wrapped Marie to this body as he felt the bullets puncture his back. Marie's sobs were the last thing he heard before he passes out.