Hi, guys. I know I've been gone a long time… way too long. I've been having a little bit of trouble… we moved, (Lebanon is no longer the safest place for Americans) my Grandmother is really sick, and though I wanted to work some more on this story, every time I sat down, everything would just escape me. Here she goes again… lets hope I can do better this time.

Chapter 14

            Whispers from the night wind brought tidings of great pain, of blood, of screams. Whispers brought tidings of Marrow… the one who was alone, and who was destined to be alone… perhaps 'til her death, but given the current circumstances, that couldn't be very far away, now, could it?

            Whimpers of anguish flew from between the young woman's clenched teeth, her chest heaving horribly in attempts to muffle the dry sobs which racked her body. Merciless. Crimson pooled around her waist, where her body was being stretched taught, this wasn't natural, God, please… and further and…

"Heiiiii…" the sound forced itself from her Sarah's lungs, more like that of a cat bawling in pain than a thin human scream. No one could know pain like this. The thought had a certain tone to it, but it was as far from comforting as Sarah herself was from the sewers where she could be safe… secure…

A figure forced itself into Sarah's line of sight, radiating a power so palpable that she was sure that if she could draw a bone from her shoulder, the resistance that it would meet before she could bring the familiar weight down would cause the thing to shatter like so much blown glass. Through pain dimmed eyes, Marrow knew that this time was her last chance. After this, she would die. X-men… they weren't here, were they? Had they, with their perfect, immaculate sets of scruples decided that Marrow was such a danger after all, that she should be left to be exterminated? Fools. Survival of the fittest, no? Marrow, just this once would prove how fit she was.

            "Mutant filth. You disgust me. Your kind is a plague…"

            "Plague on the earth, gum on your shoes, perverts of the landscape?"  

            "I have NO TIME for your ripostes, o insignificant one. Do you value your life?"  The powerhouse of a man drew Sarah close to his face by the neck of her uniform. "Do you wish to live?" Something foul-smelling and rancid drifted into Marrow's senses, and the need to gag hit her like a cannonball. Chambers deep within him surfaced, that mouth brought fire, and she knew it with every shred of her being.

            "I value my life. Evidently, you do too, otherwise, what the fuck am I doing here?"

            The blow which struck was not unexpected. The acceptance that she felt was that of a child who had just discovered that it was rice 'for dinner again.' The one thing that this brought to her mind was that perhaps the value that she felt for her life was not as strong as she thought it was. Did she really care this much?

             "I know what you want."

            "Do you, mutant? Be so kind as to hand me your head on a platter, would you? There's a good girl."

She ignored his sneering comments. In the grand scheme, they weren't important. Certainly, they wouldn't be important when he heard the 'thunk' of her bone missile piercing his flesh. She wouldn't care then. Doubtful that they would even be remembered, at the sweet sight of blood gushing from a fatal wound… and this time, it wouldn't be blood on his hands. The marauders. They would all die. Then, they'd have a play date in their own little inferno. Perhaps Sarah would meet them there.

            "You want to destroy the mutant coven which the man known as Xavier has created. You want to smell the mutant flesh crisping… sweet meat, no? I know where they reside… and I could get you past the security, couldn't I? What with, well, me being one of them and all." Sarcastic innocence crept into her voice at the last sentence. One of them. Hah. That's the last thing that they would ever want.

            "Yes, wench. I would to smell the crisping mutants in that household, as I once would have wanted to send the Morlocks straight to hell." He gave a mocking laugh, and Sarah only maintained her sense of peace, knowing that she would make his laugh into a scream. Hopefully sooner rather than later.  

            "I can lead you to them… and I will. Assuming you'll spare my life, of course." Of course. Naturally.  Obviously. As you would expect.

The smile of conquest that the shadow-obscured man gave would have made a snake's blood run cold. But not Marrow. Marrow would survive…

            Rogue stepped out of the X-jet, bleary-eyed from the trip, and lack of eye-to-eye stimulation. She hadn't said a word to Remy for the duration of the flight… she couldn't. What was there to say? "Remy, you led the Marauders to the Morlocks. Gotcha. But, ah, love ya anyway, hun." A dry laugh escaped her darkly painted lips. Right.

            Remy, for his part was anxious to start looking for Sarah. Perchance if he could… could find her, rescue her, even, if the need be… there might be a chance of redemption. Salvation. Chance of ending up at the pearlies instead of heading down to 'take the heat.' …and also a chance to prove to Sarah that he really did want to be her friend, corny, and typical as it may sound. A chance to prove he cared.

Once again, sorry for the … um… temporary death of this piece. *bows*

Casu consulto,

~Nightfan