A/N: I just wanna say thanks to anonymous, my first and only reviewer. This is what gets me to keep on writing. Thanks alot.
---------------
Vengeance
---------------
It was still early, and Jean hadn't expected anyone else to be up at this hour. She was thankful to be able to work in peace, althought Logan was there. Which wasn't such a bad thing in itself anway. She told Logan to slowly lay the little baby on the infirmary table so Jean could atleast clean her up some.
He carefully unwrapped the sleeping child from his jacket, taking a medical blanket from Jean and covering her in that instead, then placed her on the table. Logan looked toward Jean sadly, his mouth set in a grim line. "I gotta go."
Jean turned as he started toward the door. "Logan?" As he stopped mid-step and looked at her, Jean already knew what he was going to. Just the look in his eyes and his posture told her that he was heading back to the alley to find the crime scene. Although she knew this probably meant trouble, Jean also knew she wouldn't be able to stop him. "Just..try not to kill anybody okay?"
A ghost of a smile spread across Logan's features.
"You better call if you need any help." Jean tapped her temple, indicating a telepathic call. "I'll keep a mind link open if you need me."
Logan smiled and slipped out the door, hoping not to run into anyone as he was leaving. Whoever it was, be it Xavier, Storm, Rogue, or Scott, they would undoubtedly wonder where he was going and start giving him the 20 questions.
----------------
Making his way back to the alley and parking his motorcycle at the bar, Logan began following the footsteps that seemed to be fading in the wet streets. It had started raining a little while ago, but he was still able to find the scent of blood despite the fact that the trail would be long gone in a matter of minutes.
---------------
The strong scent of blood had led Logan to a small house set in a seemingly quiet neighborhood where all the houses had a nice white fence, green grass, and a single car garage. The thought of the Cleaver family ran through his head as Logan stealthily snuck around to the back door.
Coming upon the sliding glass door that had been visibly shattered, Logan entered cautiously, claws unsheathed and ready for action. The smell of blood was everywhere and so strong it nearly made him sick. The interior of the house, the kitchen area, looked like a masacre had taken place here.
There was a body of a young man splayed across the kitchen table, his chest gaping from a monstrous wound, with his insides pouring out of the opening. The thick blood pooled around him on the table and spilled down onto the white tiled floor.
As Logan neared the body for inspection, the strange thing about it was that the obviously fatal wound was not what had killed the guy. He smelled gunpowder, and his theory was proven once he discovered a bullet hole between the young man's eyes. Why would someone shoot the victim first, then tear open their guts? There really were some sick bastards running loose in this world.
Logan's gaze shifted to the floor where he noticed a wide streak of blood going into the living room. Another body was cut open in the kitchen, then dragged from the scene. He followed the trail, stopping abrubtly at what caught his eye.
---------------
Kneeling beside a bloodied body of what appeared to be a young woman (perhaps the dead man's wife?), a strange looking man sat, oblivious to Logan who stood in the kitchen doorway, claws drawn with his arms hanging loosely by his sides.
The man's skin was a charred black color, like someone who had been burned very badly. He had close cropped black hair that looked somewhat greasy, and he was tall and gangly looking, although you couldn't really tell because he was kneeling.
Logan growled, which caught the man's attention. What really bothered him though, was that he hadn't gotten the man's scent, which he should have recognized amongst the dead bodies. As the man turned to face him, Logan noticed that he had strange eyes; the right one was a lively orange, and the other a dull grey. Another thing that got his attention, was a tear that streaking slowly down the man's face. "Who the hell are you bub?!"
The man stood cautiously, seemingly ignoring Logan's deadly claws. "My name is Cadaver." His voice was accented in Croatian, and it was hollow sounding, and echoeing itself like there were no organs to back up the sound.
Logan couldn't help but pick out the irony in the man's choice of name. Cadaver, he said, which literally meant corpse, or dead body if you will. The man before Logan did indeed look like he was dead, sounded like it too. All he could figure was that this Cadaver guy had to be a mutant, due to both his appearance and lack of scent.
"Please, " Cadaver begged, wiping the tears onto the sleave of his plain grey t-shirt. "Don't hurt me, I mean no harm."
Logan stared at the guy who kept his distance but didn't make any sudden movements. "What are you doing here? These people were murdered, did you kill them?!" He snarled bitterly. He was determined to find the person responcible for this slaughtering, and by the scents of these bodies, he was sure they were the little girl's parents.
"NO!" Cadaver yelled back vehemently. His strange echoey voice packed with more emotion than Logan could have thought the slim man capable of.
Logan sighed, sheathing his claws and allowing the man to explain. "So, what're ya doing here?"
Cadaver sighed, slipping his pitch black hands into the pockets of his faded jeans. "I protected them, or atleast...I tried." He was visibly sadened, gaining some trustworthy sympathy from Logan.
"You're a mutant." He stated it as an obvious fact, maybe expecting Cadaver to explain what he could do or something.
He nodded. "Yes. I...I've been like this.." He gestured toward his ghostly appearance. "..ever since I 'died'." Cadaver made quoting motions with his fingers.
Logan quirked an eyebrow, obviously confused. He allowed the man to continue, letting his guard down slighty as he started to believe the guy.
Cadaver sighed heavily. "Please, don't make me explain. Ever since...the accident..I couldn't remember what happened to me. My memories...they started fading..like I really was dead. I think...I think I am....dead that is, somewhat. Well, my mutation makes it seem as though I am." He shrugged, as if just trying to explain what had happened was making him tired.
Logan could relate. "Alright, now about 'protecting' these people?"
"Well, I had no where else to go, and since I could make it so they couldn't see me, I stayed here with the family, watching over them. I think this is where I used to live, but I don't know if they are my family or not." Cadaver frowned. "I left last night around six o'clock, sometimes I just wander around, and when I got back....a few minutes ago I...I found them like this."
Logan sighed, brushing a hand raggedly over his face. "Ahright, I can understand why ya didn't call the cops..."
Cadaver looked up. "I was going to, then leave but..."
Logan moved closer, no longer considering this guy a threat. "But what?"
"Rosie, she's missing." He saddened again, trying to look away from the bodies although, strangely it didn't bother him that much. Maybe because he'd seen alot of death, or because he thought himself dead.
Logan's brows furrowed. He had an idea who this "Rosie" was, but wanted the man to say it. This would make his story more believable. "Who's Rosie?"
"It's their little girl, she's only 3. I was so worried that whoever...whoever did this, had killed her." Cadaver paused, regaining his composure. "Then I saw the footprints leading out the door. I tried following them outside, but the rain had washed them away." He bowed his head down in defeat.
Logan felt now was a good time to tell him about the baby. "Hey uh, Cadaver...I found your 'Rosie'."
The man's eyes brightened, even his dull grey eye seemed to sparkle with hope. "Is she, is she alright?"
Logan nodded. "Yeah, she's fine. I took 'er ta some friends of mine so they could take care of her. It's a school fer mutants, they'll take good care of the kid until we know better what ta do with 'er."
"Can I see her?" Cadaver inched toward the door anxiously.
Logan sighed, sheathing his claws. He cocked ahead toward the door and turned to leave. "Yeah, ahright. Come with me."
---------------
---------------
Vengeance
---------------
It was still early, and Jean hadn't expected anyone else to be up at this hour. She was thankful to be able to work in peace, althought Logan was there. Which wasn't such a bad thing in itself anway. She told Logan to slowly lay the little baby on the infirmary table so Jean could atleast clean her up some.
He carefully unwrapped the sleeping child from his jacket, taking a medical blanket from Jean and covering her in that instead, then placed her on the table. Logan looked toward Jean sadly, his mouth set in a grim line. "I gotta go."
Jean turned as he started toward the door. "Logan?" As he stopped mid-step and looked at her, Jean already knew what he was going to. Just the look in his eyes and his posture told her that he was heading back to the alley to find the crime scene. Although she knew this probably meant trouble, Jean also knew she wouldn't be able to stop him. "Just..try not to kill anybody okay?"
A ghost of a smile spread across Logan's features.
"You better call if you need any help." Jean tapped her temple, indicating a telepathic call. "I'll keep a mind link open if you need me."
Logan smiled and slipped out the door, hoping not to run into anyone as he was leaving. Whoever it was, be it Xavier, Storm, Rogue, or Scott, they would undoubtedly wonder where he was going and start giving him the 20 questions.
----------------
Making his way back to the alley and parking his motorcycle at the bar, Logan began following the footsteps that seemed to be fading in the wet streets. It had started raining a little while ago, but he was still able to find the scent of blood despite the fact that the trail would be long gone in a matter of minutes.
---------------
The strong scent of blood had led Logan to a small house set in a seemingly quiet neighborhood where all the houses had a nice white fence, green grass, and a single car garage. The thought of the Cleaver family ran through his head as Logan stealthily snuck around to the back door.
Coming upon the sliding glass door that had been visibly shattered, Logan entered cautiously, claws unsheathed and ready for action. The smell of blood was everywhere and so strong it nearly made him sick. The interior of the house, the kitchen area, looked like a masacre had taken place here.
There was a body of a young man splayed across the kitchen table, his chest gaping from a monstrous wound, with his insides pouring out of the opening. The thick blood pooled around him on the table and spilled down onto the white tiled floor.
As Logan neared the body for inspection, the strange thing about it was that the obviously fatal wound was not what had killed the guy. He smelled gunpowder, and his theory was proven once he discovered a bullet hole between the young man's eyes. Why would someone shoot the victim first, then tear open their guts? There really were some sick bastards running loose in this world.
Logan's gaze shifted to the floor where he noticed a wide streak of blood going into the living room. Another body was cut open in the kitchen, then dragged from the scene. He followed the trail, stopping abrubtly at what caught his eye.
---------------
Kneeling beside a bloodied body of what appeared to be a young woman (perhaps the dead man's wife?), a strange looking man sat, oblivious to Logan who stood in the kitchen doorway, claws drawn with his arms hanging loosely by his sides.
The man's skin was a charred black color, like someone who had been burned very badly. He had close cropped black hair that looked somewhat greasy, and he was tall and gangly looking, although you couldn't really tell because he was kneeling.
Logan growled, which caught the man's attention. What really bothered him though, was that he hadn't gotten the man's scent, which he should have recognized amongst the dead bodies. As the man turned to face him, Logan noticed that he had strange eyes; the right one was a lively orange, and the other a dull grey. Another thing that got his attention, was a tear that streaking slowly down the man's face. "Who the hell are you bub?!"
The man stood cautiously, seemingly ignoring Logan's deadly claws. "My name is Cadaver." His voice was accented in Croatian, and it was hollow sounding, and echoeing itself like there were no organs to back up the sound.
Logan couldn't help but pick out the irony in the man's choice of name. Cadaver, he said, which literally meant corpse, or dead body if you will. The man before Logan did indeed look like he was dead, sounded like it too. All he could figure was that this Cadaver guy had to be a mutant, due to both his appearance and lack of scent.
"Please, " Cadaver begged, wiping the tears onto the sleave of his plain grey t-shirt. "Don't hurt me, I mean no harm."
Logan stared at the guy who kept his distance but didn't make any sudden movements. "What are you doing here? These people were murdered, did you kill them?!" He snarled bitterly. He was determined to find the person responcible for this slaughtering, and by the scents of these bodies, he was sure they were the little girl's parents.
"NO!" Cadaver yelled back vehemently. His strange echoey voice packed with more emotion than Logan could have thought the slim man capable of.
Logan sighed, sheathing his claws and allowing the man to explain. "So, what're ya doing here?"
Cadaver sighed, slipping his pitch black hands into the pockets of his faded jeans. "I protected them, or atleast...I tried." He was visibly sadened, gaining some trustworthy sympathy from Logan.
"You're a mutant." He stated it as an obvious fact, maybe expecting Cadaver to explain what he could do or something.
He nodded. "Yes. I...I've been like this.." He gestured toward his ghostly appearance. "..ever since I 'died'." Cadaver made quoting motions with his fingers.
Logan quirked an eyebrow, obviously confused. He allowed the man to continue, letting his guard down slighty as he started to believe the guy.
Cadaver sighed heavily. "Please, don't make me explain. Ever since...the accident..I couldn't remember what happened to me. My memories...they started fading..like I really was dead. I think...I think I am....dead that is, somewhat. Well, my mutation makes it seem as though I am." He shrugged, as if just trying to explain what had happened was making him tired.
Logan could relate. "Alright, now about 'protecting' these people?"
"Well, I had no where else to go, and since I could make it so they couldn't see me, I stayed here with the family, watching over them. I think this is where I used to live, but I don't know if they are my family or not." Cadaver frowned. "I left last night around six o'clock, sometimes I just wander around, and when I got back....a few minutes ago I...I found them like this."
Logan sighed, brushing a hand raggedly over his face. "Ahright, I can understand why ya didn't call the cops..."
Cadaver looked up. "I was going to, then leave but..."
Logan moved closer, no longer considering this guy a threat. "But what?"
"Rosie, she's missing." He saddened again, trying to look away from the bodies although, strangely it didn't bother him that much. Maybe because he'd seen alot of death, or because he thought himself dead.
Logan's brows furrowed. He had an idea who this "Rosie" was, but wanted the man to say it. This would make his story more believable. "Who's Rosie?"
"It's their little girl, she's only 3. I was so worried that whoever...whoever did this, had killed her." Cadaver paused, regaining his composure. "Then I saw the footprints leading out the door. I tried following them outside, but the rain had washed them away." He bowed his head down in defeat.
Logan felt now was a good time to tell him about the baby. "Hey uh, Cadaver...I found your 'Rosie'."
The man's eyes brightened, even his dull grey eye seemed to sparkle with hope. "Is she, is she alright?"
Logan nodded. "Yeah, she's fine. I took 'er ta some friends of mine so they could take care of her. It's a school fer mutants, they'll take good care of the kid until we know better what ta do with 'er."
"Can I see her?" Cadaver inched toward the door anxiously.
Logan sighed, sheathing his claws. He cocked ahead toward the door and turned to leave. "Yeah, ahright. Come with me."
---------------