Blix:  That or I'm just good at mystery.  snorts  Nope, must be that you're slow.  Lol.  I'm only teasing. 

Snoob:  Thank you for both reviews.  Chp1: I thought so myself.  smiles  Chp2:  You could ask for them to eventually get together.  Lol.  Then again, obviously they will:  I am writing this – I wouldn't have it any other way.  Lol.

Anonymous:  Lol.  Thanks for the boost.  I'll try and keep chapters running smoothly.

Star-of-Chaos:  Can I call you Star?  Anyway, thanks a million.  Reviews keep me going!

Chapter Four

Caged Freedom

She paced the length of her room, feeling caged inside the spacious, airy bedroom of the west wing.  She unconsciously wrung her hands together, her skin scarlet from her constant rubbing.  She was going crazy being cooped up and, yet, there were no barriers between her and escape, save for the unlocked door.  Despite this, she wasn't able to bring herself to leave her own makeshift prison.  She didn't want to wander the unfamiliar halls swarming with the dozens and dozens of students.  She didn't want to be ensnared into talking with the teachers.  And she definitely didn't want to run into Wolverine.

She snarled at the thought of his name.  Damn him and his sweet talk.  Damn him and his convincing.  Just damn him for dragging her away from the little security she had to only ditch her as promptly as possible – at a drop of a hat: as if she were merely a pebble in his boot.

She huffed, her eye twitching from the rage and stress the man had bestowed on her.  Grumbling, she finally found the urge to battle it out with someone – anyone.  She marched out of her room, slamming the heavy oak door shut harshly behind her.  A student scurried past, looking startled.  Marie ignored the young girl, not even bothering to wander why the child was in the teachers' chambers section.

Marie stormed down the hallway and stomped down one of the many staircases, not sure where it was leading her.  To her astonishment – and partial delight – she ended up at the entrance to the kitchen.  Her stomach growled at her, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since dinner the previous night.

Marie burst into the room, her hair brushed back by the wind caused by the door flying open.  Her delight, however, was short lived – snuffed out at the sight of a man hunched over the island cradling a glass bottle in his hands.  She clenched her jaw and sighed angrily, about to march out.

"You've got an issue with standing around?"

Marie glared at him, her green eyes turning into a sharp shade of jagged emeralds.  "You got an issue with being an asshole?"

Logan smiled smugly at her, his eyes dancing with a bemused snicker.  "Careful, kid, or I may just have to make you my next victim."

Marie stepped closer in fury.  "What the hell is your problem?  In case you've forgotten, you dragged me here.  I didn't ask to come to this freaking mansion.  So?  What?  Did I wrong you in another life or something?"

Logan chuckled.  "Listen, kid, I've got nothing against you except for the fact that you were working for Stryker – looking for me."

"God, you are so infuriating.  I wish I were still working for him.  At least then I had authority…money…freedom!"  Marie spun around, yanking open the fridge roughly, the door snapping back against its hinges.  Finding nothing of interest, she slammed it shut, whirling around to glare at Logan.  "Why the hell did you bring me here, Wolverine?  Why did you even come to my house last night?"

He shrugged as if he had no care in the world.  "It was a mission.  Professor Xavier thought it would be best."

"Professor Xavier?  You mean Professor Charles Xavier?"

Logan's eyes narrowed suspiciously, his body growing tense.  "Yeah, why?"

Marie screamed in ferocity and then flashed her razor eyes at him.  "Fuck you!  Fuck you!"  She wrapped her arms around her stomach, feeling sick – panged by the stunning, agonizing truth.  "No," she wailed.  "No, no, no…" shaking, she sank to the floor.

Pair of strong arms was suddenly embracing her, hauling her back to her wobbly legs, but she was unable to stand.  She found herself being held up by him, slouched against his chest.  Heaving from her sobs, she meekly punched at him, her blows slowly growing more and more forceful as she began screeching.

Logan held on tight, confused and concerned.  The woman in his arms – just a moment ago so vibrant – was now a crumbled mess.  She reminded him of a porcelain doll – beautiful and hard, but when broken…

He stroked her hair, his fingers entangling in her silky auburn strands.  "Shh, Marie."

She shoved away from him; her face stained with salty tears but as frigid as ice.  "You can tell Xavier to fuck off.  I'm out of here."  She whipped around and fled from the kitchen.

Logan raced after her, grabbing her wrist and twirling her around so abruptly that her tiny frame collided into him.  "What's going on here, Marie?"

"It all makes sense now," she spat bitterly, her tears forgotten.  "I was brought here because of Bobby."

"Bobby?  You mean Bobby Drake?"

"Yeah," she laughed bitterly.  "Bobby Drake – my fiancé."

"What," Logan gasped.

"He told me he worked for a Professor Charles Xavier.  But he led me to believe that Xavier was a crippled teacher-scientist.  And Bobby was his apprentice or whatever.  The damn bastard lied to me!

"He told me he was going to a conference.  Ha!  A conference my ass!  Then two days before our wedding, I got a call.  Bobby was dead.  I was told it was an airplane crash – they never found his remains.  But I bet you his body was brought back here.  Am I right?"

Logan shifted uncomfortably, his eyes softening.  "Marie…I…I had no idea.  I'm so sorry."

"I don't want your damn pity!  I want the truth!  Was Bobby brought back here?"

"Yes."

"How did he die," she whispered.

Logan closed his eyes, recalling the brutal images of Iceman's gruesome death.  "He was killed by…they wanted information.  He wouldn't give it.  They burned him…and then skinned him."

Marie choked back the lump in her throat.  "Who did?"

"Stryker's men."

Marie bent over and vomited up the sour acid from her stomach.

End Chapter Four