Disclaimer: A whole host of new characters are mine. Please don't use them. Of course, the X-Men and other such characters involved in the comic, books and the movie belong to Marvel, and new ones are mine. Also the plot is my own.
Throughout story:
" " = Speech
' ' = Thoughts
^ ^ = Telepath
Jenny: Luckily Logan protected aurora by shielding her from the bullets.. but.. if he was a shield.. *swallows nervously* ):
Crystal: Keep reading my friend and you shall find out! ;)
Wolf: Naaaaaaw.. you all love cliffhangers as much as I do! You all do! *grins broadly* Don't ya??
Ironic: I killed a reviewer! *screams*
Blix: Man.. you guys really hate me and my cliffhangers don't you? Hum..
Chapter 43Aurora made a weak grab for a twisted tree root as she floated on through the mad rush of water. Her fist clenched upon the scrawling root and she managed to slow down her path in the thrashing froth of the river. She turned her head, just in time to see Logan come bobbing limply behind her in the beating current. She gave a shake of her head to send drenched strands of black from her eyes. With her adamantium gold hand clutching at the tree root, her other lashed out across the running water. She threw her bare palm upon the neck of Logan's jacket and strained to try and pull him out of the roaring path of the river.
She was struggling herself, for the water was forcing her back, trying to send her away from the banking and into the treacherous thrashing of the water. She gasped softly, trying to keep her head above the water as well as Logan's, whose adamantiumed skeleton was dragging him down.
"Logan!" She gasped, shaking her head free of the clutches of the murky water. He was barely responding, just tired groans as his head limply tried to fight upwards for air. The dark water was becoming stained with red, and Aurora could only grimace as it lapped around her neck.
Just when Logan's head slipped under the bloodied froth of the river, Aurora felt his hand suddenly tighten about her slim fingers. A small pause lingered before Logan threw his head out of the water with a cry for air, his mane of hair throwing water behind him unnecessarily. He snapped his head to Aurora, both hands grabbing onto hers and he fought through the murderous current and towards the root of safety.
Aurora lightly pushed herself upon the banking of the river. Her knees slightly sank through the muddied slope as she hoisted Logan up. He was more alert now and so the process of their escape was much smoother. However, as Logan's hands met the squelching mud of the banking he felt his head swim frantically. He tried to sit up on his knees, but his head seemed to drag him down. With a defeated groan he slumped upon the wet dirt, not noticing that the river water was tickling his booted feet.
Aurora lowered her head to Logan's; with a scared whisper she tried to arouse him from his state, "Logan? Are you all right? Talk to me.."
Logan made a rough growl from his chest followed by a sharp inhale of a wince.
"Logan? What's wrong? Where are you hurt?"
He made an incoherent grumble and a hand weakly gestured to his back. Aurora slid through the mud, her knees once more sinking amongst the dirty sludge as she proceeded to strip the jacket from his back. Logan sleepily obliged to lift his arms so the jacket could be slid off. Aurora's nimble hands lifted the back of his shirt up and she visibly cringed at the sight.
For every bullet that had successfully hit.. had got Logan in the back. There were about five bleeding bullet holes and several nicks in the flesh where bullets had ricocheted off his adamantiumed spine and ribs. The bullet holes were bleeding profusely for they were having difficulty healing from such deep bullets.
Aurora took hold of her lower lip and nervously began chewing as she watched his back, "Logan.. is.. Are they healing?"
Logan made a faint rumble of a grunt before he softly spoke, "Yeah.. but Christ.. they really got into me."
Aurora made a nervous sort of giggle as she watched the bleeding wounds.
Logan turned his head slowly, "Ugh.. don't tell me you're funny round blood.."
"No.. I just don't like seeing someone's back mauled."
"My back has not been mauled."
"But it looks awful."
"It feels awful, Aurora."
Footsteps were heard from the other side of the bridge as the police began to return up the muddy slopes of the banking. Luckily the pair were in decent coverage under the trees and the retreating helicopter didn't spot them. Aurora's head snapped up at the sounds and she visibly flinched when the helicopter flew over.
Logan pushed himself up slowly to watch the helicopter fly noisily overhead and on down the river to try and find them. He sat up on his knees, picking up his jacket off the muddy baking. Aurora watched him in silence as he stood up his feet. He made a slight wince and twisted his hips. Within a few seconds several bullets toppled out of his bloodstained shirt and dropped into the sludgy ground quietly. He smirked down upon Aurora pulling her gently to her feet with a damp hand, "Let's get to London." He said under his breath before he sprinted out across the grass.
Aurora frowned at his choice of direction and pointed across the river, "Logan.. London's that way." She called over to the running form.
Logan beckoned her towards him with a smirk as he ran, "I know darlin', but we ain't walkin' anymore."
Aurora ran towards him, staring, bewildered by his words. Logan just smirked and nodded gently, "Stay here will you? Be right back.." Aurora was left standing by the side of a narrow road that led off from the main road where the police attack had been.
Logan nodded to her as he turned, sprinting off down the road in silence, slipping his jacket on over his broad arms. Aurora's eyes widened and her stomach was drenched in ice as she saw him turn towards where the flashing police cars were sat, "Logan.. no.. oh no.." She muttered softly under her breath as she watched him swipe the oncoming policemen out of his path. He swatted them down like flies, and they did indeed go flying to the floor dead. Aurora's heart was in her mouth when Logan smashed the driver of a car across the face with his bare fist and threw him over his head, this movement sent the stunned man over across the bridge and down into the water with a terrified shout. Logan threw himself into the car, slamming the door on the other officers' approach. He revved mightily before he screeched off the bridge and spun noisily round the corner and roared towards where Aurora was stood.
The car skidded to a screeching halt; dust flew up from the road gently as the engine madly purred with its new lease of life. "Get in!" Logan called with a wild grin on his face. Aurora stared at him in utter horror.
"Get in Aurora!" Logan repeated, jamming his fist on the horn to let it happily toot.
Aurora was ready to refuse until gunfire began to rocket their way. She ducked instinctively as she heard it. Logan roared at her through the closed doors, "Aurora!!" Aurora gasped softly, shielding her face as she dragged open the passenger door. She slid onto the seat with a sharp gasp, quickly shutting the door on the mounting conflict outside.
Logan gave a satisfied nod as she entered. He slammed the gear level forward and he thrust his foot down upon the pedal. Aurora gasped as the car shot off the side of the road and roared with smoke streaming from the wheel arches. Bullets still fired at them and Aurora heartedly screamed as the back window exploded in a shatter. She threw herself down in her seat, slamming her seatbelt over her body in a panic.
"I hope you know what you're doing." She softly whispered as she clutched onto her seat for her life as Logan roared the vehicle on across the road and towards a built up carriageway.
Logan just smirked at her words and the car exploded off the top of the hill and leapt down the slope at an incredible speed. The entire vehicle shook at his actions and still roared with a never before reached power. He chuckled at Aurora's screams as the car was thrown down the slope; it's wheels screeching in defeat to the speed.
"Hold on tight!" He shouted jovially as he spun the wheel dramatically to send the car along the dual carriageway.. on the wrong side of the road.
"Logan!! Get on the other side of the road!" She cried, her voice cracking at her loud screams.
"These bastards are on the wrong side!" Growled Logan as he weaved through the oncoming cars.
"We're in England! We should be on the other side!" Said Aurora, almost near sobbing point as cars blasted their horns at them. Lights kept flashing angrily in their faces as cars dived out of the way.
Logan muttered and slammed the steering wheel to the left, "Fine." He said firmly.
The car suddenly catapulted across the concrete barrier separating the opposite lanes. The blocks of concrete shuddered and fell to pieces as the bumper of the car rocketed through them. Aurora's voice had gone to ultrasound with her screams. Her fingernails clung into the dashboard of the car as the car was thrown across the concrete and onto the right side of the road.
"Logan! You idiot!" She cried, glaring at him in horror.
He just chuckled as he spun the car through the traffic, the police car's siren still wailed mightily and the red light flashed continuously; the blue one had been shattered by a bullet.
Aurora snapped her head back to watch the road behind then out of the broken window. Shattered glass lined the back seat and sparkled as orange hued lights shone upon the dual carriageway. Aurora swallowed nervously, speaking up under her breath, "Logan.. we're not free yet.."
Logan's brow cocked at her words and he lifted his head to peer at the rear-view mirror. He made a soft growl as he saw flashing lights of police cars screech after them amongst the traffic behind.
"Remain seated!" Logan cried with a dangerous smirk, as he looked back to the road and firmly pressed his foot down further. The throttle now flat to the floor and car exploded with a surge of power and rocketed off across the road as they roared to so called safety.
Bobby's footsteps echoed loudly as his trainers slammed against the metal staircase that led up to the top floor fire exit. Rian was close behind and the pair pursued to the fire exit door. The pair exchanged glances before Bobby lightly placed his fingers on the door and pulled it towards him. The pair stepped cautiously inside. The smell that washed over them was numbing. Absolutely revolting. Bobby felt his insides retch to the stench. With a hand to his nose he proceeded inside, glancing around the moon streaked room.
A drunken yell came from one corner as an empty bottle was thrown their way. Rian dived out of the way as the empty whisky bottle shattered against the now closed fire exit door.
Bobby exchanged a bemused expression with Rian before the pair ventured further in the darkness towards the incoherent mumblings. Moonlight bathed in through the open window as the drunkard could just be seen. It wasn't Lenny. A large group of similar stated bodies could be seen.. they had either passed out from large quantities of alcohol or just the churning stench.. Bobby couldn't decide which.
"You come in 'ere and take me bleedin' space!" The man yelled, "I can't even sit on the street without some bastard officer comin'.." These words were followed by more ramblings that couldn't be understood.
"Hey.." Said Rian quietly, a hand to his mouth at the awful smell of the tramp, "Do you know anyone called Lenny?"
"Might do." The tramp drawled, "Might not. What's in it fer me?"
Bobby's handed fumbled into his pockets, "Uh.. erm.. I got.. I got some money."
The tramp certainly perked up, "You have.. 'ave ye'? Lenny? Aye.. Lenny.. we got two Lenny's here lad.. we got a Londoner and an American."
"The American guy is the one we're after."
"Aye.. he's a nut case.. got a few screws loose if y' ask me.. rambles on about mutants and powers and all sorts of shit.. he just sits in a trance.. going on about 'em. Says they are gonna come and kill us. I mean.. come on.. what the frickin' hell is a mutant anyway? A monster?"
Bobby and Rian exchanged a knowledgeable glance, "That's him alright."
"Aye.. I'll be glad to see him go.. really pisses us off with his mad stories about big guys with claws and invisible people.. teleporters.. weather controllers.. Christ.. he's made up so much you'd think it were real." Slurred the man.
"Where is he?" Asked Rian, trying to get the drunkard to hurry up.
"Last time I saw him he were across the square an' in the south buildin'." The man give a bearded grin, "We chased him out when he began to rant about hundred's o' mutants coming to Britain.. We ran him out for our own safety like.. he was gonna turn us insane."
Bobby quickly lifted and spun to his feet, running back towards the fire exit. Rian was close behind.
"Hey!" Yelled the tramp, "Where's the money?"
Bobby sighed a little, digging his hand into his back pocket and chucking some random change his way, "Here.. thanks!"
The man guffawed mightily, "Go on! Go string up Lenny and take him away! We don't want the wacky freaks!"
Rogue and Kurt slowly turned the corner of their alley and turned up the next one. They had had no luck so far. However, they had had the same unfortunate events with the rats, which Rogue had heartedly expressed her feelings towards. Kurt eventually teleported her out of the swarm of rats in order to save her from the hysteria.
Now they were travelling down another alley, and Rogue had managed to calm down some. Both their heads snapped up as feet pounded down a staircase above them.
"Bobby!"
"Rogue! Kurt!"
"Have you found him?" Ask Kurt, coming to halt at the foot of the steps, watching Rian and Bobby as they joined his height.
"No.. but we know where he is."
"You do?" Questioned Rogue.
"Yeah! Come on!" Cried Bobby, taking her by the hand as the four sprinted down the shadowed alley back towards the concrete square.
***
Oh my God.. *clings onto her desk* Don't EVER go in a car with Logan!
(www.freewebs.com/thoh)