Tommorow's Fate

Authors Note: Rated for strong language.

Chapter Four: I am not an Animal

Marie sat upon the bed. She had got everything ready and perfect for Logan. She felt a drop of sweat roll down her spine. She was scared. She had to play this right. She was about to delve into one of her most trusted friend's mind, and dig out his profound most forbidding secret. She had gone out to the off lisence earlier to get two packs of beer and had asked Ororo if she minded going out for about two hours as she had a friend coming over. Ororo, naturally, asked who. When Marie explained it was a 'girl-friend' she hadn't seen for ages, Ororo agreed and said nothing more. Lucky for Marie. She glanced at the bubble clock on the wall. 8:12 pm. He was late. That only gave her fourt-eight minutes to do what was necessary. There was an abrupt knock upon Marie's door. 'Finally!' she thought. She took one finally look in the mirror, ajusted her hair and opened the door. There he was standing.

"Hi," She said, smiling a quite pretty smile.

He smiled too "Hi," She starred at him. He was quite a good looking guy. She'd never noticed how attractive he actually was until that moment. She could have slapped herself for letting her mind stray at this time, but she couldn't help it. She just starred absentmindedly with a fake smile painted upon her face at the young man who was leant against her door frame. "You gonna let me in then?"

"Oh, yeah! Sorry, come on in sugah!" She watched him walk in. He had a nice figure too. 'Fuck Maire!' she thought to herself 'Stop it!'. She distracted herself quickly "Wanna beer?"

"Thought you were never going to ask me! Sure I'll have a beer," God and he had a nice smile too. How could she do it? She had too, for him, it was all for Logan. She smiled, opened the mini bar and threw him a beer. He cought it and clipped open the can. She checked the bubble clock. 8:23pm. Damn it! She had arranged to meet Cyclops, Jean and Bobby over at Jean's place at 9:30. She had to act quickly. She sat on the bed and tapped her hand next to her to motion Logan to join her. Like a well trained puppy, he did.

"So," He swallowed a gulp of beer and cleared his throat. "Betsy been talking to you again recently?" His hand was so close to hers.

"Not really. She mentioned to John, that Pyro guy, that she'd got herself another modeling job. He seemed interessted,"

8:26pm.

"Oh," Was all Logan murmed, taking another gulp from his beer can. Now, do it now, while he's preoccupied with his drink she coaxed herself. Too late. He was already wiping his mouth. "Good beer," He complemented. She smiled. "You ok? You seem ... I dunno, nervous. What's up?"

"Nothing! I'm fine, just, just a little headache hunny, nothing serious,"

"You want me to go?"

"No! No, don't be daft, were having fun!"

8:34pm.

He took a gulp of his beer. Now. Marie slipped off her right hand glove and placed her hand the hand Logan was resting upon. Then, just as he turned around to see what she was doing, she clutched it. "Sorry sugah!" She apologised. He didn't hear her. Logan dropped to his knees in agonising pain. He tried to release her from her grip but she held on firmly. His eyes roled back. Then the visions rolled from his brain into hers. Veins, pumped with thick blood and filled Logan's neck. Marie closed her eyes. She couldn't look. She could hear his gasping breaths, gasping for air. It sounded as if she were wrapping a rope around his neck and tightening it every time he took a breath. Finally, she couldn't take any more. She held on as long as she could but she couldn't let herself do it anymore. She released her grip and she fell on the bed with shock. A small tear trickled down her cheek. She couldn't believe what memories she had just stolen from Logan. She looked at him. He was on his hands and knees, sucking in as much air as he could inhale and holding his neck.

8:54pm.

Twenty minutes she had held him for. What was twenty minutes, to her seemed only a few, to Logan it would have been the full twenty minutes. He spat on the floor and pushed himself up. When he stood up straight he saw Marie.

"Logan, I'm so sorry," She cried. Marie noticed three blades being slowly released from his hands. His face was full of hatred and agression. "Logan?" He started breathing heavily through his teeth. "Oh my gawd!" Marie choked. "Logan no!" He swung back his arm and swiped her face. Three slashes marked themselves upon her clear pale skin. She screamed with pain and rolled off the bed. Blood trickled to the floor. Before she could react, she felt a hand upon her hair. Logan picked her up and smashed her against he wall. There, he threatened the blades against her forehead. Quickly, she placed her un-gloved hand on his wrist and he dropped her and yelled in pain. She rushed into the bathroom and locked the door. She placed her hands uopn her temple and began communicating with Jean."Jean! Jean! Please say you can hear me!!"No reply."Jean!"

"Marie! What's wrong?" Jean had picked up her message and was replying mentally with her.

"It's gone wrong! Quick, come quick please!" Marie screamed as she saw two, three sets of blades jab themselves into the wooden door. "Please, please come quick,"

"Scott's already out of the door Marie, he's on his way now, I'm staying with you until Scott is there, then I'll join you. Alright sweetheart? Just try to keep calm."

"Sure Jean, oh gawd we shouldn't have done it, the things I've just seen, they, they were evil!" Marie heard her front door open. She looked at the blades that were embedded in the door. Silence. Then the blades slowly slipped out of the door and she heard a thud upon the floor. She could feel herself shaking. Blood, trickled onto the floor from her face. She daren't open the door yet.

"Marie?" It was Scott. "Marie, it's alright you can come out now,"

"L-Logan? Is he-"

"It's OK, he just fell to the floor, I dunno what happened. I think he passed out. It's OK, I'm here now. Open the door Marie," She slowly unleashed the lock and turned the handle. There she saw Logan on the floor with his claws or whatever they were, released from his hands. She gasped and placed a hand to her mouth. "Marie?" She looked up quickly. Scott was standing there looking at her. "Marie, your, your face! What the hell happened here?"

"Scott. Marie. Please step outside instantly please," Scott turned around to see Professor Charles Xavier and Jean. They instantly obayed and walked outside. Jean placed a blanket around Marie, who was shivering and moaping softly.