The three figures approached the building with silence and paranoia. The first two of three found themselves on each side of the only door using sign language to communicate their next move. The third figure however stood proud in the darkness, holding his shoulders high and forcing himself to be observant of any sudden movements. He waited for the signal that he his mind had longed to register for. When he finally saw it he had a hard time function what was left of his bravery. He sighed into the deep darkness that descended in his essence before continuing. He knew the next task wasn't going to be an easy one, but some undefined sense of duty drove him to keep going.

His sister needed him.

After they entered the building they obtained an eerie sense of quiet that sheltered every sense of observation. The three latest intruders glanced at each other in question, each nodding before raising their weapons in agreement. But as Colin and his comrades began to explore their surrounding, they each noticed a faint light coming from a closed door in the distance. It lingered on under the actual crack of the door, almost calling the three men forward. And as they grew closer to it, it cultivated in capacity and the brightness expanded...

The only real thing Colin remembered was the intense sound of Ted shouting something in the distance, but by then the searing pain was beginning to dominate the exposed flesh of his face and hands. The torment racked through his head. He threw himself to the ground not knowing where the sound of screaming was coming from until the sensation of his two comrades putting out the fire that lashed his skin came alive.

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"Absolutely not!" Shouted Ted as he and Brian carried the smoldering Colin from the building that was already half way to it's goal of completely collapsing.

"This whole thing was a completely ridiculous idea! I'm calling the damn cops!" He said to the fearful Brian who shook with every word.

"But what about his sister? There is still a human in there Ted!"

"We never actually saw her! This whole thing was just a wild goose chase...they probably dumped her body off long ago..." His voice trailed off slightly at that point but even though both men eluded the subject further they continued to carry their unconscious friend further until they ultimately decided they were free from any immediate danger.

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Several pieces of dry wall began falling from the ceiling tile above the large gathering of mutants and the single human among them. Slowly at first the flakes fell to the ground, but then as the seconds began passing the flakes turned to massive chunks of cement and brick. The ground shook and the party began to realize that this time it wasn't Lance's fault.

"Well this is just freaken brilliant!" Shouted Wanda over the echo of destruction. "I'm out of here!" She announced, and quickly following in premature steps was the rest of her comrades.

"What did you do?" Bellowed Clown down at Tabitha as she entered the room, her eyes wide and her face confused. Her mouth began moving yet she lacked the proper words to accompany the action.

"You should of known not to of caused any explosions in a place with type of foundation!" Hollered Sabertooth. He carelessly tossed Eva to the ground almost throwing her to the point where the side of her head met the harder part of the rigid floor. He continued to advance on the female mutant; oblivious to the couple in the corner.

"Eva!" Called Toad to her unmoving figure. Fear rushed threw him at the sight of her stillness. Maybe after being deprived of air for so long... then a head wound would- No! She couldn't be gone!

"Eva! Eva!" He shouted again as he began to tug wildly on the chains that bounded him. Slowly with each tug he could feel the hooks give way. He screeched in pain at the feeling of falling to the ground but something willed him to force the sensation away. After being hung up for so long he wasn't really surprised to discover he couldn't walk properly. He staggered and stumbled to Eva, desperate to no longer feel the pain inching up from his ribs to the inner workings of his skull. Within seconds however his legs decided they wanted nothing to do with him as they gave out and forced him to the floor.

She could smell the dust of the concrete surface as she fell. Although she did hit her head, she only remained still because of the solid fear that the mutant would come back and finish her off. She struggled for every breath that entered her lungs, but after several moments the oxygen began to come easier and before she knew it the pounding in her heart had caught up with every exhale.

"Toad?" She whispered. She looked around to her side at the increasing small cluster of mutants: some still arguing, others fleeing the building as the destruction continued. She inched her way to his side, Despite her control she still lacked the will to stop the tears that threatened to fall.

"Oh god...look what they've done to you." She whispered with a slight stutter tracing her unsteady fingers over the disfiguring wounds that appeared to grow more irritated with the second.

"Are you OK?" He asked his voice unmoving and convincing. His hand reached up to caress the side of her dirt ridden face.

She cracked a painful smile and closed her eyes. "I'm fine you selfless jerk..."

Toad looked around to her side, no one else remained. The last of the group had found their way through the back door. Nearby no more than two feet away from where they lay a piece of steel from a beam above them fell sending nails and dust to the ground with it.

"We have to get out of here." Eva nodded in agreement, she quickly helped Toad up by the broad muscles of his shoulders. And using her for support he allowed her to carry some of his body weight as they both hobbled for an exit.

When they reached the first doorway Eva let out a screech. Once more a few beams fell from the fixtures along with the lighting above, forcing electrical wires to meet their deaths as they sparked out and faded away right in front of them.

"There has to be a door somewhere in the back!" Shouted Toad as he pointed them in the opposite direction. Eva just allowed him to lead her through the quickly growing rubble. As they walked on through the warehouse she managed to behold something similar to windows. And relief poured though her as she caught a glimpse of blue and red light caught the corner of her eye. She smiled gratefully but a certain feeling of doom still held her heart as she and Toad reached their destination...

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"It's about damn time!" Shouted Ted with glee as he stood up from his spot behind the Suv they had arrived in and began waving his hand frantically at the approaching emergency vehicles. Brian joined him in this action. Both men looked down at their fallen friend nearby. His injuries were bad, but more than likely not fatal. At least that's what they had hoped. For several minutes now they had watched from the distance at the building in front of them plummeting downward. But more than it seemed like the earth was ready to open up and swallow the land surrounding it.

Something unseen and unsaid echoed through Toad's brain. Somewhere behind his concussion and nearly fatal wounds, his senses allowed his head to look up. They were so close to the door now that Eva could of sworn the late evening breeze was finding a way through the steel door. Toad however wasn't so confident. Suddenly his movements were far too slow, Eva glanced over at him knowing his health was beyond poor condition but she kept her mouth shut and focused her energy on keeping up with the panicked steps of her companion.
The sounds of creaking followed them as they reached the door. Toad removed his arm from the grasp around Eva's shoulders and limped to the handle of the door. He could smell the rust that lingered on the hinges. Yet despite the rancid odor he managed to open it enough to fit at least one body outside to the empty woods behind it. He surprised himself at his remaining strength, he hadn't realized he had that left in him.

But suddenly a nearby scent left his mind. He turned around sharply despite the blurred vision that accompanied this action. Eva for some reason had wondered off, instead of standing directly next to him as she had been doing just moments before she stood unmoving several yards away. Above her the stairwell creaked and caved. The steal beams and metal shards hung loosely above her, holding glass and massive pieces of broken machinery. The warning of it's soon to be departure increased with it's vindicated noise.

"Eva!" He called. She remained still as if she was unaware of his presents. "Eva! We have to get out of here!" He shouted to her once more, however she continued to stare straight ahead never noticing his feeble attempt at hobbling over to retrieve her. The planks quickly began unraveling themselves above her. And once again his legs seemed useless because despite his movement chunks of glass continued to fall around her not yet touching her flesh but each piece seemed determined to scar her skin.
Seconds felt like hours but eventually the vengeful debris began to fall. Without thinking and focusing only on the form in front of him, Toad shoved Eva from her place, watching her fall to the ground to a safe spot nearby. With his strength entirely gone the only thing he observed before the remaining rubble fell was the shaken expression of Eva and the endless screaming his name as the final remainder fell on his weakened body and darkness took over every inch of his being.

The sounds of Eva crying was the solitary proof that only one pulse remained in the room...

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OK I realize that everybody who requested that no one dies in this fic is going to be really mad at me right now so I'm just going to hide under my bed and finish the last chapter of this fic. Believe it or not Toad is my favorite villain of all time...but every writer has a secret, evil plot. (Evil Laugh)

Oh! And please review...happy comments people! Happy comments!