Lone Wolf

Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X, darn it!

Chapter 3- The Chase

Mariko gasped in shock as the dark sank deeply into her chest. She lost her balance on the roof and fell backwards into the dark alley below. While in midair, she flipped and landed soundlessly on her feet in the alley. Quietly, she sank back into and melted with the shadows as the men rushed past.

Her eyes began to blur and her breath came in short gasps. She shook her head to get rid of the enormous pain starting at her temples. Gritting her teeth, she quickly and efficiently pulled the dart out. Its point was coated with her blood and some green slippery liquid she could not identify. Oh shit.

Clad in only her jeans and black tank top and boots, she began to run. Away from her apartment, away from the men in black, away from those rifles. If only she could run away from the pain…

The leader swiveled his head around at the sound of muffled uneven retreating steps, gradually growing softer and pounding away into the distance. A freaky deranged smile slowly spread across his face. He spoke to the other men. "Alright, she's headed towards the city. Keep an eye out for her. Leave the rifles. I already shot her. We just need to overpower her and get her into the van."

They traveled in two groups, five in the van and four on foot. She raced down dark alleyways, behind shops and in narrow passageways she had found herself. Without knowing it, she had landed herself right in the middle of downtown. She took a sharp right into the dangerous, homeless, and drug-filled part of the town. Mariko risked a sharp glance over her shoulder. Good, she had lost them…

The man grinned, exposing his crooked yellow teeth when he saw the mutant slow down. He signaled for the driver to stop. Raising the rifle up to his shoulder, he cackled maniac-like as he pulled the trigger.

Mariko sank to the ground in a heap, blending in with the many drunks and druggies around her with her pale, sleepless look. Blood flowed down her front and mingled in with the black of her shirt. Her eyes flared emerald green again. God, are these people really this stupid? It's not like I don't know what you're doing.

Right on track with her thoughts, a dart flew from the barrel of the rifle and headed straight towards her neck. Okay, focus, focus…NOW! She back flipped onto the roof of the drug dealer's shop when she was sure no one saw her and could call her crazy. That was the last thing she needed, police taking her to a mental institute along with these kooks chasing her all over the place. The projectile struck a man instead, a man easily very high on some unidentifiable drug. He immediately dropped to the hard ground, rolling around and frothing at the mouth. Mariko's own mouth dropped open. Was that what they injected into my body as well? Her vision was getting worse; she began to feel unnaturally tired. She shook her head. Focus, come on! Don't you dare pass out now! Got to keep moving on!

She turned around and jumped down into the shadows. Because of the increasing effects of the drug in her body, her vision hazed for a mere moment. Fate decided to make that moment the one when she hit the ground.

"Ow!" Mariko hissed out between clenched teeth. Damn it! Her ankle had to be twisted, if not broken. She got up and half limped; half ran out into the wide open space, not caring who saw her.

"HEY! YOU STUPID KID!" a driver angrily shook his fist at her as she shot in front of his car, causing him to slam on the brakes. "Teenagers these days…" he muttered, starting his car again. Mariko pivoted and spun on her heel to avoid a bullet that whizzed past her ear. Whoa!! Hold everything! A bullet!?

Mariko cast a wide-eyed look over her shoulder. Yes, that was a barrel of a real gun! Upon natural instinct, she shied away from the flying tickets of death. Beads of perspiration began to form on her forehead and her vision began to go black. But she desperately fought it. Her body shivered uncontrollably. She was light, weightless. Her body floated, her feet were carried by the wind…think like a wolf…the way in nature…be the wolf…

Using the last ounce of her energy, she lured and led the men into her trap. Running lightly and swiftly, she seemed to fly over the ground. The youth of the group rubbed his eyes. Was she…a wolf? Yes, she was a feral canine, but…no, it couldn't possibly be! The dosage in each one of the darts, tranquilizer or poison one was enough to kill a normal human. Now, this girl was mutating. She should be knocked out! What was wrong with her?!?

Mariko knew that the only thing keeping her upright was her will and steel determination. The bottom of her feet just barely touched the ground. If all of this was an adventure movie, it would truly be an amazing scene to watch. With dark clothing and black as raven-colored hair and pale as moonlight skin, she was a wolf. A lone wolf, running solo under the full moon, against the starlit midnight sky. In her mind, the same chant kept playing restlessly in her brain: Jesse, where are you?! Jesse Kilmartin! JESSE!!!

With her last swift, long pounce, her plan was complete. A quick and fierce kick to the nearly rotting door sent her inside. The men quickly clamored out of the van. Guns and rifles in hand, they trooped into the empty warehouse.

One man shivered in fear. "Tis a haunted place, this is. Used to be a great factory that manufactured guns of every type, size, and shape. Went out of business near five years ago."

Mariko was positioned crouched low on one of the supporting ceiling beams. With a great flourish, she leapt down in front of the whole motley crew. Despite her twisted ankle, throbbing head, blurred vision, and puncture wound in her chest, she remained standing. Quietly, she counted to herself and reported the announcement out loud: "So, there are nine of you, and only one of me. Five rifles, four high-caliber guns. I tire of this chase, this game. Here, the real fight begins."

As all the men rushed at her, a corner of her mouth lifted ever so slightly. It's play time.

To be continued…

Author's Note: sorry for the long wait! No, I can't respond to reviews right now, my mind needs rest!!! I promise I will update soon! Just feed me more reviews!!!