Racetrack's Goil: Bad guys generally like to do annoying things like that, lol. Thank you for your compliments!
Sakura5tar: Well, Magneto was never as bad as that. He is clearly bitter after England. And don't worry about not having a new chapter daily, I am a quick updater!
Tamazi: It's horrible to see him so powerless, I agree. Wait a minute, why would you kiss Magneto's behind?
Kimenomi: Apologies for it being so short. I wanted to keep a suspenseful ending, whilst separating the events from this chapter! But I do update quickish, so it's not so bad, is it?
Blix: Indeed! A very big mess!
Chapter 47We waited until nightfall. But Madeline never arrived. We searched the streets nearby, thinking she may have got lost; but there was no sign of her. Somehow, I knew, inside, that something had gone wrong. Gambit suggested that we go and search for Logan - Aurora had his scent, but I said no. We promised Logan. The choice, as usual, was left to me. A leader's decision. It was with a heavy heart that I sent us back home. For it had only been a few months ago that I made the decision to leave Logan at Mount Rundle. Leave him and his family to death.
Have I done the same again?
It was painful sleeping. But Logan made no complaints. The chains were so rigid that even if you relaxed you wouldn't slump in the hold. Magneto and the rest of his Brotherhood had gone from warehouse, presumably to sleep themselves, or to plan the next few days. Logan talked with Madeline for a long time, trying to reassure her of the outcome of this capture. But she looked so drained. The fire had simmered in her eyes. She had been trapped here longer than he had, and Logan had no doubt that she had previously tried valiantly to escape, but it seemed the defeat had taken over her, and she accepted her fate.
A short while later, Logan noticed that Madeline had fallen asleep. Her head drooped upon her shoulder, position harrowingly making her look deceased. It was only the soft movement of straggly auburn hair over her face that proved she was breathing. Logan watched her silently, hoping that he would be able to complete Magneto's wishes so his daughter could leave alive. Eventually, his own head slumped as sleep took over him, and the blackness of the warehouse materialised into the darkness of sleep.
The darkness slowly began to shimmer. A small firelight, the size of a candle flame sat a long way away, flickering gently as though a passing breeze blew through it. Logan felt his eyes be drawn upon it, even in his slumber. There was something peculiar about this. The oddity only intensified as Logan found that no chains bound him. He turned around slowly, pure blackness stretching away from him. Only the same little glimpse of flame remained far away, the only movement in this black void. He frowned; worry creeping in. Wherever he turned, the black space spread endlessly. His eyes focused on the small firelight, and with a determined grunt he walked towards it, thinking that if there was anyway out of this emptiness, it had to be where the only life was. But as he walked the flame came no closer. Panic set in. He broke into a run, footfalls on nothingness silent. The light never came closer.
In his fear, he threw back his head, bellowing into the vacant surroundings, "Hello! Help! Help me!"
Suddenly, the firelight shimmered more violently, as though the wind was growing. The flame then erupted upwards, blazingly madly, as it roared higher. Then it spread lengthways, and Logan watched in horror as the flames stretched around rapidly, forming a circle about him. The blackness still existed above and below him, but the ring of fire continued in its dazzling inferno, dancing around him. Logan's head snapped in different directions, but the flames remained in a circle, no way out.
"Who's there?" cried Logan, eyes wild with terror. He exited his claws from his knuckles, the 'snikt' echoing ethereally around him. It felt foolish. Logan sensed that this place somehow did not hold the laws of earth and gravity. His claws would do nothing in this vision.
Then, there it was. A figure moved in the flames. Logan tensed up, holding his claws out ready, feeling a little bit safer when he did so. His eyes narrowed and watched intently as the figure became more prominent. It was a mould of a human being, a shape, lurking in the depths of the fire. A hand stretched out slowly, flames dancing from the limb. Out of the fire, the entire figure stepped.
Body of fire.
Body of a woman.
There was no evidence of eyes or teeth. But the flames moulded to form a pair of blazing orbs where the eyes should be. Flames nestled taut to the feminine figure, curves of a human. Behind it, long hair billowed, again, made of fire. She walked towards him slowly, on the blackness his feet stood upon. Logan let out a shaky breath, backing away slowly. But she was closing in quicker, even though the movement of her legs remained slow. Logan gasped as he breathed. The flames around him stifling hot, sweat trickled down his face, dripping from his saturated hair. The heat intensified as the wall of fire was directly behind him, such temperatures beginning to make him feel rather faint. He stepped forward slowly, only to move closer to the female, who now stopped in front of him.
There was something vaguely familiar about her, but Logan couldn't pinpoint what it was. The flames of her body still danced upon her, as her features became more obvious, lips moving as she spoke in a distant echoing voice. "This is the only way you can see me at the moment," she said softly, "I am currently not strong enough to take a physical form in the real world."
Logan stared at her, feeling his hands shaking slightly, "You.." he said slowly, "You're the voice that has been in my head.. the one who helped me."
The woman smiled knowingly and bowed her head at him, "I am. But it is now I have chosen to visit you in your mind. I am growing stronger Wolverine, one day you will meet me in your dimension."
But Logan felt confused, "In my head? What? Where are we?"
"Your real form is currently asleep, meaning your mind is weakened mentally as you rest, this means not only can I enter vocally, but visually The weakened mind is also the reason why your memories are more likely to come into play as you sleep." She gave a shrewd sort of smile, "Your nightmares have been kept at bay for a while haven't they, Wolverine?" Logan frowned at this. That was true, he hadn't had a nightmare for the past month. "That's because I knew you would need a clear head. Dangerous times are coming and you do not need to dwell on the past. I will be here with you until I am called."
Called? Thought Logan to himself, wondering what she had meant by that.
"Before I leave, I have one piece of advice," said the figure softly, "Do not disobey Magneto. He will kill your daughter if you do not do as he wishes. Find him the documents." She was now fading from view, "The information will change everything."
The flames began to simmer around him. "Wait! How will things change?" he asked, trying to follow her as she moved backwards, "Wait!" he cried again, "Who are you?"
"You already know," she whispered, before the flames disappeared and the blackness took over him. Logan felt a sickly wash lay heavy upon him before his eyes fluttered shut and he collapsed, falling through the dark void.
Faint sunlight drifted in through the high windows of the warehouse, causing Logan to squint gently as he opened his eyes. Madeline, opposite him, was still asleep. He could remember his dream as clear as if it had happened in his waking hours. He could still feel sweat running down his forehead, his cheeks red and hot. He felt something brush past his face, and only saw a silvery figure in the air; a misty hand touched his cheek gently before it faded away. In the distance, a door banged, and Magneto and his Brotherhood strode in.
Charles was solemn at the news. But he too had admitted that Logan was a very insistent character, and stubbornly would have never backed down on his views. Even though Charles said he understood Logan's method, he did looked a little shaken. He knew he could not keep track, although he said he would vigilantly keep trying Cerebro. But that was yesterday, and with the new day, the old worries remained as the X-Men grouped in the Professor's office once again.
"I still think we should go back to Chicago and try and find him," said Aurora quietly with her head bowed.
"And go against our word?" said Scott softly.
"Sometimes, things are more important than promises!" Aurora responded shrilly, snapping widened eyes at Scott, "He clearly did not expect Madeline not returning, and since she has not returned, I think that makes the promise null!"
"We know what the Brotherhood are capable of," said Storm softly, trying to be rational, "If we just go barging in there, Magneto could do something drastic, and we are not to put Madeline's life at risk."
Aurora's eyes bulged, "What about Logan's life!"
"I think we have established that Logan can take care of himself," said Charles quietly, "Storm is right. We must not put Madeline in any more danger. I feel we should, for the time being, step back and allow Logan to solve this problem. I will check with Cerebro as often as I can and will inform you all if I pick up any traces. If we find that Logan needs our help, then of course, we shall go to him."
"This makes me wonder if all this stuff that's happened has anything ta do with the Sentinels," said Gambit thoughtfully, "I mean, Magneto's return was timely, y'know? Maybe he wants information outta Wolverine?"
"It is possible," replied Charles quietly, "But what he would wish to achieve by taking Logan and not any of us is something I cannot understand."
"Madeline," said Siren suddenly, "She was the best ploy to lure one of us out there. If anything was going to lead one of us to desperate measures, it was Logan, for Madeline."
Charles bowed his head gently, sighing quietly, "Adrienne.. I think you are right. Magneto has planned this for a while.. it makes me fear what else is going on in that mind of his.."
I hope you enjoyed the chapter! More insight to the voice Logan sometimes hears! Please review this chapter for me! Make me happy, it's exam time, bleh.
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