- CHAPTER SEVEN -

Necessities

Moving quickly, Logan pushed on through the bushes, ignoring the numerous scratches to his skin as he stepped in and out of sharp foliage, using tree trunks as leverage to pull him forward. Storm followed behind him, taking the path a lot more gracefully, probably why she wasn't receiving any injuries herself. They were heading away from the mansion walls and towards the narrow road outside the grounds that led to the main dual carriageways towards New York centre. The mansion behind them was now silent.

Logan threw himself around a tree, swiping branches out of his way with an arm as the thick foliage began to thin as he reached the roadside. Logan leapt out onto the road, landing heavily on his feet. He quickly looked up to see nothing but a glare of brilliant white light followed by screeching tyres. His surprised cry was drowned out by an unnecessary blast of a car horn. In the split second moment, Storm managed to quickly look up and see Logan's body go flying across the top of a car bonnet and into the air.

"Logan!" she ran out onto the cold icy road towards where his body had heavily landed a few feet behind the now stationary car, which had veered off the road slightly. The horn was still blaring incessantly. Storm dropped down onto her knees besides him, pulling his large form round as she continued to repeat his name.

"Stop it, I'm fine," he muttered, brushing away her worrying like it was a cloud of midges. He sat up slowly, a hand brushing his hair back from his eyes. "That injection must weaken your powers a lil.. I shoulda heard that comin'."

"It should wear off.. but forget about that for now. Logan, are you alright?"

Logan snorted quietly as he pushed himself to his feet easily, "I think I did more damage to the car." Storm's eyes raised to his before a look of understanding crept upon her face, quickly followed by fear. She quickly jumped up to her feet, running across to where the car sat at the side of the road. She ran by the side of the passenger's door coming round the front of the car where the lights were still glaring from the crumpled bonnet. The number plate was askew and wrinkled. The bonnet was out of shape; the front of the car had a large dent where it had collided with Logan's body. With the same effects as ramming into a steel girder, the entire front of the car was now misshaped.

The car horn was still blaring loudly, and Storm saw the reason as she reluctantly raised her eyes to look inside at the driver. He was slumped against the steering wheel, clearly unmoving. "Logan!" she cried, worry doubling in her voice. Logan came over as she called, sporting a slight limp but worse injuries were already on their way to healing.

"What?" he asked as he came round the front of the car, then taking in the damage that the impact had had on the car. Slowly, his eyes followed the same path as Storm's did, reaching the unconscious driver who lay slumped forward. "Shit," he muttered under his breath.

"We need to help him."

"How, Storm? We can't exactly take him over to the nearest hospital when we're on the run!"

"We can't just leave him either! Look, search him, has he got a mobile phone on him?"

Logan raised an eyebrow as he glanced over at Storm, "What we doin' now, lootin' the injured?"

"No! We're ringing emergency services and bringing them here, by when we'll be long gone."

Slowly nodding his head, Logan stalked round the front of the car, passing through the bright glare of the headlights. Reaching the car door, he yanked it open, leaning in to unclip the driver's seatbelt and pull out the injured. Storm quickly ran over to help him and together the pair carried the man to the grass at the side of the road. Once he was down, Storm checked his injuries, whilst Logan tried pockets for a phone. Being unsuccessful, he hurried back to the vehicle to search the seats and glove box. Pushing aside glove box necessities, including tissues, maps, pens and other quite random items, he found a mobile phone, and a wallet. Grabbing both, he headed out to Storm once more. Storm looked round as he returned, casting a disproving glare when she saw him holding a wallet. "Logan! What are you doing?"

"I'm sorry Storm, but we gotta get by. I don't exactly have the need for cash when I'm asleep. And I very much doubt you got a bundle of notes down the top of your nightdress."

"So, we're stealing?" asked Storm through gritted teeth.

Logan ignored her, opening the wallet and grabbing the notes within. He threw the wallet at her, "Put in it his pocket, I.D for the paramedics." Storm glowered, but did as he said. "Here," he called, then throwing the phone her way, "You wanna ring?"

She quickly caught it, flashing him a steely glare as she flipped back the front and dialled. As she placed the phone to her ear, Logan turned towards the car once more, walking slowly to the crumpled bonnet. He studied it for a moment before he leant forth, using his heavy weight to straighten the large bend in the hood. With his fist, he heavily pummelled the bumper back into shape, shoving it firm against the hood he had just flattened. With this done, he headed back to the driver's door, getting into the car. With the keys still in the ignition, he turned them coaxingly and the engine weakly spluttered to life.

"Come on!" he shouted across to Storm, who quickly came over holding the closed phone in her hand.

"What?"

"We needed a car, well, we've got a car."

"You're taking this guy's money AND his car? Not to mention you're the one who crashed his car in the first place."

"Correction," said Logan quietly, "I'm also taking his phone," and he suddenly swiped it out of Storm's hands, "Get in, we need to get away from the mansion."

"No," she said resolutely, folding her arms.

Logan leant out, extending a hand, "Don't be stupid," he grabbed her wrist, and with a cry of surprise she was dragged into the car, falling upon his lap. He pushed her over onto the passenger seat. She didn't even have chance to straighten as the car squealed away with spin of the wheels and raced off down the road. In the far distance behind them, flashing lights of the paramedics came into view.

But just how far are the pair going to get? And how long will it take for them to know just what is happening to their team members? Review for a faster update!