Chapter 8

It would happen, any second now. She would feel the impact of teeth and claws and she had no way of getting out of the situation. The seconds seemed to slow agonisingly, but Anna didn't dare open her eyes. A bellowed roar suddenly overpowered the barking of the wolves and Anna felt something swiftly pass by her. Growls came louder, the wolves fiercely snapping.

She slowly opened her eyes. The wolves surrounded a large, hulking figure before her, leaping in to bite and snap. Then all at once, two of them made a lunge for his thighs, another clamping its jaw about a forearm. With a flash of steely claws, the wolves were swiped away like mere irritations. Whimpers filled the air, the wolves beginning to cower. It didn't take long before they had spun on their heel and fled into the dark undergrowth.

Anna slowly picked her head up out of the snow, staring as she watched Logan turn towards her with a fierce glare set into his features. He snorted quietly, glancing off at the path the wolves had taken before looking back at her. He slowly walked forward, ignoring the blood stains that were beginning to form through his clothing. His eyes softened as he regarded Anna, crouching before her, "Are you alright?"

There was no reply from Anna, who was staring up at Logan with shock etched into her face. Snow fell about them in large flakes, dancing along in the breeze and dotting Logan's untamed hair.

"Can you sit up?"

Obediently Anna pushed herself out of the snow, and into a sitting position. Her eyes never left Logan's face. "Why did you leave?" she asked, quickly remembering just why she was out here.

From the look on Logan's face, it was clear he didn't want the answer this question. "It's nothing you've done," he insisted quietly. He then gently placed his hands on her arms, helping her to her feet.

"It must be," continued Anna as she straightened, the injustice of the earlier situation now replacing her fear.

"It's not," said Logan firmly. "I just.. I just needed to time to think."

Anna stared at him, "Think? What is there to think about? Running off means you need to think?"

"Look, it's probably best in the long run."

"Best for who?"

Logan's words fell quiet with a snort. He glared off to the side at a nearby tree, as though it alone was to blame for their current situation. Eventually, he spoke again, "I don't know," he muttered.

Is this because of last night? Because if I remember correctly, it was you who kissed me."

"You were drunk, what can you remember?" snapped Logan, more harshly than he had intended. His eyes met her glare before he grunted and looked away once more, "Yeah, I did," he then admitted grudgingly.

"Well, why – "

"Look, I shouldn't've done it!"

But Anna narrowed her eyes and didn't look at all convinced, "Says who?"

"Probably you. You were drunk.. and I feel like I took advantage."

"It was a kiss," said Anna reassuringly, "Hardly something worth regretting."

"Well, I don't regret it, not really. But I thought that when you woke up.. you'd be pretty pissed off – and I figured it'd be better making my own way out rather than you tellin' me to."

Anna gently extended a hand, taking his nearest arm, "I don't want you to leave. And when I woke up, I wasn't angry.. I was happy – until I saw you leavin'."

Logan glanced down at the snow between their feet, sighing softly. "I jus' felt like runnin'.."

"Don't run, Logan," said Anna softly. "It doesn't solve anything."

Meeting her eyes, Logan managed a very slight nod.

"So.. you gonna come back?"

"Only if you want me to.."

With a quiet laugh, Anna leaned in, giving him a small, reassuring embrace, "'Course I do, I'm not out here for the hell of it." Pulling back she regarded him with seriousness this time, "But don't pull anymore stunts like that, ok? If you really wanna go, tell me."

"I promise," answered Logan quietly, a very small smile on his face.

The pair turned in the snow, making their way towards Anna's truck, which remained at the roadside. Neither of them noticed the small camouflaged camera that sat deep in one of the trees, following their every move.

The car doors were noisily closed, the two within spending a few moments fastening their seatbelts. The camera in the trees remained fixed on them. Just then, within the truck, Logan went very still. Anna watched him with a puzzled face, then asking, "What is it?"

"Start the car," said Logan softly, eyes narrowing as he scanned the trees besides the road. Anna did as he said, the engine quietly coming to life. Logan continued to watch the trees, his face gradually turning anxious. "Quick, we gotta move off."

"What's wrong?" Anna asked as she steered the car into motion, travelling across the roads at a faster speed than wise for the road conditions.

"There's people out there.. watching us.. I can smell them."

As the truck raced along, a figure suddenly strode into the middle of the road, clad heavily in camouflage and a rifle slung over a shoulder. He raised a gloved hand, blocking the road and indicating that the vehicle must stop. Anna gave a soft gasp, automatically slowing the car, but Logan reached over, grabbing the steering wheel, "Go! Put the gas down!"

"We can't hit him!" Anna cried as the moving truck veered over the road.

"We can't stop! This is a bad place, Anna. Don't you recognise this road?"

Anna stared at the soldier ahead, "Where I found you.."

"So keep goin'!"

With a new found determination, Anna's foot slammed down onto the accelerator and the truck shot off towards the man in the middle of the road. Logan released the steering wheel and Anna continued on, shoving the gear higher. The soldier in the road stared at the speeding vehicle, his hand falling as he began backing up, gesturing wildly with his hand. "Stop the vehicle!" he bellowed.

But Anna didn't, and the soldier dived out of the truck's path with inches to spare. Anna had wrenched the steering wheel drastically to avoid a hit, and skidded across the road.

"Come on, keep goin'!"

Once the vehicle had stopped sliding, Anna set it back into gear and raced off once more. She anxiously checked the rear view mirror, seeing several soldiers run out into the road from the trees and aim their guns. She cried out at bullets were shot, the cab window directly behind their heads smashing. She automatically ducked, the truck sharply swerving across the wet road. The back end of the truck swung upon the snowy banking, ramming into an old, weathered sign. It collapsed backwards into the snow, having being snapped in two. The words 'Alkali Lake' quickly disappearing under the heavy snowfall.

Anna frantically set the truck back in motion, its path wavering over the road as she tried to avoid the bullets, which rang as they hit the vehicle. During the reign of fire, besides her she saw Logan's head shoot forward as he cried out, a hand flying up to grab the back of his head. He slumped forward against his seatbelt restraints, the relaxing hand slipping downwards. Anna stared at him; eyes having to dart to the road then back to him continuously. "Logan!" she screamed, "Logan!"

The truck hurtled around a sharp bend, freeing them from the firing range of the soldiers. Anna continued on, still desperately looking to Logan every chance she got. He hadn't responded, and Anna could see the bullet wound on the back of his skull. As she wildly navigated the truck around the swerves of the long road, she continued to put distance between themselves and the soldiers at Alkali Lake. When she could see her small house a short distance away, she stopped the vehicle at the roadside, turning to the unconscious Logan.

"Logan!" she tried again. She knew a normal person wouldn't survive that kind of wound, considering its location. But she was aware that Logan wasn't entirely normal. He could heal, right? So, he should be fine? So why was he unconscious!

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