Chapter 13

Logan barely had time to see the armoured vehicle as it raced towards it. All he was aware of was the unimaginable pain as the bull bars guarding the bonnet slammed into his side and threw him skyward. Painfully cold air blasted into his face as he tumbled through the air, his body heavily colliding into the icy road beyond. He exhaled an unsteady groan as he pulled his bruised face up from the road, feeling his healing kick in on the damaged lower half of his body. Gasping, he staggered to his feet, only to see more vehicles racing in and barricading the road. The one that had hit him turned round to face him challengingly, soldiers within ready with their weapons.

He stood there with heavy breaths, slightly doubled over with his hands on his knees as he watched the vehicles filing in around him. Anna appeared at the roadside, her face distraught as she stared across at him. She ran into the road, hurrying across in desperation to reach his side. Logan quickly looked over to her, his eyes only meeting hers for a moment before a black blur engulfed her with the chorus of an engine and a scream. Logan's eyes widened, his anger intensifying in a blind rage as her saw her limp body tumble to the snowy roadside. He released a low growl as his extended his arms, his claws swiftly sliding out from his knuckles. His dark eyes slowly came upon the soldiers of the offending vehicle and he sprung towards it, ignoring the injuries he still had healing.

Logan could barely see what he was doing, he had lost control. His claws sunk into every awaiting victim before he leapt away and massacred the next truckload. Bullets fired at him repetitively, but they were just mere irritations. Those who shot him soon fell under a swipe of his bloodying blades. Specially reinforced doors were nothing to Logan, who sunk his hands into it and ripped them away before meeting the humans inside with an ear splitting roar. Every vehicle had their transmission devices destroyed with a single slash - Logan wanted no more following him after his final wage of war.

Everything filtered back into view as he stood in the centre of his carnage, panting for breath and stained in the many bloods of his fallen enemies. Claws rode back into his forearms, slits healing swiftly once they were hidden. He slowly cracked his neck as he straightened; his own wounds healing as his mutation kicked into a desperate over-drive. His breath exhaled soft mists as he glanced over his shoulder, staring through the gently falling snow to the roadside where Anna's body still lay. Wiping trickling blood from his brow he ran across the road, his mind blanking out the annihilation around him. The only thing he was aware of was Anna. He sunk down to his knees in the thick snow on the banking, staring down at her face, as she lay twisted and limp.

"Anna?" he called softly, eyes scanning her unresponsive features. His hands gently took her upper torso, righting her deformed posture so she lay correctly. Even after the short amount of time holding her body, he could feel the broken bones that scattered her form, the leak of warm blood through her clothing. "Anna?" he repeated, his voice becoming hoarse and quieter. "Anna, it's all right now. They won't be comin' after us no more.." he faded out, a hand reaching to take her cheek and lightly turned her face towards him. "Anna?"

She remained unresponsive to his words, and when his hand left her face, the lack of support caused her cheek to slump back to the floor weakly. He stared down at her with frightened eyes, pulling back with an increasing fear. Then, very slightly he saw her lips move, "Logan?" his sensitive hearing picked it up, and swiftly summoned him back against her side.

"Anna! Anna, we're safe now."

She barely had the energy to open her eyes and could only peer at him through small slits. "No," she replied very softly.

He stared down at her face, which looked so clean in comparison to the bloody wreck that made up her lower half. His eyes closed tight at her words, frown burrowing deep into his brow. "I know," he whispered in answer, aware that nobody but him could survive the injuries she had obtained.

"It hurts.." she managed to told him weakly, though her face was clear of any pain. Her eyes fluttered open, dilating pupils staring up at him hauntingly. "..Inside," she added under her breath. "Help me, Logan.."

"I can't," he murmured softly, shaking his head as he felt his eyes burning with desperate tears. "I can't, Anna."

Anna licked her lips slowly, the effort huge as she swallowed. "You can," she said, echoing their earlier exchange. Her hand struggled towards his, but seeing her attempt, Logan quickly closed the distance and placed his hand around hers, holding their hands against her chest. Her fingers raised and slowly trailed their tips into the three channels that situated between each knuckle. "You can," she repeated.

His eyes stared down at her indication before they flickered back up to her face. "Anna.."

"Please, Logan."

"I can't!"

"You can," she replied with determination. "Help me, Logan."

Logan averted her eyes from hers, staring out across at the destruction which lay in his horrendous wake. Feeling the anger roar up inside him again, his claws shot out of his knuckles in a flash of steely light, the 'snikt' being met with a choked gasp. Logan's eyes closed slowly as he sat there in silence, trying to ignore the blood that welled about his knuckle. The claws rode back up into his hand and he shakily pulled it away from her chest. Exhaling a pained sigh he pulled his arms about her upper torso, bringing her up against his chest so he could nestle her limp head against his chest. No more sounds came from her as she slumped against his torso.

He smoothed the hair from her face with trembling fingers, placing a soft kiss against her forehead before with one last embrace he lay her back down in the snow with care. He closed his eyes wearily as he stood to his feet, turning away from her body to he stumble forwards through the snow. Returning to the parked camper, he stopped and stared at it. Eventually, he continued towards it, making his way into the driver's seat. He closed his eyes on his brimming tears, leaning down to start the engine. Logan sat back up, softly rubbing his hands together as he sought out the gaps in his knuckles weakly where the scars of his claws had long disappeared once again. Shaking his head to himself, he turned his attention to the steering wheel and reversed himself out of the haphazard parking.

Without a glance in his mirror, he swiftly drove away, the camper trundling forth across the snowy trail and on towards the empty roads ahead to spend the next fifteen years travelling, wondering and asking himself one question.

Why?

And that's the end folks! We all knew Logan had to set out alone in the end, with the clothes on his back and his camper. I hope you enjoyed this story, please leave a review for this last chapter! Thank you!