Chapter 4 - The Runaway

Marie

Across the room, the door handle dipped before swinging forwards.

"You?"

I would have pinched myself to prove I wasn't dreaming, but if this was a dream, I'm pretty sure I'd be anywhere but this cell. And the man I'd been dreaming about on a nightly basis for weeks would be sweeping me into his arms and carrying me off into the sunset, not locking the door behind him.

I felt a prickle of fear crawl my spine. Something wasn't right about this. I tried to swallow, my dry throat not cooperating.

"My name is Logan Howlett. I work for the government." He paused, taking a few tentative steps towards me. I bristled, my demeanor clearly telling him to stay the fuck away, contempt practically rolling off of me in waves.

"Marie, I think you have the right to know why you're here… and what's expected of you."

I just stared at him with wide, disbelieving eyes, my body tensed into a defensive stance.

"You've been chosen to take part in a clinical trial specifically designed to help future generations of mutants."

I finally managed to clear my head enough to form words, "How…how do you know I'm a mutant?"

"We have files on you."

Despite my dread, I still managed to raise my eyebrows.

"So I'm here for experiments?"

"Kinda, yeah…" at least he had the balls to look ashamed!

"Well, I don't consent. So let me go!"

"I don't have the authority to do that."

My voice finally cracked, "…you're on their side?"

"Listen to me, Marie…"

"You Son of Bitch! I trusted you!" I screamed, tears of betrayal welling in my eyes.

"Please, hear me out…" He lifted a hand, took another step closer.

"Don't you fuckin' touch me, ya hear? If you know as much as you say you do about me, then you know touching me without my permission is a very bad idea!" I was so ready to drop him and make a run for it.

With a small frown, he reached out to stroke a stay tear away with his thumb and I stared at him at first defiantly then with desperation as I realized my powers weren't working! Another surge of panic washed over me. I'd had a feeling. That serum they'd been using on me, the one that numbed the constant buzz of voices, also suppressed my mutation.

I slapped his hand away, ignoring the low, almost imperceivable growl that stirred from deep within his chest. I wasn't going to submit so easily.

"What kind of experiments? What are you going to do to me?"

"You've been chosen to… bear… to nurture…" he looked like he was struggling with the correct terminology, or perhaps he wasn't allowed to disclose the details. "They are trying to breed the perfect mutant soldier…"

I felt the blood rush from my face, "Breed?"

He was close, meer inches from my face, his beautiful eyes searching mine for some kind of reaction. The deception stung the most, a gaping, raw wound I wasn't sure would ever heal. How could you heal from that kind of thing? The only thing that I'd experienced in my life that hurt that much was my family's rejection.

I first mutated at twelve, after days of burning fever which I was sure should have killed me. I learnt how to control it fairly quickly, until the incident that changed my life happened a few years later. I was fifteen and homeless, hitching rides across the states until I found somewhere that I could survive as an unknown entity. I hadn't made it entirely unscathed though. A few of the seemly nice truckers has thought a pretty, mid-teen girl just standing, helpless on the side of the road too good an opportunity to pass up.

Nothing had physically happened, but physical damage wasn't the only type of abuse that would be inflicted. The filth from their minds had rushed into me at full throttle, invading me, filling me with their essence and the type of memories no fifteen-year-old wanted to experience.

Logan must have taken my momentary drop in guard as invitation, because he leaned closer, lips hovering so close mine. I tried again to activate my powers, not even feeling a slight tingle in the tips of my fingers. I was entirely at his mercy. I was half his height, less than half his weight and most definitely much weaker than he was. There would be nothing to stop him.

I turned my face away, "Please, don't."

Something in my plea weakened his resolve because he took a step back.

"Look, I don't wanna force you. But if it's not me, it's going to be… someone else. And I'm not sure they'll be as patient with you."

"Anyone would be better than you!" I spat.

He just looked at me impassively, with the tiniest hint of something I could only liken to pity glimmering in his hazel-green eyes.

"I'll come back to see you tomorrow. Goodnight, Marie."

...

Since you've gotten two chapters in one night, could I pretty please have a review? feedback really helps keep the cogs turning :D