Author's voice:Just so you know... This chapter went through quite a long thought process so... Please leave some comments...And thanks to all the people who already commented or followed my story...Means the world to me :) Enjoy!
Mrs. Nelson knocked over the chair as she watched her own daughter transform into that horrible...thing. The tiger... human just stood there, not making a sound, her long tail swinging back and forth. Mrs. Nelson turned to the professor. "What did you do to her? She's a monster!" Greer winced at the word but said nothing. "Mrs. Nelson your daughter is not a monster!" Ororo cut in angrily. "That... that isn't my daughter! Look at her! Who are you? Why did you people... Why did you drag me here?! " "Mrs. Nelson please that is your daughter. We invited you here because Greer misses you and we want you to accept your daughter as..." "Stop! That thing isn't Greer and even if she is you want me to accept her as what? That she is some sort of zoo oddity? She's a freak! She belongs in a cage! " Those words stabbed Greer like a knife. What was she thinking when she let the Professor talk her into this? "MRS. NELSON, CALM DOWN! Please, she is still the daughter you have raised and love. Don't judge her just by her appearance!" The professor said angrily. Greer finally spoke up. "Mum it is me... Please stop... I... I just wanted you to accept me..." Her mother looked at Greer like she was something truly disgusting. "As what?! That you aren't human? You should ask yourself, are you now more human or more beast? For you seem like neither to me..."Greer stepped back, shocked at her mother's bold words. "I think this has gone far enough..." The professor mumbled. "Ororo will you please bring Greer to another room." "Come child..." Ororo gently lead Greer back to the room behind the study. As Ororo helped her sit down on one of the chairs Greer felt the pit of her stomach turning around, and she threw up into a nearby dustbin. Her mother rejecting her and taunting her was a hard blow. Although this wasn't the first time, Greer believed or led herself to believe that the previous encounter was because her mother was under the influence of Steven or because she couldn't recognize her in the dark. This encounter however was the ultimate proof that she couldn't fully return to her old life anymore. She was reminded of how she was now an object of fear. "Mum's right... I'm a freak for them! Something to fear or hate... or kill There was one person she wanted to be with now. Rejecting comfort from both Mr. McCoy and Ororo she curled up into a ball and cried.
After an hour, the stench of the perfume slowly disappeared and the professor entered. "Greer... Greer darling please..." Greer ignored the professor. She hated him. He forced her into this, he ...he how could have she been so stupid? The only reason why the professor was so desperate to invite her mother here was to make a business deal with her, he knew that her mother would help him track down Minos if he promises to keep Greer hidden away in order not to tarnish her reputation as a famous journalist. The Professor didn't care about Greer's feelings he cared about... ok it sounded selfish but Greer was too hurt or angry to think otherwise. "Greer I know you you're mad at me but please...You're mother had to know... and she has agreed to keep us informed on Minos's whereabouts provided..." "Provided I cut all ties with her... I know..." Greer spat. The professor sighed. He felt guilty, what Greer's mother said was uncalled for. He using the girl's feelings as an excuse to get her mother here was wrong. But they had to get her mother's help to stop what Dr. Minos was doing. "Greer..." "LEAVE ME ALONE!" Greer roared and ran out of the door. "Charles... I think you went a little too far this time..." Ororo mumbled. The Professor sighed. "I know Ororo but it needed to be done, at least we can now put a stop to the abduction of teenagers..."
Greer ran through the forest behind the mansion, crashing through trees, and shrubs. Snarling at the small animals standing in her way. She was mad and the events of the past few days were just too much for her. She just wanted to run from it all. Greer didn't stop running till it was nightfall. She panted, her green eyes glowing in the darkness, the run was exhilarating and she felt invincible. Greer lay down beside a lake. She grimaced when she saw her own reflection. Closing her eyes, she stretched her tensed muscles. Why couldn't she just live in the forest forever, everything was so easy and simple. "KID!" her eyes snapped open scanning the darkness she saw the ever so familiar Logan walking towards her. "Ok bub I know you're mad at Charles but what's going on? You running off like that? Not like you at all..." he growled. Greer sighed sitting up she told him everything. Logan sighed he felt bad for this kid. True, she was being a bit selfish which was unlike her but she didn't deserve any of this either nobody does... They sat there, in the darkness, not too close, not too far. Finally Greer spoke up. "I'm scared Logan... I don't usually act up like that and to be honest I do think what the professor did was right... But what I don't understand is... WHY AM I SO MOODY?!" "Look Tigger, you're human not some bloodthirsty animal so why..." "AM I?!" Logan shuffled back surprised at the sudden roar. "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT MY FACE! NO! LOOK AT THIS FACE! THE FACE MINOS GAVE ME!... I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I AM! HUMAN? BEAST? ANIMAL? MUTANT? I'M CONSTANTLY TOLD I'M NONE OF THEM!... SO WHAT AM I THEN?! SOME NEW KIND OF MONSTER! YES I AM A MONSTER... A MONSTER...THAT LOOKS IN THE MIRROR EVERYDAY... AND STIFFLES A SCREAM ...AT IT'S OWN REFLECTION..." Logan looked at the beautiful young girl crouching there baring her teeth at her own reflection in the lake, crying softly. He then did something they both didn't think he was capable of... He wrapped his arms around the weeping girl and hugged her tightly. "You're not the monster kid... Minos is the real monster... You being moody, angry.. You have to learn and accept that you've got animal instincts now... and sometimes you mix them up with your human emotions... It's not your fault... C'mon Tigger, I know you you're strong enough to fight it..." Greer dug her face into Logan's chest, she didn't know why but she felt safe and protected with him around. The way he hugged her, the way he patted her hair, it was just all too familiar.
"Her mother did what?!" Kitty cried. "Ja called her a monster and said Greer should be in a cage..." Kurt replied sadly... "Wow that escalated quickly..." Rouge mumbled finally taking her eyes off the book she was reading. "Poor Greer... Hope she's ok she ran off and she's been gone for hours..." Jean mumbled looking at her watch. "Shouldn't we go look for her? I mean what if she does something stupid?" Evan asked. "Nah Greer wouldn't, besides Logan's already on the job..." Scott said switching off the television. "Mein Gott, you're right! Here zey come now!" Kurt cried leaping to the door. The minute Greer entered the door she was immediately surrounded by her teammates. "Are you ok?" "What happened?" "You're mom's a jerk..." "Alright bub's I know you want details but Tigger here needs some rest..." Logan announced gruffly while leading Greer back to her room. "Thanks Logan..." she mumbled sleepily as he turned to leave. "No problem Tigger... Look I'll go tell Charles you're ok and all that..." "Could you help me tell him I'm sorry?" she cut in guiltily... "Yeah I'll do that..."he said with a smile.