-Hey everyone, sorry about the long update. I am so appreciative of everyone's awesome reviews!! Thank you so much, but please continue. There is still a ridiculous amount of people reading the story without reviewing. Please enjoy chapter 3...

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Chapter 3

Carrie woke up the next morning feeling completely sore and physically exhausted, but she realized she hadn't felt this optimistic in years. As she slowly rolled out of bed, she decided today would be a good day to just walk around the city. She lived in Manhattan but hadn't gone out much since her husband died. She looked at the phone momentarily, because a day out would mean calling in sick to work. She hated doing this, but she was honestly was pretty sore from last night's events. She picked up the phone and put on her business voice, with a tad of sick thrown in there. While waiting for someone to pick up on the other line, she decided to inspect how bad the damage was. She went to the bathroom mirror and almost dropped the phone when Jackie the receptionist, picked up, "Hello, Walter Luvitts' office." The perky receptionist sounded almost like a robot through the phone.

"Oh hey, Jackie!" Carrie absolutely loved Jackie. The woman was always caught bashing Walter Luvitts behind his back. Luvitts was completely in love with her too. Carrie laughed out loud as she remembered a time he hit on the beautiful Latino, and she threatened a law suit. He was so shot down he didn't leave his office for the rest of the afternoon.

"Hey Carrie, you not comin in today," Jackie, realizing it was Carrie, let her beautiful accent flow, as she talked comfortably to her friend on the other line. "I wouldn't blame you if you didn't. Luvitts has been on a rampage today. He didn't even make a comment on how 'spicy' I looked this morning. That stupid burro."

"Yeah, I had a rough night last night, and I am completely wiped out. I could barely move this morning."

"Oooh, you finally got some!" Jackie's voice rang through the phone. The people walking by her desk couldn't help but gape at the openly offensive statement. "Who you look-in at chicka? I wasn't talkin to you. We all know you didn't get any," Jackie stopped harassing the temp long enough to realize she had Carrie on the other line. "Sorry girl, the stupid temp still hasn't learned her place in the office. So, as I was saying…"

"I didn't get laid Jackie," Carrie's calm voice broke through to Jackie's overly excited nature. "I don't think getting mugged counts as an awesome night, so…"

"Oh my God! You got mugged! I am so sorry girl. Are you okay? Do you want me to ditch with you?" Carrie couldn't help but to allow a genuine smile grace her bruised face. She was touched by her friend's concern.

"No, I'm okay, a few bumps and bruises but nothing serious. The cops were really quick showing up. I guess I was making quite a bit of noise," Carrie decided to not mention her hero. She figured Victor was already under enough investigation as it was.

"Well, okay chicka, but you give me a call if you need some company…okay?" Jackie allowed her statement to come out as more of a plea than anything else. She would've given anything to be out of that hell hole.

"Okay girl, thank you. Don't forget to tell Luvetts."

"I won't, bye girl."

Carrie set the phone down and looked back at the mirror to see if she could even go out in public. Her beautifully high cheek bone was swollen from being slapped, and her lip was still a little swollen. She examined her lip a little closer and determined it would look good under different circumstances. Finally, she lifted her shirt over her head to examine the bruised ribs. They were not nearly as blue as the night before and were not nearly as painful to the touch. She decided a tight ace bandage would do just fine, just no getting mugged again. She gave a chuckle at her crappy attempt at a diagnosis. She took off the rest of her close and decided to take a quick morning shower before wrapping the offending ribs. She gently stepped into the hot shower and allowed the water to melt away the pain from her mid section. She smiled with satisfaction as the water successfully dulled the pain of her bruised face and ribs. She decided make-up and bandages would be the perfect solution to her healing body.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

"Aaahhhhhh!" Victor's screams could be heard throughout the small apartment community, as he threw his phone against the wall, successfully shattering it. How dare his associate try to tell him he failed at an assassination attempt. You can't fail at something you didn't attempt you stupid ass. Victor sat on his bed and thought over the events of last night. He had come home, hammered drunk, from Fred's and past out half way to the bed. It took quite a load of booze to put him on his ass like that, but it's not like he didn't have money to burn. He drank every bit of liquor Fred kept stashed to get that girl out of his head. He picked up the ash tray by his bed and through that against the wall as well. He decided he would be out of breakable objects soon, but every time he thought of her, he felt that weakness creep up into his system. He could put off the assassination for one more day. He needed to clear his head, and people watching always did the trick.

Victor grabbed his trade mark trench coat and opened the window for a quick exit. He jumped down into the alley below his building and began stalking through the shadows, as only Victor Creed could. He didn't enjoy the constant stares, so dark corners and alley ways were his only friends in the street. Just as he came to his favorite darkened corner, he saw her. She was dressed in a loose sundress. It came all the way to her feet which where fitted with green tennis shoes. The dress fit loosely around her small chest and did little to conceal the bruises received from last night. He couldn't help but admire the way she tried to conceal the bruises around her face, but still wore her hair up in a loose pony tail. The fashion said, "Yes, I received some injuries. What of it?" She wasn't trying to flaunt them but was not ashamed of them either.

"Damn it!" He cursed quietly under his breath as he watched her figure head in his direction. She couldn't see him, he knew that, but he would have to smell her scent as she walked by him gracefully. The warm scent of cinnamon washed over him ten fold as she sauntered by his dark hell. She was completely unaware of his figure as she innocently walked by the vendors on the street selling different items. He watched as she carefully touched the jewelry at one of the vendor's tents. She touched the simple crystal cross hanging on a silver chain and smiled gently as it shimmered in the sun light. The vendor saw her interest and swooped down to grab his sell.

"Quite the beauty, isn't she?" The vendor's accent appeared to make him sound sleazier than he really was.

Carrie looked up from the necklace as the vendor approached her with hope written all over his face. "Yes it is, but I'm just looking for now. This price is a little out of my range anyway." Victor smiled at her obvious attempt at barter.

"Well, for such a beauty as yourself, I'm willing to bring this down at least to $20. How does that sound?" Carrie gave the man a stunning half smile, as she turned to walk to the next vendor. "Okay, fifteen."

Carrie turned back around triumphantly and handed the man a ten and a five. "I knew you would come to your senses." The vendor gave her a look under his eyebrows as he put the cash away. Carrie appeared not to notice. She held the beautiful, simple necklace in her hand. Her eyes appeared lost in there investigation of it. She stuffed the necklace safely into her purse and continued on her way. After about twenty minutes of looking around, she couldn't help but feel as if someone was watching her. Before she had a chance to give this feeling any more thought, she heard a scream not far from where she was standing.

Carrie picked up her pace down the street of vendors to check out this horrible commotion. What frightened her most was the fact no one was reacting the way she was. All of the vendors just stood around at their tents looking for customers. Not even the people on the street took any notice of the scream. Just as she rounded a corner, she understood why no one was reacting. Her stomach began to knot up, as she witnessed a teenage, mutant girl being beaten on the street. She closed her eyes to try to block out the screams. She knew if she got involved they would turn on her, and she was already bruised pretty bad, but that poor girl.

Carrie watched helplessly as the girl's beautiful blue skin was ripped open, and the red blood began to turn her skin purple. The blood mingled with the many bruises already covering her delicate frame. Carrie heard the clink of metal as something hit the ground below her. She looked down and watched as her beautiful necklace fell from her purse. It landed into a crevice on the sidewalk where the girl's blood was leaking into the ground. She reached down and picked up the necklace. She allowed the girl's blood to soak her porcelain skin and just as quickly as it came, her fear was gone. "Get away from her!!" Carrie rushed forward and pushed the assailants away from the broken girl. They stepped away from the scene and stared at the red headed woman who had lost her mind. "She hasn't done a damn thing to you! Get out of here before I kick your punk asses!"

The boys began to circle the brave woman who held her purse to her side, preparing to use it as a weapon if necessary. The boys began to approach her as a crowd started to form around the commotion, because now that a human was involved it was worth noticing. "I'd bet the authorities would be real impressed with a bunch of teenagers beating up on a poor, defenseless human woman." The boys stopped in their tracks as Carrie's comment registered. The cops would turn their heads if they heard a mutant was beaten, but a human woman.

"You better watch yourself. Next time we might just assume you are a mutant, you mutant loving bitch!"

Carrie watched as the boys began to push their ways through the crowded street. People looked on with a mixture of horror and disgust, as Carrie gently pulled the girl to her feet. "What are you looking at?" Carrie couldn't believe these people were just going to stare at her as this innocent teenage girl bled to death. Carrie put the girl's arm around her shoulder and began to carry her into the sunlight, away from the darkened street corner. She set her down gently on the warm pavement. "Hey, look at me." Carrie put her hand under the girl's chin and brought her face to the front so she could get a better look at her. The girl's features were beautiful, and the only difference she could find between her and the injured girl was blue skin. The battered girl slowly opened her eyes to reveal beautiful, amber orbs. "Wow! You are stunning!" Carrie was shocked when the girl's eyes glassed over and tears poured down her beaten cheeks. She wrapped her arms around Carrie's neck and sobbed into her shoulder. Carrie sat down and pulled the small girl into her lap and allowed her to sob her pain out. "Sshh, it's okay. I promise you're going to be okay." As she stroked the girl's bloodied head, Carrie suddenly felt her eyes begin to water as well and let tears flow down her cheeks for this poor girl. She knew she couldn't promise her that. This girl was threatened every day. Who was she to promise she would be okay? Carrie rocked the girl gently and continued to whisper comforting words into her ear, as the crowd became more and more disgusted at the display. Carrie only hugged the girl's delicate form closer to her body to shield her from the hate surrounding them.

It was a good fifteen minutes later before Carrie heard the sound of someone screaming someone's name. "Valerie!! Valerie!" Carrie could hear the panic in the woman's voice and knew it was a mother looking for her daughter. She watched as the African American woman ran up to a man and asked for his assistance only to be turned away. She didn't appear to be phased by his cruelty and went on to the next person.

Carrie began to wave the woman down from across the street, the girl had fallen asleep and Carrie did not want to wake her. Carrie watched as the woman's face turned into shock at the sight of her broken daughter. "Valerie! Oh my God! Baby!" Carrie couldn't help, but allow a little bit of fear wash over her as the woman's motherly instincts took control. "Is she okay? Did you do this? Did you see what happened?" Carrie felt a little overwhelmed as the questions began to flow from the hysterical woman's mouth. She handed the small girl to the hysterical woman, and felt herself warm at the sight of the mother's gentle ministrations to her sad, broken daughter.

"I caught these boys attacking her in the alley and stopped them. I picked her up and carried her to this wall. She fell asleep, so I looked over some of her injuries. They all appear to just be bruises and cuts." Carrie stopped talking as she realized the woman had stopped listening and was coaxing her daughter awake. The little girl opened her eyes and threw her arms around her relieved mother.

After what felt like hours, the mother finally broke the silence. "Thank you." The woman then turned and began walking back through the crowd of hateful people staring at her. The woman allowed the love she shared for her daughter to surround them as they passed through the crowd. Carrie watched on and realized this was probably an everyday event for them. She knew nothing of hate and prejudice. She was a beautiful, human girl. She suddenly hated the pity she had felt for herself after the death of her husband. That woman probably dealt with the thought of her daughter being beaten to death on a daily basis.

Carrie grabbed her chest as sobs began to wrack her body. She wrapped her arms around herself and felt the wetness of the girl's blood on her purple dress. She couldn't shake the anguish wreaking havoc on her body and her sore ribs were starting to burn at the force of her sobs. She found a small building with steps in the front and sat down to stop the world from shaking around her. She could only imagine what the people who past her thought: drug addict, mutant, homeless. The thing that stunned her the most was she didn't care.

She sat on the steps with her head in her hands trying to control her sobs. She finally lost track of time, when she felt a presence next to her on the steps. She looked up from her blood soaked hands and into the familiar eyes of her savior. "Hey," she knew it sounded a bit off considering the circumstances, but she couldn't really think of anything else to say at that moment.

"Hey," he smiled at her raw emotion. He envied her, and her ability to show weakness when pain was smashing into her body. He looked into her mascara smeared eyes and saw the strength he had come to associate with her. He had watched as the realization of 'how cruel the world can be' came crashing into her. Her beautiful face had looked like it was going to melt off, as the reality had hit. "Life sucks huh?" He hadn't meant for it to sound so mocking, but that was his nature. He was always on the defense, and it was the only thing holding him back from taking her into his arms and shielding her from the cruelty she had witnessed.

"Yeah…yeah it does." She got up to walk away from the cruelty now coming from the one man that had saved her life. She couldn't take that kind of cruelty on top of everything else.

"I'm sorry." It was only a whisper, but she had heard it. The statement did the trick, and she stopped in her tracks. Victor walked over to where she was standing and gently put his arms around her neck. Carrie felt something cold touch her collar bone and reached up only to come in contact with crystal.

Her necklace! She remembered how she had thrust her purse out in front of her as she tried to protect the broken girl. Her necklace had probable fallen from her purse again. She clutched at her necklace and felt the coldness of it send a comfort through her body. Carrie turned and looked into Victor's unusually black eyes. She thought she saw pity there and respect. "Thank you, Victor." She also whispered her statement, for fear the unspoken trust would vanish at the slightest movement. "I feel like I have been thanking you a lot lately." She gave a shy smile at the intensity of his stare.

He couldn't bear the sincerity of her smile or the thank you. She was so innocent from the world he lived in. She had only gotten a taste of it today. He didn't deserve that thank you or that smile. He would have killed those boys and that mutant girl, just to put her out of her misery. He had watched as Carrie promised to not let anything happen to her and had to look away. She was so naïve, and he couldn't bring her into this world of his. At this realization, he painfully turned away from that innocent smile and began his long track home.

"Wait!" Carrie ran up and gently grabbed Victor's arm in a desperate attempt to make him stay. She was shocked when he jerked his arm away as if he had burned it. "I'm sorry, but I just don't want to leave this at a 'thank you'. Please, let me thank you properly. I can cook you dinner, offer you a place to stay, or…even a place to hide." She knew she was risking a lot at her last statement. She wasn't ignorant enough to know this man was not on the good side of the law, but what mutant was?

Victor closed his eyes. He was determined to get this girl out of his life by any means necessary. "What? You're not offering me some ass too?"

"Don't try to get rid of me you raunchy bastard. You heard my offer, and I'm sticking to it. I am going back to my apartment, and I know you know where I live. If you ever need anything let me know." At that, she turned and began her walk back to her building.

He was shocked she had read him like a book. Damn, this was going to be harder than he thought. He gave her one last look, as he shot into the shadows between two buildings to decide where to go to from there.

---Please review and chpter 4 is in the works. Thanks for reading.