(A/N: All right, ready for chapter 8 everyone? COS HERE IT IS!!)
"Keep running!" they flitted down the tunnel, not wanting to know what was behind them. "But- Logan, why are we running from HIM!?" The sound of many feet pounding down the sewer tunnel filled the still air, and behind them the sound of a four-legged animal got closer and closer. "If you stop running then he'll get us! Just focus, Jamie.. We need to find John, Laura and Bobby!" A loud snarl floated up the tunnel. "Why is he doing this!? Rahne, I'm scared!" The group ducked around the corner, and stopped, panting heavily. The redhead knelt in front of the young boy, placing a calming hand on his shoulder. "I know, Jamie. We all are. But Kurt isn't feeling his usual self right now, and you heard what John said over the comm… He's taken Jean, Scott and Kitty. We can't let him take us too." The young boy sniffed, then wiped his eyes and nodded. "Wait. Where's Mr. Logan!?" Rahne wheeled around, realizing that the teacher was gone. "Mr. Logan!! Mr. Logan!? Ms. Ororo!!" Rahne called. No response. Just like with Roberto and Sam. "Come on Jamie, we can't stop now!" She sprinted off, the young boy following her closely. "We have to find the others. If we don't-" BAMF. "R-rahne?" The only sound was the drops of water in the sewer as the storm raged over them. "H-hello?" A shuddering intake of breath. "Hello?"
"Rahne, you there? Logan? Ororo?" John spoke clearly into the comm. "Shit! He must have got them." A large blue shape moved swiftly at his side. "john, relax. I'm sure they're fine. Logan has a long record of experience." John frowned into the darkness and waving flashlight beams ahead. "But it just doesn't make sense, dammit. Why is Kurt picking us off?" Hank McCoy, Beast, shrugged, a motion John could only feel in the dark. "I don't know, John. What's important now is finding them." For a while after that, the only sounds were his, Beasts, Icemans, X-23s and his's labored breathing and pounding footsteps. Amara was still upstairs in the mansion with Professor X in case this was all just a Hellfire ploy… But John knew better. He was worried about Jamie, due to his young age and lacking combat experience. He knew… hoped… that Logan and Ororo and Rahne could handle themselves… according to their last update it was just the four of them in their group… Cannonball and Sunspot had been lost. But the comm silence on their end boded worse. John knew that this was far from over. Professor X's voice now, crackled over the comm. "John, do you know what has happened to Logan and their group? I can't sense them any longer." A cold pit formed in John's stomach. "Any of them?" Silence for a moment. "Jamie, I think. But he's distraught." John growled. "We're down to five already. Professor, any luck on any of the others?"A hiss of static. "No, I-" Amara's voice, from somewhere nearby. "Professor, look out-" A crackly 'BAMF' came through the clip and John swore to the air. "Shit!" They all stopped, panting. "John, what's wrong?" Laura came up to him, frowning. "It's… The professor is gone." He heard Laura's breath catch in her throat. "So it's just the four of us?" John shook his head. "Jamie's still out there. We NEED to find him!" He said. Laura grabbed his hand reassuringly. "John, relax. We'll find Jamie before Kurt does." She said, rubbing the back of his hand with her thumb. He sighed heavily. "Well ah.. we'd better find him!" They all nodded, running off. John stayed at the back of the group, talking with beast. He had a feeling he knew where Kurt was taking everyone.
After running for what seemed like hours, they heard quiet whimpering emnating from the tunnel ahead of them. Laura smiled. They had found Jamie, thank God. John ran ahead of her. "Jamie!" He called. The sniveling stopped and a frightened voice called out. "J-John?" Jamie came running into the light, straight into John, and began to sob. John looked at Laura for help, but she just shrugged. Kids just weren't her thing. Jamie was sobbing into John's shirt. "A-and one minute… they were there and then th-they weren't!" John was patting his back awkwardly. Beast took Jamie from him with an easy nod, consoling the boy. John stood up with a relieved sigh. "Kids… really aren't my thing." He grumbled. Laura giggled, slipping her hand into one of his and lacing their fingers together. "You're so cute when you're embarrased." John shifted uneasily. "I'm not embarrased." She cocked an eyebrow, putting her other hand on her hip. John must have felt the gesture even in the dark, because he cleared his throat. "Well maybe a little bit." She giggled again, leaning up to kiss his cheek. "Uuh… crap, I can't find you." Suddenly, his lips met hers. She leaned against his chest, thankful that it was pitch black. After what felt like an hour they separated. John chuckled, out of breath. "Find me yet?" He whispered jokingly in her ear. She sighed exasperatedly and took his hand, following the others.
Soon enough they came to an intersection that split off into three separate corridors. Laura frowned. "What the hell? This tunnel shouldn't be this big here." The light had gotten better, to the point where they could see dim shapes. However, the light was filtering red and orange, like in a volcanic pit (Unfortunately John knew what that was like… it was a long story). John grimaced. "tHe light is coming from here, though." He took a flashlight from Iceman and shined it down the tunnel. They all stepped back in surprise. The tunnel was made of what looked like… "Volcanic rock…" Beast murmured. John looked at Beast with some surprise. "Mr. McCoy, you know what is up with this?" The man nodded. "I remember Kurt telling me once about his trips into the dimension he teleports through. It was volcanic in nature and filled with-" A shrill animal cry echoed out of the tunnel they stood in front of. John blinked surprisedly. "Erm… Was it filled with… very loud… turtles?" He asked meekly. Laura looked at him with an eyebrow raised. "Turtles, John?" He shrugged. "Hey, just trying to stay positive." Bobby snickered. "Well whatever it is I doubt it's a-" There was another inhuman shriek and a red, multi-armed dinosaur came bounding out of the tunnel, tackeling Bobby, who screamed shrilly in fear. It had about two seconds on top of the iceman before a fist caught the side of it's head and sent it skittering away from him. The demon dino snarled at John and leapt at him. John ducked, and Laura socked it with a dull crunch, sending it flying down the passageway and out of sight. John grimaced. "We're gonna have to go after it huh?" He mumbled. The other four nodded. Beast walked up to him. "Well, at least it proves your theory, Johnathan. He's in the Center Room."
John sprinted down the tunnel, which was growing more volcanic every step. He dodged monsters, ducked under volcanic bridges, and leapt over bubbling pits of fire as he ran. Kurt was in the makeshift sparring chamber they had been using. He knew that this wouldn't end well. "JOHN, WAIT UP!" Laura's voice came from behind him, and he skidded to a halt. Laura, Beast, Bobby, and Jamie ran up to him, panting. "Ok… let's take… a rest." Bobby said. Beast had been carrying Jamie and now set him down. "Robert, can you give us some cover?" Bobby nodded, creating thick ice walls on either side of them. John leaned against a wall. He looked ahead of them with a vacant stare. "This is crazy. We've got to finish this tonight." He muttered. "And to hell with the consequences." The ground rumbled. "Oh, to 'hell' you say?" A deep, stony voice rumbled. "I can oblige to that." A laugh shook the floor and suddenly they were gone.
A/N: Oooh, scaredy!! Sorry for the delay, folks, but I'm SWAMPED with school. For those of you who didn't get this... very vague context clue, this new thing is NOT Kurt's father, Azazel, it's someone (Or something) else. For all of you marvel lovers out there I hope you figure it out! R&R OR I KEEL U!