I have absolutely zero excuses for such a long period of absence. Know that I am super sorry; I know how shitting it is when you have to wait for a story you're enjoying to update. Thank you so much to all of you who have kept up with me and reviewed and favorited and followed. It means the world to me! I am working on Chapter 22 as we speak. Thank you all!

I wasn't sure how Logan arrived so quickly…then again, I still wasn't sure where I actually was. I had been unconscious when I was brought in, so really I could have been in fucking Shreveport for all I knew. Asking Emma and Scott had been a waste; they knew about as much as I did.

Anyway, when Logan did arrive, he didn't even see me at first. In fact, I almost missed him, but Emma pointed out his presence above us. There was no second floor directly above our heads, but we could see relatively well into the laboratory though its large windows. We had been watching several people dressed as surgeons working for the past hour and a half. To kill time I tried putting together a betting pool. I had ten bucks saying it was a death ray…the others weren't amused.

When I finally saw Logan, I was up off my cot in less than a second.

"Okay, everyone. My friend is here, and if I know that man at all, shit is about to go down." A girl who had introduced herself as Jeannie scoffed.

"You're so sure?" she asked. For the tough exterior, I knew how scared she and the others were. I was as scared as they were. So I was trying my hardest not to get to upset.

"Yes, I'm quite sure, now just shut up. I'm trying to hear." It was pointless really. We were separated by space, stories, and stone walls.

"Are they talking? I think Logan's mouth is moving…why isn't he attacking him?" I couldn't but continue to mutter. Logan knew as well as I did, that Stryker's method of attack wasn't in physical prowess…but with his words. The longer Logan let him talk, the more likely it was to get him killed.

"Nad –"

I only waved behind me to shush whomever was speaking. I kept my eyes trained on Logan, willing him to do something. I had no clue where Viktor was, but I knew he couldn't have been too far. Stryker wouldn't risk his own safety by sending his guard dog away. I continued to watch as Logan stood frozen, staring at Stryker above me. Stryker himself wasn't even looking at Logan, but at whatever the doctors were working on.

"What the hell is going on?" I murmured while biting my lip nervously. Just then, I watched as Logan turned to look at something behind him. He stumbled and I quickly shifted my gaze toward whatever had startled him. My eyes widened in shock at the sight of what was before me.

Kayla…Logan's Kayla…the Kayla Logan had said was murdered by Viktor. There she stood in silence in front of Logan and Stryker. She was relatively far away, and I had never seen her in person, but from what I could tell, she was alive and healthy. Immediately my thoughts turned to Logan. How had this happened? How had he been so thoroughly deceived? Who was this woman? I knew they had been together over five years. Had this been in the works for that long?

I felt my breathing deepen and my heart begin to race. This bitch did this to Logan. She lied to him, she used him, and now she was going to get him and me killed. In that moment, I wanted to kill her more than I had ever wanted to kill Stryker or Viktor.

"Get me out…" I looked at the others around me. I needed to get out of that stupid cage, and I needed them to help me. But rather than come to my assistance, They backed away as if sensing my rage...as if I were insane "Get me out! Get me out! Get me out!" I began banging on the bars, this time with enough fervor to rattle those of the cages around me.

"Logan!" I screamed, desperate to get his attention. I refused to let him lose himself to whatever emotion was going to take him over. Grief, anger, madness…none of these would be good. Not here. "Down here; I'm down here! Logan!

"Nadya, stop!" Emma yelled. I only ignored her as I watched Logan crumple to the ground in devastation. I wanted to go to him; I needed to be there for him. But as hard as I fought my confinement, I remained trapped. He was alone amongst enemies, just as I was.

"He can't hear you!" Scott cried.

"You're going to get us all in trouble!"

A new voice entered the mix as one of the guards shouted for me to move away from the bars and sit down. I ignored them all and only continued to scream and attack the bars of my cage. For one brief second, I locked eyes with Stryker as he smirked and shot me a wink. "No! No! No! Get me out…Logan!" I must have looked completely insane in those moments. The guards were running my way, ordering me to stand down. I cried out as one of them smashed the butt of his gun against my fingers.

Falling to the ground, I cradled my hand to my chest, tears streaming down my face. I heard the cage door open as Emma and the other mutants called out. "Leave her alone!"

"Don't hurt her!

"Please!

Suddenly, a fist collided with the left side of my face and my head hit the concrete. I lifted my head up as I tried to see through the fog enveloping the world around me. I felt a kick to my ribs and I screamed. I didn't understand why Logan couldn't hear me. I yelled louder as another kick met my already broken hand. In that instant I wished I was back in the alley in New Orleans. Remy had been watching…he would have helped me by now…where was Logan?

After what felt like hours, but must have only been a minute or two, I finally heard the door to my cage close and lock. Hoping that meant the guards were gone, I groaned and rolled onto my back, placing my hands on the concrete. I froze as the smell of my own blood filled my nostrils and I coughed, spitting blood to the side. Bringing my good hand to my forehead, I groaned, and I cringed as I tasted the blood once more filling my mouth. I felt around my mouth with my tongue praying, of all things, that I still had my teeth.

When I was finally able to look up, I saw Emma staring at me, tears in her eyes. "Nadya, can you her me?" While her voice did sound rather far off, I nodded. I immediately regretted that action as fluids rushed through my head.

"Logan?" I muttered. "Logan?" I tried calling out, but my head was still too foggy to get much out.

"He's gone…did you hear me?" I turned toward Emma, not understanding her words. "Nadya, he is gone. He left you!"