Chapter Four: Into the Shadows*

Logan took a deep breath, grounding himself in the stillness of the forest. The cool air wrapped around them like a fog, soft but unyielding. Rogue's gaze held a flicker of uncertainty, and he knew she was waiting on him to make the call. He let his senses scan the world around them, piecing together every sound and smell as if they were part of some ancient puzzle, revealing their enemies hidden in the shadows.

For years, Logan had operated like a lone wolf—guarded, always moving, quick to disappear when trouble closed in. But this time, he wasn't alone, and that simple fact changed everything. He couldn't just vanish or fight with reckless abandon. He had someone to protect.

"We need to find higher ground," he said finally, his voice low but steady. "If they come after us here, we'll see them first."

Rogue nodded, her expression resolute. Logan admired that about her; despite the fear gnawing at the edges, she didn't falter. She had a strength that had taken him years to recognize in himself.

They moved through the underbrush, climbing a narrow path up the ridge. The forest thickened around them, branches clawing at their jackets as they pressed forward. Logan could hear Rogue's footsteps behind him, each step carefully placed as they navigated the uneven ground. The minutes stretched into silence, each sound amplifying in the quiet woods.

When they reached a small overlook, Logan stopped, scanning the landscape below. The road they'd been on was barely visible, winding like a thin scar through the valley. He could still feel the thrum of the chase, the shadow of something dangerous and unrelenting lurking just out of sight. Logan didn't like the feeling.

He turned to Rogue, his eyes narrowing. "Whoever was after us back there… they're organized. This isn't some random tracker. Someone's after us, and they know what they're doing."

Rogue frowned, her eyes darkening with thought. "You think they're after… us?" She paused, a haunted look flitting across her face. "Or just you?"

Logan's expression hardened. He didn't have the answers, but he wasn't about to let her carry this weight alone. "Doesn't matter," he said firmly. "We're in this together."

Rogue looked away, her shoulders tense. "Logan… I've been running for a long time, too. Sometimes it feels like I'm always leaving something behind." Her voice was soft, laced with a bitterness he hadn't heard before. "And sometimes, I think I should just stop and face whatever it is that's chasing me, no matter how bad it might be."

He studied her for a moment, his mind weighing her words. He could understand the pull of that idea, the notion of standing your ground. But the thought of Rogue facing something dark, something she wasn't ready for—it made him uneasy.

"We'll face it," he said, his voice a quiet promise. "But only when we're ready."

They set up a small camp in the clearing, and Rogue moved around in silence, collecting dry branches and piling them for a fire. When the flames flickered to life, she settled close to the warmth, wrapping her arms around her knees as she stared into the fire. The shadows cast across her face made her look even more pensive, as though she were lost somewhere deep within herself.

Logan leaned back against a tree, his eyes sharp and alert. He was listening, feeling the ebb and flow of the forest around them. They were both exhausted, the adrenaline wearing off and leaving a heavy weight in its place. But he knew neither of them would sleep until they felt safe.

After a long stretch of silence, Rogue spoke up, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if we don't outrun it this time?"

Logan met her gaze, something steely glinting in his eyes. "Then we fight."

She nodded, a fierce determination in her eyes. "I don't want to keep running, Logan. I'm tired of feeling like I'm looking over my shoulder every day. Maybe… maybe we should find out who's after us and end it for good."

He thought about it, letting her words sink in. Rogue wasn't a kid anymore—she'd faced more than most, and whatever strength she'd built was something to be reckoned with. Logan knew she was right; they couldn't keep living in the shadows, always on the run from some invisible threat. But they couldn't walk into a trap, either.

"Alright," he said after a moment, his voice low and steady. "We do this smart. We take the fight to them, but on our terms. First, we gather information, figure out who's hunting us, and why."

She looked relieved, her shoulders relaxing slightly as she nodded. The fire crackled between them, casting a warm glow that seemed to chase away some of the darkness pressing in around them.

For a while, they just sat there in companionable silence, watching the flames dance. Logan felt a sense of clarity he hadn't experienced in years. There was something about facing this together that made the future feel a little less uncertain, a little more manageable.

As dawn approached, Logan's senses sharpened, his eyes catching a glint of movement in the trees below. He tensed, his instincts flaring as he realized they weren't alone. A figure was moving up the path, their silhouette obscured by the shadows.

Logan rose slowly, his movements deliberate as he gestured for Rogue to stay quiet. He positioned himself between her and the approaching figure, ready to confront whoever had dared follow them into the woods.

"Stay here," he whispered, his voice a low rumble as he stepped forward, his hands clenched.

The figure stepped into the clearing, and as they drew closer, Logan could make out the flash of a cold smile, a face half-hidden beneath the brim of a dark hat. He felt the weight of the stranger's gaze, a calculating look that sent a shiver down his spine.

"Logan," the stranger greeted him, his voice smooth and taunting. "Been a long time."

Logan's jaw tightened as he recognized the voice, memories flashing through his mind in a chaotic blur. The man standing before him was no stranger; he was a ghost from Logan's past, a reminder of battles he thought he'd left behind.

"What do you want?" Logan demanded, his voice a low growl.

The man chuckled, his eyes gleaming with something dark. "I think you know exactly what I want. It's nothing personal, of course—just tying up some loose ends."

Logan felt Rogue step up beside him, her eyes fixed on the stranger with a mix of curiosity and defiance. She was ready to stand by him, to fight whatever ghosts of his past had come back to haunt them.

"Let's finish this," Logan said, his voice a quiet challenge. "I'm done running."

The stranger's smile widened, and with a flick of his wrist, a blade glinted in his hand. Logan's claws shot out instinctively, their metallic sheen catching the first rays of sunlight.

For the first time in years, Logan felt truly alive, as though every part of him was focused, every sense heightened. Rogue was at his side, and together, they would face whatever shadows lurked in the past—together, they would fight their way into the dawn.