Pain. That was the only thing that Marie knew for days after Stryker beat her. She would go in and out of consciousness. When awake, she would cry out to no one, because there was no one that cared about her suffering. Soon, the cries turned to whispers. Her voice had given out on her.

For weeks they did not come for her. She did not have to face that bright room and the stinking aroma of stale cigarettes and coffee. She did not have to face the punishment of Stryker’s and yet it scared her that they just let her be.

Both of her eyes had been swollen shut and so she was forced to feel her way around her small cell. Every movement caused a wave of agonizing pain through her head and her back. There was no doubt that she had suffered a concussion. Marie wasn’t sure what Stryker had used to beat her, but the effects of it was still showing weeks later.

She heard footsteps coming towards her cell and on instinct, she huddled in the corner well away from the door. It had taken a while, but she could slowly start to see some out of her right eye. The cell and the surrounding hallway was pretty dark so it was hard to see even if she had good eyesight. All Marie was able to make out was an outline of someone’s body.

Marie recognized the strained whisper belonged to the guard that had taken her to Stryker the day he had beaten her almost to death. Again, she was amazed that the concern in his voice, as if he cared about some mutant.

“Why do you care anyway?” Marie asked in a raspy voice.

There was no answer. Marie didn’t think the guard had a good answer to give her or maybe he just didn’t really know himself. Either way, she wished he would stop pretending to actually care what happened to her.

“I care because I’m human and I see other humans being treated like cattle.”

At this, Marie started to laugh. She couldn’t help it and for a moment, she was worried she was going crazy. The laugh was more of a cough than anything but she knew it to be a laugh. “Human? You are calling me a human? From the moment I was brought into this place I have been known as nothing more than a mutant. There you stand calling me a human when the people you work for, the people doing horrible things to me, treat me as nothing but dirt on the floor. Don’t call me human. I stopped being that the moment I was captured.”

The guard was quiet. Marie wasn’t sure if he was surprised by her words or just didn’t know what to say in response. “Now, if you don’t mind, can I have my food so I can eat like a good girl?” Marie said sarcastically.

Taking a deep breath, the guard slid the tray of food into Marie’s cell. As he turned to go, Marie heard him whisper, “You don’t deserve this.”

She did not say anything else. What she wanted to say would just fall on deaf ears anyway. The guard felt she didn’t deserve this, yet what had he done to get her out of this place? It was easy to talk, harder to take action.

Long after the guard left, Marie sat and ate what little food they gave her. It tasted horrible but she knew if she did not eat it, she would not last long.

Her sorrow was trying to take over. The feeling of loneliness and defeat was slowly washing over her like water from a shower. It was easy to lose all hope in this place. It had been over a month since she was captured but it felt like years.

As she sat there on the cold concrete, she let her mind wander to her family. She could see the outline of Xavier’s home…her home. She could feel the silk sheets of her bed as they engulfed her small form. She could hear the shouting and laughter from the mutants inside the walls of the mansion. They were her family and she was as far away from them as one person could be. Marie wondered what crazy scheme Jubes would be thinking up at the moment, or how much trouble John and Bobby would get in for sneaking out like they did every Friday night. No doubt, the Professor, Jean, Scott and Storm would be discussing the latest news involving mutant and human relations.

And Logan…Logan would be settling in for one of his hockey games. Marie knew where she would be and what she would be doing. Wherever Logan would be, that’s where she would be also. A small smile formed on her bruised face as she thought of Logan. She could only imagine what he was going through right now. No doubt, he was blaming himself. Logan always found a way to think everything was his fault when it came to her.

Before she knew it, she felt something wet slip down her cheek. Bringing her hand up to feel, she came away with water on her fingers. She was crying and not for the first time, yet this time it felt as though she had hit the bottom of the pit. Marie couldn’t stop the wave of agony as it crashed down upon her. She could do nothing but succumb to it. “All is lost. I’m so lost.” It was only a whisper and yet it sounded to her ears as loud as bomb. The weight of those words were more than enough to push her over.

There was going to be no rescue. There was no happy ending waiting at the end of this journey for her. This was all there was going to be until they finally decided to get rid of her. The X-men would not find her. HE would not find her.

“There you go, not havin’ any faith in me darlin,’” The Logan in her head whispered. “I thought I taught you better than that.”

Marie could hear the disappointment and it made her feel worse. “There’s no hope left Logan. I’ll never leave this place!” she cried.

Yes, Marie did know that but she also knew that her situation wasn’t good. Logan may never stop looking for her, but the question is whether he will be able to find her in time and a part of her didn’t think that was going to happen. Better to get used to that idea now that have it slap you in the face later.

“Well excuse me if I can’t be a little optimistic at the moment Logan. I’m sitting in a small cell on cold concrete with my face bashed in!” she yelled.

Marie threw her hands over her mouth in surprise. The outburst came from no where and in the small cell it still vibrated off of the walls. “Oh God Logan, I’m so sorry,” she pleaded as if the real Logan was standing in front of her.

There was no answer. It took several minutes and finally she heard the soft words, “It’s okay darlin’. I understand better than you think.” Nothing else was said between Marie and the Logan in her head. There really wasn’t anything else that needed to be said.

Marie stood up and made her way towards the small cot. Slowly, she closed her eyes and just for a moment let herself pretend that she was surrounded by the strong, warm arms of Logan.

Marie didn’t know how long she had slept. The sound of a door being unlocked woke her from her dreamless sleep. Rising slowly, she watched as two guards made their way into her cell. She noticed that neither one was the guard that showed concern earlier. These men were looking at her with a smug smile on their ugly faces.

“Rise and shine sweetheart. You got a date with the Doctor,” one of the guards said laughing. This couldn’t be good at all.

The guards didn’t give Marie time to speak before they came towards her carefully. Both men were clad from head to toe in uniform. Their hands were covered in gloves. They came well prepared. One of them even had a taser in his hands. They were expecting a fight, something that Marie just didn’t have in her at the moment. She went without incident. The disappointment from the Logan inside her head was radiating through her entire body. Marie just couldn’t find the strength to care.

Marie was dragged through the darkened hallway. As she passed each cell, her eyes roamed through them. She could see outlines of mutants huddled in the corner, probably praying that they wouldn’t be next. She knew exactly what each and everyone of them were thinking…’thank God it isn’t me’. She didn’t blame them. If she wasn’t the one being dragged right now, she would be in her cell thinking the same thing.

“Thank God it isn’t you,” she whispered.

“What did you say mutant?” One of the guards asked harshly.

Marie did the smart thing this time…she said nothing.

They entered the room that Marie had nicknamed the pits of hell. She knew this room now like she would know her room at the mansion. It still stank of stale cigarettes and coffee. For a moment she wished one of these monsters smoked a cigar. At least it would remind her of Logan.

“On the table please,” Dr. Langford said without turning around.

As they placed her on the table, Marie noticed that Stryker was absent. She didn’t know whether to be thankful or worried shitless. There was only a handful of people in the room with her this time. All of them seemed to be in the medical profession.

Before she could stop it, the memories of Logan’s nightmares assaulted her mind. People in scrubs and white coats, all there celebrating their victory. She felt the Logan in her head start to growl. She could feel his nervousness and fear. That scared her more than anything.

Finally Dr. Langford turned around and walked towards Marie. In his hands was an array of instruments laid out on what looked to be a silver serving tray. These instruments weren’t for eating food either. Marie knew exactly what they were. They were medical instruments.

Fear took over as Marie started to fight in her restraints. She knew that it was no use. She was trapped exactly where she was and those instruments would be used on her.

“No use in fighting mutant. Stryker is gone out for the evening and he has allowed me to play with his favorite pet. I’m planning on experimenting with you just a bit tonight if that’s okay,” he said laughing.

Marie wanted to suck that smile straight off of his face. She would kill him without so much as a thought if given the chance. Even though she was scared out of her mind, she would not give these monsters the satisfaction of seeing it.

“Fuck you,” she growled. “Fuck all of you.”

She knew her words did not have sway over these people. They saw her as nothing more than shit in a toilet. There was not one person who saw her as they saw themselves. She was not their equal. “FUCK YOU!” she screamed anyway, even though it did no good.

The doctor just smiled as he came closer to her. He sat the plate down beside the bed Marie was strapped to and began to put gloves on. She couldn’t stop him for reaching for a scalpel. The smooth knife reflected in the lights above them. Every scenario possible ran through Marie’s head in seconds.

“This might hurt a little.” Before she had time to think about what the doctor said, she watched horrified as he brought the scalpel down upon the exposed skin of her leg. The knife sliced through her skin easily as the crimson waves of blood erupted. It only took a second but the pain lasted longer. Doctor Langford had sliced off a piece of skin from her leg.

She wasn’t sure what came first, the tears or the screams. One thing she was sure of, she hated the color red.

“Amazing,” she heard him whisper as he held her skin in his hands. “See people, they are not superior to us. They bleed as we do.” There was a collective of murmurs and agreements that shifted through the room.

‘Don’t forget pain Doctor. We feel pain as you all do as well,’ Marie thought.

“Jennings, take this to the lab and begin tests immediately. Stryker will want the results as soon as he gets back.”

“Yes Doctor Langford.”

Marie watched a man in his mid thirties take her skin gently in his gloved hands and walk out of the room. “Bring in mutant 2343,” Langford said.

Two guards quickly left the room only to come back moments later with someone who must have been mutant 2343. It was a girl who looked no older than Marie herself. She looked to be about five-two. Her hair hung dirty and long down her back and in her face. This mutant looked like she had been starved for days. The light that could usually be found in someone’s eyes was missing from this girl.

‘That is what this place does. It takes every ounce of light from you. This will be me in a matter of time,’ Marie thought.

Marie watched as doctor Langford slowly walked to stand behind the girl. Placing both hands on her shoulders, he spoke, “I need your help pet. I need you to read this thing’s mind and find someone for me. Can you do that?” His voice was so soft, as if he were speaking to a small infant.

The girl didn’t say a word. She didn’t have to. Marie started to feel her mind grow heavy, as if something were laying on her head. It was so strong. This girl may have looked like she was going to kill over dead at any second, yet your mutation was as strong as anything Marie ever felt.

“Marie, fight!” the Logan in her head yelled. She could hear the strain in his voice. ‘I can’t, she’s too strong!” Marie cried.

For a split second, Marie locked eyes with the mutant trying to pry her brain apart and she saw a flicker of light in those eyes. She understood with just a fleeting glance that the girl had heard Logan. It would be only a matter of seconds and the girl would know everything.

The desperation in Logan’s voice was enough for Marie to start doing what she needed to protect him and everyone else that she loved. Piece by piece, brick by brick, she started building those walls that would lock Logan and all the memories away.

She could hear grunts coming from the girl trying to break through her subconscious. Beads of sweat were falling down both girl’s faces as they found themselves in a tug of war for power.

“AHHHH!” Marie yelled as the walls began to sway under the onslaught of the mutant’s powers. “Come on Marie, you can do it darlin’.” Logan’s voice was slowly slipping away as he was pushed behind the walls.

“What’s taking so damn long!” Langford yelled.

The mutant pressed further. She was so strong. The capillaries around Marie’s eyes and forehead started to burst in unison. Staring at the mutant, Marie saw true life in her eyes now. It would have been such a beautiful sight to see that this girl, who had been through God know’s what, find life again. But in finding life, this mutant was trying to take from Marie all that she held dear.

Just as the walls began to crack, Marie looked the mutant straight in her eyes and said just one word. “Please,” she whispered.

Understanding shown back at Marie. The mutant knew what it was like to be on that bed. What horrible things must have happened to this person who didn’t deserve any of it. Time seemed to stand still as they stared at each other. One, fighting for everything. The other, understanding that fight. A fight that she gave up on so long ago.

Marie watched as tears began to form in the mutant’s eyes yet none of them fell. The girl slowly began to remove herself from Marie’s mind. The pain began to ease as the pounding died down. Just a few seconds more and the mutant could have penetrated Marie’s walls. Suddenly, Marie was alone in her head again. Her walls remained standing and became as strong as ever. She had done it, yet not without the help of this mutant.

“I can’t do it,” the mutant said in a small raspy voice.

“You can’t DO it! What do you mean you CAN’T do it!” Langford screamed.

“She’s too strong,” she said with a smile.

Marie couldn’t help but smile back. Both girls knew that Marie wouldn’t have lasted much longer. This mutant…no this girl chose to protect the things in Marie’s head. She choice to protect HIM. Marie didn’t know this girl, but she would be in her debt for as long as she lived, whether that be days from now or years to come.

Langford leaned in to whisper into the girl’s ear, “Well if you can’t beat her, then perhaps you could join her!”

With that, he grabbed her neck and brought her towards Marie. She didn’t have to think too hard on what the doctor had planned. Even so, there was nothing Marie could do. There was no where for her to go. She could not possibly move out of the way. She choice to beg him not to do what he was about to.

“Please!” she yelled, “Please don’t do thi…” Her screams were cut off by her mutation kicking in. Every fiber of her being came to life with the rush of her skin upon another’s. Her mind was again assaulted but not from the girl’s mutation but from the girl herself.

As if she were watching a movie, memories ran passed her at the speed of light. A girl playing on a bike with one purple string and the other red. There was a beautiful woman with red hair kneeling down beside her, brushing her clothes off. There was a smile so filled with love, Marie couldn’t help but feel it. The memories flew past again until she was faced to face with the same woman and a man staring at her in shock. The beautiful woman looked as though she had been crying. The man, he looked as though he had been slapped.

“Doctor Langford sir, you’re killing her.”

“Good!” Langford yelled.

In her mind she was begging this man and this woman not to send her away. She was promising them that she would be a good girl. No one would have to know that she was a freak. “Please daddy! Please!” she yelled out.

“Doctor Langford, stop this now!”

He would not yield. Langford was determined to make this mutant pay for not obeying him.

The memories flew past again until Marie was looking at the same small, dirty cell that she knew all too well. “I wanna go home!” she cried.

She saw guards filing through her cell door, one after the other, doing things to her that should never be done to anyone. “Make it stop, PLEASE!”

No one was listening to her screams. The nurses and assistance stood in shocked silence as they watched the scene unfold. Marie had never taken a life before with her powers and she wasn’t sure that she would be able to survive it.

Finally the memories stopped and standing before Marie was herself. Her reflection was shown through another’s eyes and she saw just how bad off she looked. “It’s over,” she whispered in a voice that was not her own.

As the last of the girl’s life drained into Marie’s, she was brought back to the present day with a much heavier conscious. She was so tired. “It’s over. It’s finally over,” the mutant wept with joy in her head. April…her name was April and she was just fifteen fucking years old. At an age where girls would experience their first boyfriend and their first kiss, this poor girl was dead, taken away by the power of a bloodsucking mutant! That was too great a burden to bare for Marie.

“NOOOOOO!” she yelled before she knew no more.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

He didn’t know where he was. He didn’t know what day it was or even what time it was. All he knew was that a month had gone by. One month…thirty days…seven-hundred forty-four hours…forty-three thousand two-hundred minutes, it didn’t matter how you added it up, she still was no where to be found.

Now, because he could not find her himself and Xavier had done such a bang up job, he was at the one place he thought he would never be. He was going to ask the one man, he swore he would kill, for help. Many times over the past couple of days, he wondered just what the hell he was doing. If Xavier could not find her, then how could HE be able to find her. Still, he was running out of options and time.

Logan knew exactly where to look. It wasn’t hard to find information from the less heroic mutants in the underground. After a week of asking for information, he know found himself looking at the location of a place he only thought he would see as a captive. When all was said and done, he had a feeling that was what he was going to be. Taking a deep breath, and thinking of Marie, he moved forward.

It did not take too long for the first signs of mutant activity to make it’s presence. His keen sense of hearing picked up on footsteps approaching at full speed. Logan walked cautiously. He did not want them to think he was setting them up for a trap. It was only him making this trip into hell.

“You do not belong here!” came a hiss to his right.

Logan slowed down and turned towards the owner of that hiss. At first he saw nothing, but looking closer he noticed the glowing red eyes of a mutant hiding behind a wall of trees. The mutant’s skin matched the green and brown of the trees perfectly. Anyone other than Logan would have probably missed him completely. He was crouched down into a fighting position, waiting for Logan to strike.

Slowly, Logan raised his hands in the arm to show the mutant he meant no harm. “I’m not here to fight. I need to speak with Him now,” Logan said carefully.

“Leave this place,” he hissed again.

“Sorry bub, I’m not going any damn where. We can do this the easy way, or we can do this the hard way with you at the end of my adamantium claws. It’s up to you pal,” Logan growled.

Just as the mutant was about to spring on Logan, someone spoke. “Now now boys. Try to reign in the testosterone. Is that any way to treat our guest Austin?”

Logan’s skin crawled at the mere sound of her voice. He felt his adamantium itching to come out and play. “Look what the cat dragged in! did you get tired of playing superhero to a world that hates you?”

“I need to see him,” Logan said. He did not feel like getting to any conversation with her. It would lead to one or both of them lying dead on the ground and right now that was the last thing Marie needed. She was counting on him to keep his composure and do what he needed to do to save her. It was, after all, the reason he was standing here. He just needed to keep reminding him of that.

“So what, you just figured you’d come down here and ring his doorbell? We should just kill you know,” she said with a smirk. The bitch was getting off on this shit. “Or, we could go to my room and do…other less dangerous things,” she purred.

“Fuck you,” Logan spat. That got him only a smile from her.

“Follow me,” she said as she turned to walk into the cave.

Logan did not hesitate. He figured if they were going to kill him, she would have done it by now or at least tried. His chances of getting out of here alive looked a little better.

It seemed as though they walked for miles through darkness. Logan had excellent eyesight yet all he could tell was they were going downward.

Just as he was wondering whether this was a trap or not, light started to show up ahead. “Right this way cave man,” she said laughing. Logan wanted so bad to gut her just to make her shut the fuck up. He knew if he did that though, Marie would be as good as gone to him.

Entering into a large, well lit room, Logan noticed that there was about thirty people watching his every move. They ranged from the tallest human he had ever seen to the smallest. They seemed to me a circle in the middle of the room where the bitch was leading him. Three of the mutants moved aside as she led him smack dab into the center.

Seeing his predicament, Logan started trying to figure out a way to get himself out of this mess in case it didn’t go his way. Before he could even think of a way, his body started to hum. It could only mean one thing and represent one person.

Every pair of eyes turned to look behind Logan. He decided that was probably what he should do as well. His body started becoming harder to control as the person behind him got closer. He hated this feeling. Everything in him told him to bring out the claws and fight his way out of this place but he buried that thought. Marie was all that mattered at the moment, nothing else!

“Well, well, well…what do we have here?” a pristine voice spoke. It bounced off the walls of the cave and came crashing down on Logan. Even the voice had Logan’s rage starting to build. “Come to your senses I see?” the man said laughing.

Taking a deep breath, Logan began to speak, “I’ve come to ask you for help.”

All around him, the mutants began to laugh. Logan’s rage was starting to become uncontrollable. He just needed a few minutes and every one of these assholes would be dead. “Me? Help you? Why on earth would you come to me?”

“Because, I got something you want,” Logan growled. This was it. This was the bargaining chip that he had to help save Marie. He would do anything, even this to get her back and if he did get her back it would be worth it. No matter what happens in the end, she is all that matters.

“And what on earth would that be Wolverine?”

“We both know what that is Magneto,” Logan spat.

“Indeed we do,” Magneto said knowingly.

Logan found the courage to say what he had never thought he would hear himself say to Magneto. This was the man that tried to kill Marie, and actually had succeeded. He prayed that Marie would forgive him for what he was about to say, but there was nothing else he could do. He had come to the end and she was still lost to him. If she was worth his death, then she was worth something worse than death. He would never regret this decision if it worked.

“I will swear my allegiance to you and your cause if you will give me the help I seek!” Logan pleaded.