Breathing was becoming a bit of an issue for Logan. This time, however, it had nothing to do with being submerged in water like he had been so many times before. On the contrary, Logan was having a hard time breathing because of the bullets that had ripped through his lungs and his throat. He could still breathe, but only short, shallow breaths at very long intervals. He should have healed already, but his healing factor had long ago been taxed by the constant injuries he had sustained over the past thirty-six hours.
His inability to breathe properly made his escape attempts extremely difficult. Logan’s movements were incredibly sluggish and lacked his usual strength. All that Logan really managed to accomplish was to rub raw the areas of skin that were covered by nylon restraints.
“You’re not getting out of here,” sneered one of the guards who was watching him. “All you’re going to do is hurt yourself. Not that I’m opposed to that, but it does take away from some of our fun.”
In his mind, Logan called out for Marie. He had wanted to scream, but even in his mind it sounded like a whimper. Logan didn’t care, though. All that Logan really wanted was Marie. He just wanted to hold her. To fall asleep in her arms and sleep away all the pain. Of course, to do that he needed Marie.
“Let me go you fuckers!” Logan hissed, straining against the thick bonds that held his body to the table.
All that Logan received for his efforts was a solid punch across his jaw. His head was flung to the side violently that created a stabbing pain that echoed through his head. Marie’s voice was there also.
Gawd, Logan.... Ya shoulda just gone without me. Ya’d be safe right now an’ ya wouldn’t o’ got shot so much. Ah’m so sorry....
“You and your little girlfriend are about to be introduced to the real meaning of hell,” a new voice taunted. “for the money we’re making off you guys, I’d hate to see what they’ve got planned for you two. Can’t be pretty.”
“Leave Marie out of this!” Logan roared, arching his back and releasing his claws.
The guards all jumped back at that, staring at Logan’s clawed hands in shock.
“What the fuck is that?”
“Why the hell did no one tell us about that?”
“Shit! That guy could slice and dice us!”
Even though he was unable to get the leverage needed to tear himself free, Logan still struggled and fought. He had to get to Marie. There was no way that he was going to let her get hurt. He had promised her that.
When the truck came to a sudden stop, Logan lost his balance and collapsed onto his back. While he was distracted, two men latched onto either one of his arms, holding him in place. Roaring, Logan flexed his arms, attempting to free himself. Logan struggled with a desperation that he had never felt before. Being restrained was something that Logan had never been too fond of.
So intent of fighting his way out of their hold and the restraints, Logan had completely forgotten about the fifth man in the back of the truck.
That was, until he felt a sharp metal spike pierce his left hand all the way through. As he screamed in pain, another one was slammed through his other hand.
“Will you shut the fuck up!” one of the guards shouted, punching Logan in the jaw once again. “God! If I’d known you’d be like this I wouldn’t have signed on for this job. Last time I kidnap mutant freaks. Bossman isn’t paying us enough for this.”
Moaning and whimpering, Logan pulled at the stakes that were driven into his hands. An incredible nausea overcame him and it was all that Logan could do not to pass out.
It’s all right, sugah, Ah’m comin’. Just hold tight.
Logan squeezed his eyes shut, taking comfort from Marie’s presence in his mind. It was as close as he could come to being with Marie while they were still separated. It wasn’t the real thing, but Logan actually felt the same calmness that he would have felt with Marie actually there.
“All right, metal boy, we’re going to talk to the bossman. You stay here and... well, you can just stay here.”
Logan was barely paying attention to the guards as they filed out of the truck. All that he was aware of was the throbbing in his hands. His entire body felt like it was on fire, but he no longer had the strength to fight. All that he could do was lie there and hope that it would all end soon.
When he felt oblivion clawing at the back of his brain, Logan decided to give into it without a fight. He wanted peace even if peace came without Marie.
“Oh mah Gawd. Logan....”
At the sound of Marie’s voice, Logan struggled to open his eyes. His vision was hazy at first, but very soon he could see nothing but Marie’s face. A ghost of a smile found its way to Logan’s face. It was a nice dream. Having Marie there with him.
“Ah’m so sorry, sugah. This is all mah fault,” Marie whimpered, burying her fingers in his hair. It felt so real. Logan was almost willing to believe that it was real and that Marie was really there.
“Marie....” Logan moaned, tilting his head towards her touch.
“It’s me, sugah. Ah’m here,” Marie whispered and Logan could vaguely feel her lips brushing against his cheeks. “Ya just sit tight fer a minute an’ Ah’ll get ya outta here. All right, sugah? Just hold on.”
“‘Kay,” Logan mumbled, nodding his head slightly.
It surprised Logan when he could feel the nylon strap on his left wrist being loosened. For a moment he thought he was asleep, but he didn’t hurt when he was asleep. That was why he had wanted to fall asleep. But if he still hurt that meant he was still awake. If he was still awake that meant Marie was really there.
“Marie....” Logan moaned, forcing his eyes open once again.
“Ah’m right here, sugah,” Marie assured him, pressing a lightening quick kiss over his heart.
“I hurt,” Logan told her, flopping his head from side to side.
He heard Marie whimper felt tears filling his eyes. “Ah know, sugah. Ah know. It’ll be all over soon. Ah promise, sugah. We’ll get outta here then Ah’ll take care o’ ya. Promise.”
Logan could do nothing as Marie removed the restraints on his wrists and ankles. He could feel Marie’s hesitation as she came to stand by his right hand. Both of them stared at the large metal stake that protruded from his hand.
“There’s nothin’ Ah can do that will make this not hurt,” Marie told him, meeting his eyes with her own teary brown ones. “Ah’ll do it quick as Ah can, though. So just bite yer lip an’ Ah’ll pull it out real quick.”
Logan nodded his head and squeezed his eyes shut.
He felt Marie place a piece of cloth over his arm. Marie lightly placed her hand on the cloth and he felt the metal stake shift slightly which meant that she had grabbed onto it. Logan braced himself, biting into his bottom lip so that he wouldn’t scream.
Still, Logan couldn’t contain the strangled scream that leaked past his mangled lips as Marie yanked the stake from his hand.
“It’s all right, Logan. It’s all right,” Marie soothed, smoothing her fingers through his hair. “It’s almost over now. Just one more. One more.”
Logan was sobbing openly by the time that Marie pulled out the second stake. He curled up on his side, pressing both of his hands against the cold metal of the table. Marie wrapped her upper body around his, pressing kisses to the side of his head. Logan allowed himself to relax, knowing that he would have to move very soon.
That was when he would really star to hurt.
“We need t’ get outta here now, Logan. Ah don’t know how long they’re gonna stay out there so we gotta move now,” Marie murmured in his ear as she continued to run her fingers through his hair.
All that Logan could do was moan. Talking hurt and Logan didn’t want to hurt more than he had to.
Biting back a moan, Logan allowed Marie to help him off the table. He staggered and had to lean on Marie to stay standing. Following her every move, Logan stumbled along towards the door of the trailer. When they reached the door, Logan couldn’t figure out how they were going to get out. It would be easy with Marie. All that she had to do was climb out, but Logan wasn’t sure how she was going to get out.
“All right, Ah’m gonna help ya sit down,” Marie said quietly. “Then Ah’m gonna get out and help ya. Okay? D’ ya think ya can stay sitting long enough fer me t’ get out.”
Logan nodded his head sluggishly, pressing his forehead against the side of Marie’s head.
It took a bit of a struggle for them to get out of the trailer. Logan kept losing his balance while Marie was getting out and eventually ended up just lying down on his side while he waited for Marie to help him out.
“Come on, sugah. Ah’ve got ya,” Marie murmured, slipping an arm around his shoulders and sliding him towards the edge of the trailer. Logan moved as she directed him, barely able to catch himself before he hit the ground.
“Ow,” Logan mumbled as Marie helped him straighten back up.
“Sorry, sugah,” Marie apologized, pulling his arm across her shoulders. “Now we’ve gotta be quick. We need t’ get outta here fast as possible.”
Logan could only moan and follow Marie to where she led him.