Claws and Heartstrings: Logan Howlett | Wolverine ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི

Chapter Forty-Two

— Logan

We were all huddled around the fire, the night air cool against our skin. Magneto stood up, his face serious. "His name is Colonel William Stryker," he began, his voice low and steady.

"He invaded your mansion for one purpose: to get ahold of Cerebro. But now, he wants you," he said, looking directly at Lia.

Everyone turned to look at her, confusion and concern written on their faces. Lia's expression was a mix of fear and discomfort. Jean broke the silence, "But that doesn't make any sense. If he wanted Lia, why is he keeping the professor hostage?"

Erik nodded, "Which, I think, is the only reason my old friend is still alive. He's using Charles as bait. To lure her in, but also using him as a backup plan, to access Cerebro."

Erik continued, "He has found a way to take control of mutants. That's how he got me and the one who attacked the president."

Storm cut in, "Why would he want Lia now if he already has other mutants under his control?"

Erik sighed, his voice heavy with the weight of history. "He would've taken control of Lia too, but as we know, she isn't a mutant. In the ancient archives, there are mentions of mutants. We've existed for centuries, and this isn't the first attempt to annihilate us. One of these texts speaks of a being central to this plan, 'The Scarlet Witch,' and there's a very old prophecy about her."

Erik's voice grew darker, "When the twin flame is extinguished, darkness shall rise. The death of the sister will unleash a storm of vengeance and grief, birthing a new being. The—"

Lia cut him off, her voice trembling, "—Scarlet Witch shall bring forth the end to all mutants, and only through her fall shall the world find peace."

Erik looked at Lia, his eyes piercing and intense. "It seems you are well informed about your destiny," he said, his voice dripping with irony.

Lia's expression hardened as she shot him a steely glare. "I don't have a destiny," she retorted, her voice edged with defiance. "Whatever 'ancient' texts you and Stryker are referring to are either not about me or not true at all."

Erik looked down, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips. "That may be true, but you alone wield chaos magic. If that is indeed the case, it makes you the Scarlet Witch, the key to our potential extinction."

Jean cut in, her voice firm and protective. "Lalia would never harm any of us, let alone other mutants. Those are just old tales and nothing more."

Erik's expression grew even grimmer, his eyes narrowing with a fierce intensity. "Hasn't she before, Jean? The prophecy doesn't imply she'll act of her own free will. It foretells that a version of her will uprise—the Scarlet Witch—will be the one to bring about our downfall, whether she chooses it or not."

Lia looked visibly stressed, and I knew I had to step in. "Who's this Stryker anyway?" I asked, trying to shift the focus.

Erik's response was cold. "He's a military scientist. Spent his whole life trying to solve the mutant problem. You should know already, right Wolverine?" His words hit hard, but the memories were foggy.

"You don't remember, do you? William Stryker, the only other man I know who can manipulate Adamantium," Erik continued. "The metal on your bones? It carries his signature."

I closed my eyes, flashes of fragmented memories filling my mind. "But the professor..." I started, only to be cut off.

"The professor trusted you were smart enough to discover this on your own. He gives you more credit than I do," Erik said.

Jean interjected, "Why do you need us?"

Erik turned to Mystique, "Mystique has discovered plans of a base that Stryker's been operating out of for decades. We know that's where he attempted to build the second Cerebro, and we know that's where he will be trying to track Lia from, but we don't know where this base is. And I believe one of you might."

I clenched my fists, trying to keep my temper in check. "The professor already tried," I growled, frustration evident in my voice.

Erik cut me off, his tone dripping with condescension. "Once again, Logan, you think it's all about you." He turned his gaze upwards, and I followed his line of sight to see Kurt hanging from a tree branch, his blue tail swaying gently.

Kurt grinned. "Oh, hello!" he said, as if the situation was nothing more than a casual gathering.

Kurt gracefully dropped down from the tree, landing softly on his feet. Erik's eyes found Lia, and without hesitation, he said, "You need to search his mind. Try to find Stryker's base."

Lia stepped forward, her face a mask of anger that softened as she got closer to Kurt. I and the rest of the team huddled behind her, their eyes glued to the scene unfolding before them.

Kurt looked genuinely remorseful. "I didn't mean to snoop," he said quietly.

She sighed, her breath shaky. "Just try and relax," she instructed, placing her hands gently on either side of Kurt's head.

She began to search his mind, and almost immediately, her head started to shake. The fire beside us flared up, casting eerie shadows around the clearing.

I felt a surge of protectiveness and started to step forward, "Hey, that's enough," I said firmly, but Erik's hand shot out, stopping me in my tracks.

His magnetic force held me back, and I could feel the invisible pressure pinning me down. "She needs to find the base," Erik said, his voice calm but firm.

I struggled against his hold, my muscles straining and teeth gritting. "I'm not letting her... hurt herself," I stammered, every word a battle.

Erik's grip tightened. "But I will," he said, his eyes never leaving Lia's.

Her shaking grew more violent, and I could see the strain on her face. The fire roared, almost out of control, and I feared the worst. Then, just as suddenly as it had started, it stopped. Kurt's head fell back, and Lia pulled her hands away, looking exhausted.

"I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?" she muttered to Kurt, her voice filled with concern.

Kurt shook his head weakly, a small smile playing on his lips. "No, you didn't."

Lia turned to face us, her expression one of grim determination. "Stryker's at Alkali Lake," she announced, her voice steady despite the ordeal she had just been through.

I shook my head, the memories of Alkali Lake still fresh in my mind. "That's where the professor sent me," I grumbled, my voice rough and edged with frustration. "There's nothing left there."

Lia turned to face me, her eyes piercing through the darkness. She had that determined look on her face, the one that told me she wasn't about to back down. "There's nothing left on the surface, Logan," she said, her voice steady and sure. "The base is underground."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with implication. I could feel the tension in the group, everyone waiting for my response. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to process what she was saying.

Underground. Of course. Stryker would have hidden his operations where no one would think to look. It made sense, but it also meant we were walking into a trap.