Claws and Heartstrings: Logan Howlett | Wolverine ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི

Chapter Fifty-One

- Logan

I ran my fingers through Lalia's auburn curls, taking in her new look. It was a brief moment of calm before the chaos outside hit us. The building was collapsing, and it felt like an earthquake shaking the whole Blackbird.

Lia's eyes widened as she rushed to the jet controls next to Ororo. The tension in the air was palpable. Ororo's voice was grim. "The collapse is causing an avalanche. We won't be able to make it out of here in time."

My eyes widened, reflecting the panic that gripped everyone on the jet. But then I noticed a shift in Lia's expression—from fear to steely determination. She faced us, her voice unwavering. "We will."

As she turned away, I reached out and grabbed her arm, my grip firm. "Where are you going?"

She looked at me with resolve. "I'm going to get you guys out of here, Logan."

"No way," I growled. "It's too big a risk."

"I'll be fine," she promised, her eyes unwavering.

The sound around us grew louder, the avalanche closing in. I looked back at Lia, my voice desperate. "I'm not losing you again. You're not going out there."

She grabbed my face, her touch gentle. "You're not losing me," she whispered.

Then she stepped back, muttering, "But that's not your choice to make."

Before I could react, I was thrown softly to the end of the jet. She lifted her hand, closing the jet door. I scrambled to my feet, trying to force it open, yelling out her name. "Lalia!"

But it was too late. She was already outside, facing the chaos alone. The jet shook as the avalanche roared closer. My heart pounded in my chest, fear and anger mixing in a volatile cocktail. I slammed my fists against the door, helplessly watching as she disappeared into the storm.

The rest of the team looked at me, their eyes filled with the same fear and determination. I noticed the jet's controls flicker to life, the hum of the engine growing louder. Panic surged through me.

I spun around, my eyes locking onto Ororo. "No! We're not leaving without her!" I roared, my voice echoing in the confined space of the Blackbird.

Simon's voice cut through the chaos, desperate and urgent. "Lower the ramp!"

Ororo's hands gripped the controls, her knuckles white. She struggled, her voice strained. "I can't!"

The jet began to shake violently as the avalanche barreled closer, the roar of the cascading snow deafening. My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of fear and anger. I could see the water from the collapsing building starting to hurl towards us, a deadly wave that threatened to engulf us all.

I turned to look out the window, my breath catching in my throat. There she was, standing amidst the chaos. Her arms were outstretched, her face a mask of determination. She was holding back the water and the jet, her powers creating a barrier that kept the deadly elements at bay.

The wind howled around us, the pressure building. I could see the strain on her face, the effort it took to control both the jet and the water. My heart ached, knowing the risk she was taking, the toll it was taking on her.

"Lalia!" I shouted, my voice raw with emotion.

But she couldn't hear me, her focus entirely on keeping us safe. The jet shook again, the pressure of the water and wind pressing against it. Ororo's grip on the controls tightened, her eyes never leaving Lia.

The seconds felt like hours, the suspense unbearable. I could see the water swirling around Lia, the force of it threatening to break through her control. But she held on, her strength and determination unwavering.

As the jet ascended, I couldn't just sit there. I bolted to the front, my eyes scanning the chaos below, desperate to spot her. "Where is she?!" I demanded, my voice a growl of frustration and fear.

Ororo glanced at me, her face calm but her eyes giving away her worry. "I don't see any motion around or below us," she said, her voice shaking.

"No, no," I shook my head, refusing to accept it. "Check again!" I yelled, my voice echoing through the cabin. "She's gotta be there!"

Suddenly, the jet's lights began to blink rapidly, casting an eerie strobe effect around us. My heart pounded as I tried to make sense of what was happening.

Simon rushed up beside me, his face pale. "What is that?!" he shouted, his voice tinged with panic.

Ororo's fingers flew over the controls, her eyes darting between the screens. She shook her head, her expression grim. "Something just entered the upper atmosphere," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The jet shuddered violently, and I clung to the edge of the console, my knuckles turning ghostly white. The air around us felt thick and electric, like the charged stillness before a massive storm. My mind was a whirlwind, desperately trying to piece together the chaotic scene. The blinking lights on the console intensified, casting eerie, elongated shadows that danced erratically across the jet's interior.

I pressed my face against the jet's window, my eyes scanning the ominous landscape below with frantic urgency. Every shadow, every flicker of movement sent a jolt of fear through my heart. I couldn't lose her. Not now.

Suddenly, a strange red glow began to seep into the jet, starting as a faint shimmer and growing steadily stronger. It was as if the very air was coming alive with an otherworldly energy. The red aura thickened, pulsating rhythmically, casting a sinister crimson hue over everything.

Then, out of nowhere, I saw her. She was descending from above, enveloped in a blazing red aura that seemed to pulse with raw, untamed power. A crown of crimson light hovered above her head, and her eyes glowed with the same fierce, intense red. The sight was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. A sudden, powerful pulse shot out from her body, radiating in all directions, making the very sky itself seem to tremble.

I stared, a mix of relief and awe washing over me. She was okay. And she was more powerful than I ever imagined. "Lalia..." I whispered, my voice barely audible over the hum of the jet.

The Professor, now more alert, leaned forward, his eyes widening at the sight before us. "She's okay," he muttered, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.