𝖆𝖓𝖎𝖒𝖆 𝖎𝖒𝖒𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖆𝖑𝖊 ━ 𝖑𝖔𝖌𝖆𝖓 𝖍𝖔𝖜𝖑𝖊𝖙𝖙

𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 21

"Who are you?"

"You don't remember? Verena, cara mia, non ricordi come ti ha baciato ?" the man asked, a wicked smile curving his lips.

"Non capisco. Chi diavolo sei ?" she replied, her head tilting slightly in confusion.

Both Logan and Verena instinctively stepped toward the man, their claws ready, but a sudden crackle of ice shot up, creating a wall between them. The shimmering barrier gleamed in the dim light, and Logan snarled in frustration, slamming his fists against it.

"No, no, no!" he shouted, his voice reverberating through the hall. 

"Logan! Verena! Come on, let's go!" Rogue's voice rang out from the tunnel.

"You go! We'll be fine!" Logan barked.

"Yeah, but we won't!" Rogue snapped back, her urgency cutting through the tension.

The two mutants exchanged a reluctant glance before turning to the teens. Logan growled under his breath. "Alright, let's go."

They sprinted to the tunnel, sealing the heavy door behind them just as the ice barrier shattered. Verena could hear the jagged pieces breaking apart, but she didn't look back. Her body trembled as they ran through the dark passage, the cold biting at her exposed arms and legs. Still in her thin pajamas, goosebumps prickled across her skin, but she pushed forward, her focus sharp on the safety of the children ahead.

They found a trap door in the ceiling of the tunnel and pushed through it, emerging into the mansion's garage. Logan didn't waste a second, running to the first car he saw.

"I'm driving," Pyro announced, making a beeline for the driver's side.

Logan grabbed his collar and pulled him back. "Maybe next time."

Logan slid into the driver's seat, Verena climbing into the passenger side as the three kids crammed into the back, shoulder to shoulder. Logan started the engine and tore out of the garage, shifting gears like it was second nature.

Verena stared ahead, trying to wrap her mind around what had just happened. The man knew her. He knew her past—one she couldn't even remember herself.

"What the hell was that back there?" Pyro broke the silence, his voice cutting through the hum of the engine.

Logan and Verena exchanged a glance, both of them still unsettled. Logan spoke first. "Stryker. His name is Stryker."

"Who is he?" Rogue asked, leaning forward slightly.

Verena sighed, her shoulders sagging. "We can't remember."

The car fell into another uneasy silence until Rogue reached over the seat. "Here," she murmured, something shiny in her hand. Verena looked over, recognizing the dog tags she'd given Rogue earlier.

"This is yours." Rogue placed the cool metal into Verena's palm.

Verena's expression softened as she offered a small, grateful smile.

Pyro, clearly done with the quiet, leaned forward to mess with the radio. The first channel he found blared "Bye, Bye, Bye" by NSYNC, prompting a collective groan from the group. He quickly shut it off, glaring at the speakers like they'd offended him.

"Great taste, Pyro," Logan muttered dryly, eyes still on the road.

Pyro ignored him, fiddling with buttons until something that looked like a phone shot out of the dashboard. Logan grabbed it before Pyro could. "Sit back." He shoved Pyro playfully back into his seat.