Layla

Chapter Twenty-Three: Dead Or Alive

For days they searched.

And searched.

And searched.

But Layla was nowhere to be found. Xander had them searching every lab, facility and worn down building, and every time they found the same thing.

Nothing.

Most buildings looked like a tornado had blown through. Papers littered floors, cabinet drawers hung open or were strewn across the worn carpets. Desks had been destroyed and turned over. It looked like someone had raided them, or it was done on purpose to throw them off and get them off their trail. If that was the case their plan was working. They were throwing them off, including Xander. He and the others raided the facilities he remembered hearing about long ago when he was a prisoner. Stryker must have known, otherwise these facilities wouldn't have been compromised.

Xander was at a loss and didn't know where to go or what to do next. Voices of the others were tuned out as he tried to remember anything at all, but nothing would come to mind. Anger and frustration built inside of him, and with a quick fist he punched a hole through the wall next to him. Debris and dust flew past him and the others watched in shock, startled by the sudden movement.

"I don't....I don't know where else she could be. I...I've gone through every facility I could remember." He breathed heavily.

"Where is she? Where did he put her? What am I missing?" Xander thought hurriedly.

"There is no other place you know of?" Jean asked calmly.

"No, if I knew I would take you there! Did you not just hear what I said?" Xander bit.

"Hey, man no need to be so pissy. She's not the one who handed Layla over to a mutant hating man." Scott chimed in as he stepped closer to Jean.

Xander grounded his teeth together, doing his best to keep his mouth shut and his anger at bay. Fighting would get him nowhere, and he needed to find Layla. Week three would be tomorrow and still there was no sign of her. Xander glanced to Peter who was leaning against a filing cabinet, staring at him with narrowed, menacing eyes. He remained quiet during the whole search, and Xander could see he was close to exploding with fury due to the outcome of their search. Peter, like Xander, was growing impatient, and all Xander could hear was Peter's warning echoing in his ears from days before.

"Layla, where did he take you? And please...be okay. Or...alive." He thought in agony.

Seeing that there was nothing here, Xander and the others made their return back to the mansion empty handed and unsure of where to go next.

"You better damn well think of something." Peter mentally communicated, hoping that Xander caught on to his thought.

He stood by the filing cabinet with his dark, lingering stare on Xander and when his message had been received he turned sharply on his heel, kicking shut an open filling cabinet that laid on the floor.