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She was still inside at lunch. She sat with her friends as always. I shivered outside from the cold. How they could keep school going along in there was beyond me. I chuckled; it almost reminded me of a butcher house. The live cattle, stupid and sluggish, kept side to side by their cold dead relatives still freshly grinded from the butcher shop. No one noticed anything.

I stood and watched her outside. Her eyes nervously caught mine before hurriedly looking away. I grinned, it was all too perfect. The timing, the fact that she noticed me. I could faintly hear her racing heart from the distance I stood. It was almost musical. I shifted in the cold, shaking off some snow that had fallen on my head. I kept getting caught up with my observations and would start losing track of my surroundings. It was an oddity for me. Usually I was collected, aware of everything. But the simple school girl amused me and I found my mind wandering.

I saw her leave, my eyes tracing her every movement, sizing her up. She shivered. This amused me greatly. The girl was already amusing prey, much more observant than the rest of the rats I had caught, this little mouse was proving interesting. I considered what I knew about her. It wasn't much, basic information about her medical history. Mostly I was curious about her, as a person and not just physical condition. If I knew more about her, I could figure out what made her tick and what made her shatter.

A group of students passed by, whispering things and glancing my way. I gave them a fanged grin, sniggering as they immediately shied away. The effects of a simple smile could have on humans was a minuscule thrill. It was too easy though. I enjoyed chasing my prey more than anything. Taking a quick glance back, I noted the mouse had fallen out of sight. I frowned slightly, shaking off the snow that had built up on my black trench coat and started around the building.

As I moved I thought about the picture of her I had had before clumsily losing it on my last victim. She had been a bust, no talent to speak of and much less for brains. I hoped this one, this Emily girl would be of more merit. Thinking back, I recalled gossip on her from my previous employers, a group of secretive governmental scientists working on artificially creating people with abilities. She had been said to be special, having capabilities beyond that of their normal specimens. She was administered stronger doses of their experimental substances and her body could tolerate it. I wondered if maybe she was a regenerator, like me.

I rolled my eyes, purging stray thoughts from my head. What good could an artificial mutant be? Man-made couldn't beat the real-deal. Especially not one with the talents and senses like mine. I was a born killer, she was born prey. I spotted a door down a small flight of stone steps, her scent wafting lightly through from the other side. I smirked, heading down and forced them open. Humans had no sense of security. It was pathetic how easily just about anyone could break into a building. One would think they'd want a school facility to be secure to protect its students from all that was bad. Like me.

A police officer emerged from the room closest to me, muttering something into his transmitter about protection for the girl. I let out a bemused chuckle. No amount of protection could keep her from me. Startled by my voice, the man swung around, reaching for his weapon. My arm quickly shot out, sharpened claws digging into his throat. There wasn't a moment that he had on his side. He was a dead man the moment he walked up to my target. He coughed, choking on his own blood. I watched him for a moment, savoring the sound of his dying gasps and then tossed his body carelessly into an empty room. It would be a little more than a giveaway if anyone saw his body lying in the hall, even a near deserted end such as this.

I went to the door, glancing at the sign. Morgue. It struck me as a bit odd to find something like that in a school, but it wasn't the strangest thing I'd ever seen in my long life. For a moment I reminisced on the past. It still felt odd to be in this time. To see how the world has changed around me while I stayed the same. For a moment thoughts crossed my head about my younger brother. I shook my head, reaching for the door knob. Now wasn't the time to care about things like that. The door opened before I made contact with the steel knob and the scent of instant terror made its way into my nose. I relished the sweet perfume.

A grin broke across my face as I towered over her. Her heart beat wildly, like a quick rhythm song booming through my ears. She quickly moved out of the way, pressing herself against the door as if she was trying to meld her body into it and allowed me into the room. I stepped inside, watching her closely. I heard her heart thump harder. My eyes twinkled with interest. She was so easy. "You must be Miss Short's bodyguard, eh?" the other man in the room distracted me momentarily with his inquiry.

Glancing quickly at him, I saw the body on the table. The last girl that I dealt with. Interesting… I thought absently. I looked to Emily, but she had escaped through the door while I had been looking elsewhere. I smirked, getting ready for the chase. "Yeah," I answered absently. "Her bodyguard."

Without another word I was out, looking down the hall just in time to see her disappear up a flight of steps heating back up to the main portion of the school. "Cute," I grinned. She thought she'd be safe closer to people. How naïve. I calmly strode after. There would be no use putting all effort into this pursuit, at least not right now. I would toy with her a bit and then pounce. That's how I liked things. I liked to make them feel safe for a moment and then rip it away. The look in their eyes rewarded me with a deep pleasure.

I heard her footsteps racing up the stairs. By the sound it was obviously rather clumsy. She wasn't used to running at all. I waltzed up after with a leisurely pace. My muscles were itching for me to get on all fours and spring myself after. The animal instinct was starting to get the better of me. If I didn't get caught up with her soon. I'd most likely get too excited and lose control. Of course, that didn't bother me. But I might as well be a bit more diligent, especially around so many humans.

The door swung shut behind me as I entered the upper sanction of the school. It was desolate, with a few tables pushed against the walls. There wasn't much to is other than vast empty rooms and open counter spaces. I wondered what the facility was before it became a school. Judging by the morgue it must have been a hospital of some sort. My attention drew back to my prey, who I could hear panting heavily from across the room. She was quick, I'd give her that at least. She reclaimed her breath and was off in a flash, speeding towards the opposite end of the building. I assumed there was a stairwell in that direction.

I took off after her, adrenaline starting to pump through my body. This is what I loved. This feeling, the thrill is what I craved. It wasn't quite as fulfilling as it used to be. Especially in far off times in the past. But it was still invigoration. I fell to all fours, leaping after her with powerful movements. A normal human wouldn't be able to support themselves in the movements I made. I'd seen someone try once. They fell straight on their face. It gave me bursts of speed, allowing me to easily over take my prey.

She slipped through the doors. I could smell the fear trailing after her. It made me smirk in delight. That feeling of terror I inspired was such a bonus in what I did. I followed through, hearing a loud yelp from the stairs. Raising an eyebrow, I peeked over the ledge. She was sitting on the stairs, hands gripping the rail so tightly her knuckles were white. At the sound of the door shutting behind me her head snapped up. Blue eyes were wide with fright. She looked ready to cry. "Get up and run." I grinned as she took off once more.

It was too easy. She probably hadn't even heard me. It put me in an even better mood. My muscles tensed and in a quick leap I was at the bottom of the stairs. She was thinking aloud just beyond the doors leading out into the school hall. "Who is he?" she murmured to herself.
I chuckled, going close behind her and breathing on her neck. "It's Victor." I told her with a purr in my voice.

I took too much pleasure in the effects I had on her. It was about time for me to stop playing and finish it. It was slightly disappointing that I didn't get to make the kill, but capturing her would have to suffice. At my voice she had fallen to the floor, trying to scramble away. I began reaching for her, a smirk plastered on my face. The sight of my clawed hands and fanged smile paralyzed her into place. A voice broke her out of her startled trance. Forcing her head to turn away from me. Relief momentarily flooded through her. I glanced over at her two friends. They'd be in my way if I tried taking her now. I cursed irritably, slipping back through the doors. If I tried to grab her now I'd have to kill her friends. That gave me no incentive for her to assist me, especially since I'd have less to use against her.

A soft sigh escaped my lips. This was a bit more trouble that I had thought. I should have picked the scene for abduction a bit more carefully. It would have been more efficient to just have nabbed her at home. But I reasoned, it wouldn't be fun like now.

I watched Emily from behind the door, observing her expression closely. She was relieved but still fidgety and cautious. Her blue eyes glanced around for a sign of me. Her friend looked worried about her. For a moment, Emily's paranoia settled. A smile was forced onto her cheeks and she nodded, rising from the ground. Her nerves were shaken and her eyes still glazed with tears ready to spring out.

Taking a shaky breath, her back turned to me. Her friend's smiles encouraged her. It relaxed her slightly, but not enough for her guard to be brought down. When she had left the corridor I slipped back out and followed after. My eyes glanced through the halls carefully. My nose scrunched up, the stench of cigarettes wafted heavily through the halls. At least one person in each class smoked. It was disgusting to pick up in the cramped hall. I could barely stand it when my brother would simply chewed on cigars, let alone actually smoke. It was a disgusting habit.

Outside the air was fresh and crisp, nice compared to the stuffy building. I took a deep inhale, letting the air fill my lungs. It wasn't the same air it used to be. All this technology and vehicles hitting the streets polluted the clean air. Life had really sped up since I was born, when cars didn't even exist. Those were the days.

I left my reminiscing for the moment. I had a goal. It was time to finally get things done. There was work to do once I had her. I spotted them walking along the sidewalk talking and enjoying themselves. Not for long, I thought. My lips twitched up into a smirk. The other girl in the bunch pointed at the fence at the edge of the school grounds. The two were bubbly while Emily was acting more reserved. It wasn't surprising; she was still frightened of me.

Emily glanced back, eyes widening slightly when she caught sight of me. Heart pounding, she quickly turned away, getting a camera shoved into her hands. Her friends were practically pushing her directly into my hands. I began heading over, watching the human pair monkey over the chain link fence. I never would understand the mind set of teenagers these days. As the years progressed they seemed to become less and less mature.

I shook my head at the immaturity, placing a hand on her shoulder. She tensed, the smallest of squeaks escaping her lips. She knew it was over. I had won. I let out a soft whisper in her ear. "It was a good run, little mouse."

I straightened my body, shifting closer behind her. I put on my best smile, hoping it wasn't a more intimidating one. "I'm going to have to separate you three." I said in what I assumed was a nice tone. I wouldn't know for certain, I've never really needed to use one. "I need to speak with Miss Short."

The two on the other side of the fence glanced nervously at each other. They refrained from questioning or objecting to my request. They were intimidated, the scent running off them in heavy waves. They nodded, shifting nervously as I took the camera from Emily's shaking hands and tossed it over. The glanced between each other. "Okay," the girl nodded, a nervous edge to her voice. "We'll see you later."

The two scurried off, leaving the terrified Emily in my clutches. "No more running." I said, grabbing her wrists.

She squeaked in terror, prying out of my grip. She fell to the ground with a grunt, snow flying up. I rolled my eyes. In the end she was nothing but a child. I crouched down next to her, pulling out a tazer from inside my coat. It wasn't my usual style or preferred choice, but it worked effectively. It was the best thing, painful and would knock her out without a fuss. I pressed it into her shoulder roughly.

Emily yelped loudly, entire body going rigid. She fell back into my arms, eyes momentarily looking up into mine. It was the last thing she saw before completely losing consciousness. I hoisted her up, surprised slightly at how heavy she felt. She was a bigger girl, but not as big as she felt.

Taking a quick glance around, I began to head off. No one was wandering around. It was cold so people who skipped class didn't dawdle and everyone else was in class. It was simple to get away with Emily in my arms. For a moment I dreaded the escape. I had to drive. It wasn't something I enjoyed doing at all. It felt unnatural. I scowled as I made my way to the rented truck, quickly unlocking it and setting Emily in the back of the extended cab. Vehicles in my opinion were by far overrated. They were useful, but only for moving long distances. Personally I'd rather just walk everywhere.

Hopping into the drivers, I fumbled with the keys. My scowl deepened. The truck was too cramped. If I could I'd hop onto a plane with the girl and get out of the country. But that was impossible with the security. Plus the police would be on the lookout for her by then. So instead I was stuck with driving.
I glanced into the back seat, seeing her shift. I shook my head and started off. I would take her out of town. There was a less of a chance she'd be recognized and wouldn't have anywhere she would be able to go. It made it much simpler for me to catch her if she managed to escape. I was positive she'd manage to slip out from my watchful eye at some point. It made it easier for me to snag her back in unfamiliar surroundings.

It took over an hour and a half of driving to get through the city and to a motel outside the city limits. I was rather bitter at this point in time. I hated not being able to move around freely. I grabbed the key for the motel room from the timid receptionist and tromped up the stairs with Emily in my arms. After I set her on the bed, I began to pace. My muscles were impatient and tense, longing to stretch, move. I wanted to run, to burn the building energy inside me. Finally, I decided I had sufficiently calmed down enough to lock the door and turn back to the bed.

She looked almost peaceful as she lay unconscious, unaware of what was going to go on. I walked over to the side of the bed, brushing some hair out of her face. Her cheeks were chubby, but there was a sort of adorable quality to her. For a moment I just stared at her, watching every small movement she made. I shook my head, clearing the thoughts out of my head. I had in focus on the task at hand. Finding if she had an ability.

I hoisted Emily up, taking her into the bathroom and setting her fully clothed into the tub. Before I began the water, I emptied her pockets. Humans tended to keep their gadgets on them at all times. I tucked them into my coat pocket and then discarded the coat on a chair in the main bedroom. I returned with a bag, one of two I had brought in with me. Withdrawing a small device and setting it on the edge of the tub. It was something I had acquired from the scientists who I had previously worked for.

I hooked the ends of the wires to her head. It was meant to stimulate brain activity. Using this, it was meant to stimulate brain activity. Using this, it was easier for a mutant, scientifically made or natural, to access their powers that generally lay in the subconscious until triggered to the forefront of their minds and bodies. Usually stressful situations in their environment brought it out, but that wasn't the most interesting thing to wait for. It wasn't successful so far in any other trial. I wondered if it really even worked.

Filling up the tub with cold water, Emily flinched and shifted in the porcelain basin. I chuckled slightly, amused by her reactions. She twitched slightly when I turned on the machine. It sent electrical impulses into her brain. I pulled out another electrical machine. I wasn't sure what it did, but it did something relevant I was sure. I attached the wires to her chest and stomach. Her body jumped, a large shock running through her.

I raised an eyebrow, interest piqued. None of the others had achieved such a jolting effect. Interesting. I thought, much more curious about the girl now. Her body shook once more and a soft gasp escaped her lips. For a brief moment her eyes fluttered open, the blue in her eyes considerably lighter, almost melding into one singular color against the whites. Then they closed once more as another shock went through her.

I watched, interested until the tub was full of the chilly water. The tips of her hair dipped onto the water and her body rose slightly. Sparks danced over the surface of the water. Finally, I took the devices off. Her body relaxed, shivering slightly in the water. I pulled her out, water drenching my clothes. "Hm." I eyed her a moment, glancing at the bed in the room.

She'll be angry when she wakes up. I thought absently, starting to remove her clothes. I shrugged to myself. I didn't need to be loved for anything. Or even liked for that matter. All I needed was a target and I was happy. I tossed her clothes over the rail in the bath and carried her out in just her underwear. She shivered against me, moving her body closer to the heat of mine. I let out a chuckle, feeling amused by her unconscious movements. Something about it just amused me.

I laid her down on top of the covers, quickly scanning over her body. I ran my claws over her stomach, creating a long series of thin gashes along her flesh. A whimper escaped her lips. "Don't kill me."

For a moment I paused, glancing up at her face. It was contorted, nose scrunched up and eyes squeezed tightly shut, trapped in a nightmare. She turned her head, letting out a soft groan, brow furrowing. Curious, I moved closer to her face, examining her closely. "What are you dreaming about, Emily?" I murmured.

She replied, face set further into distress as her body tensed. "Victor."

My eyebrows raised in interest. I scared her even in sleep. I was curious what was happening in her head, but that was something I just couldn't do. It'd certainly be interesting, if I could. People have vast imaginations and perhaps I'd learn a few tricks. Leaving her dream-murmurs alone for the moment, my gaze returned to her stomach. A faint trickle of blood came from the wound, but other than that, nothing seemed to happen. The wounds didn't close, but they didn't bleed like they should have.

I grazed my claws over her side, watching as the smallest amount of blood came out. It was like regeneration but much slower paced. Perhaps another shock would trigger it full on. I considered it a moment and then discarded the idea. Shocking could come later. I continued to make incisions along her. After a few she didn't bleed anymore. The cuts looked fresh but seemed like they were old, like they were ready to start to scar over.

Feeling bored, I started to cut along her body. I sliced her hands, arms and legs until her body was covered in cuts. It wasn't to test anything anymore. It was merely because I had nothing else to do and it momentarily appeased my boredom. Babysitting wasn't very exciting as it was. Taking a sigh, I pulled up the blankets and went to my other duffle bag, pulling out new, dry clothes. I changed, glancing back at her as she let out another whimper in her sleep.

A smirk played on my lips. She was indeed an amusing individual. I left the room, locking it behind me. Glancing around the terrace, I headed off. I was hungry. There was a restaurant across the street, so I decided to slip in there. Sitting in a booth, free of other distractions, my mind began to wander. I thought of years ago, when I had last seen my brother. It hadn't been that long ago, but then he wasn't fully my brother. He was just what was remaining of him. No memories of our many years spent fighting side by side together. I growled slightly, clenching my fists. It annoyed me that his memories were missing, that he didn't remember anything.

He thought I was dead from our last encounter. I absently rubbed my chest, recalling being struck full blast in the chest by another mutant. My skin had been horribly burned, my internal organs revealed through the hole in my chest. But I survived, as was my nature. From then I had taken to moving around again, doing what I pleased. That is all I required in life, but I still wanted to see my brother. It didn't matter if he knew me as his brother or not. We were always going to be brothers, and brothers always ended up sticking together.

Description
She was still inside at lunch. She sat with her friends as always. I shivered outside from the cold. How they could keep school going along in there was beyond me. I chuckled; it almost reminded me of a butcher house. The live cattle, stupid and sluggish, kept side to side by their cold dead relatives still freshly grinded from the butcher shop. No one noticed anything.

I stood and watched her outside. Her eyes nervously caught mine before hurriedly looking away. I grinned, it was all too perfect. The timing, the fact that she noticed me. I could faintly hear her racing heart from the distance I stood. It was almost musical. I shifted in the cold, shaking off some snow that had fallen on my head. I kept getting caught up with my observations and would start losing track of my surroundings. It was an oddity for me. Usually I was collected, aware of everything. But the simple school girl amused me and I found my mind wandering.

I saw her leave, my eyes tracing her every movement, sizing her up. She shivered. This amused me greatly. The girl was already amusing prey, much more observant than the rest of the rats I had caught, this little mouse was proving interesting. I considered what I knew about her. It wasn't much, basic information about her medical history. Mostly I was curious about her, as a person and not just physical condition. If I knew more about her, I could figure out what made her tick and what made her shatter.

A group of students passed by, whispering things and glancing my way. I gave them a fanged grin, sniggering as they immediately shied away. The effects of a simple smile could have on humans was a minuscule thrill. It was too easy though. I enjoyed chasing my prey more than anything. Taking a quick glance back, I noted the mouse had fallen out of sight. I frowned slightly, shaking off the snow that had built up on my black trench coat and started around the building.

As I moved I thought about the picture of her I had had before clumsily losing it on my last victim. She had been a bust, no talent to speak of and much less for brains. I hoped this one, this Emily girl would be of more merit. Thinking back, I recalled gossip on her from my previous employers, a group of secretive governmental scientists working on artificially creating people with abilities. She had been said to be special, having capabilities beyond that of their normal specimens. She was administered stronger doses of their experimental substances and her body could tolerate it. I wondered if maybe she was a regenerator, like me.

I rolled my eyes, purging stray thoughts from my head. What good could an artificial mutant be? Man-made couldn't beat the real-deal. Especially not one with the talents and senses like mine. I was a born killer, she was born prey. I spotted a door down a small flight of stone steps, her scent wafting lightly through from the other side. I smirked, heading down and forced them open. Humans had no sense of security. It was pathetic how easily just about anyone could break into a building. One would think they'd want a school facility to be secure to protect its students from all that was bad. Like me.

A police officer emerged from the room closest to me, muttering something into his transmitter about protection for the girl. I let out a bemused chuckle. No amount of protection could keep her from me. Startled by my voice, the man swung around, reaching for his weapon. My arm quickly shot out, sharpened claws digging into his throat. There wasn't a moment that he had on his side. He was a dead man the moment he walked up to my target. He coughed, choking on his own blood. I watched him for a moment, savoring the sound of his dying gasps and then tossed his body carelessly into an empty room. It would be a little more than a giveaway if anyone saw his body lying in the hall, even a near deserted end such as this.

I went to the door, glancing at the sign. Morgue. It struck me as a bit odd to find something like that in a school, but it wasn't the strangest thing I'd ever seen in my long life. For a moment I reminisced on the past. It still felt odd to be in this time. To see how the world has changed around me while I stayed the same. For a moment thoughts crossed my head about my younger brother. I shook my head, reaching for the door knob. Now wasn't the time to care about things like that. The door opened before I made contact with the steel knob and the scent of instant terror made its way into my nose. I relished the sweet perfume.

A grin broke across my face as I towered over her. Her heart beat wildly, like a quick rhythm song booming through my ears. She quickly moved out of the way, pressing herself against the door as if she was trying to meld her body into it and allowed me into the room. I stepped inside, watching her closely. I heard her heart thump harder. My eyes twinkled with interest. She was so easy. "You must be Miss Short's bodyguard, eh?" the other man in the room distracted me momentarily with his inquiry.

Glancing quickly at him, I saw the body on the table. The last girl that I dealt with. Interesting… I thought absently. I looked to Emily, but she had escaped through the door while I had been looking elsewhere. I smirked, getting ready for the chase. "Yeah," I answered absently. "Her bodyguard."

Without another word I was out, looking down the hall just in time to see her disappear up a flight of steps heating back up to the main portion of the school. "Cute," I grinned. She thought she'd be safe closer to people. How naïve. I calmly strode after. There would be no use putting all effort into this pursuit, at least not right now. I would toy with her a bit and then pounce. That's how I liked things. I liked to make them feel safe for a moment and then rip it away. The look in their eyes rewarded me with a deep pleasure.

I heard her footsteps racing up the stairs. By the sound it was obviously rather clumsy. She wasn't used to running at all. I waltzed up after with a leisurely pace. My muscles were itching for me to get on all fours and spring myself after. The animal instinct was starting to get the better of me. If I didn't get caught up with her soon. I'd most likely get too excited and lose control. Of course, that didn't bother me. But I might as well be a bit more diligent, especially around so many humans.

The door swung shut behind me as I entered the upper sanction of the school. It was desolate, with a few tables pushed against the walls. There wasn't much to is other than vast empty rooms and open counter spaces. I wondered what the facility was before it became a school. Judging by the morgue it must have been a hospital of some sort. My attention drew back to my prey, who I could hear panting heavily from across the room. She was quick, I'd give her that at least. She reclaimed her breath and was off in a flash, speeding towards the opposite end of the building. I assumed there was a stairwell in that direction.

I took off after her, adrenaline starting to pump through my body. This is what I loved. This feeling, the thrill is what I craved. It wasn't quite as fulfilling as it used to be. Especially in far off times in the past. But it was still invigoration. I fell to all fours, leaping after her with powerful movements. A normal human wouldn't be able to support themselves in the movements I made. I'd seen someone try once. They fell straight on their face. It gave me bursts of speed, allowing me to easily over take my prey.

She slipped through the doors. I could smell the fear trailing after her. It made me smirk in delight. That feeling of terror I inspired was such a bonus in what I did. I followed through, hearing a loud yelp from the stairs. Raising an eyebrow, I peeked over the ledge. She was sitting on the stairs, hands gripping the rail so tightly her knuckles were white. At the sound of the door shutting behind me her head snapped up. Blue eyes were wide with fright. She looked ready to cry. "Get up and run." I grinned as she took off once more.

It was too easy. She probably hadn't even heard me. It put me in an even better mood. My muscles tensed and in a quick leap I was at the bottom of the stairs. She was thinking aloud just beyond the doors leading out into the school hall. "Who is he?" she murmured to herself.
I chuckled, going close behind her and breathing on her neck. "It's Victor." I told her with a purr in my voice.

I took too much pleasure in the effects I had on her. It was about time for me to stop playing and finish it. It was slightly disappointing that I didn't get to make the kill, but capturing her would have to suffice. At my voice she had fallen to the floor, trying to scramble away. I began reaching for her, a smirk plastered on my face. The sight of my clawed hands and fanged smile paralyzed her into place. A voice broke her out of her startled trance. Forcing her head to turn away from me. Relief momentarily flooded through her. I glanced over at her two friends. They'd be in my way if I tried taking her now. I cursed irritably, slipping back through the doors. If I tried to grab her now I'd have to kill her friends. That gave me no incentive for her to assist me, especially since I'd have less to use against her.

A soft sigh escaped my lips. This was a bit more trouble that I had thought. I should have picked the scene for abduction a bit more carefully. It would have been more efficient to just have nabbed her at home. But I reasoned, it wouldn't be fun like now.

I watched Emily from behind the door, observing her expression closely. She was relieved but still fidgety and cautious. Her blue eyes glanced around for a sign of me. Her friend looked worried about her. For a moment, Emily's paranoia settled. A smile was forced onto her cheeks and she nodded, rising from the ground. Her nerves were shaken and her eyes still glazed with tears ready to spring out.

Taking a shaky breath, her back turned to me. Her friend's smiles encouraged her. It relaxed her slightly, but not enough for her guard to be brought down. When she had left the corridor I slipped back out and followed after. My eyes glanced through the halls carefully. My nose scrunched up, the stench of cigarettes wafted heavily through the halls. At least one person in each class smoked. It was disgusting to pick up in the cramped hall. I could barely stand it when my brother would simply chewed on cigars, let alone actually smoke. It was a disgusting habit.

Outside the air was fresh and crisp, nice compared to the stuffy building. I took a deep inhale, letting the air fill my lungs. It wasn't the same air it used to be. All this technology and vehicles hitting the streets polluted the clean air. Life had really sped up since I was born, when cars didn't even exist. Those were the days.

I left my reminiscing for the moment. I had a goal. It was time to finally get things done. There was work to do once I had her. I spotted them walking along the sidewalk talking and enjoying themselves. Not for long, I thought. My lips twitched up into a smirk. The other girl in the bunch pointed at the fence at the edge of the school grounds. The two were bubbly while Emily was acting more reserved. It wasn't surprising; she was still frightened of me.

Emily glanced back, eyes widening slightly when she caught sight of me. Heart pounding, she quickly turned away, getting a camera shoved into her hands. Her friends were practically pushing her directly into my hands. I began heading over, watching the human pair monkey over the chain link fence. I never would understand the mind set of teenagers these days. As the years progressed they seemed to become less and less mature.

I shook my head at the immaturity, placing a hand on her shoulder. She tensed, the smallest of squeaks escaping her lips. She knew it was over. I had won. I let out a soft whisper in her ear. "It was a good run, little mouse."

I straightened my body, shifting closer behind her. I put on my best smile, hoping it wasn't a more intimidating one. "I'm going to have to separate you three." I said in what I assumed was a nice tone. I wouldn't know for certain, I've never really needed to use one. "I need to speak with Miss Short."

The two on the other side of the fence glanced nervously at each other. They refrained from questioning or objecting to my request. They were intimidated, the scent running off them in heavy waves. They nodded, shifting nervously as I took the camera from Emily's shaking hands and tossed it over. The glanced between each other. "Okay," the girl nodded, a nervous edge to her voice. "We'll see you later."

The two scurried off, leaving the terrified Emily in my clutches. "No more running." I said, grabbing her wrists.

She squeaked in terror, prying out of my grip. She fell to the ground with a grunt, snow flying up. I rolled my eyes. In the end she was nothing but a child. I crouched down next to her, pulling out a tazer from inside my coat. It wasn't my usual style or preferred choice, but it worked effectively. It was the best thing, painful and would knock her out without a fuss. I pressed it into her shoulder roughly.

Emily yelped loudly, entire body going rigid. She fell back into my arms, eyes momentarily looking up into mine. It was the last thing she saw before completely losing consciousness. I hoisted her up, surprised slightly at how heavy she felt. She was a bigger girl, but not as big as she felt.

Taking a quick glance around, I began to head off. No one was wandering around. It was cold so people who skipped class didn't dawdle and everyone else was in class. It was simple to get away with Emily in my arms. For a moment I dreaded the escape. I had to drive. It wasn't something I enjoyed doing at all. It felt unnatural. I scowled as I made my way to the rented truck, quickly unlocking it and setting Emily in the back of the extended cab. Vehicles in my opinion were by far overrated. They were useful, but only for moving long distances. Personally I'd rather just walk everywhere.

Hopping into the drivers, I fumbled with the keys. My scowl deepened. The truck was too cramped. If I could I'd hop onto a plane with the girl and get out of the country. But that was impossible with the security. Plus the police would be on the lookout for her by then. So instead I was stuck with driving.
I glanced into the back seat, seeing her shift. I shook my head and started off. I would take her out of town. There was a less of a chance she'd be recognized and wouldn't have anywhere she would be able to go. It made it much simpler for me to catch her if she managed to escape. I was positive she'd manage to slip out from my watchful eye at some point. It made it easier for me to snag her back in unfamiliar surroundings.

It took over an hour and a half of driving to get through the city and to a motel outside the city limits. I was rather bitter at this point in time. I hated not being able to move around freely. I grabbed the key for the motel room from the timid receptionist and tromped up the stairs with Emily in my arms. After I set her on the bed, I began to pace. My muscles were impatient and tense, longing to stretch, move. I wanted to run, to burn the building energy inside me. Finally, I decided I had sufficiently calmed down enough to lock the door and turn back to the bed.

She looked almost peaceful as she lay unconscious, unaware of what was going to go on. I walked over to the side of the bed, brushing some hair out of her face. Her cheeks were chubby, but there was a sort of adorable quality to her. For a moment I just stared at her, watching every small movement she made. I shook my head, clearing the thoughts out of my head. I had in focus on the task at hand. Finding if she had an ability.

I hoisted Emily up, taking her into the bathroom and setting her fully clothed into the tub. Before I began the water, I emptied her pockets. Humans tended to keep their gadgets on them at all times. I tucked them into my coat pocket and then discarded the coat on a chair in the main bedroom. I returned with a bag, one of two I had brought in with me. Withdrawing a small device and setting it on the edge of the tub. It was something I had acquired from the scientists who I had previously worked for.

I hooked the ends of the wires to her head. It was meant to stimulate brain activity. Using this, it was meant to stimulate brain activity. Using this, it was easier for a mutant, scientifically made or natural, to access their powers that generally lay in the subconscious until triggered to the forefront of their minds and bodies. Usually stressful situations in their environment brought it out, but that wasn't the most interesting thing to wait for. It wasn't successful so far in any other trial. I wondered if it really even worked.

Filling up the tub with cold water, Emily flinched and shifted in the porcelain basin. I chuckled slightly, amused by her reactions. She twitched slightly when I turned on the machine. It sent electrical impulses into her brain. I pulled out another electrical machine. I wasn't sure what it did, but it did something relevant I was sure. I attached the wires to her chest and stomach. Her body jumped, a large shock running through her.

I raised an eyebrow, interest piqued. None of the others had achieved such a jolting effect. Interesting. I thought, much more curious about the girl now. Her body shook once more and a soft gasp escaped her lips. For a brief moment her eyes fluttered open, the blue in her eyes considerably lighter, almost melding into one singular color against the whites. Then they closed once more as another shock went through her.

I watched, interested until the tub was full of the chilly water. The tips of her hair dipped onto the water and her body rose slightly. Sparks danced over the surface of the water. Finally, I took the devices off. Her body relaxed, shivering slightly in the water. I pulled her out, water drenching my clothes. "Hm." I eyed her a moment, glancing at the bed in the room.

She'll be angry when she wakes up. I thought absently, starting to remove her clothes. I shrugged to myself. I didn't need to be loved for anything. Or even liked for that matter. All I needed was a target and I was happy. I tossed her clothes over the rail in the bath and carried her out in just her underwear. She shivered against me, moving her body closer to the heat of mine. I let out a chuckle, feeling amused by her unconscious movements. Something about it just amused me.

I laid her down on top of the covers, quickly scanning over her body. I ran my claws over her stomach, creating a long series of thin gashes along her flesh. A whimper escaped her lips. "Don't kill me."

For a moment I paused, glancing up at her face. It was contorted, nose scrunched up and eyes squeezed tightly shut, trapped in a nightmare. She turned her head, letting out a soft groan, brow furrowing. Curious, I moved closer to her face, examining her closely. "What are you dreaming about, Emily?" I murmured.

She replied, face set further into distress as her body tensed. "Victor."

My eyebrows raised in interest. I scared her even in sleep. I was curious what was happening in her head, but that was something I just couldn't do. It'd certainly be interesting, if I could. People have vast imaginations and perhaps I'd learn a few tricks. Leaving her dream-murmurs alone for the moment, my gaze returned to her stomach. A faint trickle of blood came from the wound, but other than that, nothing seemed to happen. The wounds didn't close, but they didn't bleed like they should have.

I grazed my claws over her side, watching as the smallest amount of blood came out. It was like regeneration but much slower paced. Perhaps another shock would trigger it full on. I considered it a moment and then discarded the idea. Shocking could come later. I continued to make incisions along her. After a few she didn't bleed anymore. The cuts looked fresh but seemed like they were old, like they were ready to start to scar over.

Feeling bored, I started to cut along her body. I sliced her hands, arms and legs until her body was covered in cuts. It wasn't to test anything anymore. It was merely because I had nothing else to do and it momentarily appeased my boredom. Babysitting wasn't very exciting as it was. Taking a sigh, I pulled up the blankets and went to my other duffle bag, pulling out new, dry clothes. I changed, glancing back at her as she let out another whimper in her sleep.

A smirk played on my lips. She was indeed an amusing individual. I left the room, locking it behind me. Glancing around the terrace, I headed off. I was hungry. There was a restaurant across the street, so I decided to slip in there. Sitting in a booth, free of other distractions, my mind began to wander. I thought of years ago, when I had last seen my brother. It hadn't been that long ago, but then he wasn't fully my brother. He was just what was remaining of him. No memories of our many years spent fighting side by side together. I growled slightly, clenching my fists. It annoyed me that his memories were missing, that he didn't remember anything.

He thought I was dead from our last encounter. I absently rubbed my chest, recalling being struck full blast in the chest by another mutant. My skin had been horribly burned, my internal organs revealed through the hole in my chest. But I survived, as was my nature. From then I had taken to moving around again, doing what I pleased. That is all I required in life, but I still wanted to see my brother. It didn't matter if he knew me as his brother or not. We were always going to be brothers, and brothers always ended up sticking together.