The Alternate - Chapter 6

KITTY

"Hey, Shadowcat! Wait up!" a familiar voice from behind me called as I walked the mansion hall at four in the morning. Yes, four o'clock. I haven't been sleeping well.

I stopped on my tracks, immediately feeling relieved - relieved that somehow, he'd take my mind off of the things that have been happening lately.

I turned round, taking in the sight of golden hair and yet again another body hugging raglan, just as always.

"Doug," I greeted with a smile, "G'morning."

"Whatcha up to, Shadowcat?" he asked, using my field name again. I guess it was just the force of his habit.

"Well, Cypher, I'm off to grab a drink. Wanna join me?" I offered, hoping that he would go with me. I seriously needed the company of a good friend. After all, he was a pretty good talker, and I'm a pretty decent listener myself. He's just one of those people you're naturally drawn to.

He scrunched up his nose, and I knew he was gonna turn me down this time. That was when I noticed he was holding a book and notebook.

"Oh, I didn't realize you were going to the library," I preempted to not further disappoint myself.

Doug chuckled, like he was apologizing for it. "Yeah, maybe next time, huh Kitty?"

"Of course," I half smiled, unintentionally showing my letdown. I mean, where else in the world would you see a guy that wakes up early to study?

He scratched his head and started striding past me awkwardly. "You know, next time's probably not that far, Shadowcat," he ended as he turned a right at the corner of the hallway.

I exhaled, feeling alone again. Alone again with my thoughts of Bobby and if he's been sleeping alright and eating well and how he's been so distant..

Shadowcat. The name bounced inside my skull.

I remember all too well the day I officially started using it as my codename.

It was after Ogun, the telepathic demon who once took over my body to act out his 'personal form of revenge' towards the Wolverine.

Just like the name, I remember the feeling of being trapped inside your own body but not being able to control it. I remember facing Logan head-on with a samurai, and when that didn't work, I.. Ogun manhandled him and for a second put him on the ground. I remember the remorse I felt after it was all over. Imagine throwing a punch at the Wolverine. I was lucky he cared about my soul.

Since then, Logan and I have had a special connection, because he snapped me out of that trance and I - well, I didn't succeed in killing him so yeah, it was pretty awesome. But of course, the virtual lifetime of martial arts training disturbs me every now and then.

My thoughts were interrupted just as I was about to reach the pantry, where Logan stepped out and walked towards the opposite direction.

Speak of the devil.

I wanted to say hi, but thenI thought about how many kids were sleeping in the rooms next to where he was walking, so I didn't bother starting the ruckus.

Just then, Bobby stepped out of the room, trailing Logan.

"Bobby up by four?" I thought to myself, half-panicked by what served to be yet again a red flag to me.

He could have as easily been the Bobby I knew, walking back to his room after drinking a soda, or it could have been Ogun, latching onto the soul nearest to Logan.

Maybe I'm overthinking it.

But then he turned to face me, and I don't know why I ran. I just did.