A strained voice calls out from the dust still settling around them. Verena and Logan pull apart from their embrace, their eyes locking on the figure lying a few yards ahead. Her features come into focus through the haze, and Verena's heart drops.

"Kayla!" Verena yells.

They both sprint toward her. Kayla's gripping her stomach, blood smeared across her sweater, her soft grunts of pain barely audible as they kneel beside her. Verena quickly assesses her injuries, her gaze landing on the deep gash across Kayla's abdomen.

Kayla's trembling hand reaches up to touch Verena's face, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I'm glad he's finally yours," she whispers.

Verena returns the smile, though her eyes are filled with worry. "Don't worry about that, Kay. We're gonna get you out of here, alright?"

With careful precision, Verena and Logan lift Kayla, cradling her in Logan's arms as they try not to worsen the wound. "It's okay, I got you," Logan says as he carries her, Verena walking next to him.

They're so close to their escape. Freedom is within their grasp when a gunshot rings out, tearing through the air. Verena lets out a sharp yell as the bullet pierces her back, and she collapses to her knees.

"Vee!" Logan shouts, panic edging his voice, but he's still cradling Kayla in his arms, trying to shield her from the chaos.

Before he can react further, another shot hits Logan in the back, and he stumbles with a pained grunt. He carefully lowers Kayla to the ground, making sure not to hurt her any further.

Then another shot—this time hitting Verena again. She grunts, doubling over, the pain unbearable.

In that moment, years of rage and hatred—toward Stryker, toward the torment they've endured—boil over. With two furious roars, Logan and Verena unleash their claws, their eyes blazing with anger.

They charge at Stryker, bloodied but determined. Stryker fires another shot at Logan, causing him to falter briefly, but Logan pushes through, fueled by pure fury. He scrambles up the debris, determined to come at Stryker from above, while Verena barrels toward him head-on.

As Verena closes in, Stryker levels his gun and fires. The bullet—a gleaming adamantium round—slams into her head. She feels the world spin as it lodges deep in her skull.

Her vision fades just in time to see Stryker fire once more. The bullet strikes Logan square in the head, and with one last look at each other, they both fall.

Everything goes black the moment the bullet hits. For a long stretch, there's nothing—no pain, no thoughts, just emptiness.

Then it begins.

A rush of memories floods her mind like a tidal wave, overwhelming her senses. They crash into her all at once, too fast to process. She's drowning in them—her mother's lullaby, soft and sweet, echoing in the distance. "La mia farfalla," her mother whispers, and Verena sees herself as a little girl, spinning in the garden of their Italian home, arms outstretched, the sun warming her skin. She feels a pang of longing so intense that it hurts—an ache deep in her chest that tugs her back to that memory of innocence, of simpler days. "Mamma?" She whispers, holding her arms out to touch her

But before she can grasp it, the memory splinters away, replaced by another. The sharp scent of gunpowder fills her nose, the heat of battle pressing down on her. She's pulling a bayonet from a fallen soldier, her breath heavy, her heart pounding. Logan's beside her, blood splattered across his face, eyes blazing with that same fierce intensity she's always known. She wants to reach for him, to find solace in his presence, but it slips away before she can hold on, replaced by something darker.

Her father's voice booms next, angry and cruel. She's back in that cramped little house, the air thick with tension. The crack of his belt rings out, and Verena flinches. She's small again, cornered, helpless. Her heart races, her breath quickens. The night she killed him comes rushing back—she's standing over his body, panting, her hands soaked in his blood. A sickening feeling rises in her chest, but before she can process it, the moment fades, like sand slipping through her fingers.

Then suddenly, peace.

She's standing in a field of wildflowers. The air is cool, the scent of fresh earth and blossoms calming her nerves. The sky is bright, endless, the sun warm against her skin. For a moment, she feels... weightless. Free. No more battles. No more blood. Just peace.

Her mother stands in the distance, arms open wide, calling her name. "Verena, tesoro, vieni da me." Her voice is so gentle, so inviting. It tugs at something deep inside her, pulling her forward. Verena's heart swells with longing—a longing so deep it feels like it's been buried in her for a century. Tears sting her eyes as she takes a step forward, then another. Her mother's arms are wide, waiting to embrace her, waiting to pull her into the safety and warmth that Verena's been chasing for so long.

Home. That's what this is. For the first time in years, maybe decades, Verena feels like she's going home.

But as she walks, memories begin to slip away. Faces blur—people she loved, people she fought beside—Logan, Kayla, Victor... All of them start to fade, like shadows in the sun. And with them, the emotions, the connections, the pain. For a brief, blissful moment, she thinks she might let go. She might just give in and allow herself to finally rest.

But then, amid the memories blurring, one remains sharp and clear.

The kiss.

Logan's kiss—the way his lips had silenced her rambling words, the heat of his body pressed against hers, the way his hands had tangled in her hair as if he never wanted to let go. She remembers the way her heart had raced, her breath catching in her throat. That moment had been a kind of salvation for them both—something they'd held on to, something fragile yet fierce. And for just a moment, she can feel it again—the warmth of his touch, the taste of his lips on hers, the promise of something more than the blood and the battle that had surrounded them for so long.

But even that begins to fade. The warmth of his kiss turns cold, the memory crumbling, slipping away like everything else. The kiss, like the others, fades into the distance, becoming something untraceable, like water slipping through her fingers.

Slowly, Logan's face becomes a blur, his touch slipping away from her grasp as the memory vanishes. She fights to hold onto it, but it's like trying to catch the wind—impossible. She's losing herself, bit by bit, moment by moment, and there's nothing she can do to stop it.

The field around her wavers, the flowers disappearing into nothingness, the sun dimming. Her mother's arms drop to her sides, her voice growing quieter, more distant, until she's nothing but an echo.

Verena is left standing in the dark, surrounded by fragments of memories—so many pieces, so much of her life. They whirl around her, faster and faster, like a storm she can't escape. She's caught in it, unsure if she's falling or floating, unsure of what's real and what's lost.

A sense of profound sadness washes over her. She feels like she's losing herself, piece by piece, moment by moment. And yet, amid the storm, there's a flicker of something else—something stronger.

Fight. The thought grips her, pulses through her, anchors her.

But even that begins to slip away. Slowly at first, then faster—her name, her past, her family, her love for Logan, everything that made her who she was—all of it begins to fade. She tries to hold onto it, to fight, but the memories slip through her fingers like water. She forgets the sound of her mother's voice, the shape of Logan's face, the feel of her own skin. Everything blurs, and she's left with nothing but a hollow emptiness inside her, a void where her identity once was.

There's no fear anymore. No sadness. No longing. There's just... nothing.

She's floating in the dark, weightless and empty, with nothing to tether her to the life she once knew. For a moment, she's at peace with it, ready to let go completely.

But then—an instinct. Something deeper than memory, more primal. A twitch of life inside her that refuses to die.

From the outside, Verena's body lies motionless on the ground, dust swirling around her. Logan, slumped nearby, remains unconscious, the chaos of battle fading. And then, just as the world seems to settle—her fingers twitch. The faintest sign of life, a small movement that goes almost unnoticed. But it's there, a spark of something inside her, still fighting to come back.

The man's eyes flicker open, and he sits up slowly, scanning his surroundings. A woman lies sprawled out just inches away from where he had been. Something cold and metallic hangs around his neck, and when he reaches for it, his fingers brush against a set of dog tags. He studies them for a moment, the engraved letters standing out against the worn metal.

"Logan," he murmurs to himself, flipping the tag over. On the other side, another word greets him: "Wolverine."

He frowns, rolling the name around in his mind as if trying to make sense of it. He glances around again, eyes landing on the woman, who suddenly twitches. She stirs with a gasp, bolting upright, her breathing quick and uneven. Panic flashes in her eyes as they dart around, trying to orient herself. Her hand flies to the side of her head, touching the spot where a bullet wound is slowly knitting itself back together.

She looks up at the man, her expression wary, and instinctively draws back.

"Dove sono? Who are you?" she blurts out, her voice tinged with confusion.

He watches her for a moment, not moving. "You got tags, kid?" he asks, his tone rough but not unkind.

The woman blinks and reaches for her neck. Along with a golden cross, a pair of silver dog tags hang there. She fingers them carefully, bringing them into her line of sight. The first tag reads "Verena," and when she flips it, the other side reveals the name "Lynx," the cool metal smooth against her fingers.

She stares at the tags for a second longer, the names stirring something deep within her, but it feels distant, like trying to grasp a memory that's just out of reach.

The man extends a hand to her. She hesitates for a moment before taking it, allowing him to pull her to her feet. The ground feels unsteady beneath her, but his grip is solid, grounding her amidst the chaos.

"There you guys are. The kids are safe," a voice calls out from somewhere behind them. Both turn to see a man stepping into view, his expression shifting from relief to shock. "Damn."

The man who had helped her—Logan, according to the dog tags—tenses, a growl rising in his throat as he steps forward. "Who the hell are you?" His voice is low, dangerous.

Confusion flashes across the newcomer's face, his brow furrowing as he tilts his head. "What do you mean, who am I? I'm the guy who brought you here. Now we gotta move—"

Logan grabs him roughly by the collar, yanking him forward. "Where the hell am I?" His eyes are fierce, burning with suspicion.

"Listen," the Cajun man raises his hands in a placating gesture, "I'm a friend, alright? I'm a friend."

Logan's grip tightens. "Yeah? What's my name?" His voice is a growl, the words laced with frustration. "What's my name?"

"Your name's Logan," the man says softly, his gaze shifting to Verena. "And hers... Verena. Pretty sure you two were madly in love or something, but we don't have time for that right now. We need to go. Follow me."

Logan releases his hold, and the three of them break into a slow jog across the rocky terrain. Verena keeps pace beside him, her thoughts a tangled mess of fragmented memories and confusion. After a few moments, Logan comes to a sudden halt, his gaze narrowing.

"These boys aren't going to be happy with what you two have done to the place," the Cajun man warns, glancing over his shoulder. "We need to move faster."

Logan shakes his head. "We'll find our own way." His tone is firm, leaving no room for argument.

Verena shoots him a look of surprise. "What makes you think I'd go with you? Sei un estraneo." Her voice is sharp, and yet, the words carry a hint of uncertainty.

Logan doesn't waver. "Suit yourself, sweetheart," he replies, the nickname slipping easily from his lips. "But it's either come with me or wait for the boys in blue to catch you."

For a brief moment, Verena hesitates. But when he offers his hand, she takes it, their fingers interlocking as they break into a run together, heading for the edge of the island. The other man watches them go, shaking his head with a smirk before turning back the way he came.

"Good luck," he mutters before sprinting off.

Verena tightens her grip on Logan's hand as they break into a run, the world around them a blur of debris and shadows. Together, they charge forward, feet pounding against the earth as the island looms behind them, fading into the distance.

The wind whips through their hair, the taste of salt from the sea sharp in the air. There's no looking back. The chaos and memories they've left behind are lost to the void, but something pulls them forward—something instinctual, something that says they belong together, even if they can't remember why.

Logan's grip tightens slightly, a silent assurance. Verena glances at him from the corner of her eye, and for a fleeting second, their eyes meet. They don't know where they're going or what they'll find, but for now, that doesn't matter.

Together, they vanish into the distance, side by side, leaving the ruins of the island behind—only the sound of the waves crashing against the shore lingers as their figures grow smaller and smaller, until nothing remains but the horizon ahead.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

©️Fanofadifishman

Word count: 2320

Translations:

La Mia Farfella - My butterfly

Dove Sono - Where am I 

Sei un estraneo - You're a stranger

A/N: Guys I'm gonna start crying, we finally finished. In all honesty, this is the first fanfic where I've ever gotten through the whole movie without giving up. If you've read other stories on my profile you'd know how incomplete and horrible they were. For example, my Bucky Barnes story was horribly written so one of these days I'll go back and rewrite it. But for now, I just want to enjoy how far I've come with this fanfic. Like I mean this is crazy, writing out an hour and a half of movie while adding in another character is so hard, but thank you guys for reading. As always don't forget to vote and comment.

Act two hopefully out later today,

Love y'all,

Allegra 💙