A/N: This is a re-write of the original copy I published. I wasn't too happy with it so made some minor adjustments and hope it is now improved.


"The luxury of places we visit nowadays." Hellboy grumbled as the team looked up at the abandoned mansion. "Sewers are starting to look attractive compared to this dump."

"I'm sure I could find you one to splash around in." Sighed Liz, she pulled out her torch and placed her hand on the door handle. It snapped off in her hand, she grunted and kicked the door in. "Looks like no-ones home."

"Don't be too sure about that." An agent looked at Abe. "You should scope the place, I will man the scanners in the van out here." He nodded and took off a single glove before following Red and Liz inside.

"So what exactly is supposed to be in here?" Red asked over the headsets.

"A book Red, I explained this to you."

"Liz we have a whole room full of books why do we need another one?"

"This specific book is important," Abe began. "It is said to contain supernatural abilities."

"Why don't I like the sound of this?" Hellboy tried to climb what was left of the stairs, as he made a last jump one of the steps crumbled. "Sooner we can get out of here the better. What am I looking for exactly?"

"It says here, there is a box with a lock on it, open the lock and you get the location of the book." The agent spoke over the headsets

"Oh great a treasure hunt." Liz smirked sarcastically.

"I thought you liked treasure hunts Liz?"

"Yes Red, when I was 8." A creaking sound could be heard as Liz saw a door beside her open. She pointed her gun and torch at the door. "Abe get over here." He followed her and placed his hand gently on the ajar door.

"There is something here, but I can't... quite tune into it."

"Liz be careful."

"I know what I'm doing Red." She kicked the door and flew into the room, a gust of air flew through her but on second glance the room was empty. "Clear..."

"Same here." Hellboy replied.

"Wait, Liz..." Abe walked into the room, sweeping his hand across the air. "It's empty now, but... something was here... someone..." Shots came from upstairs.

"Red?" Liz called. "Red what the hell is going on?"

"Scanner says it's detecting some kind of... abnormal fluctuation of..."

"English!" Red shouted at the agent.

"Something's in there."

"We know that what is it?" Red shouted again.

"The scanner doesn't recognize it... all it says... is its... changing..."

"A shape shifter." Abe confirmed. "Can take the form of anything it likes, or nothing. But what is it doing here?"

"It must be after the book as well." Liz managed to climb up the remains of the stairs to join Red. They stood back to back with guns aimed. "How do we kill it?"

"We can't. We need to find that book and get out...wait..." Abe shut his eyes and moved to a door. "It's here."

"We will distract this thing Abe, get that book!" Red demanded "But for god sake make it quick!" More shots could be heard as Abe ran down stone stairs, he took his torch out to illuminate the room. His eyes widened as the light beam disappeared into more darkness than expected. The shots were getting quieter as he continued into the never-ending tunnel. His hand guided him to a small cave. A cave under an abandoned mansion like this was not uncommon, it would have been used as a safe for valuables or a hiding place years ago. He shone the light into the water, there was a small tunnel beneath the surface. He took off his utility belt, gloves and shoes and slowly submerged himself in the water. The light beam showed him the way through the small opening and brought him out into a smaller room. Above the water, he saw a box. The book? He climbed out and walked toward the box, steadying his hand before opening it. Inside, he found a book. He lifted it and examined it. It wasn't the book he had expected to find, he flicked through it briefly before hearing a splash. He turned on his heels and shone the torch, but found nothing. He closed the book tight and placed it under his uniform with some hope it wouldn't get too wet and waded back into the water. Half way through the small opening he felt a tug on his leg, he looked back to see a dark figure with one hand clasped onto his leg, the shape shifter. He tried to shake and kick it off, but the more he tried the tighter the being's grip got. It attempted to pull Abe deeper into the water. He had no idea how far down the water would go, but he didn't want to find out. He reached for his gun only to realize he had left it with his belt on the surface. He fought more, kicking and writhing, doing anything to try to free his leg. The water was getting darker and deeper by the second. He attempted to grab the being but his hands went straight through the mass and it seemed to anger it more, as he did so something shot past his head. Abe darted to the left as another bullet shot past him and hit the black mass. A screech came from the being and it let go of Abe's leg. His energy was dwindling, he was now running on pure adrenaline. Abe tried to swim to the surface, but his arm was grabbed by something and began to bring him down further into the water's depths. He went for the mass, but was forced upwards to the surface of the water, he felt arms around him, images darted through his mind. Someone was holding him? He found himself on the water's edge and reached for his gun. He grabbed it and turned to whoever was touching him, but froze as he saw a young woman.

"I just...saved your...life...and you...want to...shoot me?" She said through panting breaths. Abe lowered the gun confused. "What..." She was cut off by a screech. "Oh for goodness sake! Shut up!" She turned to the water and shot another bullet. The mass seemed to evaporate when the bullet hit it. She continued to catch her breath. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I could ask the same thing!"

"Abe?" A voice echoed.

"Red, I'm here." He grabbed his torch and shone it at the girl as he extended his hand to help her up, but when he turned his head to look at her he saw she had fainted. He knelt down beside her and checked for a pulse. Red approached them.

"Who on earth is she? And how did she get in here?"

"I don't know." He picked the girl up in his arms. "But she just saved my life."