Disclaimer-I have no affiliations with Darkhorse comics, Mike Mignola or anything else Hellboy related. Lyrics are from 'Broken' by Seether feat. Amy Lee (listen while you read)
Chapter 1-Departure
"I never told you how I felt about you." Abraham 'Abe' Sapien said as he caressed Princess Nuala's cheek.
"Give me your hand." The princess reached out her hand to his. Their thoughts intertwined with one another's, as heartfelt goodbyes were spoken in silence.
"I wanted you to know, that I love the way you smile. I love the way you laugh, but even more--I love you, with every part of my being."
As the princess looked up at him tears spilled from his eyes. She brushed her hand to his cheek to wipe them away. "Fear not Abraham, for I will always be with you." Already Princess Nuala was beginning to feel the stone sleep come upon her. She looked over at her brother, Prince Nuada, feeling his voice leave her. Darkness and silence filled her heart.
"Do not fade brother, for our work is not done."
"Forgive me sister." Prince Nuada raised his head to the heavens and fell, crumbling to the ground.
As Abe looked back at Nuala, her face was forever etched in the calming, marble peace she always gave.
She was gone.
I wanted you to know that I love the way you laugh
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain away
And I keep your photograph, I know it serves me well
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain
*
Because I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away
You've gone away, you don't feel me here anymore
*
The worst is over now and we can breathe again
I wanna hold you high, you steal my pain away
There's so much left to learn and no one left to fight
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain
*
Because I'm broken when I'm open
And I don't feel like I am strong enough
Because I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away
*
Because I'm broken when I'm open
And I don't feel like I am strong enough
'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away
You've gone away, you don't feel me here anymore
*
It had been a year that Abe said goodbye to her and that the Golden Army, the Unstoppable Force, was destroyed by his good friends Elizabeth 'Liz' Sherman, Hellboy, and Dr. Johann Krauss. But despite all of his pain, Abe no longer let anybody get close to him.
"Red! Where is my toothbrush?" Liz shouted as she found him playing with the twins. Anya and Trevor were two months old and already beginning to show the special traits of their parents.
Anya appeared impish, her eyes that of a golden brown, pinkish complexion, a cheshire's grin and pointed ears. Her brother, Trevor, resembled his father with rusty brown complexion, golden yellow eyes, and a prehensile tail that was already half a foot long. Hellboy put down Anya.
"Toothbrush?" Hellboy began overturning sofa pillows, looking under every nook and cranny of their small cottage home. The twins were laughing and cooing, watching their father search for their mother's elusive toothbrush.
"Red?"
"Hang on Liz, I can find it." Liz tapped her feet on the ground as Hellboy continued to scramble around the house. Either here or at the B.P.R.D headquarters, she failed to have her own space. Before the twins had arrived, Liz didn't know what she and Hellboy were going to do. They, along with Abe and Dr. Krauss, had quite all the paranormal investigation stuff to live a free life in the countryside of Ireland.
"Hey." Manning had called after Liz, Hellboy, and Abe as they passed him by for the second time. "What if I make you guys a deal? Cut back your hours, larger living quarters--salary."
Liz turned around suddenly, her eyes burning with fire, and soon her right arm too. "You think can buy us off Manning? I almost lost Red today because of what we do and for what, huh? No gratitude from you or any of the other people we protect." Liz felt like a hypocrite saying all of it after she had lectured to Hellboy that he doesn't need everyone to love him. Abe quietly brushed passed them and went to look over the cliff.
"I show you gratitude," Manning admitted. "It's him I have problems with," Manning gestured to Hellboy, who was paying little attention to him, but reacted as soon as he saw Liz look like she wanted to roast him.
"Liz, it's all right." Hellboy pulled her away from Manning. "I'm better than him and he knows it." Liz gave a weak smile, then received a kiss from Hellboy on her forehead. Liz glanced over at Abe and walked over to him.
The sun was setting over the ocean horizon and Abe watched the waves crashing toward the cliff's shelf below. "Liz, nothing personal, but I would like to be left alone right now." Liz's heart jumped in her throat as she approached him. She hated it when he used his empathy on her.
"I know what you're going through Abe."
"No you don't," he whispered.
"If you hadn't noticed, I almost lost Red back there--"
"But you didn't and that is why you don't know what I'm going through. Nuala is gone. She didn't get a second chance." Abe snapped at her. This was the first time, in all the years she'd known him, that he expressed anger--to her even.
"Abe," Liz reached for his arm, but he pulled it away. "Don't be like this. We're your friends."
"Don't Liz." Abe said angrily as he stared her down. "We were nothing more than partners--no less, inmates." Liz was taken aback by his cold response.
"Abe, please," Liz tried to hold back her tears. At this point Hellboy noticed Liz in distress.
"Abe, hey, what's going on?" Abe knew that Hellboy knew what was going on, but didn't care to talk to him either.
"Please leave me." Hellboy didn't go, but Liz did step back.
"Pal, I know that you'll miss that princess of yours, but she felt it was the only way to stop her crazy brother and she wouldn't want you to be like this." Abe just then took a hard swing at him and split Hellboy's lip. Liz ran to Hellboy's side and looked up at Abe.
"What's wrong with you!" She screamed. Abe too was surprised by his actions, but Hellboy kept pushing, he always pushed people too far.
"I'm--" Abe couldn't speak. His heart raced and his hand ached. He began to take deep breaths but it never eased him.
"Abe?" Liz and Hellboy watched him clutch his chest and wince in pain. Liz released Hellboy and ran over to Abe, as he fell on his side. "Johann!" The ectoplasmic medium raised his domed head and quickly ran over to them.
"What happened?"
"He--he just collapsed." The tears now flowed down her face and she couldn't stop them. "Help him." Johann took Abe's pulse and breathing. His eyes were rolled back and he wasn't breathing. "He's unconscious." Liz looked to Johann, then Hellboy. Abe needed CPR before he--Liz didn't think, but only acted. She gave him chest compressions and rescue breaths, praying he'd be alright.
"All right," Hellboy presented Liz with her toothbrush, which was covered in cat hair. She laughed to herself and took the object. Hellboy wasn't fooled by Liz's false laughter. "Hey, what's wrong?" He asked with with sincerity and Liz looked over at the calender.
"Today--" but Liz couldn't finish her sentence, Hellboy knew exactly what today was.
"You want to go see him." Liz smiled weakly at him in agreement.