To Love a Beast
Irina Samuels
Tom places the Winchester rifle down on Allan Quartermain's grave.
"Thanks," he says. He turns away from the wooden cross and follows the rest of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen back to the Nautilus, the futuristic submarine belonging to Captain Nemo.
The League members sat indazed, grieving silence.
"So," Skinner says. He felt he needed to break the silence, but he really had nothing to say.
"So indeed," said Captain Nemo. The wise captain turned to his new first mate, Kalikan. Ever since Ishmael died, Kalikan had been first mate. "All ahead, full, Kalikan," said Nemo softly.
"Aye, Captain," Kalikan said, and he left the room.
"What's the next port of call?" Asked vampire and chemist, Mina Harker.
"Spain," said Nemo.
"Why Spain?" Inquired Rodney Skinner, invisible gentleman thief.
"Why not?" Replied Nemo.
Skinner shrugged, and the League lapsed back into grieving silence. Tom Sawyer was sitting a bit apart from the rest of the League, and was remembering everything he could about Allan Quartermain, who had become something of a father to him. The rest of the League did not speak to him. They knew he was grieving harder than most, as he had become closer to Quartermain than anyone else.
Finally, it got to the point where Henry Jekyll, the doctor with a split personality, couldn't take the silence anymore. Even his internal demon Edward Hyde was quiet. Jekyll rose and left the room, his moves sluggish and sad.
Why so down, Henry? As far as I'm concerned, we're better off without the old bugger, the malicious voice of Hyde echoed in Henry's head as soon as he left the room.
Edward, please. Just this once, keep your trap shut. I'm not going to deal with your shit right now, Henry thought furiously.
A bit testy, are we, Henry? Inquired Hyde vehemently. Henry sighed and didn't reply. He returned to his cabin and locked the door. Hyde persistently spoke to Henry, but Henry ignored every word. He didn't know what was going to happen next. Allan Quartermain—the leader, the man who had kept the League from falling apart—was dead.
God, what will happen next? Henry thought desperately.
That's an easy one, Henrieeeee, said Hyde, drawing out the 'y' in Henry's name.
Shut up, Hyde. Just shut up, Henry thought in disgust.
Rodney Skinner left soon after Jekyll, as did Mina Harker and Captain Nemo. Soon, only Tom was left, sitting alone in the dining room. He was wondering many of the same things that Henry was.
What will happen next? With Allan dead…what's the point, anyway? Tom's heart pounded a bit faster when he said the old hunter's name, even when it was inside his head. He was glad the rest of the League had left the room.
During his training in the Secret Service, his instructors had told him one thing—to never show weakness.
He was so glad the League wasn't there to see him cry.
Yeah, I know it's short, but I have to get to the exciting part in the next chapter. This was sort of just a recap of what happened in the end of the last adventure. So, R+R but please no flames.
~Irina