Please please review! I don't feel like continuing the story if noone tells me whether it's worth continuing. So pleeaaase, or I won't feel like adding chapters!! Anyway, anything that's in italics in this story are usually thoughts of a person, so don't get confused if you see them. Chapter 9: For a Minute There, You Made Detroit Sound like a Paradise.
Pinned down by the throat…no ethical definition, but the throat is the key body part that communicates. Does it signify anything? Or was it just a coincidence that that was the main source of killing the man. He got stabbed, bled, choked on his own blood and gradually his body would just shut down, asphyxiating… That explains how he died. But that doesn't explain what it means.
Abe was sitting down by the fireplace and closed his eyes. He was debating the possibilities that could fit for the current situation. The murder.
In the Christian society, the Romans executed Jesus. But that was just because they wanted to get his followers angered, or maybe they were just scared of him. I don't really remember. Of course, in the end, he just came back to life anyway…
He gave a deep sigh. Then picked up a book lying beside him and began fiddling with the pages.
What if…that's the point? What if they only wanted us to get angered by killing one of the members of our society? Well Hellboy, doesn't care nor does the B.P.R.D. I don't even know the guy. For all I know, he's a professor. A bad one, maybe? Maybe whatever it was that killed him figured it was time to get him because he was giving eminently boring lessons.
Abe snapped at himself and shook his head.
Snap out of it. That's a fairly despicable assumption. Manning wouldn't like a report about a creature killing a man just because he teaching lessons about how a sloth lives it's life or something…slow. But wait a second. This guy was an archaeologist was he not? And the Thesaurus Venators! It all fits. This man found something. Something, that's not easy to find. Something that is valuable in every way matter and form. And they have treasure hunting plants searching for it. But what is it? What is it we have to return to whoever these people are?
Abe sat up and opened his eyes. He looked straight into the fire and somehow it unhindered his mind even more.
The circle…the circle untouched by fire was around him. It's a shape with no openings or vertexes. Therefore it's harder to escape.
He looked at the book in his hands then studied it for a moment. The title was "Cultural Executing for Justice" Then he opened to the page he marked with a sticky note and read.
After scanning each sentence his face began to brighten.
Black is a colour usually indicating death. But since time progresses and evolutions start occurring, that is just a simplified version of what the colour of black really was meant for. In historic times, people believed that if the colour black surrounded your body after death, your soul could not go anywhere. It's a trap, and the colour black repels your ghost. Therefore they believed if you were a bad person, they could trap your soul in order to stop your evil spreading throughout the world. That's the real reason why in the 18th century they persecuted who they believed to be 'witches' by burning them at the stake. Eventually what would be burned around the person would become ashes and cinders, which are commonly known for the colour black and that would trap their spirit.
Abe threw the book beside him and lay back in his chair. He then began thinking once more.
And so Professor Archibald, the archaeologist found something, didn't know it was someone's precious item, did something to it, got murdered by whatever it is out there, got pinned down by the throat, was semi-burned to the stake and his spirit was trapped in a circle of black ashes, which leads to me, sitting in this library, staring at this fire place and wondering what the hell I am going to do to find out what the hell the pinning down thing is supposed to mean.
Communication…it definitely cut off his source of communication. He could have yelled for help if his throat wasn't gagging itself with blood.
Abe felt his neck trying not to think about what it feels like being stabbed through the neck. He got up, feeling kind of hot from the heat of he fireplace, and started walking along the tank full of cool water, touching the glass. He saw a reflection of the room on the glass at the angle he stood.
I hate when mysteries go nowhere. It's like writing a book and getting writer's block. If only there was one more clue to why they made an effort making Archibald's death a glorious sort of painting. At least in the future when we get this all over with, we can-
Abe stopped for a moment and leaned his head on the glass looking baffled.
The future? THE FUTURE?!
He was frustrated with himself now.
Why didn't I think of that before?! Not all signs represent what happened in the past. It's a warning sign! It's everything that's going to happen…
He burst through the library doors and walked through the halls at a vast pace, checking each door in case Hellboy, Liz or Manning happened to be in any of the rooms. Finally he saw all of them in a meeting room by looking through the glass and he walked through its doors.
"I think I figured it out!" He blurted out.
"Figured what out?" Liz asked getting up from one of the chairs fixed around a long table. Hellboy looked up at him too along with Manning who appeared to have been yelling at Hellboy once more.
"The University, why it burned down. Professor Archibald and why he was killed in an artistic manor."
"Ok Blue, explain. And you just got another billion points on my 'best buddy' list for figuring this out. Your back at the top."
"Thank you Red." Abe explained his assumptions from top to bottom. This gave Manning a look of concern, Liz a look of 'That sounds just about right' and Hellboy a 'I'm following your hand gestures buddy, but I don't understand a single word you say' kind of expression.
"So your saying the black ashes is…"
"A stratagem for his spirit."
"And the pinning down by the throat means…"
"A lack of communication. It's what they want."
Hellboy lay back in his seat looking up at Abe. "So if you're so sure…what this all mean?" He lit another cigar and started smoking.
"It means that is exactly what they want to do to all of us."
Hellboy stood up. "Woe woe woe. You mean they are going to kill us individually and start hacking at our throats and pinning us down? You got to be kidding me. I mean, that's going to take a really long time. That's going to take a millennium!"
"No, Red. That's not it. They will save time by killing us all in large groups. They don't want us around if we don't give whatever we stole back to them." He looked up and stood tall, as if he was proud of himself for figuring this out and with that he said…
"They want war…"
A moment of silence eluded the room. It was as if the entire world itself became very still.
"War?" Manning asked breaking the silence. "War here? In the city? Ah, shit. Remind me and my wife to pack up tonight…We're moving to Hawaii. No question there."
Hellboy stood over Manning, "You want to move there?" He said in a threatening voice. He waited a few seconds before he added in a normal voice. "I'm coming too. Pack me in your suitcase. Liz we're going. No way am I going to fight a stupid war."
Liz looked at the two men and rolled her eyes. "Look. We've taken on armies. Haven't we? Never mind armies. The golden army! That's the invincible and we still took them on." She went by Abe's side and hooked arms with him. "If you two are moving to Hawaii, then just remember that I'm staying here, to fight, pregnant with your twins, Hellboy."
Hellboy gave her the evil eye then sighed. "Fine. Have it your way…I'm staying." Then he muttered under his breath "And…fighting…the war…"
She patted him on the shoulder and smiled, then she looked at Manning who was standing alone on the opposite side of them. "And you Manning? Are you a part of the B.P.R.D or what?"
He glanced at the three agents standing proud and tall, then shrugged. "I can never seem to leave you guys. When you guys quit I desperately needed you. Now that I'm leaving from the war, it seems the team has to stay together forever."
Abe added. "And who's going to yell at Hellboy every morning and make his life miserable when you're gone? Ow."
"Hey don't rub it in, Blue." Hellboy stepped on Abe's foot.
Manning looked at the three linking arms. "You know, the way you guys are all standing looks so professional. I should get you guys to link arms more often." Immediately the three disconnected arms not realising what they were just doing. "And sure. I'm staying. Besides we're not sure whether there is going to be a war after all, seeing that there is a chance of giving back whatever it is they want."
With that they walked out of the meeting room and out into the halls. Hellboy lagged a little grabbing Abe's arm.
"Damn you Abe. I thought for once, I could finally get rid of Manning but you had to ruin it. You're so lucky you are still at the top of my 'best buddy' list. SO lucky."
"The pleasure is mine Red. The pleasure is mine."
"What did you say again, about women and looks? I liked that phrase. It's sort of true." Rebecca was lying on her bed talking to Liz. They often hung around Rebecca's room because Liz never liked to invite people to Hellboy's room. It resembled too much like a pigsty.
"I said that no woman is beautiful and pretty at the same time. They are either one or the other. For instance, the word 'pretty' is describing more pixie-like or cute features whereas 'beautiful' is more…how do I put this…vivid and with a flow? It's not so easy to describe." Liz stood up looking at the empty picture frame on Rebecca's shelf.
"No. You described it perfectly." Rebecca began tampering with a nail polish set she found. "So beauty…is more important?"
"Not that either…" She sat down. "It does have a sort of presence. But being pretty seems more desirable…It makes you sound younger. What would you say I am then?"
Rebecca stopped and looked into Liz's eyes. "You…" She started. "…have a beautiful nose."
Both of them laughed. "Wow. I didn't really think about my nose, but if you think of it that way then-
"What about me? What would you say I am? Beautiful or Pretty?"
Liz stared at her "Your…pretty."
"Really? Thanks." Rebecca said. "I thought you were going to say neither but pretty is cool with me."
"Well, No. You are just so cute I would want to eat you up."
"Funny how you say that to a 21 year old. Tell me, what's it like to fall in love with someone?" Rebecca began blushing from the question she asked. She picked up a bottle of purple nail polish and began painting her nails putting random spots.
"Me and Hellboy, you mean? He's just my…teddy bear. I don't know how to explain love, but I'll tell you one thing. You'll know when you are feeling it. It's a feeling you can never experience if you're alone."
Rebecca cut in. "That reminds me. I read an article once explaining the parts that trigger in your brain when doing certain events. Well, it said that when you do drugs like cocaine and the real concentrated stimulants, the same parts of your brain highlight when you fall in love. Now I know why hippies see colours and hearts when they're stoned."
"Wow, first we were talking about love and somehow it lead to drugs? Wow. What a big connection they have. Where did you read that?"
"I dunno…continue though! I want to find out more!"
"Well, when I look at him. It just makes me feel so…Hey what about you? Do you have a special someone waiting out there to sweep you off your feet?"
Rebecca blushed and looked out as if she was looking at open space. "Um…no. But some guys can be fairly appealing."
Liz sighed and bounced on the bed a bit. "Fine. Let's play 'who would you rather date?"
"Oh, No. Haven't we all grown out of that game?"
Liz crossed her legs getting comfortable on Rebecca's bed. They were both wearing pyjamas. It could have been a slumber party, but Rebecca didn't want Liz to stay that long. She wanted to go to the library and read for a while. "Not me!" Liz exclaimed. "I still feel like I'm thirteen years old. Besides, I want to find out whom I can hook you up with. Now, let's see…Myers or Ryan?"
"That's too hard. I like Myers, but not in that way. And boy, do I know he likes me. He's a creeper to some extent. Ryan is too young for me. Smart as hell though. And all he listens to are emo rock bands."
"You have to choose ONE."
"Fine…Um…um…Myers because he's older than me, and I don't like dating people younger than me because it makes women look desperate for men."
"Ooo. Going for Myers are we?" Liz joked. Rebecca threw her pillow at her.
"Now that you asked me, I have to ask you. Manning or that ugly Thesaurus Venator?
"Snap, that's a really hard one…I say the plant thing that eats people." After Liz answered, they both started giggling. Anything was better than Manning even if he was compared to a rat diagnosed with rabies, and covered in…well, let's just stop there.
"Here's one for you." Liz stopped giggling with Rebecca and started fiddling with her hair. Rebecca seemed interested in what she was about to say.
"Jude or Abraham Sapien?"
Rebecca went wide eyed, and blushed. She wasn't expecting a question like that…involved…you-know-who. "Um…I'll get to you on that one. I have to go to the library today because Abe was going to show me how to deal with the sense of power I have I also want to read some books."
Liz looked curious. "So you're not going to answer? I take it I have to leave your room then. Just remember, Jude has extreme good looks, but Abe is a sweetie. You have to answer my question some day! Some day! Sooooooome Daaaaay!" She left the room doing dramatic howling for the two words.
Rebecca was left alone in her room getting ready to leave for the library.
"Some day, maybe you will know, Liz. But not today, or tomorrow, or the next month."
Good! Now that you made it to the bottom of the page, you can do...a...little, critique for...M-E on the review page?? ME? Eh? You know you waaaaaaaaaant it...
