It's been so long… I've just haven't had any inspiration for this story… or really any story I'm working on. But I have finished this chapter and I consider that an accomplishment and I'm happy with that. As for shout outs, I have one. Thank you Peya Luna for the… lovely review and a cheer for more reviews. Though, I'm not sure if anyone reads the reviews… I do… Anyway, hope to see you all next chapter.

Chapter 11

"That was long and tedious," Natasha sighed as she took a swig from the vodka bottle.

"And unfortunately we didn't find anything that could help us out of this mess," the Captain signaled he wanted the bottle.

Natasha obliged him and handed him the bottle. He held it up to his lips and took a long drink. She watched him as he continued to gulp down the clear liquid; even seeming a little impress by his long swig. The bottle finally left his lips and he released a phlegm fill cough.

"Hmph… impressive," she pulled the bottle from his hand.

They just sat there are the folding table, contemplating their fate. The whole vault seemed to be in a down mood, not that anyone had been in a good mood since they arrived there. But with the recent discovery of journals from soldiers and scientists, everyone began to feel a sense of hopelessness. Natasha had known this for quite some time; she had probably been waiting for them to realize it. The soldiers were sitting around, some still jumped at every noise and the others just stared at the ceiling. The agents continued to read through research notes, though not with the same vigor as before.

"Father," Hellboy ran down the hallway.

"What is it," Prof. Broom bent down to greet him.

"There are strange noises coming from the closet in that room there," he pointed to the room three doors down.

Prof. Broom knew that's where Günter was locked up. He must have woken up and was trying to get out.

"Don't pay any mind to it," Prof. Broom comforted him, "it's probably just some rats."

"Then it's an awfully big rat," Hellboy stared down at the room.

"Yes," the Professor started to listen.

It was true; there was a lot of noise coming from the room. It sounded like a lot of struggling and even some gurgling could be heard.

"Stay here," he quietly said to his son.

"But," Hellboy wanted to follow him, but the Professor held up his hand.

He slowly made his way to the room; the noises were louder and more in frequency. It could have been just Günter trying to escape, but the quiet muffled noises sounded frantic.

"Captain! Natasha," he took a step away from the room, "I think something is wrong with Günter!"

They rushed to the doorway and listened for themselves. Thuds and bangs knocked against the door. They winced and trembled as the noises grew more and more quiet. Only the sound of their breathing could be heard.

"Should we see if he's okay," one of the soldiers asked the Captain.

"He's probably just freaked out when he woke up in there," the Captain really didn't want to see.

"Günter," Natasha pushed to the front of the small crowd, "Günter?"

"Don't go in there," the Captain ordered her as she entered the room.

She didn't listen. Placing her hand on the knob, she slowly opened the door. She cursed in Russian as she leaned into the small closet. The Captain soon pushed passed the Professor to have a look for himself.

"He's gone," the Captain pronounced as he shoved his way through the crowd.

"How is that possible," the soldiers started to whisper to one another.

Natasha half way stepped into the closet and looked around; presumptively for an exit of some type.

"No vent… nothing out of place," she knocked on the walls, "there's no way he could have gotten out…"

"There must be a secret passage or something," Prof. Broom came up next to her.

They both knocked and felt the walls, ceiling and floor, but there was no sign of tampering or a passage. It was a strange mystery that was brewing. An insane man, locked in a closet, bounded and gagged escaped without going passed soldiers and agents. The sounds that came from the closet before sounded like he was being attacked, but there was no sign of a struggle; no blood, no body, nothing.

"This is… strange," Natasha stated the obvious.

"Indeed," Prof. Broom agreed as he stepped away from the closet, "I do believe that we all heard something coming from in there."

The remaining soldiers and agents nodded their heads. There were noises, but there was no sign of struggled. There was only one way out, but they all had been standing there while the sounds died down.

"Hmm…," Natasha stood with her back to the closet, "something doesn't seem right…"

Hiss… a low hissing came from the ceiling. Scratching and clawing filled the air of the vault. The beast started its nightly ritual to shake them up.

"Wonder when it was going to start up," Natasha snorted, "it sounds more restless than usual…"

The clawing and scratches rang through the air. It etched and eked through the vents that hovered just over their heads. Its scales scrapped against metal, its heavy breaths echoed in the room. It hissed once more.

"I think we should leave," Prof. Broom started to have a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Natasha turned her head to the closet, "agreed."

She started to walk away, but was whipped back into the closet by something black.

"NATASHA," Prof. Broom tried to grab hold of her.

Their hands took hold of one another. Unfortunately, the creature's grip was strong. Prof. Broom tried with all his might to pull Natasha from the black coils. All the soldiers wrapped their arms about each other's waist, anchoring the Professor. The coils began to tighten around Natasha.

"Agg," she released a yelp of pain, "Please don't let go!"

"Wasn't planning on it," Prof Broom pulled as he gritted his teeth.

"Either was I," the Captain took hold of Natasha's arm, "Pull Men!"

Grunting and groaning, all the soldiers pulled in unison. Slowly, they started to back out into the hallway. She was starting to slip from the creature's grip. It looked like they were going to win this tug-of-war.

"One more good pull men!" the Captain called out.

They pulled once more and she was nearly out the door.

"HISSS!" the creature hissed loudly.

From the shadows of the ceiling, four arms extended out and wrapped around Natasha.

She looked to the Professor with wide eyes, "get out… I'm done…," she let go of their hands.

"Hang on Natasha!" Prof. Broom held his grip, but he could feel her being to slip away.

"Dasvidania… Professor," tears ran down her cheeks.

She was gone. She disappeared up into the ceiling. The scratching and hissing moved through the ceiling towards the vault door. All the men followed the noises, hoping that the ceiling would give way to the creature's weight.

"NATASHA!" Prof. Broom screamed.

The noises echoed passed the vault door and disappeared.

"Natasha," he whispered.

"Go get whatever ammo we have let and get the flamethrowers up and running," the Captain started to order his men, "we're going for her Professor," he patted him on the shoulder, "we'll get her back."

"What happened Father?" Hellboy tugged at his shirt.

"Natasha," he looked down at his son, "we'll get her back… I promise."

The creature had taken so many now. It had maimed, killed and destroyed lives. It had taken down a military base full of soldiers. It had taken out a group of notorious mercenaries. It had finally taken the one woman that had eluded it. It had taken her after she shit fire in its face. It had taken the woman that had saved their lives.

"It will not have her," he promised to himself.