101 Dalmatians II

XX - Gate of Hell, Part One

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Penny held Cadpig as she cried her eyes out. Thankfully there was no danger of them being heard as her sobs were muffled by the sound of the steamboat's engine.

Lucky tenderly rubbed her back, trying to comfort her.

Roly was laid out on the floor, crying as well, albeit his sobs were more wounded, even guilt ridden. Freckles was doing his best to console him.

Patch and Pepper however stood off, completely calm and they talking among themselves.

"It wasn't your fault you know," Pepper said.

Patch said nothing.

"It was no one's fault but Nero's and whoever this mad doctor is."

Patch shook his head. "You might be right Pep, maybe there wasn't anything I could've done. But I wish I tried."

"There was nothing you could've done. Ryder knew what he was doing but we don't really know if he's actually dead or not."

Patch bowed his head. "You saw what happened didn't you?"

"No," Pepper said grimly. "But I heard the shot."

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Following them without being seen or smelt was not easy.

But Patch and his siblings managed at last. The abandoned building had some kind of underground network and after many twists and turns, they came to some kind of underground pier.

There was a large steamboat, not unlike the ones that go in and out of London's bay.

The henchman known as Maxwell loaded up the pups, as well the Pongo's, onto it in cages.

Dr. Seville and Nero followed closely behind and prepared to go aboard.

Among certain crates in the far back, Patch and his siblings, with fresh soot on their bodies, peeled out from behind.

"So...how do we get on without being noticed?" Lucky asked anxiously.

"However we do it, we'd better do it fast," Freckles said. "They look like they're about to leave."

From the other side of the pier, Ryder emerged from one of the pipes, pouring irrigation fluid into the bay. He was covered in filth.

He immediately caught sight of the pups but forced himself to keep quiet so as to not alert the enemy.

And then he saw the remaining 101 Dalmatians being loaded aboard a steamboat.

He cursed inwardly. How was he going to stop them from leaving? More importantly, if there are other kidnapped dogs, the surefire way of finding the place of captivity would be to follow the boat or stow away.

Which was exactly what Patch and company appeared to be intending to do.

Ryder was angry and yet, deep down, he felt brimming respect for these pups, pride even.

Especially the one leading them.

In another time or place, thought Ryder, Patch would've made an excellent police dog.

A noise, the sound of wood breaking and splintering.

Ryder saw that one of the more portly pups had pressed against one of the aged crates too hard and caved it in.

Dr. Seville and Nero turned their heads toward the noise. They saw nothing save crates.

Dr. Seville whistled sharply.

Nero strode toward the source of the noise.

Dr. Seville pulled something out of his lab coat.

It was black and shining.

Ryder recognized it at once.

It was a Luger 9mm pistol, the same brand of handgun that was used by the Germans during the Second World War.

This happenstance gave Ryder a clue of who this man is.

No time for that. The children were in immediate danger.

Ryder sprang.

He went for the mad doctor.

Seville took notice of him and smiled.

Ryder raised an eyebrow in confusion..

The mad doctor didn't bother trying to shoot him.

He just lifted his free arm and offered it to Ryder as he pounced on him.

Ryder sunk his teeth instead, into the doctor's arm which carried the handgun.

Expecting retaliation, Ryder looked back and saw Nero, his full attention on him, just as Ryder expected.

What he did not expect was that Nero was just standing there, making no attempt to defend his master.

He was smiling.

Ryder turned his attention back on Seville. He too was smiling. The gun was no longer in his hand.

But it was not on the floor either.

Ryder felt something cold and hard press against his stomach.

An ear-piercing explosion.

Numbness.

And then a searing burning pain.

Seville threw Ryder off him.

There was a dadaism of splattered blood on his white lab coat.

Ryder's blood.

"Nero, on the boat, now!" Seville commanded.

Nero glared and looked back at the crates, where his prey was undoubtedly cowering behind.

"Now Nero, or I will take something else from you."

Nero's tail went between his legs and he immediately dashed for the boat.

What he didn't know was that the pups were no longer behind the crates.

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It was a desperate situation but Patch and company managed to board the doctor's boat.

And very quickly, they managed to hide themselves in the engine room.

And Patch was very careful to wipe out any traces of soot they left behind so that they wouldn't be discovered or even tip off the enemy

Thankfully there was not much need to clean up anyway as the boat was not very clean anyway.

Bottom line, the pups were relatively safe.

"I didn't see what happened, Patch," Pepper said. "All I heard was a loud bang and then Ryder was on the floor, covered in...you know...blood."

"Shh," Patch said sharply. "Not so loud."

"Relax," Pepper said. "No one can hear us over the sound of the engine remember?"

"Right."

Patch and Pepper looked over at Roly, who was still laid out on the floor. He was no longer trembling but he was sniffling and sobbing softly to himself. Freckles was laying his head on him now, too tired to do much else, as it was the only way of consoling his brother that he could think of.

Patch sighed. Roly feels responsible, not only for us nearly being discovered but for what happened to Ryder. Even if Ryder was still alive, he may not be for much longer.

"It's not his fault either," Pepper said. "How was he to know that that crate wouldn't support him?"

Patch said nothing.

"Patch?" Pepper said.

"I'm thinking Pep, we need a plan on how to get our family out of here."

"Seems like a tall order at this point."

"All the same," Patch said firmly. "We have to do something Pepper, it's down to us now."

Pepper stared at his brother and he nodded grimly. "You're right. If Ryder can't save us, we have to save ourselves. So what's the plan?"

Patch said nothing.

Pepper was a bit shocked but he hid it so as to not draw attention to his siblings. "You don't have a plan?"

"I'm working on it."

Pepper clenched his jaw anxiously. He took notice of a port window and he approached to look through it. "You'd better work on that plan really fast Patch."

"Why?"

"Because I think we're here now."

Patch went to have a look through the window. He was alarmed by what he saw.

It was the most ominous island he had ever seen.

He had seen islands before in books and on the telly, but this was the first island he had ever seen in person.

It was a small island. No sight of any mainland anywhere.

It was surrounded by faint mist. It had a portion of green forestry. But most of it was hard stone and mountain, jagged, sharp and menacing.

It's most distinct quality was its highest mountain, two peaks that curved in such a way that it appeared to be the jaws of a giant monstrous undersea predator.

Patch gaped. He couldn't seem to look away.

It was far worse than Hell Hall.

But they haven't seen what was on that island yet, so it was too soon to tell.

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"What is this place?" Freckles asked anxiously.

"It's an island," Pepper said matter-of-fact.

Freckles looked at him annoyed. "I know it's an island, but…" He paused as he took a hard look at the place. "I don't remember any island near that remotely looks like that."

"The boat didn't go very far, we didn't even travel for an hour" Penny said. "How can an island like this be so close and yet...I don't recognize it in the least."

"On account that this island should not be anywhere near England," Freckles said. "And there's no way it's undiscovered. It's far too distinct."

"Maybe that mad doctor covered it up," Roly said.

The pups looked at their portly brother.

"He'd have to be rich and powerful to do that," Patch said.

"All the same," Penny exclaimed. "Whoever this madman is and how powerful he is, he has our family. We must try and rescue them."

"And we will," Patch said firmly and confidently. "I'll make sure of it."

"We will make sure of it," Pepper said. "You're not in this alone brother."

Patch smiled.

He heard a sniffle and Patch saw that Cadpig was wiping her nose and eyes with her paw. She was shaking a bit. Her crying seemed to wear her out.

"Caddy, you alright?" Patch asked.

Cadpig nodded with a light smile. "Yeah, I think so," she said, sounding slightly hoarse.

There was a thud up above.

And then the sound of little feet, dozens of them, pattering on the floor above.

"They're leaving the boat," Penny said. "We'd better follow them. Quietly."

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Thankfully, there was plenty of tall grass for the pups to tiptoe through.

The soot was starting to rub off so they'd have to find something to smother their scent on the island so as to not give themselves away.

The gravel road was rather plain and very well structured.

In the distance, it could be seen that a large mass consisting of dozens of tiny black and white shapes were making their way towards a rocky plateau.

And it appeared to be that a building was built into that plateau as though it had been carved into it.

It looked to be a cross between a military base and a research facility carved into the mountain.

From certain angles, it would not be visible.

After many turns, once they were right in front of it, it was very visible.

Whoever built it meant for it to be hidden.

It looked as though it had been here, on this island for decades.

"I…" Patch said, almost breathless. "I've never seen anything like it."

"I don't think any of us have," Pepper said, equally stunned.

"H-hey Patch?" Cadpig said, quivering.

"Yes?"

"How's your ear?"

Patch winced a bit. "It still stings a little but I'm ok."

It was fortunate that Patch is a quick healer. However he would have to bear the mark of his would for the rest of his life. His ear, a bite taken out of it, by quite possibly his best friend, Precious.

"She must never know you guys," Patch said. "Precious must never know about this."

"But it wasn't her fault," Lucky protested.

"I know," Patch said sternly. "But Precious may not see it like that. If it had been me…" Patch shivered at the thought. "...if I had hurt any of you, forced or not, I don't know if I'd ever forgive myself."

"Oh Patchy," Cadpig cooed, nearly in tears. She nuzzled her brother lovingly. That was enough to leave Patch in tears.

"We won't tell her Patch," Penny said as she turned to the others. "Right?"

"My lips are sealed," Pepper said with feeling.

"Mine too," Lucky agreed.

Freckles nodded. "I'll say nothing."

"Me neither," Cadpig almost whispered. "I don't really know her but I don't want her to cry for something that was not her fault."

Roly said nothing. He had his head down and it didn't seem like he had listened to what had been said.

"Roly?" Penny said, trying to get his attention.

He didn't answer.

"Roly!"

Roly looked up with a start. "Y-Yeah?"

"Are you ok Roly?" Lucky asked.

Roly sniffled, wiped his nose and then composed himself. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine."

His siblings were not convinced.

"Roly," Penny said kindly but firmly. "What happened to Ryder wasn't your fault."

"Wasn't it? If I didn't lean on that crate-"

"Roly stop right there!" Patch snapped. "It was an accident. You are not responsible for what happened to Ryder. It was Nero and that crazy man, and them alone. Do you understand?"

Roly was taken aback. "But I-"

"No buts Roly Poly," Penny said in a stern, motherly tone. "Patch is right. It's no one's fault and it's certainly not yours."

He was almost in tears again but he wiped them away quickly. He sniffled. "Ok," he said.

"We have to be strong Roly," Patch said. "Our family is counting on us."

"I'm scared," Roly said.

"I'm scared too."

Roly's eyes widened. "You are?"

"Yes Roly," Patch's voice became grim but steady. "But I'm done being scared. One way or another, we are saving our family and making that madman pay for what he did."

Roly stared at his brother with wonder and amazement. His other siblings were looking at him in much the same way.

It seemed that this entire disaster had matured Patch by many years.

"Patch," Cadpig squeaked. "You're so brave."

"I have to be brave Caddy," Patch said, fighting to keep the fear out of his voice. "If I let myself get scared, I'll be no help to our family, to you guys, to Precious. You guys…" Patch looked at them with steely resolve. "...I need you guys to be brave with me because I can't do it on my own. Together, we can do it. We can save our family before it's too late."

If there was any doubt in the hearts of Patch's siblings, it was gone now.

Any fear of what lies ahead seemed to leave them in a flash.

Roly sniffled and nodded. "You're right Patch." He dried his eyes with his paw, he stood up straight and said,"For Ryder."

Patch smiled proudly. "For Ryder."

"For Ryder," the others said with brimming confidence.

"And for our family," Patch said in a commanding voice.

"Yeah!" said the others.

"And for…" Patch gulped. "And for Precious."

The other pups smiled at him.

"What?" Patch said.

"You really love her, don't you Patch?" Cadpig said sweetly.

Patch stiffened. His ears burned hotter than ever.

There was no point trying to hide it. Even Patch could smell it on himself.

"Yes," Patch said. "I do."

Lucky laughed but quickly covered his mouth to stop himself. "Sorry Patch, I know I shouldn't laugh but it's just so sweet."

"It really is," Penny said, beaming with delight.

Patch covered his face but he was smiling. "It's embarrassing."

"Guys, our objective?" Freckles said.

"Oh right," Patch said. "We'd better find a way inside without being seen. Roly, can you smell a way in?"

"Me?"

"Who else?" Pepper said. "You got the sharpest nose out of all of us."

Roly took a hard look at the hidden facility. He saw how foreboding and how monstrous it was. This was truly worse than Hell Hall.

"We're going in...there?" Roly stammered.

"If we want to save our family, yes," Patch said grimly.

Roly was unsure of himself and Patch could see it.

"You can do this brother," Patch said. "You got us this far."

Roly paused for a moment. He was afraid. Was. He was no longer trembling as he was when they arrived on this nightmare of an island.

The abandoned madhouse was terrible enough. What horrors laid in wait at this hidden island fortress, they couldn't know.

Not without going in first.

And their family was in that awful place.

The road ahead would be dangerous but none would be safe until they were all out of harm's way.

"Ok, I'll do it. I'm doing it for Ryder and our family. Nero or no Nero. Mad doctor or no mad doctor, nothing will stop us," Roly said as he stood upright once more.

His siblings cheered but not too loudly in case they'd be heard.

"Atta boy Roly," Pepper said.

"So, where to?" Freckles asked.

Roly sniffed the air. "We have to get closer to the place, but there's one thing I want you guys to do."

"What's that?" Lucky asked.

Roly gulped. "Talk me out of it."

To be continued...