Story Notes: I've wanted to do a new set of What If stories for ages, and I am glad I finally got round to doing it. I'm going to try to upload three at a time. This first set is Picaros, Red Sea Sharks and Explorers on the Moon. Please enjoy if you can, as two of the shorts are quite gloomy.
This story contains an execution. If you do not like this kind of fanfiction, please do not read past this point.
Category: Adventures of Tintin
Characters: Tintin, Haddock, Alcazar, Sponsz
Summary: Tintin never thought it would end like this. After everything they planned to overthrow Tapioca, they fail.
Genre(s): Tragedy,
Rating: T
Theme(s): Execution
Suggested Music
1. Lily's Theme - Alexandre Desplat
2. Day of the Dead - Junkie XL and Hans Zimmer
3. End of the Line - Henry Jackman
As the thunder moved even closer to the prison, Tintin kept his head down, staring at the floor in silence. The light of the sun faded, casting a dark shadow across the room. He finally raised his head to find the charcoal clouds encompassing the sky through the barred window. It would be over them soon.
Tintin's handcuffs scratched together as two guards pulled him onto his feet. It served as nothing but a reminder of his fate, which now remained in the hands of his captors. He doubted General Tapioca and Colonel Sponsz would show them any mercy.
Tintin still couldn't understand how General Tapioca caught them. Everything had gone to plan. They'd come so close only to lose at the last hurdle. He wondered if he would ever find out how.
We never even saw it coming, Tintin thought.
Now they would face the consequences.
The Guards pulled him along the corridor, moving in sync. As they did, the jeers of the other prisoners sent an unwelcome chill down the length of his spine. Others threw objects, making Tintin flinch. The guards pushed him along regardless. As the guards led him past some empty cells and towards a door, his composure started to slip.
They are not imprisoning me.
Tintin slowly raised his head as the door opened, allowing a bitter wind to sweep into the corridor. He involuntarily shivered as the guards shoved him forwards. Recovering his balance, he had no choice but to allow them to pull him to where they wanted him. He kept his head raised, determined not to lose the last of his resistance.
"Kneel," One of the Guards ordered.
I don't think so.
Tintin didn't reply.
Without warning, the guard slammed his gun across Tintin's abdomen. Tintin gasped in pain but didn't allow himself to fall. He tried to clutch his stomach and arched his back, attempting to hold in a scream.
"Get on your knees!" The other demanded.
"No!"
As another impact hit the back of his head, his legs collapsed from under him. His knee joints cracked slightly as they hit the ground, then more footfalls approached from inside the prison.
What's happening?
Tintin's eye's shot round the courtyard in panic, scanning for any anomalies, any sign of what could happen to them. All of the sounds faded into nothing as Captain Haddock and General Alcazar were led out into the yard. His pounding heart immediately ceased at the presence of his friends, despite the harrowing circumstances. As their eyes met, thunder rumbled ominously across the city. With each passing moment, it neared, threatening the entire city with an imminent downpour.
Colonel Sponsz strode into the courtyard, a wide smirk across his face.
Tintin avoided his smug gaze, opting to gaze at his friend's. Two guards stood next to Alcazar and Haddock, flanking their positions. A tear slipped from his eye as he recalled their last moments of freedom. They planned, they laughed and enjoyed every moment. He held onto those moments of peace as Sponsz paced up behind him.
As a series of clicks echoed behind him, Haddock and Alcazar immediately started to struggle. The guards held them tight. One even placed a gun to Haddock's neck.
"No! Don't Please!" Alcazar shouted. "I'm the one you want!"
"He's just a kid, please!" Haddock pleaded, his voice breaking on the last word.
Tintin's body wanted to fight. He wanted to scream and kick, fight back at the fate that Sponsz had chosen.
As he locked eyes with Haddock, his resistance faded. Nothing could change the outcome.
As the clicks stopped, Sponsz raised the gun.
The Cold metal grazed against the back of Tintin's head.
Tintin slowly shut his eyes then reopened them, gazing one last time at his friends.
x
The yard filled with a gunshot.
At that exact moment, lightning struck the ground
Tintin fell forwards and stilled.
Haddock shrieked in a grief choked wail that spread throughout the walls of the prison. The rising wind manipulated Tintin's stray hair, making strands dance across his forehead and open eye's. The vibrant hazel shade faded, replaced with dark dilated pupils staring right at him.
No! Not you ...
His hand stretched to his heart as he gazed at his best friend lying lifeless only metres from him. As his eyes flooded with tears, he couldn't speak. His lungs wouldn't comply. His entire body tightened like a hand had wrapped around him, squeezing the life from him.
You didn't deserve this, Haddock thought, unable to control his sobs. I never wanted to lose you like this. I'm so sorry.
Alcazar collapsed onto his knees, placing his bound hands to his face.
It didn't make a difference. Haddock could still perceive the tears sliding down Alcazar's cheeks.
As Sponsz stood over Tintin's lifeless body, Haddock's legs buckled.
He's gone. I'm never going to see you again.
He plummeted to the ground in devastation, unable to cope with the overwhelming agony. His world faded to blackness as the guards pulled him across the yard and towards the door. Rain slammed into the ground, but it didn't wash away his pain.
Sorry, it's so bleak. It took me a while to work out just how to end this and to find a title. I used End of the Line to write this. If you listen to the piece, the moment the orchestra changes to the piano is the moment when the shot fires.