Disclaimer: I don't own Tom Sawyer, Mina Harker, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Captain Nemo, Skinner or anything else I have used in this chapter, with the exception of things that belong to me. =) Thanks as always to my wonderful Beta; Silver Bow. Managed to write this chapter pretty quickly, but there might be a gap before the next one is posted due to real life, it depends how things go. Now, on with the Shout Outs!
Leigh S. Durron:- Well, only four parts now... ;)
Clez:- ::Blinks, squints and peers at you:: Is this really Clez talking? Yeah, I agree, it's what Tom would have wanted, to die saving his friends. Well, no need for you to wait any longer, as here is the next part, where you shall see if your flicker of hope was justified.
Freedomfighter82:- Calm down! Technically I didn't kill his soul, I joined it with other souls... thanks for the compliments, I'm glad you're enjoying this.
Lyn:- Thanks, I'm now down to three exams, the worst ones are all over and done with.
LotRseer3350:- There's a rule now? ::Checks rule book:: Oh dear... and I've read your Tom death story... it was very sad and very lovely at the same time. ...wait, why am I complimenting you? You've threatened to come after me with pitchforks and werewolves!!
Graymoon74:- Creepy is good, creepy was what I was going for. ::Laughs nervously:: Of course I wouldn't really kill him... honest...
Funyun:- They might still have to live with their loss. Wouldn't that make an interesting story... The League without Tom... yeah, the funeral would be problematic wouldn't it ;)
Hoshii-Chan:- Denial is such a fun place to be! Here's the next part.
Silversnow:- I've written! Can I have popcorn now? ::pleading eyes:: I want some popcorn...
Steffi-333:- ::Ducks chair:: The spirits seem to becoming more and more evil as the story progresses don't they... you'll have to see if they get worse. It's the way Tom would have wanted, a noble end and if you slap spirit Tom, it's his body you are hurting... hehehe, no he's not going to go Exorcist...
Niani:- You'll have to read on to see if he is dead. Oh well, so I love things too much.
Silent Bob 546:- Everyone hates the spirits now... I wonder why. ::rolls eyes:: It couldn't have anything to do with them taking over Tom, now could it? ::Blushes:: Aw, Bob, you are too kind, really!
And now...
The Bodyguard
Part Twenty-Six: Surfacing
A low laugh echoed around the cavern, starting from the ground and rising up though the air. A cross between a gasp and a gagging noise followed it, as if the owner of the laugh was drinking something. The laugh itself was so twisted beyond normal tones that it would normally have been impossible to tell whom it belonged to. It would have been impossible if it hadn't been for the fact that the sounds were then followed by the scraping sound of fingernails. Fingernails that belonged to none other than Mr. Big. Tom turned his whole body to face him, the chokes and disbelief written clearly on his stolen face.
From the ground Mr. Big laughed again, the same terrible wheezing laugh as before. In a series of short, jerky movements the man had painfully rolled over and was on his hands and knees, his fanatical bright eyes fixed on Tom who stared emotionlessly back at him. The Dagger should have killed Big, as it burnt terribly any living flesh it touched. In fact, there was a large burnt area around the wound, the skin peeling slightly away from his body to revel tender and raw flesh. Big sat back on his knees, lifting his hands from the ground, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth. The man coughed harshly, bringing a hand up to his mouth to try and stem the tide of coughing and when he brought it away – there was blood all over the hand, the thick red liquid dripping steadily onto the sandy floor.
"So... the ritual did work after all." He gasped out, the burning eyes still watching Tom as the guardian took a cautious step toward the other man. The empty black eyes stared down at the living man as if he was nothing more than a bug.
"You have misused our power." Tom said coldly, venom dripping off every word. "We will no longer give you life, instead we will give you death."
"Will you really?" Big asked in amusement, standing up fully. Tom blinked at this as the two walked around in a circle, each watching the other. Big smiled and forced his ailing body round some more, until he was standing between Tom and the League. The guardian titled his head to one side, a confused frown on his face.
"You, League... You can... no longer talk." Big wheezed out. Jekyll felt something like a rope snapping around his jaw, bringing it close and fusing it in place. "As for you, 'Tom'..." He trailed off, coughing again, his whole body jerking violently as he did so. Big brought the coughing fit under control with agonizing slowness and he straightened back up, the knowing smile still on his face.
"What do you want Colonel?" Tom finally asked.
"Life." Big whispered back. "And I know how to get it..." With that he rushed forward, his hands reaching for Tom. In a flash, Big's meaning became clear to the guardian. Because the ritual had kind of worked and Tom's soul had been claimed by the Well, then if Big touched Tom's skin would be able to drain him of his life and live for another two years. Big hands came down on Tom's arms, grabbing him and pushing him towards the end of the platform. Giving a laugh of joy, Big waited for the life to flow back into his body while Tom screwed his eyes shut.
"What...?" Big asked, the laugh fading away as he looked down at his wound in disbelief. It was still there and he was still dying. Big's eyes flew to his hands, noticing that he was touching Tom's bare skin. Panting, Tom opened his eyes, staring at Big. They were his normal bright green again.
When Big had reached for Tom, the spirits of the Well had made a split second choice and fled Tom's body, returning to the Well. Tom himself had sudden become aware of himself again, rising upwards through the other souls as if he had been under water for a long time. By leaving Tom's body and soul together, then the spirits had given back any claim they had on the young American, thereby stopping Big from living.
"Hello there." Tom said brightly, before scowling and grabbing Big as well, trying to pry the older man off. Big clung on grimly, pushing forward, one tiny step at a time, forcing Tom to take one tiny step after step backwards. He was slowly nearing the drop, though he didn't know it. Their voices stolen from them, the League were unable to warn him. Tom snarled and pushed back, digging his heels in and spinning Big round so the two were now both standing sideways to the endless drop.
As the two struggled on the edge of the platform, each using all of their strength to try and emerge the victor, the rest of the League could do nothing but watch. The two seemed evenly matched for the moment, Big running on adrenaline and the power that comes from insanity while Tom fought with the passion of someone who is fighting for more than his own life, someone who is fighting for something they believe in. Each had their arms on the other as they fought, neither giving way to the other. They would move slightly to either side as one gained a tiny advantage, before the other would steal it back and they would be where they started. This stalemate seemed destined to go on until finally, the wound caused by the Dagger would kill Big. Tom knew this and so did Big.
The colonel had been unable to stop his plans crumbling around him and he knew that he had lost the game. There was no way that he would survive this last battle, no way he could out manoeuvre his opponents in such a way as to emerge alive. The spirits would not help him anymore and he had run out of both time and allies. Mr. Big knew all of this, but that didn't mean he was going to go down without a fight. If he was dying, he was going to, at the very least, take the person responsible for his death with him.
Screaming in both anger and pain, Big let go of Tom by one hand and reached for the Dagger which was still embedded in his body. His fingertips touched the hilt of it and instantly waves of pain shot into his hand, almost making his pull his hand away right there and then. Gritting his teeth, the dying man grabbed the handle of the Dagger and pulled. It reluctantly came free of his flesh, almost as if it had been stuck there and was clinging on. Tom's eyes widened a fraction as Big lifted the Dagger above his head, the fresh blood stained on the blade, giving it a dull red tinge to it.
Still screaming in absolute agony, Mr. Big slashed down with the Dagger, his mouth curled up in a cruel smile despite the uncontrolled scream. Even as Tom tried to twist his body away, Big held him tight and the Dagger connected with Tom's own body. It was plunged into his upper chest, the tip going deep into his body, hitting him just above his heart. Even so, it was clearly a fatal blow and Tom's mouth dropped open as the Dagger bit into him, an expression of utmost surprise on his face.
"If I must die... so will you, come let us face our maker together!" hissed Big. Tom didn't hear him though. He didn't really hear anything. The whole world had gone oddly silent, except for the harsh sound he could hear from his chest.
Thump!
Everything seemed to fade away, time passing him by in weird globs. One second he could see the Dagger flashing above his head, the light bouncing off it. He had thought, in that second, that he had seen someone standing, reflected in the metal blade, but time had rushed past him. Now it seemed as if time had forgotten him completely and he was just standing in a void. There should be pain – a lot of it. Tom was sure of it, but the pain also seemed to be absent and Tom was grateful for that small mercy.
Thump!
Tom stared into Big's grinning face, the older man laughing dementedly. He thought he had won, Tom realized. The American tried to call up some emotion, some anger to give him the fire he needed but instead found himself drained.
Thump!
Big let go of Tom and he sank to his knees, his breath coming out in short, harsh gasps, though he couldn't hear it himself. Frowning, his expression still one of surprise, Tom forced his head upwards, so he could stare across at the League. They stared back, dismay and shock on Mina and Dr. Jekyll's face. Skinner wasn't moving at all, it appeared he had finally passed out – At least he didn't see me fail... Tom found himself thinking. Nemo, as always, had no expression on his fierce face, though there was something lurking in his eyes that promised a terrible retribution.
Thump!
Only he wouldn't be able to get his revenge, or retribution, Tom realized. Because Big was already taking a slow and shaky step towards one of Tom's discarded Colt pistols. He was going to shoot as many of the League as he could and there was nothing anyone could do, because the spell was still in effect. The life would bleed away from Tom and he would die. Big would die as well, but the spell would still be in effect because the ritual was not completed and they did not leave together.
Thump!
After everything Tom had been though, Big was going to win where it mattered. Tom bowed his head, his gaze becoming blurred as he looked down at the dagger protruding from his chest. This can't be the end... The world seemed apart from Tom, almost fuzzy, as if he was floating outside.
Thump!
Time returned to Tom and he knew that only mere seconds has passed since he had been stabbed. Tom shakily stood up, his breath still in short gasps, fighting for every precious second of breathing time. Though he didn't know for sure, he could feel blood entering his lungs, and it struck him as funny that he was going to drown in Egypt. Unable to make a sound, having to save all his energy on moving and breathing Tom lunged forward and grabbed at the back of Big's shirt, dragging him backwards. Big fell back with a shout and the two stumbled towards the edge of the platform again, the heel of Tom's boots resting on thin air.
Thump!
For a split second the two hung precariously on the very edge. Tom's fading green eyes locked with the ice cold blue ones of Mina, a half smile touching his lips for an instant. Understanding dawned on Mina's face even as Tom turned back to look at Big. A cry of denial and dismay blossomed in Mina's mind, trying to force it's way out of her mouth and come into sound. But the spell held her mouth shut and the cry was internal only;
No!
Tom's leg caught Big's, tripping him and without another second the two tumbled from sight, plunging downwards into the inky darkness, a scream echoing from Big, though Tom was silent. The bonds holding the League captive vanished and Mina bounded forward, her skirt billowing around her legs as she ran gracefully to the edge and looked down. Silence and darkness was all that awaited her. As Mina stared down in despair, unable to see the bottom, even with her enhanced sight, she realized that her 'no' had been voiced externally as well as internally. The other 'no' had been female as well, but the voice had not been Mina Harker's. Slowly, dreading what she would see, Mina turned around.
TBC...
Hope you all enjoyed this part! Go, review! Let me know what you think =)
Sethoz
