Author's Note: Here it is, the plot chapter!! Da-da! seriously This is the chapter where we get the explanation of Huck's past, and some indication of future events.
Apologies for lateness of posting … Real Life has been a little difficult recently.
Thanks to everyone who reviews!
Clez: Ahhh cliffhangers … well I did learn from the best ;-) You can be very cruel with your cliffhangers, you know!!
LOTRseer3350: My view was that Tom has been punishing himself for years about causing Huck's death … and suddenly he sees Huck again, and realises that Huck isn't dead … it's a lot for him to take in one hit. Anyway … thanks for reviewing!
Leigh S. Durron: Well, like you said, I can leave you like that … evil grin … but I promise not to again! … uncrosses fingers :p
Stormyronin: Thanks :-)
Funyun: Ahh, but who said I had to be fair?! … sorry, I know I'm cruel and twisted ;-) … thanks for reviewing!!
Bradleigh: Glad you like it …
Hosii-chan: I know, another cliffhanger … hangs head … you guys are almost making me feel sorry! … j/k ;-) Thanks for reviewing!
Chapter 6: Reliving the Nightmare
"Eight years ago …" He paused, smiling. "Sure doesn't seem it. You may remember I left town for a few months?"
Tom nodded. "Yeah … I remember. You went to Washington, didn't you? To visit your father after he left town?"
Huck swallowed. "Well … I did go to Washington, but when I got there I found out that my father was already dead. I decided – seeing as I'd never been up this way before – I'd go for a little bit of adventuring. I went further north, and ended up in New York. At the time … there was a rich French nobleman in town, visiting … sightseeing … and kidnapping. I was snatched off the streets one night and taken to an underground cavern four hour's drive outside of New York.
"I didn't know where I was, or what they wanted from me … as you can imagine, I was absolutely terrified. I was surrounded by a group of hooded men … and they definitely did not intend good things for me." He swallowed again, and closed his eyes briefly. "I – I can't explain exactly what they did to me next. They cut me – one cut down each arm – and … I felt the most excruitiating pain – like I was being cut in two. I passed out quickly … when I woke I was weak and ill. I could hardly breathe properly … but I was alive.
"After a few minutes, I was able to remember what had happened to me. I got up and tried to flee, but they caught me very quickly, as I could barely walk. Then they told me … what they'd done … what I'd become."
Tom's jaw fell open as he began to realise what Huck was getting at. He shook his head violently. "No," he stammered. "But … no!"
"I'm one of the Undead, Tom," Huck said quietly. "I'm immortal."
Tom had his head down in his hands. Becky screamed and sprang to her feet, panicking and hyperventilating. Huck jumped up and tried to calm her.
"Becky – Becky please. Please calm down. Listen to me. Listen to my voice. It's all right," he murmured, soothing her. "It's all right." Gradually he eased her down into her seat and she calmed down a little, before tears slipped from her eyelids.
Huck sat back down, and looked away. "I'm sorry."
Tom looked back at him, angry. "Just when were you planning on telling me?" he demanded, incensed. "When?"
"Tom –"
"You know, at any stage, you could have said, 'Tom, I'm an immortal'. That would have been nice."
"I'm sorry, all right," Huck yelled. "I couldn't tell you. I was frightened," he admitted suddenly. "After I recovered enough of my strength, I ran. I managed to escape them and get back to Missouri … back home. But … I was scared – of what I'd become. At first, I tried to tell myself it was a dream, or some kind of fantasy. It was all a massive joke. But then I realised that – I really was immortal.
"Have you ever wondered why the Secret Service recruited us so quickly?" He asked Tom. "You were a standout anyway, and then here I was, the Undead. Immortals make pretty good agents," he joked.
Tom shook his head, before forcing a smile. "Well, that would explain how you survived, I guess."
Huck nodded. "Yeah …"
Becky wiped her eyes. "What …?"
"You explain," Huck said to Tom. "Tell her what you saw."
Tom nodded. "We were chasing the Fantom," he began, forcing himself to remember, calling on the vivid memories that had haunted his dreams. "It was a rainy night …"
Two figures stood in the shadows, waiting, watching. The rain poured down as they huddled back under the eaves of a building, watching the street.
Their quarry arrived in a black carriage. He climbed out, mask covering his face and obscuring his features. Tom nudged Huck, though it was hardly necessary – his friend had already slipped his gun from his belt and tensed, ready to move at a moment's notice.
They watched as the Fantom moved slowly into a house on the other side of the road, as the carriage moved off noisily into the shadows of the night. After waiting thirty seconds, Huck nodded at Tom, and they proceeded across the road towards the entrance.
Tom tried to listen at the door, but was unable to make out any sounds from within the building. Huck tapped his arm, then signed towards one of the windows high up on the wall. Tom judged the distance carefully, then nodded, and Huck began instantly to climb. He scaled the wall easily, slowing as he reached the window, and cautiously pushed his head above the sill. In a few seconds, he assessed the scene inside, before climbing back down the wall just as quietly and confidently as he had scaled it.
"Well?"
"We're gonna need back-up. There's gotta be at least thirty of them in there with him. And they have to come quick – looks like they're moving out."
Tom nodded, digesting this information. He quickly moved to the end of the street and set off a flare. It would quite possibly alert the Fantom to their presence, but it was their only option. He moved back to Huck, who had again scaled the wall.
"We're going in," Huck told him.
"What?"
"They're leaving now. We have to take him down."
Tom nodded. He clasped hands with Huck briefly. "Let's go get him."
Tom paused, grimacing.
"What happened next?" Becky asked, caught up in the tale.
"Well," Huck said, taking over, "we went in, guns blazing. Didn't take us long to be pinned down though …"
"So here I have you," drawled the Fantom. "At my mercy."
"We aren't alone," Tom told him fearlessly.
"You've sent your men away – now you only have one shot," Huck said. "Take us down and you die."
"And where is this – back up?" the Fantom asked condescendingly. "I don't see it anywhere …"
"That's the idea," Huck retorted. "You aren't meant to see them yet you know."
"Now why is it that I don't believe you?"
Huck shrugged. "Your funeral."
The Fantom rolled his eyes. "Well, if I only have one shot … I'd better make it count. Which of you is it to be?"
Tom swallowed harshly. "Me."
Huck shot him a look of surprise. "Tom no –"
"Shut up, Huck."
"Tom, you don't understand –"
"I understand all I need to. Don't shoot Huck."
"I was trying to tell you," Huck said, rolling his eyes. "It had to be me – because I could survive it. You couldn't."
"Yeah, well I didn't exactly know about that at the time did I?"
"Well," the Fantom said, looking at Huck, "it appears that your friend is willing to give up his life for you."
"Tom …"
"And I feel I should oblige."
Tom braced himself. This was right. This was the only thing he could do. He was unarmed and without a chance at escape – but he could save Huck. The backup had to be practically here – they would burst in upon hearing the shot and Huck would be fine.
Huck would be fine …Tom shook his head. "After that … everything happened so fast. The Fantom moved to fire, and then …"
"I dived in front of you," Huck said, picking up where Tom had left off. "I knew it wouldn't – couldn't – kill me."
"Yeah, well I didn't," Tom retorted. "I thought you were dead."
"I know."
"So how did you survive?" Becky asked.
"Well, contary to popular opinion, getting shot in the chest even hurts for an Undead. The blood I was coughing wasn't fake. I really was in pain … I knew that I would be OK – I just needed time and a place to recuperate. I also knew that if I was believed dead, I could hunt down the man that Changed me in secrecy, and that it would be a lot easier."
"So you pretended to die …"
Huck nodded. "Yeah. I'm sorry."
Tom nodded to show his acceptance. It hurt that his best friend – hell, a man who was practically his brother – would shut him out like he had … but Tom understood why he had done it. That was what was important.
"So where to now?" Tom asked. "How do we get those guys who Changed you?"
Huck smiled inwardly. In those simple words, Tom had forgiven him.
Damn that felt good.
Author's Note: The next chapter will probably be another big 'talking' chapter … stay tuned!
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