Author's Note: Thanks again to my reviewers! It's appreciated … very much.
Apologies for the lateness in posting … I've got a few other things on my plate at the moment. I will try to update again soon …
Chapter 7:
"Well …" Huck began. "I'm afriad there's only one way to stop him. One of the Undead has to kill him – he's an Undead, you know?"
Tom nodded. "Yeah, Jekyll told us."
"As for his minions … they're all Half-Men. Same goes for them – they can only be killed by their own kind or by an Undead." He shook his head. "We have to lure them out."
"How?" Becky asked. There was a few seconds of silence.
"Get the rest of the League back in here," Tom ordered. "I'll explain it to them."
Huck nodded. "OK." He moved to the door and exited quickly. Within minutes he had returned, followed by the rest of the League.
"We've sorted a few things out," Tom explained. "The only thing you need to know is that Huck is an Undead, and that the man who Changed him is probably the same man who is orchestrating the attacks in New York."
Huck looked around at the League, seeing the shock on their faces but it was quickly replaced with calm acceptence.
"We need to lure them out," Huck explained. "I'm the only Undead here, so I'm the only one who can kill him. He'll be looking for more people to take to turn into Half-Men – that was what I was supposed to become. The people who actually Changed me … they aren't in league with him. They are a neutral force, but they can be turned to either side depending on what the fates tell them."
"Do you know where they are?" Nemo asked.
Huck shook his head. "No …"
"Then our hope must lie with the Half-Men in New York," Mina said.
"We have to lure them out with something … someone …"
"Someone?" Tom echoed incredulously.
"Yeah … it's the only way; they won't accept anything else." Huck shook his head. "I don't like it either, but there's nothing else we can do."
"And what if this person is taken? What if they try to Change this person?" Jekyll demanded.
"They won't …" Huck sighed, and shook his head, muttering, "This is going to take a while." He cleared his throat. "They will wait until the new moon appears. There is a powerful spell they are hoping to evoke. That gives us two weeks."
Tom nodded. "All right … but who's the bait?"
"They need someone else like me," Huck conceded wearily.
Tom opened his mouth to speak, but Becky beat him to it: "I'll do it," she said firmly.
"But – Becky!" Tom yelled, turning on her. "I won't let you; it's too dangerous."
"That's why you'll be there to protect me," she said simply. "You need to be with the rest of the League. It's all right … I'm not afraid."
"It is a sound plan," Mina said quietly. Tom turned furiously towards her, but then looked over the faces of the other members of the League, and realised that they all agreed with her. His eyes fell last on Huck, who simply shrugged.
"That's the way it goes, Tom," he said philosophically.
Tom nodded. "All right …"
"Then let's get ready," Becky said firmly.
Tom shoved his Colt pistols into their positions in his jacket. "This is not going to work," he fumed.
Huck glanced up from where he was sitting on the bed loading his weapons. "You trying hard to be this pessamistic, or is it a natural thing?"
"Huck! This is too dangerous. Becky shouldn't be doing this."
"Tom, relax. We will be there; nothing will happen to her."
They left the room and walked to the dining room, where they met up with the other members of the League. Becky too was waiting there; she appeared nervous, but made a show of hiding it when the two agents entered.
"Becky – you ready?" Tom asked. She nodded. "Then let's go."
The League left the Nautilus first, followed by Becky. She walked in a different direction, and made out that she was going to visit a relative. The League followed at a discreet distance; Huck on the lookout for any signs of Half-Men.
Becky entered the library somewhat nervously. Relax, she told herself firmly, this has been well planned. Nothing will go wrong.
She walked casually between the rows of books, her mind and senses alert for any signs of trouble. Huck had told her plenty about these Half-Men : they could appear like 'normal' people, but transform into their true shape at a moment's notice; they were hard to differentiate until the moment of transformation. They would become taller, wider, stronger. Their skin would thicken to become a virtually unbreakable barrier. Any vestige of human thought would be shoved to the back of their minds, and their feral, animal instincts would take over – predators in the truest sense of the word.
A slight thrill of fear ran up her spine. Relax, she told herself again, it's going to be fine.
Tom shifted his grip on the Winchester rifle he clutched underneath his coat, and checked that it was loaded. Huck rolled his eyes; that made 42 times that Tom had checked this … not that Huck was counting, of course.
"I don't like it."
"I know."
"She shouldn't be involved."
"I understand."
"It's far too dangerous."
"She knows the risks."
"Damnit, Huck!" Tom exclaimed. The cold hard look in his best friend's eyes stopped any protests he was about to make.
"I know exactly what you're going to say Tom, but just listen to what I've got to say. I know the risks – and I know them better than you. I've been through it, remember? But I still support this, because this is something worth fighting against; because if we don't fight then we will fall. There's no maybe about that." He sighed. "Come on. It's time for another patrol. You take the ground, I'll cover the roof."
He turned to go. Tom spoke quickly: "Huck?"
His friend turned to look back at him. Tom walked quickly over to him, and held out a hand.
"Sorry."
Huck smiled a little, and took the offered hand. "No need to be."
They turned away from each other, Tom walking towrds the ground level of the library and Huck towards the upper level. The League were stationed throughout the street and surrounding buildings.
Tom walked through the library, past shelf after shelf of books. He wondered fleetingly if anyone had actually read all of the books in the library.
All such thoughts were banished by a scream. Tom sprang into action, recognising the voice. Becky …
He fired a single shot in the air as a distress signal, knowing that the League would converge on the library instantly.
He rounded the corner, and momentarily froze. There were three of them; Half-Men, fully transformed. There was a patch of blood on the ground that Tom conjectured to be Becky's, but there was no sign of the girl, other than a handkerchief dropped on the ground a metre or two away.
Maybe there were other Half-Men out there, and they had already taken Becky, or maybe she had managed to escape …
Tom banished all conjectures from his mind as the Half-Men growled and approached him, a feral gleam in their eyes. He instantly raised his Winchester to shoulder level, aiming it without hesitation at the closest. His target grinned.
"Go on," it growled, "won't do you any good, but it will make things more – amusing." His tone was condescending, and set Tom's teeth on edge.
Tom remembered hopelessly what Huck had said – Half-Men are the same – only other Half-Men or the Undead can kill them …
Huck, I could really use a little help right now, he thought as the Half-Men – undeterred by the bullet Tom fired at him – approached, his two companions in tow.
As if in answer to his prayers, a voice from the left said, "Now, now, boys." The tone was arrogant. Tom couldn't help grinning, however – that was Huck.
"Playing rough?" Huck enquired sardonically.
"You want to join in?" the leader of the Half-Men asked, an evil smile flitting over his features.
Huck smiled, drawing a sword from under his overcoat. Damn, where did he pull that one from? Haven't seen it before … Tom thought.
The sword was long, and thin. The handle was black, while the blade was silver, with intricate carvings down each side. Huck touched the flat of the blade to his head. "As a matter of fact," he drawled, "I do."
The Half-Men surveyed the weapon with true fear. The leader glanced towards Tom, who had taken a few steps back to ensure that he could not be used as a hostage, and now stood a metre to Huck's right. With a snarl, he moved away from the agents, the two other Half-Men following, regarding the blade with trepidation.
"Where's the girl?" Huck asked.
The leader smiled. "Gone."
Tom made to start forwards, but Huck planted a firm hand on his shoulder. "No, Tom."
The Half-Men, taking advantage of his preoccupation, made a dash for the door. Huck instantly pulled a dagger from his belt and hurled it after them, striking one in the back and bringing him to his knees. The others fled, giving little regard to their fallen companion.
Huck moved quickly over, jerking the dagger out and rolling the Half-Man onto his back. He motioned to Tom to stay back. "Where is the girl?" Huck asked, placing the tip of the blade at the Half-Man's throat.
With a sudden movement, his captive grabbed a knife from a secret pocket in his shirt, and plunged it into his own heart. Huck stepped back, watching as his adversary's eyes lost their shine and he died.
Huck bowed his head. "I'm sorry, Tom."
Tom shrugged. "So what next? They've got her."
Huck put a hand on his shoulder as the rest of the League trooped into the room, having failed in their quest to find the other Half-Men.
"We'll find her," Tom promised grimly. "No matter what."
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Please review!