Chapter 6
Alley:
Let's see here, I think as I look around the room. Then I spot the staircase.
"Let's try the stairs," I say.
"Ok," replies Shadow, and we go up stairs.
As we make our way up the stairs, the thought occurs to me, if I'm not the demon, than who is? Whoever he is, he's not going to get away with framing me, that's for sure. I am wondering this as we reach the top and go into the first room. But my mind is soon cleared because in this room is a giant pool full of water!
"I've never seen so much water in all my life!" I exclaim looking into the crystal clear blue water.
"Hey! Look, I see my glove!" Shadow says excitedly. Looking over to the other side of the pool, I see it too. It's with all of Abe's other cloths, including his collar, black shirt, and other glove, sitting on a chair neatly folded. There's a table with a stack of towels next to it.
"I wonder were that blue dude is anyway?" I ask only half interested. As my sister runs over to get her glove, a shimmer catches my eye. I look down but see nothing. Then I look up at my sister who is facing me at the other end of the tank, trying to decide which glove is hers.
"OK, you've got your glove, now lets..." I start to say, and then I see it right behind Shadow. Something that might have been a sewer rat at one time is right behind Shadow ready to attack! It's lost all of its hair and it now has horns. It's about the same size as the two of us combined. This must the guy that chewed on the demon.
"Look out!!!" I screech, running toward her.
"Look out for what?" She says looking around. Then she turns to look behind her. I'm halfway to her when all of a sudden it attacks. It lunges toward her, teeth bared. Being as fast and as smart as me, she dodges the attack, but in doing so she loses her balance and falls into the water. I get there one second to late. I puff myself up and face the rat. I start hissing, spiting, and growling for all I'm worth, scratching it, but making sure not to bite. Finally after what seems like forever it finally gives up and runs away, scurrying into the darkness.
After the battle with the rat, I look at the water. I hang my head and start crying in a high pitched squeal. "My sister, how can this be? She can't be dead. It's my entire fault, if I had gotten here faster..."
"What's all this noise about?" Asks a bubbly voice. I look up and see Abe, with only his swim trunks on, sitting on the edge of the tank.
"There's no need to cry little one," says Abe.
I just look at him and continue to cry my pain.
"It's all right," says Abe. "Your sister's not dead." He gets up and heads to the table.
I look up, not even believing Abe's words. Then I see my sister alive and wet on the other side of where he had been sitting. I run over to her to see if she's all right.
"I thought you were dead." I say, relief flowing over me.
"I thought I was too, until Abe saved me," says Shadow looking at me, shivering. "That water is a lot colder than the bath we got earlier."
It is then that I remembered that Abe is still there. I look at him for a moment, reviewing the last few moments in my head, and then I realize he knew what I was upset about. I stand there shocked, until the sound of Hellboy bursting into the room wakes me from my trance.
"What on earth is going on in here, and why is that demon cat in here?!" says Manning from behind Hellboy.
"Calm yourself Manning, everything is under control," says Abe calmly. "And the kitten is not the demon. A rat is, and it has escaped." Says Abe, as he starts to explain everything that has happened here. As he is explaining, he takes a towel from the stack and starts drying off Shadow.
After Abe explains everything, he brings us down the staircase with him and puts us on a little table. He goes to get some bandages for me since I have taken some damage while I was battling that rat.
Once Abe has returned, he and Hellboy carefully bandage me up. Manning was sneezing a lot, so he left before Abe gets back.
"How did you know what Alley was upset about?" asks Hellboy.
"I can read them," explains Abe. "But not like I can with humans, just strong emotions and some images."
"Oh, Ok. Well, let's get you two off to bed, we've had a long, exciting, day haven't we." says Hellboy, gently picking us up into his huge right hand. Just as we are about to leave, Abe stops us.
"Hold on, Red," Abe says. He points to Shadow and continues, "This one is unhappy. It's like she's lost something."
He stands there with his head cocked staring at Shadow for a moment. Shadow looks at him with big sad eyes and gives a little mew.
"Wait here one moment, I have to get something" says Abe as he runs up the staircase. A moment later he comes back with something in his hand. It's his gloves! He gives one to Shadow, who looks very happy to have it back and one to me.
"I think you two deserve these." says Abe as Shadow snatches hers and starts nuzzling it. I start rubbing my head against his hand and purring and Shadow joins me a second later.
Abe smiles and says, "You're welcome."