Wow! Thanks so much to everybody who reviewed! I appreciate your feedback soooo much!
Now to some specific questions and comments,
Bayleef14, thanks for telling me about the anonymus (erg, spelling, I know) review block, I didn't even know there was one! It's all fixed now though!
Diamond Unicorn, Yes I am going to finish the other story I've started, The begining, but I was having some issues with where I was going to take it when I sorta got the idea for this one, so I started this one because it just seemed to work. To be absolutely honest, the begining was just supposed to be one of those once off little snap shots, not actually a story to continue, but I've got some ideas for it, so have no fear!
And again to everybody else who reviewed, Thanks so much! I was so excited when I was reading all the reviews! I didn't expect anything like such a positive response! Thank you so much!
Anyway, enough bibble babble, on the the next bit of the story!
Chapter 2.
As Abe treaded water, floundering a bit and fighting back the encroaching dizziness, he decided he'd better do something, and do it now, or he wouldn't be able to anything at all. Chances were that his situation wasn't going to get any better with him just sitting there.
He took a deep breath and ducked under the water, swimming toward the man blocking his exit. Hopefully he could gain a little bit of surprise that way; after all, the water was barely translucent. The adrenalin pumping through his body lent him the energy to tear through the semi-jello water, straight at the probably armed man. Possibly not the best plan, Abe thought to himself, but it's all he had at the moment.
Abe burst out of the water, sending blobs of it flying in every direction, and hurly straight towards the man who'd put his arms over his head, and gave a rather girlish scream of surprise as Abe bowled him over, sending them both tumbling. As they rolled head over heels in a rather cartoonish fashion, the man managed to disentangle himself and get his hands to his belt, or more specifically, his weapon.
As they completely separated from each other, Abe crouching in a defensive position, and the man, his name tag announcing him Frank, was standing between him and the stairs, the only way out. He held a taser in front of him menacingly.
"Well that wasn't very nice," Frank said, crouching down slightly to lower his center of gravity. "You've got no where to go, except through me, and now I'm not going to make it easy for you." He grinned menacingly and triggered the stun gun, the electricity sparking and snapping.
Abe sighed; nothing was ever simple for the unfortunate amphibian. "As if you were going to make it easy for me to begin with," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head in an attempt to clear the fog. His breathing hadn't really eased either, he was still finding breathing difficult, though he tried to concentrate on the task at hand.
Abe slowly made his way forward, never taking his eyes off of Frank or his weapon. He moved along the wall, it protected him from anything coming up behind, though it also limited his maneuvering space. As he closed the gap between himself and his attacker, he lunged forward, hands snatching towards Frank's wrist, shoulder pounding into his chest, knocking them both off balance. Again they both fell, as was Abe's plan, toward the exit. Unfortunately Abe had misjudged the distance between Frank and the stairs leading from the top of the giant aquarium to the main floor. He was unable to stop their momentum and they again tumbled through the air, this time down the flight of stairs, arms and legs flying around wildly as each battled for a better position. As they bounced off the steps, Frank managed to grab a hold of Abe's neck, and bashed his already spinning head into one of the steps, though at the same time Abe managed a well aimed kick to Frank's groin, causing him to curl up into the fetal position, giving Abe a moment to catch his breath and clear his head.
Their rather ungainly decent suddenly halted, they'd reached the floor. Abe stood up and bolted to the door, his legs protesting and his head spinning. He reached it, leaned heavily on the wall, and managed to pull it open. As he started to run from the room, he felt a hand on his ankle.
"Not so fast there, fishboy," Frank growled, bringing his weapon to bare.
"That's Mr. Fish-boy to you, Franky," Abe growled back, frankly become very irritable. He managed to pull himself, and Frank's arm attached to his leg out through the door, pivoted around, and slammed the door with all his might, catching Frank's arm in it. As the door connected Abe heard a rather satisfying crack, and curse from Frank on the other side of the door as he quickly pulled his damaged limb towards himself. The door clicked shut, and Abe leaned heavily on it, not only to keep Frank on the other side, but also to support himself.
As he turned to survey the library and try to work out what he would do next, Abe noticed the two other men. Bob and Larry read their nametags. He paused to consider the curiousness of the situation as he tried to come up with an idea of how to remedy his rather complicated situation. Frank was down for the moment, though Abe doubted he would stay that way, and the other two seemed to be rather nervously edging towards the door. He needed help and medical attention, obviously, how could he attract such attention to himself, without being able to leave the room?
He scanned the room, looking for some inspiration, and his eyes again came to light on Bob and Larry. They were muttering to themselves, Larry looking very unsure and worried and was shaking his head slowly while Bob was gesturing to the door and talking insistently in low murmurs.
"...Not a good idea....on!" Muttered Bob, "... like...just go!", he finished, with a very emphatic gesture to the door.
Larry still looked doubtful, but finally shrugged. He reached into his coat, and Abe felt a moments panic. He pulled out an envelope, and Abe's panic subsided, it wasn't a gun. He dropped the envelope, than he and Bob fled the scene, leaving Abe with a little less to worry about.
Thump!
Frank was up again, trying to free himself from confines.
Thump!
Wait, was that Frank, or just the pounding in his head? It was growing stronger, and his legs seemed to be having greater difficulty in keeping him upright. A plan, he needed a plan.
As Frank gave an especially strong thump, Abe's eyes fell on the answer to his situation. The Fire Alarm! He'd be putting a lot of trust in Hellboy, that he'd try to save Abe in case of a fire, but his situation wasn't improving, it was all he had to work with.
As Frank thumped again, nearly knocking Abe over, he used the momentum and bolted for the fire alarm. The door sprung open very unexpectedly for Frank, and he burst out of the room completely off balance as Abe lurched towards his goal. Frank caught himself on a nearby bookshelf and kept himself from falling, though unfortunately for him, he did so with his wounded arm. He cried out in pain as he crumpled to the floor. He lay there for a few seconds, letting the pain receded, and as he started to rise, breathing heavily, his eyes landed on his tazer. He grabbed the weapon stood, and started towards Abe who was mere meters from his goal, leaning heavily on a desk gasping for breath.
Abe drew a deep breath and lurched towards his goal, using the last of his adrenalin-lent energy to close the distance. He reached out, and grasped the lever, and elation spread through him as his knees finally gave out, the weight of his body helping him find the little strength needed to pull the lever.
As the alarm sounded and Abe slid to the floor, Frank was there, looming over his weakened body, his tazer held in one hand, and his other held protectively to his body.
Frank gave a menacing laugh, "Don't think you've won this," he grinned, "This is far from over!" He laughed again as he upped the power of his weapon and jabbed it into the side of Abe's neck sending bolts of electricity snapping and jerking into the already downed man's body. As his muscles spasmed and jerked from the massive electric shock, he heard Frank laugh again and bolt for the door, making his escape.
Abe continued to struggle for every breath and straw of consciousness, though both were becoming harder and harder to attain, and his mind seemed to wander away from his pain wracked body. Who wears a nametag while attempting murder or kidnap, he mused to himself, I wonder if Hellboy will come for me?
"Abe!" Hellboy yelled as he crashed through the door as if on cue, "Let's go! Liz and Father have already sta... ah crap!" He exclaimed as he saw Abe's prone form lying in a heap under the fire alarm in the corner.
Hellboy ran to his fallen friends side and carefully lifted him from the floor in a surprisingly gentle embrace. Abe's eyes fluttered open and he smiled briefly. His trust had not been misplaced.
"Thanks....for coming.." he managed between gasps, "Can't..... breath!" He finished, his eyes closing and heap lolling back, the four words uttered having exhausted him.
"I can see that man," Hellboy replied, half grinning trying to cover his distress at finding his comrade in such a state.
He stood up carefully, cradling Abe's body in his arm, and started for the door, though as he turned he noticed the soft blue glowing light of the room had turned to a dark purple, almost black colour. He knew instantly that it was the source of Abe's breathing difficulties, and also knew there was nothing he could do about it. He turned and ran out the door down the corridor in the direction Dr. Broom had taken moments before. As he ran he noted how Abe now felt cold and clammy in his arms, much more so then was normal for the amphibious being. As he rounded a corner he saw his father's retreating back.
"Father!" Hellboy yelled, picking up his pace, though being careful not to jar his charge. "Father, there's no fire! Abe needs help!"
Dr. Broom spun around at the desperate note in his sons voice "He's barely breathing!", Hellboy informed the professor as they neared.
Indeed Abraham's gasps had become more laboured and painful sounding, almost convulsive. Dr. Broom ran towards the oncoming pair as fast as his limp would allow him, a knot of fear forming in his stomach as he took in the full state of the unconscious merman.
"Quickly! Bring him to the infirmary," The professor ordered, feeling an immense sense of urgency, "And tell me what the bloody hell is going on!"