Oyo, SO SORRY about the LONG wait, I have been very, very busy with…stuff...like life, ya know? Anyways, I still gotta do some work…don't worry, you will find almost everything out soon; maybe I should go into suspense, I seem to have the knack for making things go ON and ON for so long….And thank you ever so much, those who have reviewed. I'm glad you like it, and REALLY appreciate it

(Yeah, Carl's here, he's just…..you'll see)

Chapter 4: A Secret Plan?

Run! Run he said! Who was that guy? Norman thought as he ran blindly down the empty cobblestone streets, avoiding any suspecting-looking alleys. Don't look back, keep running! The adrenaline coursing through his veins made it easy for him to run faster than ever before. The pack bumped against his side as he strained to hang on to it. I worked hard to get this. I'm not going to throw it away! I need it. Lydia needs it!

Yes she does.

He turned right and ran into two distinguished looking gentlemen. They gave him dirty looks, but he hardly noticed. He looked around, than sighed in relief. I'm back on a public street. Knowing where he was, he decided to take a shortcut. He had to warn Lydia! He tugged on his jacket, a nervous habit of his. It was only after he mixed in with the crowd that he finally looked behind him. There was still no sign of the creature. I wonder if that guy can handle that thing…

Feeling uneasy, he walked faster.

Van Helsing soon lost sight of the monster. God this thing is fast! He paused every time he passed a street and listened. No screams, no yells…it didn't go through here… Where could it be? Damn it, how can I lose something so big! Wiping the sweat off his brow, he looked down and saw a dark, liquid substance. He bent down and examined it. It's definitely blood…smells like it… but it's black… it must belong to the creature. There was a trail of it leading down a narrow passage between two buildings. Well, that was easy. He stood up and ran. I hope Carl remembers the plan…

"Alright, so let me get this straight. You want me to drag this large iron cage behind this deserted church and wait there while you chase the creature towards me, and when I see it, I will shoot it with this holy water pistol in the eyes, blinding it just long enough for you to set the trap?"

Van Helsing nodded. "Something like that, yes." Carl stared at him beneath his brown hood.

"I'm not going to lie to you Van Helsing, but I think that is the dumbest thing you have ever come up with."

Van Helsing gave a small smile at the friar while he set up the equipment. "Come on Carl, this is the perfect place to catch that thing."

Carl shook his head. "But we don't even know what it is! Is it Demonic, Satanic, does it have a conscience, is it a man, we don't know ANY of this Van Helsing! We don't even know if this will work. Well actually, I know this plan won't work but that's beside the point-"

"Carl."

"What?"

Van Helsing frowned and gazed at the small abandoned church, surrounded by bare trees and darkness. As the sun began to set, mist began to creep through the forest floor. The church rested on a hill overlooking Liverpool; close enough to lure the creature out of the city, but far enough away from people and priceless works of art that could be destroyed or broken…like stained glass…

A chill whipped through the air, and Carl shivered. Van Helsing finally spoke.

"Even if it doesn't look like it, it's still a place of God. I don't know about this thing having a conscience, or even if it was ever a man." He paused. "But I do know that it kills, and needs to be stopped." He leaned against the wagon that contained the seven foot metal cage. "Unfortunately, whether it's a monster or a man, the Holy Order wants us to bring it back alive."

"And we both know how good you are at that." Van Helsing gave Carl a look. "Sorry." Carl turned towards the two black horses that pulled the wagon, and grabbed the reins. "Well if you insist, I'll go along with this plan or yours, but I still don't know why you want me to shoot it in the eyes."

Van Helsing picked up the gargoyle gun and placed it in his pocket. "Because I have a feeling it may be a weak spot."

Carl didn't look convinced, but pulled on the reins anyway. "Well alright. Do what you must. Meanwhile, try not to get yourself killed." The black horses snorted, following the friar as he led them on.

Van Helsing put his hat back on and looked down at the city below him. "Don't worry; I don't plan on getting killed."

Carl watched as Van Helsing walked down the pathway and disappeared from sight. He shook his head and mumbled to himself. "Next time, I'm coming up with the plan...shoot it in the eyes, what's he thinking?" His thoughts were interrupted when one of the horses reared up in fright. Carl quickly pulled down on the reins. "Whoa! Easy girl, easy!" The nervous friar fumbled with the reins until the horse was back on all fours, but it didn't look any calmer.

"What is it girl?" He looked around nervously. He knew that animals could sense danger far better than humans could. He saw a flash of color out of the corner of his eye, but he turned around so quickly that he tripped on his robes and fell to the ground. Carl covered his head, trying to protect himself from danger.

Then he heard something move just in front of him. Still lying in the ground, he fumbled for his water pistol and pointed the pistol straight ahead. He slowly looked up, and right next to the wagon wheel…was a cat.

Carl stared at the small, orange cat, which stared back at him with its lazy blue eyes.

Meow.

Carl made a face before he closed his eyes in relief. He then looked up at the horses. "That's what you're afraid of! Oh dear…" He turned his attention back to the cat, which meowed in his face again before trotting away. "God, I'm not a field man. Why am I here?"

Norman made a few more turns before he found himself approaching a bridge. A bridge? He slowed down as he neared it. His lungs were on fire, and his breathing was labored. Covered in sweat, he stopped at the bridges end, almost collapsing in exhaustion. He bent over, trying to catch his breath. Smoke came out of his mouth. He straightened up and looked ahead. To his horror, he saw darkness, than faded lights in the distance.

"Oh no! I got turned around!" he shook his head in panic. "This leads to the next town…this is not good…not good…" he muttered, backing away.

He heard a noise behind him and froze. He felt his heart skip a beat. Then two; apparently it was too afraid to go on functioning. He turned around slowly. He wished he hadn't.

The creature wasn't even out of breath as it raced towards him. This thing doesn't quit! He didn't have time to think about what had happened to the stranger; instead, he ran ahead.

Angry and annoyed, the creature growled as it continued to chase its prey.

Van Helsing couldn't believe his good fortune. The blood trail was leading towards the church, where he had planned to lure the creature in the first place! And yet, something was very wrong…

He found himself crossing a bridge and running through the forest. He made it up the hill where the church was when he skidded to a stop. The blood trail ended here.

Van Helsing looked around him. Where is it? He was worried about Carl, but he couldn't call out or else the creature would find out about him and the trap. If it hasn't already. I don't even know if it was still here. A banging noise made Van Helsing turn towards the church; the wooden doors were wide open, and the wind was forcing them to move. It has to be in there. I hope that man is still alive.

Van Helsing took out his pistols. Time for a new weapon. Cardinal Jeanette's words echoed in his head. "…we must catch it, study it, and find out what it is that we are dealing with…" He cocked the loaded weapons. Sure Cardinal, if this thing doesn't make me kill it first.

Guns loaded and ready, he walked in. Van Helsing looked around him, searching for the cat creature.

The pews and statues were covered in dust and cobwebs; the stained glass on the walls had lost their color long ago. Nevertheless, it looked empty. Narrowing his eyes, he looked above him in the rafters of the abandoned church. It was dark up there, and the wood looked old and creaked every so often. Could it be up there?

"I know you're in here." He spoke, pistols ready. "I'm not here to kill you." Although I wish I was. "I am here in the name of the Holy Order, to help find your good side." No matter how many times he said that, he still thought it was stupid.

A pair of eyes observed him from above, unnoticed.

"There's no way out." He shouts, stalling for time. Carl, where are you! "I know what you are and I know what you did. You have killed women and children from all over the world." Some of the newspapers stuck out of his trench coat pocket.

Large ears perked at this comment. The wind howled outside while there was silence in the church.

Van Helsing pointed one of his guns at the pews. "I've read the papers; I know what you're capable of. I also know that men have died trying to kill you."

Glowing red eyes narrowed, and disappeared behind one of the rafters.

Van Helsing looked beneath the pews quickly, still talking. "I can only assume...that since you're not showing yourself... that you are not planning on coming back with me willingly…"

As he looked around him, he felt something move in his trench coat and heard the words, "Let me see those."

Turning quickly, he let out two shots. The bullets left holes in the wall. Van Helsing looked confused.

"You should be more careful with that." The voice came from behind him again.

Van Helsing whirls around, gun pointed straight ahead, only to find the guns pointed at…a child?

K, 4th chapter is done, sorry again for the wait and thanks again for reviewing when you can. I know I said earlier that you would figure out who was who in this, but…I lied…? No, I had to cut some things out and shorten it. I have at least 10 different ways planned out for this story to take, and its hard for me to choose just one way, so that's why I'm taking so long. Trying to figure out which way I wanna go.