"How much longer?" Hellboy grumbles as he smashes his way through another bush, sending the scant amount of snow on it to the ground. "We've been wandering around for hours."
"That way," Abe answers, pointing off to the right towards an area that's completely overgrown and mostly covered with more snow.
"Great," HB growls and then proceeds to go crashing through the forest's undergrowth.
Abe and Liz look at each other and smile before they and a half dozen agents follow in Hellboy's wake. A short time later they break out into a fairly large clearing that looks like something off of a Christmas card. The early morning light is just coming over the trees bathing the field, a tiny church and a small pond in a golden light. The ground and church are covered in a thin blanket of snow that sparkles under the weak winter sun. The only incongruity is the bay colored horse pretending to graze near the pond as it ignores the newcomers standing in the shade of the trees they've just passed.
"That it?" Red rumbles out of the corner of his mouth to Abe.
Abe takes his hand out of its protective glove and spreads his fingers well past what a human would be able to do. He 'scans' the animal for a moment before he gives a brief nod.
"Ok, Beautiful, that's your cue," HB states as he sadly smiles at Liz.
"Guess so," she replies with a shrug just before she steps out into the light.
As soon as she's washed in sunshine, the creature's head pops up with its ears pricked forward. Slowly she approaches it with her hand outstretched and talking quietly to it as if it were a real horse. At first, it stands there looking at her, ears alert and nostrils flaring before taking a few hesitant steps towards the woman.
Agents shift nervously behind Hellboy and Abe as Liz finally comes within touching distance of the kelpie. It sniffs her hand a couple of times before moving onto her face and hair. She gives a small smile as the hair being blown in her face gently tickles her. She reaches up and starts to stroke the soft neck and suddenly, the kelpie kneels down in front of her as if inviting her to mount it. Very carefully, she climbs up onto its back and as soon as she's situated, the creature stands up.
At first, it simply walks around the clearing, letting its rider get used to the movements. Then it starts trotting and Liz needs to hold onto the mane and with her legs tighter and tighter as the trot turns into a canter. She would actually be enjoying this if she didn't know that what she's riding wants to eat her.
Just as the kelpie reaches the point in the clearing that's farthest from the pond, it suddenly wheels around and breaks into a full gallop, heading straight for the water. Liz calmly holds on for dear life as she lets the fire build within her. Shortly before they hit the water, she releases her powers and with a flash of light, they turn into a large fireball.
With an ear piercing scream, the kelpie disintegrates and Liz comes down, rolling to a stop just before she hits the water. She stands and faces the pond, barely aware of the sound of running footsteps coming up behind her. Suddenly, there's an explosion of water from the middle of the pond and Liz instinctively puts up her arms to protect her face. As she starts to lower her arms, she's tackled from behind; the flash of red tells her it's Hellboy. They land face first into the water just as the sound of a spear gun being discharged reaches their ears. A fraction of a second later, the spear whistles over their heads.
Hellboy quickly sits up, dragging Liz up with him in his right hand, pulls out the Samaritan with the other hand and levels it at the woman who's floating unnaturally waist deep in the middle of the pond. She doesn't even seem to notice the large weapon being pointed at her as she stares in horror at something behind the demon. Being the kind of person who shoots first and asks questions later, Hellboy pulls the trigger.
As if in slow motion, he watches the custom made bullet leave the chamber, fly across the water and hit Lewis square in the chest. She never even sees it coming and the look on her face is one of pure surprise and shock. The force of the bullet blasts her to the opposite shore, where she lies motionless.
Hellboy looks down at Liz who's watched the whole scene pinned to her husband's chest. She looks up at him with confusion in her eyes and mud and water running down her face. From the corner of her eye, something catches her attention. She turns to look and gasps in horror. Hellboy twists around to see what she's looking at and suddenly feels his blood run cold.
The six agents that came with them are huddled together in the middle of the clearing kneeling or leaning over something. One of the agents starts yelling into the radio about a 'man down' and requesting a helicopter pick up. Then another agent moves and they see who the 'man down' is. It's Abe.
Hellboy and Liz are running across the clearing without even remembering ever standing up. Hellboy picks one of the agents up and moves him bodily so that he and Liz can get closer. Liz gives out a strangled cry when they get a good look at their friend. Abe's lying on his side in a crumpled heap with the spear sticking through his chest. The pool of blue blood stains the trampled snow underneath him despite the work of the agents trying to slow the flow by putting pressure on the wound. Abe manages to look up at his closest and oldest friends.
"Tell Maggie I love her," he gasps, blinking furiously to try and clear his darkening vision.
"Shut up, Abe," Liz half growls, half sobs as she drops to her knees next to him and grabs hold of the spear.
"Liz, don't try and remove it," Red warns while placing his left hand over hers.
"I'm not going to," she assures him as she feels the power build inside her once more. "Hold him still."
Hellboy quickly catches onto what she's about to do and shifts his hold from her to Abe. He pushes the agents away as the heat starts to build, melting the snow beneath them. With a sudden burst of power, Liz sends the heat of her fire through the spear, cauterizing the wound.
Abe lets out a scream that's heard not just with the ears but with the mind as well. He lies there trembling in pain as Hellboy releases him. But somehow, the merman knows it's too late. Then he hears it: The tolling of a church bell. It's all he can hear. He doesn't notice the yelling, panicked voices of the agents or the sound of the helicopter blades. All he can hear is that bell. He takes one last look at his friends.
"Goodbye," he whispers as the darkness pulls him under.