Blix: I felt as though I hadn't used cliff-hangers for a while (and they are my speciality, lol) and that chapter was just screaming for one!
Moonofdespair: Don't bite things, lol. At least not now, you have a chapter to read!
Chapter 11Carl had pulled Van Helsing's lifeless body back into their compartment and had locked the door behind their entry. The blinds were pulled shut before he turned to the body he had rested on the bed. Carl shakily dropped the gun onto the bed, watching as his bloodstained hands trembled. He looked up to Van Helsing, staring at his lifeless face. His chest still bled with the bullet wound and was staining his waistcoat. With his hands still quivering, Carl moved to part the large trench coat Van Helsing wore before he moved to unfasten the small golden buttons of the black waistcoat. As the material parted, Carl pushed up the final layer of the thin shirt to Van Helsing's neck. His chest now lay bare in the soft moonlight, the wound looking all the more worse.
Heaving a determined sigh, Carl turned to pull his satchel towards him and flipped open the top. He pulled out various medical items and set to work on his friend's injury.
The morning sunlight filtered weakly into the carriage that morning. Van Helsing felt the light glowing through his closed eyelids and so slowly, but reluctantly opened his eyes to stare blearily at the sun washed ceiling of the compartment. He raised his head a little, but it was then, like a cart hitting him at full force that he realised he was in pain. He made a loud wince, his head abruptly dropping back down on the bed.
Carl was sat on his own bed, staring down at his lap. As Van Helsing made a noise he quickly looked up before scrambling over, "Van Helsing? Are.. are you alright?"
"Just perfect," said Van Helsing quietly as he closed his eyes. "So, you shot me, huh?"
"You can remember?" said Carl, sounding surprised. It was common fact that a werewolf never remembered their hunts.
"It's all a blur, to be honest," explained Van Helsing, "But that, and seeing this injury," he lifted his head again to look down at his bare chest. A small square wad of material was now strapped to his chest, "I put two and two together."
"I was worried I had killed you," said Carl softly, "I mean, they were silver bullets."
"Oh, well that's a great comfort from the man's whose idea this backup plan was," grunted Van Helsing. "I thought you said they wouldn't kill me if I hadn't transformed?"
"I did."
Van Helsing snorted quietly to himself, "Well then, you were right. Do I look dead to you?"
"You did," said Carl sheepishly.
An eye peeked open to look at Carl, "Don't worry about me. I'm fine."
"We're just pulling into Dieppe, are you able to walk?" Carl stepped back, moving to look out of the window. Van Helsing sat up slowly with a soft wince before pushing himself up off the bed. But Carl wasn't paying attention. "Oh no.."
"What?" Van Helsing shifted over to the window, staring down at the platform that resided in the distance. Amongst the awaiting passengers stood a row of blue-coated policemen. They were spread out along the platform, holding weapons ready as they waited for the train to pull in. "They don't forget easily, huh?"
"They are here just because of the werewolf incident? You didn't even hurt anyone!"
"I think it's more to do with the fact I killed Dr. Jekyll in Paris. Oh, and shattered the Rose window. Come on, we better hurry."
"But how are we going to avoid them?" asked Carl, turning to watch Van Helsing heave his sack onto shoulder. He stepped over to pick up his own bags, but was still watching Van Helsing worriedly.
Van Helsing tossed one of his pistols at Carl, "Just follow me."
Van Helsing led Carl down the narrow corridor of the train that was beginning to slow as it reached the station. People within their compartments were readying themselves of departure and did not notice the two men outside walking by. Van Helsing strode with long heavy footsteps, his trench coat billowing behind him. His waistcoat was still hung open, not yet fastened since he had been patched up. He held his gun lowered so the side of his coat disguised it. His eyes looked around sharply, missing nothing. As he reached the end of the train he moved swiftly around the corner, his coat lapels swishing out of sight. Carl hurried on after him, his trembling hands holding his gun tightly.
Van Helsing clasped the handle of the small door before he wrenched on it. It was unsurprisingly locked. He calmly lifted his gun and shot at the edge of the handle. It clattered off and the door fell open. "We gotta jump."
"Are you mad!"
"No, but I will be if we get caught. Now move it!" he barked as he pushed Carl in front of him.
When Carl showed hesitations Van Helsing picked him up by the neck of his Friar robes and with a feral growl threw the smaller man bodily off the moving train. Carl released an ear splitting yelp as he soared through the air, plummeting onto the banking of grass, which he tumbled down. Van Helsing slid his gun into his belt before he grabbed the edges of the door and leapt. With a loud grunt he collided with the earth, the momentum causing him to roll on down the hill.
His movement ceased as he hit the bottom of the slope, falling into the dusty pathway against Carl. Carl lay with his eyes wide in fright, clutching the gun like it was his only hope. Van Helsing roughly stood up, ignoring the stabs of pain in his chest wound as he turned to watch the train continue on its way. Spitting dirt from his mouth, he straightened his hat, turning to look down at Carl, "We've got a boat to catch." And without waiting for a response, Van Helsing strode off along the dirt path. Carl quickly scrambled to his feet, hitching the bags onto his shoulders before he hurried along after Van Helsing. The path meandered down by a small stream that ran through a village by the seashore. Cries of birds cawed through the air as they circled a large ship against the harbour.
The path led them in-between two buildings, opening out onto a dusty cobbled street that was bustling with life. The harbour lay in front of them, the planks of wood stretching out to join a ramp up to the ship itself. Just as Van Helsing and Carl stepped out of the shadows of the houses and into the road, a cry rang through the street followed by a gunshot, "Police! ArrĂȘt!"
Van Helsing spun his head to see two policemen running through the crowds of passer-bys, pushing past people with their guns aloft. Carl stared in the same direction, looking positively terrified. Van Helsing swung his sack off his shoulder; pressing in into Carl's arms, "Get on the ship! Go!" Carl made an incoherent whine before he scrambled across the cobbles, running desperately towards the harbour. He pushed through a crowd of women, muttering apologies. Van Helsing spun his eyes off Carl and focused them on the police running towards him. He slowly began to move, and as expected, the police fired their guns.
"Tout le monde vers le bas! ArrĂȘtez cet homme! Gelez, meurtrier!"
Van Helsing leapt clear of the first bullet before he ducked behind a cart of fruit. He paused for a short second before he lifted up, shooting across the top of the cart to the two oncoming police. One collapsed and the onlookers cried out with him. Van Helsing glanced down towards the harbor, seeing Carl disappear onto the ship. The ship however was pulling away! Van Helsing hurried to his feet, running down towards the harbor, past the onlookers. He heavily pounded across the decking, leaping onto the steps. Bullets shot at him as he ducked before he spun around and returned fire. The policeman staggered back. With heavy breaths Van Helsing scrambled up the last few steps before he leap towards the ship. He soared across the open drop to the sea. He grabbed onto the side of the ship, holding on desperately. Above him, Carl wrenched open the door, looking relieved as he pulled his friend on board.
Van Helsing looked down at the tickets before he passed them to Carl, "Do the tickets," he whispered, "I'm going to our cabin to look inconspicuous."
"Right you are," muttered Carl, turning to walk towards the attendant.
Van Helsing straightened his hat and walked down the corridor, turning into their cabin. He flopped down onto his bed, wincing as he held his chest. He raised his pistol up slowly, looking at it gratefully, "You'll come in handy again soon."
Woo! Action! Please review!
