Chapter 55 - Monsters in the Dark
Continued

Nyctalope's chest was heaving almost painfully. The cold around him was hurting his chest as he greedily took in the air. He had managed to hide away in the heavy undergrowth at the foot of a slender tree. The dark of the night helped to conceal him from Edward Hyde. He was terrified of the risk of being discovered. The only way he had a chance was to keep away from him until the potion ran out, but with such a limited area to work with, it was only a matter of time, time he really didn't have. He had to get to Robur, to warn him.

Great footsteps alerted Nyctalope of Hyde's nearby presence. He could hear the monster's strong breathing and him growling in irritation at being unable to find the young man. Nyctalope dared to peer up out of the undergrowth he lay in, at least he could see Hyde clear as day without putting himself at risk. The darkness could protect him. Hyde was staring hard into the blackness. He was having a little more difficulty locating him in the dark. He seemed to be relying on his nose somewhat, using all of his senses to discover where the young hero was hiding.

"I know you're here, boy. I can smell your fear! Come on out! I will make your death much faster."

Nyctalope tried his best to make his breath silent and the steam from his breath invisible. His heartbeat was pounding in his ears. He could feel his trembling hands growing sweaty as he tried his best to control his anxiety. It wasn't easy to steady his breathing after he had been forced to run only minutes before. Nyctalope closed his eyes tightly and ducked back down. There was a slight rustle of dry grass due to the movement. Hyde's head snapped to attention.

Hyde began to stomp toward him. Hyde was going to find him, there was no getting away from the fact. Nyctalope had only a slim hope of survival. He had to run. He had to get away from him. Lupin had given a task and above all, he had to see it through. Only he was physically strong enough to stop Robur and Nemo fighting. Lupin seemed to know he wouldn't have been able to get past the League- especially with Skinner.

Now it seemed Lupin had far more chance of stopping this fight than what he had. Nyctalope took one last steadying breath and jumped to his feet. Hyde immediately made chase, Nyctalope was already running away. He sped away like a rabbit, weaving in between trees, jumping over roots; ducking under branches. His mind emptied itself. His only thought was to run- to run and not stop. The long grass was wrapping around his ankles, threatening to trip him over. The tree roots reached out to try and catch him off guard.

Hyde barrelled through the vegetation, knocking over any tree that was in his path. Most of the trees were thin and dainty, easily falling over at Hyde's fury. He roared in anger. He knew he wouldn't be able to just catch Nyctalope. He quickly changed his tactics.

Nyctalope kept moving, gritting his teeth, trying to ignore his burning lungs. He didn't dare look behind him. He'd end up tripping.

Everything changed so quickly.

Before he could even acknowledge what was happening, he was on the ground. Instinct brought his arms up to his head, protecting him somewhat. For a second he just lay there, dazed, confused. He spat out a mixture of dirt and blood, turning himself over onto his back. Hyde had launched a great branch at him, knocking him over like a domino.

Nyctalope groaned in pain. Everything seemed to spin and lurch upside down. Closing his eyes tightly, he tried to clear his mind and ignore the feeling of nausea what overwhelmed him. He had to get up. He had to-

Hyde stomped over to him, picking up the branch he had thrown. Nyctalope's eyes grew wide. He knew what was coming. Hyde sent the branch down like thunder. Nyctalope barely had the time to roll away. He ended up on his stomach, watching the thin shadow beneath him to know which way he had to move a second swing came pummeling towards him seconds afterwards. He feinted moving to the right and threw himself left, Using the momentum of his roll, he scampered up on his feet. He tried to run again, but Hyde swung the branch, hitting him hard in the torso.

Nyctalope crashed against a tree. He landed hard, his chest throbbed. Hyde was too strong. He had to get away, but his body was not working alongside his head. It was a wonder he wasn't unconscious. There was another option.

Nyctalope shoved his hand in his pocket, just as Hyde grabbed him from the floor.

Hyde grinned at finally catching his prey. He began to squeeze, just as the others had tried to crush the life out of Nemo weeks ago. A shot rang out, and Hyde felt a sharp stinging in the side of his hand. He threw Nyctalope away in fury, roaring as loudly as he could.

He spared a long glance at his hand. It had barely marked him. He didn't care about it even if it had been bad. Nyctalope held onto his sides, catching his breath. He dragged himself up to his feet, and began to stagger away, he began to run again, trying with all his might to escape. Hyde was not willing to allow it.

Picking up his branch, he looked around for the young hero. He scanned the landscape for his trembling form. The darkness made it more difficult, but somehow Hyde knew he wasn't there. He'd only looked away for a moment!
"I'm getting tired of playing hide and seek, boy!" he growled.

Hyde sniffed the air, exhaling calmly; dangerously. "I will find you," he sneered.
The slightest rustle of leaves caught his attention. He smiled slyly, looking up into the trees. There he was, struggling to hold onto the branch with his dizziness. He swallowed hard, staring Hyde in the eye.
"Boo."

"Hyde, wait!" someone cried. Hyde resumed with his plan.

Edward, stop! That's Skinner calling for you. Wait! Jekyll exclaimed.
Hyde ignored them both. Taking hold of the trunk in two hands, he pulled at it, the roots began to spring from the ground as he brought it down. Nyctalope jumped to the ground before the tree was fully uprooted. With a swift blow from the back of his hand, Hyde sent Nyctalope down again. This time he didn't try to get up.

Hyde approached Nyctalope, scoffing to himself, finally ready to finish him. Gunshots echoed in the distance: Quatermain and Sawyer no doubt. Nyctalope tried to get up, but his arms were shaking under the strain of his own body. His nose was bleeding and his eyes carried that damp mouldy look of defeat. He looked away, closing his eyes, curling up.

"Hyde!" someone shouted again. This voice was female: Mina. Hyde focused only on Nyctalope. To his great surprise, Mina ran towards him, standing in between him and his prey with her arms outstretched. Skinner, Zenith, and Lupin stood nearby, though Skinner was much closer than the other two."Wait! Listen to me. He is not our enemy," she began. Hyde sneered at her for trying to stop him. He pushed her out of the way, fairly gently.
"Hyde, knock it off!" Skinner barked, moving forward. He didn't want to get to close; Mina had told them all to stay back. She would be the only one who would be able to talk to him, fight him if necessary.

Mina staggered back at the push but she dived back towards the young man, crouching over the top of him. Her eyes were as sharp as flint. She bared her teeth.

"Mina," Hyde snarled in a warning. He stood up straight, bearing a sour expression "Move."
Mina didn't stir. "Fantômas is the man you have to stop. Leave this boy alone. He's here to save Nemo."

Nyctalope tried to get up, straining himself. He fell before he could get his knee under him to support himself. Mina rested her hand on his back as a reassurance.
"I told you to move- he's mine!" Hyde snapped.
"No! If you are to fight anyone, it will be Fantômas. I will not allow you harm anyone else," Mina continued, her voice leaving no option for argument or even disagreement.

Hyde clenched his fist. His chest rose and fell like a bull.

For a moment, Skinner wasn't sure if Hyde would listen. He didn't know what he would do. Nonetheless, Mina refused to move, she stared at him, ready for anything. "Please," she added softly.
Edward, please stand down. Listen to her.
There was a small, but dreadfully tense wait. Hyde's body relaxed.
"Then where is he?" he finally growled.
Skinner breathed freely.

It was then that they heard the door to the lighthouse creak open. Sawyer was having to help Quatermain out and towards the automobile.
"Sawyer," Skinner called. "Where's Fantômas? He's tricked-"

"Bring them down!" a voice bellowed, quickly followed by a torrent of gunfire.

Everyone rushed for cover- except Hyde, who picked up a stray log and threw it at the gunmen. It bought them a few seconds. Sawyer, Quatermain, Zenith, and Lupin took to hiding behind the automobile, Mina dragged Nyctalope away and they both sheltered behind a tree. She used her body to shield him. Skinner was in the open and had to jump down to the ground, crawling towards their former transportation.

"Where's Fantômas?" Lupin asked quickly.
"He ran off. Wait- what the hell are you two doing here?!" Sawyer exclaimed, drawing a gun towards the two thieves.
"They're on our side, Sawyer," Skinner shouted over the noise as he made it to the automobile and sat up. "It's too much to explain and I don't know what's going on myself. I thought Nemo took care of that lot over there."

"More of them! They were on the Albatross- Fantômas must be going after Nemo and Robur," Lupin replied, ducking as the glass window above him shattered.
Hyde began to fight the gunmen, finding a way to divert his anger. Sawyer took to shooting from where he hid and Quatermain did what he could with his good arm. Mina had to stay with Nyctalope to make sure he was alright. She couldn't leave him yet.

Zenith poked his head up, looking in the direction of the Albatross. He'd spotted something. Before anyone could stop him, even bleeding as he was, he jumped up and began to run as fast as he could towards the ship. He kept low to the ground and miraculously wasn't hit. Skinner looked up to see what was wrong. That was when he saw. Fantômas was strangling Nemo. He'd dragged him to the ground and Nemo had no chance of freeing himself.

Zenith was injured enough as it was, he couldn't be expected to save Nemo and Robur alone.
"Wait-" Lupin shouted, but it was no good.

Skinner knew he had to get up there. "Nemo!" he exclaimed. He opened the automobile door and grabbed his towel. He scrubbed at his skin mercilessly until he was clean enough to be considered invisible again. Lupin watched the invisible thief, unsure of his intentions. The towel was tossed to the ground and Lupin realised he went to follow Zenith.

The gunfire seemed to increase and tucking himself back in behind the car, he knew he would be unable to get up. For now, it was up to Zenith and Skinner.