Marcy shuddered as she watched Irma slide into Abe's tank for their first aquatic training session
"all right Marcy, you next" Abe says looking up at Marcy
Marcy takes a step back then another
"N-no!" Marcy cries bolting from the tank room and down the spiral staircase and toward the large doors to leave the library when she runs smack into a large red road block
"Whoa, kid! Where do you think you're going? You have lessons with Abe" Hellboy says looking down at her
"I don't want to" Marcy murmured looking down at her feet
"Why not?" Hellboy asks
"'cause" Marcy whispered still looking at her feet
"sorry kid but that isn't a good enough answer, so back you go" Hellboy says turning her around and pushing her gently back toward the spiral stair case
"I'm scared of the water! Ok" Marcy blurts out pushing past him and leaving.
Hellboy turns to follow her
"Let her be" Professor Broom said walking to his son
"How can a kid her age, be afraid of the water!?" Hellboy asks looking down at him.
"When she's ready, she'll tell us but until then just give her time, besides I know of one other young child who didn't like the water much either" Professor Broom said with a slight laugh.
No one saw Marcy for the rest of that day.
Marcy looked at her clock 1:28 in the morning, she pulled the purple pajama top on over her white tank top and buttoned it up and was careful not to trip on the cuffs of the matching pajama bottoms as she walked into the large dark library and curled up on the nearest large arm chair
"Bee in your bonnet, Marcy" a voice asked from her left
"Sorry" Marcy mumbled looking into the soft blue glow of Abe's tank
"No need to be sorry I was awake myself" Abe said settling to the bottom of his tank
"For running out of the training session" Marcy said looking at him "I used to love the water, I could never get enough swimming into a single day, I loved it so much. Then it happened, I don't know how, but I was doing the back stroke, like always, in the big pond about a mile behind the halfway house I don't know how but somehow I couldn't move my legs I was about 5 feet from the shore so I just treaded back with my arms when I pulled myself out my legs were frozen in a block of ice just below the knee. I never went into the water to swim again after that" Marcy said looking at him
"That won't happen again Marcy. We can help you" Abe says putting a webbed hand to the glass of his tank.
"How?" Marcy asks sliding off the chair and scooting up to Abe's tank.
"With practice. That's how" Abe said looking back into her eyes.
"I don't think all the practice in the world is going to do any good. I'll still be scared." Marcy said with a slight laugh.
"Maybe. But maybe not. You'll never know unless you try. Will you?" Abe replied
"Guess you're right. So what kind of practice did you have in mind?" Marcy asked
"Swimming! What else."Abe said in a matter of fact tone of voice.
"I was afraid you were going to say that." Marcy said in despair, making a face.
"I knew you'd be pleased." Abe said chuckling
"Well unless you plan on shrinking me five times my normal size, you better have a bigger place to practice in." Marcy sighed in dislike.
"I know of a place, don't worry." Abe says watching her give a large yawn. "My goodness, what a yawn, why don't you go back to bed now Marcy?" Abe says gently.
"I'm not tired Blue." Marcy said crawling back into the chair and curling up with her head resting on the arm of the chair.