A/N: Well, here's chapter two. A little more happens here, but not much. I know it's going slow but it will pick up. The introductions is the part I hate most about writing stories, I just want to get to the action part of it. :) Anyway, I know there aren't many reviews, but I really didn't expect much if any for the first chapter. Afterall, there really wasn't anything to review. But I did get a ton of emails saying my stories have been added as favorites, so for that I thank all of you.
Disclaimer(I forgot to put in the first chapter): I own nothing Hellboy, all belongs to Mike Mignola and Guillermo Del Torro.
Also, I forgot to mention in my summary that this is based after the first movie and Liz is not in the picture. I haven't decided on why yet, but either way, her and Hellboy are not an item in this. I do like the pairing, love it in fact, but I wanted to make a story with my own orginal character. Anyway, on with the story and I hope you enjoy.
Chapter 2: New Friends
Alex struggled with her luggage as she entered the building her Uncle worked, confusion written on her face when she read the Waste Management sign. She lugged her suitcase behind her while struggling with the strap of another bag that kept attempting its escape from her shoulder, causing her to growl out in frustration. Giving up she stopped on a large tile which held a picture with a hand holding a sword.
"Watch your hands and elbows," she heard a male voice say in front of her.
She quickly looked up at the man the voice belonged to, her forehead crinkled in her attempt to see him clearly through the hair that had fallen in front of her eyes during her battle with the luggage.
"Excuse me," she grunted as she hiked up the bag one more time.
"Watch your hands and elbows."
Alex's mouth started to form another question, but the words caught in her throat when she felt the floor beneath her feet begin to move. Releasing a small squeak in surprise, she gripped the strap around her shoulder tighter as if believing it would prevent her from falling.
The journey down to the facility seemed to have taken forever to her, but she forgot her fears when she saw her uncle standing in wait for her arrival. Dropping her luggage, she screamed and ran to him; enveloping him in her arms.
"Uncle Tom!! Oh, I've missed you," she said as she gripped him tighter.
"I've missed you, too, Alex," Manning replied as he gripped her just as tight.
"Did you have any problems finding the place?"
"No, but I was confused about the waste management. Why do you have cover like that?"
"Uh, well, you'll see in time."
"Ohh-kay," Alex replied slowly, confused as to why her Uncle wouldn't just flat out tell her.
"Let me show you to your room and then I'll give you the tour and introduce you to some of the people here," Manning quickly changed the subject before she could ask another question. He was worried about her meeting some of the members, Abe wasn't someone he was too worried about. He's startling at first sight, but it dissipates quickly once you start a conversation with the fish man. Hellboy on the other hand was someone he worried about. He was big, red and had a large stone for a hand. He also had a rather witty sense of humor, although that aspect of his personality he wasn't worried about with Alex, she could hold her own in that area. He hadn't seen his niece in so long he wasn't real sure what would scare her and what wouldn't. With her being a tomboy, it wouldn't surprise him if Hellboy had no affect on her, but he couldn't be sure.
"So, here we are," Manning said as he opened up a door and waved his hand for her to enter.
"Hmm… it looks… cozy," Alex dropped her bag on the small bed along with placing the suitcase at the foot of the bed.
"Well, I know its not much, but you have free reign to do what you want with it to make it your own."
"No, no. Its not that, I like it. It's much better than my apartment. No cockroaches," Alex laughed slightly at her last words, noticing a small smile form on her Uncle's face.
"What is it, then?""It's just so much change all at once, that's all. It's going to take awhile to accept all this. Thank you, Uncle," Alex walked over to him and once again gave him a hug, fighting back the tears that screamed to fall.
"Would you like to meet some of the staff?" He asked as he pulled her away, resting his hands on her upper arms; her long brown, wavy hair tickling his skin. Releasing a smile she nodded her head in reply and they both turned and left her room, her baggage left behind.
"Before you meet some of them, I need to know if you still have that open mind you had when you were a kid?"
"Yeah, that's not really something you grow out of easily," Alex's forehead was once again crinkled in confusion. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, let's just say there are some people here who aren't exactly normal."
"And I am?" Alex laughed, but noticed he didn't join in this time and quickly wiped the smile off her face.
"Most people are," was his reply and Alex wished he would stop being so cryptic and spill.
"I was never very good to these men either, I treated them differently; like freaks."
"What?? That's not like you!!" Alex nearly screeched, surprised by what he just told her.
"I know. But I think it was because it seemed all I did in this job was cover for these guys and I kept wondering if this was all they tore me from my life for."
"You know it wasn't," Alex tried to reassure, placing a petite hand on his shoulder.
"I know this is a stupid question but, do you have a TV?"
"Uh, kinda. It broke about a month ago," Alex replied as she fought back the memory of when she saw the news report on the girl and threw a snow globe at it. Breaking not only the screen but the globe as well. She had cursed herself for it and found a pair of rubber gloves to clean up the mess, surprised the liquid in the globe hadn't sparked a fire but she wasn't going to complain.
"Read the newspaper?"
"No, I really don't care to hear about all the violence in the world," again she fought with her memory, the image of a newspaper clipping formed in her mind about a person found murdered the day after she had a vision about them.
"So, I'm guessing you didn't see me on the news or read an interview with me?"
"What? You were in the news?? About what?"
Manning sighed at her answer, it would've been a lot easier if she had at least heard of Hellboy. He planned on having her meet him first, just to get it over with and hopefully to give her an open mind about the rest of the place. Maybe he should start with Abe. He's gentler.
"Hey Manning, he's just finishing his breakfast," Hellboy's new liaison said as they passed one another in the hall towards the red guy's room.
"Wonderful, thank you," Manning replied with a head nod.
"Who?" Alex asked as she turned to stare at the man's retreating form.
"This, Alex, is one of the men I treated so poorly and I want you to keep an open mind.""Uncle, why do you keep saying that? What is going on here?"
"Right, well, might as well just show you," Manning dodged her question and pulled open the big metal door. Turning towards her, he nodded his head toward the entrance.
"Let me introduce you to one of our most valuable members of the team," Manning said as he stepped through the door, Alex following close behind.
Alex looked around the room, noticing televisions strewn all over the place; some old, some new along with magazines and newspapers piled high. She noticed cats roaming the room, one running between her feet, causing her to stumble and grip the book shelf; jumping as another vision filled her head. She saw a red man fighting a huge beast, watching as if she were there as the beast grabbed him and threw him through a wall to the streets below. Screaming as the vision ended just before the man made contact with the cement, she fell to the floor, gripping her stomach in the process as she tried to hold back the vile that urged to come up.
"Alex? Are you alright?" Manning asked as he ran to her side.
"Yeah, I just… I…" Alex tried to come up with something, but failed miserably.
"Sorry about that. That's his way of getting attention," Alex heard a deep voice and she slowly raised her head to look at who it belonged to.
Looming over her, she saw a red man with filed horns, a stone hand and a long tail. She knew she was gaping but it wasn't because of his appearance, but because he was the one in her vision.
"H- hi. I'm Alex," she replied as she quickly got off the floor. She wasn't sure if she should inform of him of the danger he was in, but by the looks of it, he could handle himself. She offered him her left hand and he thankfully took it, his grip was surprisingly gentle and his skin was soft to her amazement.
"Hellboy. You can call me Red or HB, either works. So, you're Manning's niece, huh?"
"Uh, yeah," Alex stammered, distracted by the vision she had. She was still fighting with herself on whether or not she should say something.
"And you're going to be a…" Hellboy asked, trailing off to let her finish for him.
"Trainer."
"Trainer? Manning, really? Do we need a trainer," Hellboy almost whined at the poor man and Manning released a sigh of exasperation.
"Not you, necessarily, Hellboy but for those of us who can't fall out of buildings and survive."
"Alright, Uncle, I need to know what exactly this place is. You've been all hush hush from the moment I got here and I've had enough. If I'm going to be working here I need to know all there is to know. Because this obviously isn't your average government or military base!" Alex was beginning to get rather irritated with her Uncle and she had had enough. She wanted answers and she wanted them now.
Manning sighed and then nodded his head in defeat. She was right and he knew she was, but he was just trying to protect her. There was enough evil in the world, from humans, as she learned first hand herself and he didn't want to expose her to the other evils that roamed the planet.
"Alright, come with me," Manning led her out of Hellboy's room and Alex turned to look at Hellboy one more time. She had her brow furrowed in worry as he waved goodbye with his right hand. Smiling weakly, she returned the gesture before slowly turning her head forwards.
Hellboy watched the petite young brunette exit his room and he wondered why she looked at him so strangely. He was used to looks like that, but something told him she didn't look at him like everyone else did. The fear she showed in her eyes were not for herself but for him and he couldn't quite figure out why.
He liked her which gave him the urge to get to know her better and he was already feeling rather protective towards her. With a decision to join the two in their conversation, Hellboy rushed out of his room; grabbing his duster in the process to cover up his bare chest. Opening the large door with ease, he rushed down the hallway and the pair came into sight after only a few heavy foot falls.
"Hey! Wait up!"
Alex sat and listened to what her uncle had to say, with Hellboy standing to the side of her. Her eyes grew with amazement at every thing she heard; about what the facility was for, who was involved, who worked there and the non-human creatures that helped save the world. He then looked at Hellboy and began his explanation of him, from how he came to this dimension to recent events of world saving.
She turned her head to look at Hellboy and sent him a small smile. So it is true what they say, looks can be deceiving. He sent her a smile in return and she turned her attention back to her uncle. She was still struggling with the decision on whether or not to tell them about what she saw with Hellboy. She had a feeling he'd be fine, but if that was the case then why did she get the vision?
Though she just met the guy, she was scared of something bad happening to him and she knew she wouldn't be able to live with herself if something did in fact happen. Knowing the whole time she could've done something to stop it, just like the people before him.
Just as she opened her mouth to warn him, an alarm sounded throughout the entire building. She watched as Hellboy and her uncle rushed out of the room, leaving her to stare after them. She had a horrible feeling tonight was when it'd happen and with that thought she rushed after him.
"Hellboy, wait!!" She exclaimed as she followed him down the hall, her uncle know where in sight.
"What is it, kid?" He asked, not slowing his pace.
"You can't go," she touched her hand to his left arm in an attempt to stop him or at least slow him down.
"I ain't got time for this," Hellboy replied aggravated when she stepped in front of him.
"No, listen to me. Listen," Alex took a moment to catch her breath before she continued. "You can't go tonight. Something…"
Before she could finish, she heard his name from behind her and he rushed around her, ignoring her struggles to grip his jacket.
"We'll talk when I get back," he yelled out to her and she felt tears stream down her face at her failure to stop it, hoping beyond hope that this time her visions were wrong.