Shall I warn you about a main character's death? All right, consider yourself warned :)
23. I will not be afraid of death.
Spike took the shield and ran towards Newkirk. "Here! Use this," he shrugged, "not much of a protection. He'll finish you in a couple of minutes, anyway." Then he looked over Newkirk's shoulder and chuckled. "Someone's coming for you."
Newkirk turned around. Red Sun was coming. His intent gaze locked on Newkirk's and for a second, he could not move. He reacted at the last minute by placing the shield in front of him. The giant raised the sword with the intention of breaking the shield, along with Newkirk's arm. The Englishman stepped back and ducked. The flaming sword grazed the shield, leaving a trail of sparks. Newkirk felt the impact like volts of electricity shooting up his arm. He screamed but did not let go the shield.
Red Sun remained immutable.
"C'mon, Little Red Riding Hood, can't we talk as civilized gentlemen?" Newkirk stepped back.
"Careful with that thing. One stroke of that sword and you'll burst in flames!" The acoustics in the church carried Spike's voice everywhere.
"Should I be surprised? I think not!" Newkirk widened his eyes. Red Sun was already after him, his sword lifted over Newkirk's head. The Englishman looked up at it and screamed. "Bloody hell!"
Spike was back on the second deck. He took Schultz's rifle and shot at the giant. Nothing happened. Schultz was hiding in one of the confessionals and sighed as his weapon clicked.
"Hey! What's the idea, sonny? No bullets?" Spike yelled at him.
"It's never loaded," Schultz whispered to Mr. Jones on the other side of the booth.
The inspector would have liked to write that down on his notebook as an interesting detail. But with all the commotion, he did not dare to move.
()o()o()
Newkirk ran upstairs to the choir stalls and found the giant already there. Instinctively, he raised the shield against Red Sun's sword. More electric shocks, more pain, he staggered and charged again. Each stroke of the sword on his shield sent pain through his own nerves but he did not yield. His determination paid at last when the red giant stumbled and almost fell to one side. Newkirk was too exhausted to think of doing anything else but lean against the wall and wait for Red Sun's last blow. Spike came from behind, yelling and running. He held the rifle like a spear and hit the giant on the back. Before he could recover, Spike struck again, the neck this time, and the giant fell face down to the floor.
"You don't want to be near when he wakes up." Spike put his arm around Newkirk's waist, lifted him and jumped down to the ground floor.
Newkirk was still a little groggy by the electric shocks and the flying. He stared at Spike and frowned. "Why did you help me?"
Spike shrugged. "I'm still a bit drunk, I guess." He brushed his hair and shook his head.
"If that's what it takes, the next bottle is on me, mate," Newkirk said without noticing that the vampire was not longer paying attention.
Spike turned his head to the door. "Drusilla?" he whispered. Immediately after that, the massive chain on the other side of the door clattered to the floor. The doors opened and the lady vampire glided in, followed by Captain Grunwald and Hogan. She smiled when Spike came slowly towards her and held out his arm.
The group was still recovering from the surprise of being all together again when Red Sun jumped down from the second deck to land in front of Newkirk. Hogan saw this big man all dressed in red take off his glove and touch Newkirk on the chest with his open hand. Without more time to react, the colonel aimed his gun. He was still too far to make a safe shot, so he fired at the chandelier above.
"Newkirk! Duck!"
"Can't hear you!" Spike yelled as he ran towards them. In a single motion, he grabbed Newkirk and rolled over the floor away from Red Sun. The shot came one second later and the chandelier fell over the giant.
Hogan rushed to check on Newkirk. He and Spike lifted him off the floor. "Are you all right?"
"Breathless, sir," Newkirk smiled.
"That makes two of us. But I'm used to it," Spike dusted his uniform. He turned to see Drusilla walking towards them.
"My knight in shining armor," she said walking past Spike and straight to Newkirk. She put her arms around the corporal's neck and kissed him on the lips.
"Son of a b-!" Spike's jaw dropped when Newkirk stopped struggling and returned the kiss. Hogan came to stand next to the vampire and grinned. "I suppose they know each other?" He went to the site of the crash. He looked among the chattered glass but found nothing. "Where is he? I know I shot someone here."
"He's gone. Red Sun never stays long for introductions," Spike shrugged, before going back to Drusilla and Newkirk. "Enough! Back off, you two." He grabbed his girlfriend. "Stay away from her!"
"What? She's the one that keeps coming on to me, ye nitwit!" Newkirk pushed Spike with one finger.
"That's it, mate. Truce is over." Spike began to roll up his sleeves. "Prepare to get your pathetic ass kicked back to England!"
"News for you, pal. You're not the first bully I've wasted!" Newkirk was getting ready for a showdown when Hogan came closer.
"Corporal! Street fights are banned for men in uniform." Hogan stared at Spike, dressed as an officer. "That goes for you too, I guess." He grabbed Newkirk and pulled him aside.
Captain Grunwald looked around and walked to the altar. "I know this place."
Mr. Jones saw the German and frowned. "Colonel Hogan! This is highly irregular! What is that man doing here?"
"Not now, Mr. Jones," Hogan said as he followed the captain. "Grunwald, you'd better remember that you're my prisoner now."
Schultz came out of his hiding place. "Are you all right, Colonel? I've been looking all over for you." He stared at Captain Grunwald and stood to attention.
Grunwald smirked. "As you were, Sergeant. This is not an official visit. In fact, I think I'm his prisoner." He pointed at Hogan.
"You must forget this man, Schultz," Hogan said aiming at Grunwald with his gun. "I mean it."
Schultz nodded hesitantly. Throughout the years, he had learned to respect Hogan's procedures and decisions. He found that was the healthiest way to survive this endless war.
Newkirk came back to his senses. Hogan had returned and he could not be happier. "Gov'nor, it's good to see you well, Schultz said that-"
"It's okay, Corporal. It turned out to be a great outing after all. Schultz," he grinned, "nice work tracking our Englander."
"Oh, he moves fast but I've been trained." Schultz laughed.
Captain Grunwald looked at Newkirk and then, at Spike. "I infer my men are dead."
"Ain't that a shame, sir?"Newkirk shrugged.
"They opened the wrong box." Spike smirked, holding Drusilla closer.
Hogan took a better look at Newkirk. The sight was disturbing. His corporal was pale and sweaty, with numerous blisters in his hands. "Good Lord, Newkirk, but where have you been?"
"Everywhere. Things kept happening so fast." He could not hide his relief to see Hogan again. "I found the safe box. Not an easy task to do. But it was empty, except for a couple of booby traps and this diary. You might like to have it." He gave it to Hogan, who put it in his pocket.
"Good, I'll read it later. Let's go back to the manor. You need serious rest, Corporal."
"What are we going to do with him?" Newkirk pointed at the captain.
"He has contaminated our entire operation, Colonel." Mr. Jones came closer. "I trust you to do the right thing."
"You want me to give him the treatment?" Spike grinned.
"Me too! Me too!" Drusilla clapped with excitement.
"Colonel, no," Newkirk gasped, suddenly exhausted. He turned to Spike. "You're not disposing of anybody while we're around. You hear me, bloody blood suckers."
"It's okay, Newkirk." Hogan turned to Grunwald. "The last word is mine, but I'll keep in mind the vampire's offer."
"I'll be around." Spike saluted Hogan and winked.
Grunwald did not show any emotion. He was trained to keep his emotions under control. He would not lose his composure in front of the enemy, or a vampire.
Indifferent to the world, Drusilla detached herself from the group and walked towards the altar. "What is that? Look how it shines!"
Schultz stared at her. "Is she all right?"
"That's a good question, Schultz," Hogan told him. "I've been wondering that myself all day long."
Mr. Jones kept taking notes. He walked around as though looking for vocabulary to describe the place and actions. He too, went closer to the altar.
Newkirk kept one hand over his chest. Hogan stared at him for a moment. His face had lost color and he looked on the verge of collapsing. "Newkirk, are you sure you're all right?"
"Just a little shaky. This has been an upside down adventure all day long." He straightened up and every muscle protested. Hogan steadied him.
Captain Grunwald took advantage of Hogan's distraction to go closer to the altar.
Newkirk took a deep breath and frowned. "What's up there that everybody is so interested?" Another wince of pain twisted his features. Hogan grabbed his arm.
"This is not good, what's coming over you?" He was really concerned now.
Spike came closer. Just one glance and he chuckled. "Red Sun touched you, didn't he?"
"Oh, no... he also has a gift, doesn't he?" Newkirk sighed. "And what would it be?"
"Gift? What is he talking about?" Hogan had begun to hate being out of the loop.
Before Spike could answer him, the piercing sound of sirens alerted them to the present danger. Newkirk saw Schultz covering his ears and Hogan looking around in alarm.
"What is it? What's going on?" Without his hearing, he felt so useless.
"Air raid!" Hogan shouted. He pulled Newkirk under a pillar. Pieces of plaster began to fall around. "Newkirk, this place ain't going to last. You take Schultz, I'll go for Mr. Jones!"
"Mmm, they're playing our song, Spike," Drusilla said from the altar. She began to dance.
"Gov'nor!" Newkirk pointed at Mr. Jones at the rear of the church. The man was seeking refuge under the altar.
Spike ran towards Drusilla but a blast shook the ground and a column crumbled down right in front of him. He jumped and dodged as long as he could but the last fragment was too heavy. Newkirk saw him disappear under heavy pieces of concrete. He stared at the chaos. The silence was more overwhelming than if he could hear the world falling apart around him.
Hogan got to the altar at the last minute. The walls were tumbling down. Grunwald and Mr. Jones were gone. Drusilla stood still in the middle of everything. She stretched her hand to take Hogan's. Newkirk saw her lips moving but he could not read them because of the clouds of dust. The last thing he saw was Hogan falling behind the altar. He yelled his name and began to run but the tremors in the old building made him lose his balance. Impossible to get closer.
He suddenly remembered Schultz. The poor man must be terrified. Newkirk went back and looked around. The sergeant was still on his feet, struggling to come closer. Newkirk grabbed his arm.
"Let's go! We've got to get out of here!"
Schultz nodded and both had to jump the last steps on their way out. Newkirk made sure that the sergeant was all right and back on his feet before turning to the church. Schultz clenched his arm.
"Nein!"
"The colonel!" Newkirk screamed. "Schultz, I've got to-"
"It's over, son!" Schultz yelled above the noise. "He's gone."
"No! He's still there! Schultz please," Newkirk struggled to free himself but the more he tried the less energy he had. His legs no longer supported him. Another blast brought down the main door. Newkirk felt his strength leave him completely. He fell down on his knees.
Schultz sat down with him against his chest. He could feel him trembling under his arms. "It's going to be all right, Englander. It's going to be all right."
Newkirk could not cry or scream. He felt Schultz behind him but he could not hear him. He was alone in his world of silence. He had been scared before, but ghosts and witches did not compare to the loss of a friend. Hogan was gone; nothing could be more painful than that.
tbc
Don't despair, chapter 24 is coming right soon (after reading and reviewing ;) )
There are only four chapters left. Thank you for keeping the story in your alerts.