Disclaimer - "Mystery Case Files" and all related characters, events, and concepts belong to Big Fish Games, Elephant Games, and Eipix Entertainment. I get no monetary benefit from this. My benefit is the enjoyment of dealing with beloved characters. Original characters, however, are mine - please contact for permission before using. This includes Darnell as a defined, fleshed-out character in his own right.
Aftermath
by DragonDancer5150
Chapter 2 - Backup
Thomas turned to Darnell, still supporting him. "Darnell . . . " He pulled the detective into a tight hug. "Blimey, kid, I thought we'd lost you this time."
Even within the Royal Agency, Thomas was one of the few who knew - and believed - the strange and often classified details of even his most esoteric cases and how truly dangerous they could be. Darnell managed a weak laugh, returning the older man's embrace. "I'm a bad penny, Thomas. I just keep turning back up."
"You'd better keep turning back up, you rogue!" Thomas pushed him back just then, looking at him, the concern clear in his eyes. "She should never have sent you back out here, especially to this cursed place." He gestured to indicate the ruined manor. "Let alone by yourself. Everyone's been worried sick about you. And Barker. Did you ever meet up with him? Agent Barker?" Thomas looked him over, frowning as he spotted something. He caught up Darnell's right wrist, turning it palm-up. "The hell is that on your arm, mate?"
Darnell jerked his wrist free, a bit more forcefully than he'd meant to, and covered his branded forearm with his other hand, scowling and self-conscious. And angry. "He marked me. That monster marked me!" He swayed, exhaustion threatening to get the better of him. "I-I need to sit down."
Thomas caught him around the shoulders and led him to one of the large rocks jutting from the ground. The two settled, Thomas giving Darnell his coat to cover up a bit. Darnell accepted it with a low word of thanks, then was quiet for a long moment, looking around at the once-more ruined house - good riddance! - the broken remains of cemetery, the twin chains of what had once been a swing hanging from the nearby tree. He'd taken the plank . . . hours ago, he had no idea how long ago that had been now.
"She should only have sent me." Darnell's voice was low, as low as his spirits, but also rocksteady in his conviction. "No one else should have been sent here, especially to this place. Including Barker." He nodded, gaze on his hands laced between his knees, elbows braced on his thighs. "I met up with him, briefly. He wanted to show me something, something that had him terrified, but we got separated, and then he was murdered before he could tell me anything." He looked up at Thomas then. "Anyone with me would have been targeted from the start, ambushed and killed like Barker was, to fuel their soul machine . . . and, probably, to hurt me." He shook his head. "I work these cases alone, Thomas. For exactly that reason. I knew I would when I accepted the queen's offer. I have a hard enough time looking out for myself a lot of times. I can't be worrying about someone else too."
"That 'someone else' wouldn't just be some random sod pulled into things on accident, Darnell. They'd be a trained agent like you are, someone who'd have your back as much as you'd have theirs."
Darnell huffed, not in the mood for this argument. It wasn't the first time they'd had it. "I know." He scrubbed his fingers along his jaw - the stubble was getting long enough to itch. How long had it been since he'd seen a razor?
Thomas gave him a wry grin, thankfully changing subjects. "You need a good shave, Barrett." He deepened his voice to say it, shifting the pattern of his speech slightly.
Darnell laughed out loud, recognizing the impersonation of their boss. "I need a good shower, is what I need."
"Well, for now, you'll have to settle for a good paramedic, Master Detective." Constable Cooper approached them again. "An ambulance should be here in five to ten. I'll stay to deal with the coroner. I will, however, want a statement when you're-" He saw the look Thomas gave him and stopped, frowning. "Officer Blackwell will no doubt want a statement from you when you're a bit more recovered, sir," he corrected himself.
"Thank you, Constable Cooper." Thomas looked at Darnell. "Think you can walk?"
Darnell frowned, trying to take honest stock of himself. He wasn't injured really, at least not aside from the knot on his head and all the cuts and bruises he'd sustained from his headlong dash though the chambers under Ravenhearst and subsequent dive into the ocean. Plus the brand on his arm, and a few more bruises from the Well of Souls cavern collapsing ā miraculously, and in no small part thanks to Ellen, he'd escaped anything more serious. But he was fatigued almost past the ability to cope. This case had taken everything out of him. His stomach clenched with hunger, reminding him that he had no idea when he'd eaten last. "Iā¦I think so," he finally ventured to say.
Thomas studied him a moment, then nodded. "Let's head out front, then. We'll meet the paramedics there, so they don't have to try to navigate this mess."
Darnell barked a low, sardonic laugh. "Oh, like I should have to."
"Hey, you made the mess." The crooked grin on Thomas's face said he wasn't serious. "C'mon, mate."
Thomas helped Darnell to his feet again, giving him an elbow to lean on, and together the two operatives picked their way through the rubble and remains of furniture and machinery. Gaining the front yard, Darnell paused to look back at the broken portico. 'House That Love Built' could still be read on the face. Shuddering, he turned and let Thomas help him down the long stairs, past the well and the welcome statue of Emma, and Charlotte's car that he'd 'borrowed' from the asylum in his desperate race against Tanatos. He wondered if his own car, his beloved classic Silver Streak, was still sitting at the lighthouse gate where he'd left it what felt like a month ago now. Probably been impounded by now, he thought. Darn. I'll have to ask Thomas about getting her back too. He wondered for a moment that no one had thought to identify him by his car, but then, so many people had gone missing here ā had been murdered here ā that he couldn't really fault anyone for not tying the car to one random survivor out of so many. And, Darnell thought with a pang of grief for them all, there had been many indeed.
