Ch. 21
Captain lead as we ran awkwardly to the helm. The Nautilus was sinking and had tipped, making our journey that much harder. With no time for manners, Captain shoved Phalgun away from the wheel shouting, "Out of the way!"
"We have to stop this!" Mr. Q. yelled as the alarms rang, and the ship shook. Captain looked back from where he was struggling with the wheel and said, "We're taking on too much water. The controls are not responding!"
"Primary engine room almost full. The aft bunkhead is open. Valves are jammed!" Rajani yelled as he ran into the room. I was clinging to the hanging meter when he did, and gasped in horror. Vishal was there, and I knew what had to be done.
"Seal it off!" Captain ordered, and my eyes widened. "But there are men in there, Captain!" Rajani was equally horrified. Captain turned again and commanded, "For the greater good we must seal it!"
No. I could not accept that. I could not handle losing more lives tonight. That bastard had taken Ishmael from me; he would not take Vishal from me too!
A particularly horrible jolt sent Rajani rolling. I used the confusion to literally fall through the door. I landed against a table and gasped as I lost my breath. It took me a panicked few moments before it returned, and in that time I could hear Henry yelling. My ears were ringing though, and I could not make it out. So instead of trying to figure it out, I ran.
I had almost made it. All I had to do was run down one more hall, and I could be there. I still did not know what I was going to do, I was just running blind and determined. I did not want more to die, and if they did, I might as well be among them. Captain could find a new apprentice…
Then someone was calling my name. I did not stop until two arms wrapped around me, and I struggled against them. "Marina, stop! What do you think you can do?" Henry asked me, refusing to let go.
I can die with them, that would be enough.
Still holding me back, Henry maneuvered in front of me and held my shoulders to keep me in place. I glared at him, and he said quickly, "Marina, you going down there is suicide!"
I do not care!
It must have shown, because Henry looked scared as he said, "Please, let me take care of this! I swear I won't let them die!" he said, and my eyes widened. What could he do? Unless…
Unless he used Hyde. My eyes were wide, and Henry smiled slightly. "I won't let you kill yourself, Marina," he said as he let go of my shoulders, for I had grown still. It did not make sense. Henry hated Hyde, and now he was going to let him free?
He was running to the door, and I saw him struggle through it. "Hold it. Wait!" I heard him yelling to the panicking men. Oh, what if he? This could be the last time I see him! That thought made my heart pound, and I rushed forward, stopping at the hall opening. The door had slammed shut behind him, and I wrenched it open to peer down at him.
"Don't close it!" Henry was ordering. "What are you doing?" Yatin yelled. "It's our last chance!" Henry said as he forced the door open. "But I have orders to close it!" Yatin insisted. Henry had opened the door, and he looked at Yatin and yelled over the noise, "Then close it!" Before jumping in, and disappearing from my sight as Yatin yelled, "Seal it off," and the others sealed him inside.
I felt my eyes watering again. I had heard so many panicked cries from inside the room. It was only a matter of time before it sealed completely, and they all drowned. Only a matter of time before Jekyll died…
I stood there and shook. I would lose them all, I would lose everyone. We would all drown here, and Jekyll alone as Hyde. I felt tears in my eyes, if Hyde saved them… If he saved them, I am not sure, but if he did, I would no longer fear him.
Did I ever really though? Was my fear not just an excuse to hide that I fancied Henry? It did not matter anymore, because they could both be dying at this very moment. They could all be dying and I was just standing here, shaking.
Suddenly, the ship shook again. This time however, it was not violent, but continuing, and my eyes widened. The ship was righting itself, H-Hyde had done it!
The ship shook one last time, and everything was right. Without hesitation, I shoved past the men and unsealed the door, flinging it open and staring at the men. They were all waterlogged, and most were shaking, but they were alive. They were alive!
I rushed forward to the one closest to me, Eknath, and he was shaking. When he saw me he almost cried, and I hugged him tightly. I did so to all of the men, and though they did not fall, I had tears in my eyes. Then there was Vishal, looking shaken up, but no worse for wear. Tears did fall when I saw him, and I hugged him the tightest and longest of all the other men. He laughed, shakily, then with gusto, and soon, we were all laughing in relief.
It was cut short as Hyde walked into view. The men all stared, for most of them, their last meeting with Hyde had not been pleasant. Their unease seeped through the room like a gas, and I saw Hyde's blue eyes darken as he looked at them from his lowered head. He looked menacing, he really did, but if no one else would…
I stepped away from Vishal gently, now quite wet from hugging him (and the others), and he looked at me and said, "Uh, lass, what're you…?" I just smiled, and walked up to Hyde. He looked down at me, and I stared up at him. Blue eyes. The same kind Henry had, but Hyde was not Henry. Hyde was his own beast…person, wasn't he? I had spent so long hating him for that widower, I had not even considered that he could be anything other than what she described him as. He had saved everyone, hadn't he?
Finally, I grinned, and he looked so shocked that he was no longer menacing. I stepped back and bowed deeply to him, and when I rose, I hugged him tightly. He was so big my arms barely reached to his sides, I felt him seize up, and the room still. I could hear the men shifting uneasily, and then something happened I did not expect. As I was about to move back, Hyde's giant hands stopped me. They completely covered my back and head, and surprisingly enough, they were gentle. As if he was afraid he was going to hurt me.
I grinned up at him and finally pulled away. He did not look scary now, if anything, he was merely confused. I turned to the men and frowned, "Thank him!" I signed in anger. What cowards they were!
…
Okay, so maybe that is a little hypocritical, but still. My fear of Hyde was gone, so there!
The men quickly found little ways of thanking him. Bowing, a quick word, or even a small smile. Vishal had me wrapped in his arms as this happened, quietly chastising me for doing something so dangerous. I just smiled as I waited, only half listening.
Finally, the potion ran out, and I grinned as Henry stood up, panting. Now the men were much more willing to thank him, and he seemed flustered as they swarmed him. I laughed softly, kissed Vishal's cheek, and walked forward to save Henry from the swarm.
Grabbing his free hand (the other held up his pants) I pulled him away from them and towards the door quickly. As I pulled him out the door one of the men called, "Going to get your shawl?" and I slammed the door shut on their laughter as my cheeks flushed.
Henry laughed too, softly, and I looked away. I had yet to thank him, and I still held his hand. Awkwardly, I squeezed it, and he looked at me. I dropped it, feeling bashful, and before I could stop myself, I hugged him. He started, and I felt myself blush. Then his hand was on my head, his arm across my back. I smiled and hugged him tighter, before pulling away. He grinned at me and I did the same.
Without thinking, I grabbed him hand again and lead him to get more clothes. As I did, I panicked. Oh Kali, why had I done that? My hand had moved on its own! I think I shocked him, but he did not say anything against it, and he even held mine back! His palm was sweaty…
I let go of his hand at his door, and smiled as he went inside. I wondered if I should wait for him or go ahead. Would it be weird to walk in with him? Henry peeked his head out just before he closed the door, "You can go on ahead Marina."
I nodded my head and turned to leave. I heard him shut the door before running back to the helm. I slowed at the doors and tried to slip in without anybody noticing me. The League was still shaken, and were just entering the saloon. Captain was the last to enter, with Eknath, soaking wet, at his side. My eyes widened with horror as I heard him.
"Then Marina rushed in and made sure we were all okay. Then Hyde came in and everybody was anxious and Marina was the only one brave enough to go over to him! And then she-!" He did not get to finish that sentence. With flushing cheeks, I sent the closest thing to me, a broken handle, and sent it flying towards his head. Captain caught it before it struck and Eknath's eyes widened at me.
He squirmed and then quickly bowed to Captain, then me, before he hurried out, most likely to change. I walked over to Captain, my cheeks red, and bowed low to him. Whatever punishment he had waiting for me, I knew I deserved.
"And when you made it there, what did you intend to do?" He asked me quietly. Henry had asked me that too, and I had vouched dying then. I could not do that now, not to Captain. I was so ashamed my face burned worse and I bowed lower, knowing I probably deserved a lashing. I had never had one before, but I knew that was considered a good punishment, and I shuddered at the thought.
"Marina?" I finally looked up at Captain, ready to face whatever anger burned in his eyes. I did not see any though, only relief. He raised his hand, and I flinched, only to blush again as his palm softly rested on my cheek, his fingers covering my ear. The notion was enough to bring intolerable shame, and I had to close my eyes to stop the tears it brought.
His hand left my face, and I opened my eyes carefully. He gave a small smile, and then moved to help clean up. It took me a minute, but I smiled too, and hurried to help right the toppled room. Henry finally walked in, dry and dressed, and was greeted much more warmly than often.
"Let's not make a saint out of a sinner. Next time he may not be so helpful. Can we, uh, still follow Gray?" I frowned as I looked at the ruined charter, and sighed. "Well we were the faster, but now we're the tortoise to his hare." Mr. Q. explained, and I rather liked his storybook way of putting it.
"So we're done?" Henry asked. "No! We're alive. If M has any ideas to the contrary, that gives us an edge."
"The sea is vast," Captain said wisely, and I nodded in agreement, "He could be anywhere."
"Yeah well I'm an optimist, and now maybe that's a crime to you twisted so-and-so's but it keeps me from going crazy." Tom continued, and righted a table.
"Your optimism's out of place," Mina told him, and he slammed a vase on the table and said, "Your wrong. Cuz we'll get our man. Or at least I will," he looked down and said, "That other agent I told you about, was my childhood friend." He looked up, leaning on the table and said, "We were agents together, until the Fantom shot him dead. Now you can be done, but I am not!" he paused, "I will avenge his death.
Henry stepped forward, taking a deep breath and said, "It's not about any one of us, Tom, it's bigger than that…" and Tom looked up and said fiercely, "Yes it is, Jekyll!" walking over to him. "The fate of the world is in our hands," he paused and my eyes widened, "The world."
-So M tricked you. He brought you all together, and you walked straight into his trap, but, the way that I see it," he smiled, "That was his big mistake. He brought you together."
Henry smiled, "He has a point." From his chair, Mr. Q. said, "And the boy becomes a man. Perhaps a leader of men." Tom seemed to glow, and I smiled at him. It was as though he had just grown up.
"-And women," Mina said quietly, and Tom looked at her. I blinked in surprise, for they looked lost to each other for a moment.
"Captain," Jeevan called as he entered, "We're getting a signal!" Captain quickly hurried past him, with me behind him…
Side Note:
Last scene with Tom, legit. Deleted scenes