I waited for Hellboy to give me the signal. This thing, this kraken, was definitely the most terrifying thing I had ever seen. It was also unpredictable. It didn't like to move. It sat still unless it was disturbed, so there was no chance that it was going to relocate me to a more preferable spot, a.k.a., not above its gapping mouth.
I counted the seconds in my head and tried to keep fear from creeping into it. I couldn't believe he was doing this. He hated me this morning and now he's risking his life to save me. Silent seconds dragged on.
"Hey, I hope you're not falling asleep on me." Hellboy called. I just screamed the first curse that came to mind.
Finally the signal Hellboy was talking about was given and I fired the shot, hitting the deepest part of the kraken's throat that had triggered the swinging frenzy earlier. When I was least expecting it Hellboy flew past me, scaring the crap out of me.
I scream his name but the kraken threw me against the ceiling again and Hellboy was already gone. The explosion was what I wasn't expecting. I was already half out of it from being thrown around but it was made even worse as the kraken threw me across the room. Its tentacle, that had been holding me upside down for at least ten minutes, landed beside me. I felt light headed and leaned against a pile of twisted metal that had fallen from the ceiling as I waited for the dust to settle.
When I finally felt able, I crawled over large chunks of metal and kraken flesh. I was coated in slime from head to toe as I pushed things aside, looking for Hellboy. I heard a groan and did my best to sprint towards it.
"Hellboy?" I called. I coughed a few times as I looked around for any sign of him or rescue. I spotted a patch of red to my right and made my way towards it hoping it was him.
"Hellboy!" I shouted again as I hauled part of a ceiling support beam off of him. "Hellboy?" I asked leaning down to see if he was breathing. "Damn you." I breathed in relief when I felt his chest rise and fall. I left me head on his chest and took in a few deep breaths to calm my racing heartbeat.
"Liz." I looked up at Hellboy's face. He didn't seem to have moved but I knew that was his voice. "What?" I asked aloud, hoping he'd hear me.
"Liz." He whispered again. I saw his lips move and I placed a hand on the side of his head.
"Hellboy it's me, Rai. Get up you jerk." I watched him and waited.
"Rai." I smiled as I watched his eyes flutter open and nodded fervently.
He rubbed his eyes and tried to sit up. I pushed myself off of him and helped him up only to hit him in the face a minute later.
"What was that for?" He shouted in surprise. "Don't you ever scare me like that again!" I shouted back. He glared at me and then suddenly laughed at me.
"Come on. This wasn't the first time I've been eaten for explosive purposes." He said, shaking some of the slime that covered his body, off of his hand.
"Really?" I asked a little amazed.
"Yeah." He replied simply.
"Wow, you really get around." I said. We stared at each other and then we both smiled and laughed softly.
I look up hoping to find the light from the giant hole in the ceiling but I couldn't see past mounds of rubble. "Looks like we need to wait." Hellboy muttered picking up on my thoughts. I nodded and sat down next to him.
It didn't take long before the pain in my head became too much and I blurted out the question that was gnawing away at my mind.
"Why did you do it?" I asked as I stared at the floor. I felt Hellboy's eyes on me.
"What?"
"Why did you risk it…for me?" I asked still refusing to meet his gaze.
"I don't know." Hellboy replied.
"I thought you hated me." I said trying to make it sound like this was any normal conversation.
"I do, don't think that's changed."
"Oh come on."
Hellboy stared at me and I realized I had allowed myself to look at him as well. We looked away from each other quickly.
"I mean… You were a jerk, you know. But you saved me." I said.
"I don't like anybody new. It's just how I am." He said.
"That sounds like what Clay and everybody else said." I laughed. This was definitely awkward but it was better than arguing.
"So what changed?" I asked, peeking over at him.
"I don't know what you mean."
He didn't continue so I let it drop.
We sat for a few minutes in silence. Finally I stood up with a smile and held out my hand. He stared at it until I noticed what hand he would have to shake with. I felt my smile faltered but hid it quickly and grabbed his stone hand anyway.
"Rai Lightning." I said, formally introducing myself. He watched our hands and I could tell he was trying not to hurt me. I watched his face until he looked up and realized I was staring.
"Hellboy." He replied. I smiled again and then released his hand. "See, there you go. Even we freaks can be civilized." I said with a smile and he almost smiled back, almost.
We were silent again until my curiosity got the better of me.
"Who's Liz?" I asked randomly. He froze completely and didn't look at me. "Who?" He asked in a stale tone.
"Liz, you called me that twice when I found you." I said. Hellboy didn't move or speak or even breathe.
"Hellboy?" I asked, leaning forward to look at the expression on his face. He stood up suddenly and I was thrown off balance.
"I don't know. You must have imagined it." He said. He started to walk off and I ran to his side so that I wouldn't be left behind. I didn't say anything else about it because I guessed that whatever it was, it was a touchy matter.
"Red, Lightning, are you two there?" I heard my radio mumble as I followed Hellboy through the trashed ballroom.
"Yeah, Clay we're here. Where are you guys?" I asked as I stopped and Hellboy turned back to me. His radio was in tarnished pieces on his belt so he held his hand out for mine. I ignored him and listened as Abe took the radio from Clay.
"We are right above you." Abe's voice stated. Hellboy looked up and I did too.
"Ok, get us out of here; Hellboy doesn't want to be late for dinner, remember." I said, smiling at Hellboy and making him smirked at me. I suddenly felt a pain in my head and tried to avoid having Hellboy notice.
"Rai?" Abe asked.
"Yeah." I replied, trying to ignore the aching pain that was starting to spread.
"I hope you haven't been moving too much. You may have suffered a severe concussion." Hellboy's expression suddenly became more serious as he watched me. "I'm fine Abe. Don't worry about it." I stepped towards Hellboy. Abe said something else but I didn't hear it. My brain and my eyesight went fuzzy and then my knees buckled.
"Sparky." Hellboy caught me before I hit the ground. I looked up at him and grimaced in pain.
"Ow." I whined and tired to laugh at how pathetic I sounded. "Abe hurry it up." Hellboy shouted into my radio. I mumbled some unheard complaints and closed my eyes.
Short I know. Reviews. =)