Chapter 2
A few hours later had Broom leading Maizie through a corridor. Maizie had changed into something more suitable, a pair of slacks and a black blouse. Her hair was braided over her shoulder, wisps of white shown. Broom spoke as they walked.
"In 1937, Hitler joins the Thule Society; a group of German aristocrats obsessed with the occult," Broom said. He pointed to a broken lance. "1938, he acquires the Spear of Longinus, which pierced the body of Christ. He who holds it becomes invincible."
"Hitler's power increases tenfold," he continued as they walked the corridor. "In 1943, President Roosevelt decides to fight back. Thus, the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense is born. 1958, the occult war finally ends when Adolf Hitler dies."
Maizie stopped, "1945, you mean. Hitler died in '45."
Broom turned to look at her. He gave her a smile, "Did he now?"
Maizie followed Broom when he moved forwards, perplexed at the information given to her. They reach a door made of stainless steel. A man stands in the front of it with a cartful of piled food.
"Agent Myers, this is Agent Clay. Follow his lead, dear," Broom says before he hands her two Baby Ruth candy bars.
She holds the candies as she speaks, "You're not coming?"
He shakes his head no.
"I hand-picked you from a roster of over seventy academy graduates. Make me proud," he says before he finally turns and walks away.
She watched his back as he left. Agent Clay's voice brought her back.
"They're not speaking. Professor Broom had him grounded."
"Grounded?" She asked. "Who's grounded?"
"Okay, you saw the fish man right?" Clay asked.
She nods, "Yeah, that was freaky. And a bit…interesting."
Clay gave her a look before he spoke, "Right. Well, come on in and meet the rest of the family."
She watched as Clay pulled out an odd looking object from under his jacket and inserted it into the steeled wall and turned. The wall opens and she follows him into the room. She gazed around in amazement at the TV sets stacked upon one another showing images of a woman. Cats filled the floor and she gave a smile as one rubbed their body on her leg.
"He gets fed six times a day. He's got a thing for cats. You'll be his nanny, his keeper, and his best friend. He never goes out unsupervised," Clay said in a whisper as he pulls the food from the cart and onto a table nearby.
"Who?" She asked.
The man hands her a comic book and her eyes widens, "No! You're kidding!"
Her head comes up at the sound of a deep voice ahead of her. "Those comics, they never get the eyes right."
"Hellboy?!" She whispers to Clay. "He's real?"
Clay nods, "Yup. Sixty years old by our count, but he doesn't age like we do. Think reverse dog years; he's barely out of his teens."
Her eyes still wide, Maizie looks from the comics to the man in the shadows. Hellboy comes out, still somewhat hidden in the shadows. His skin is deep red with crisscrossed designs over his bare chest and arms. His large hand encloses over a dumbbell. His yellow eyes look up and down Maizie as he chews on an unlit cigar. Looking back at Clay, his deep voice speaks.
"What's with the hair, Clay? Finally got those implants?"
Clay fiddles with his hair as he responds, "It'll fill in."
"He really is real…" Maizie whispers under her breath, still in disbelief.
Her low voice catches Hellboy's attention.
"Who's the squirt?" The demon asks.
"Agent Myers is your new liaison," Clay responds.
"Got tired of me?"
Clay looks at him, "Nah. I'll be around, Red. Just back in the field."
The dumbbell falls from Hellboy's grip, making a loud clanging sound and Maizie jumps.
"I don't want her," he growls.
"Manning says I'm too soft on you," Clay says before he turns to Maizie and whispers. "The candy. Give him the candy."
Maizie looks down to her hands and realizes she still has them. "Oh. Uh…I have these for you."
Hellboy raises a dark eyebrow, "Father's back?"
"Father?" Maizie asks. "Broom has a son?"
Clay nods to both questions. Hellboy glances at Maizie then back to Clay.
"He still angry?" Hellboy asks Clay.
"Well, you did break out."
"I wanted to see her. It's nobody's business."
"It is," Clay said. "You got yourself on TV again."
Hellboy rolls his eyes and looks back to the young woman, "Myers huh? You have a first name?"
Clay quickly leans his head down to Maizie and whispers, "Try not to stare. He hates when people stare."
"Uh…Maizie," She answered Hellboy then whispered to Clay, "Stare at what?"
"His horns. He files them to fit in," Clay answered.
Hellboy steps into the light fully and stands in front of them. Maizie looks down the comic in her hands and then back up. She looks at Hellboy with a small hint of an amazed smile, her eyes trailing up from his face to his shaved horns.
"Whatcha looking at Maze?" Hellboy said.
"It's Maizie," She said. "Pretty cool looking horns."
Hellboy raises an eyebrow at her unexpected response and Clay looks at her in surprise.
"What?" She asked them; unnerved by the looks she's getting from the men.
Before either could speak, a loud siren erupts and Maizie quickly drops the objects in her hand in alarm, red lights illuminating the room.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Hellboy said to Clay. "They're playing our song."
"We're on the move," Clay said.
Hellboy grabs his large shirt and jacket and passes Maizie while he speaks to her, "C'mon champ! Let's party!"
Maizie follows the two men in bewilderment and amazement.