The Gauntlet part 1

I had intended to try my hand at a possible plot line and new abnormal. Being completely new to any such aspiration I sat down and had a good think about it.
"THE INTRODUCTION"

   My original thoughts were that a mysterious stranger would contact Dr.Helen Magnus; they would meet in some near derelict part of the old town, a lonely spot not much travelled. On arriving Dr Magnus would sit opposite the chap, after some initial questioning Dr Magnus would inquire as to his purpose and if any, what part she had in his affairs.

  It would transpire as the fellow begins his tale that he is there as a favour to her, he tells of a friend of his that had come to him one night full of terror, and the story he told. "My friend while walking in town one day had reason to turn smartly to the rear. On doing so he thought, Just for a split second you understand, he thought he seen the person behind him staring at him with what looked like eyeless sockets, he thought as he had only seen this on the extreme limit of his vision it must have been a trick of the light." The stranger stops speaking and looks around, he seem nervous, seeing that all appeared clear he continued his story.

   "Well Cutting a short story even shorter, within a few weeks he felt as if he was being followed, a gloom engulfed him as I tried all I could to save him. He arrived on my doorstep one rainy night; He talked of a dark creature that was following him and how on occasion he had awoken with a start thinking he was suffocating, I was at the very least supportive if not fully behind his wild ranting. It was then that he took from his jacket pocket a small oddly shaped pair of glasses. He begged me to try them on."
   "I complied with his request, and to my own not inconsiderable alarm, I saw what I could only describe as a darkness standing over the other side of the road among the trees and bushes. I would have considered it a shadow had it not been for the way it moved, my friend took off at great pace leaving the glasses with me, I never saw him again."

   "Although I find your story intriguing, that in itself does not explain you requiring my presence here this evening?" The chap fumbles in his pocket and takes out a small pair of glasses with strangely ground lenses, He puts them on.
   "Dr. Magnus, a creature such as I have described follows you even now. It lurks in the dark windows of the abandoned building over there." He points over her left shoulder to an old brownstone, years past its best covered in graffiti. Boarded up windows like closed eyes, water running down the sills and walls giving the look of tears.

   On looking toward the area indicated, only the darkness of the occasional exposed window frame and interior was apparent, she looks back at him.
   "Sir I wonder at your intent, if it were not for your unusual calling card I would not be conversing with you here and now."
   "Yes I thought that might bring about a positive introduction. Your not exactly listed in the book." She smiles at his straight forwardness.
   "You may not know this, but I tell you now, I am no stranger to the unusual in this world."
   "Yes, I know your work and that of your father before, you are not unknown among certain individuals of power and influence."

   "Sir I see none, nor do I sense any dark creature approaching me, and as for your cheap theatrical ocular props, they do not impress me in the slightest. Now I ask again, what would you dare to gain by bringing me to this lonely area? I warn you, I can and do protect myself from the harm of this world, as you will find out to your disadvantage if you are not careful."
   "Dr. Magnus, you are mostly correct in your interpretation of my words, but don't discount me yet, let me explain further if I may, but brevity is of the moment if I am to help you and vice versa."
   "Then continue, but at a pace. I find your company and story tiresome".

   "I confess Doctor, but I should tell you that most of what I have told you is true, more so than I had originally intended if truth were told, the friend who visited me at my house, the creature and glasses are all real I'm sorry to say, the incident with my friend, that was two years past last November, I have since spent those two years tracing and diminishing these creatures where and when I find them.
I had just recently discovered the one that follows you when I was contacted by a group of powerful businessmen. Their invitation took the form of giving me one hell of a good kicking by five members of their brain trust, Please excuse my levity, their following offer, that of allowing me to live on condition that I take part in this misdirection negated any hard feelings I carried for the said brain trust."

   Her face changed in an instant, brow now furrowed, eyes slightly closed as she assessed this new situation. Taking out her pistol she aims it squarely at his head.
   "Speak! Speak now; my patience is at an end, who are you, and why have you tricked me into this false rendezvous."

   He looks up directly into her eyes searching for some sign of understanding, but why should she, He is nothing to her; she knows nothing of the last two years, the pain and loneliness of his past existence.
   "You are being targeted by a cartel, they will be (He looks at his watch) penetrating your home as we speak, they plan to steal your research and capture your animals, killing those that prove unmanageable."

   Helen is surprised on hearing the chap using her first name; it interrupts her thoughts of what to do next.
   "My name is John, I don't have time for formal introductions, but know this, from this minute on and until your family are safe I am yours to command.
Please decide now, the creatures gather and they may attack momentarily."

   Helen looks deep into John's eyes, could she trust him, after all, had he not been willing only moments before to give her home and family up to those people.
   "John stands up, the creature has gone, he removes the glasses and slips them into his jacket pocket, our time is up, Helen, look over to the old tobacconists shop, that was to have been my escape root had the balloon gone up.
   I don't think for a moment the cartel would care if I did not make it safely away from here."

   John reaches out with his left hand and takes hold of Helens arm (She still holds the pistol), taking a bracelet from his pocket he gently fastens it around her wrist, and then begins pulling her in the direction of the old shop.

   John shouts, "RUN," pulling Helen even harder in the direction of the shop, Scurrying noises echo from the surrounding buildings, not seeing an immediate escape route she follows him trustingly, to a point.

   They reach the side gate that leads down the worn stone steps to the basement, John kicks open the rusty gate and leads Helen down to what would have been the servant's entrance to the old tobacconists.

   They stop for a moment in front of the basement door to catch their breath, they look at each other, then down at their hands, John is still holding Helens hand and she his, they both release their grip at the same time, looking at each other a little awkwardly, John is first to speak.
   "Sorry force of habit."

   Helen raises her arm up to John's eye line, Blam! Blam! She fires her pistol. John ducks, instantly realizing the shots were not meant for him he turns quickly around. A burly male lies dead half sitting half slumped against the basement wall, a meat clever still in his hand, Helen was just about to say you owe me one when a dark humanoid form begins to rise from the dead body.
   John jumps towards the figure as it becomes more solid by the second; pulling out a sliver sword like knife he slashes and stabs at the emerging creature, it fades a little with each blow, finally disappearing in a bluish haze.

   John turns to Helen, her complexion a little ashen.
   "Are you all right?" She looks at him.
   "I have a dislike of knives." John could see this was not the time to ask any questions.
   The sound of a bolt sliding open comes from the door. the door opens? Helen points her pistol towards it.
   "No! John shouts." A head pops out.
   "OK Johnny."
   "He is my assistant, James." The young man looks over at John.
   "Couldnae dae it, could ye, a dinnae blame ye, she's a cracker."
   John looks over at Helen. "I'll explain later."
   "Johnny the breeds ur everywhere." John beckons Helen to enter.

   On closing and bolting the door John takes James aside.
   "You must make your way to Sanctuary by way of the underground tunnels, I will attempt to make a surface run meeting up with you there." John opens a trap door in the floor and James climbs down. Just before disappearing he looks up grinning at Johnny.
   "A kent ye widnae dae it, a jist kent it" and with that he was gone.

   John walks back towards Helen, tripping over some debris unseen in the half-light of the darkened room, Helen catches him, and their momentary chance embrace confuses them both. John pulls his head back from Helen's shoulder brushing her face with his, he feels the softness of her skin, moving further back he is intoxicated by her heady mix of perfume and perspiration from their run, It rises up from her open coat and blouse.
   Helen has not been so close to a man since, well it's been a while. His cologne mixed with the heat of his toned body and unshaven stubble...his lips so close to hers.

   John pauses not sure how close their faces are from each other in the dimmed room, Helen's breath washes over his mouth as she whispers.
   "Are you all right John?"
   "Yes comes the hushed reply". Their breath entwined there is a moment that neither of them had felt or shared with anyone for a long time.

   Adjusting their attire, they continue the journey, heading through to the back of the shop towards the alley John stops dead in his tracks, He squeezes Helen's hand indicating caution!
   "Over there," loitering by the back window there is a slight movement, not human this time. Helen reaches for her pistol, John squeezes her hand once more, and she stops, hardly daring to breath she feels John's hand release from hers.

   A shadow that is John leaps toward the creature, a flash of steel as his Dirk slashes and stabs at its trailing limbs and centre; again and again he attacks, sometimes successful, some not. The creature's shrill cries fill the room until with its wounds leaking a faint blue hue; it diminishes and disappears back into oblivion.

   Helen moves forward catching up with John.
   "Why did you stop me from shooting the creature?"
   "It was a fully formed being and not part of a twin existence."
   "I'm sorry, a twin existence."
   "The breed if occupying the same exact space in this dimension and their own, and if that space has a human within it, well, let us just say that the human will not be in control of his or her own movements. These innocents I am sorry to say all end up dead, that being the only way to bring out the creature before killing it."
   "I still don't know why I just could not shoot it."
   "Oh! Bullets don't work on them."
   "I could see it John, without the glasses."
   "Yes, I don't fully understand, something has changed."

   "Let us be away from here Helen, before we are discovered." The alley at the back was small with only one clear exit. On looking around there did not seem to be any form of transport. John looked at Helen aware of her confusion.
   "Over here Helen." John walks the few steps to an old tarp, and pulls it off.
   "A motorcycle John!"
   "Yes I suppose you could describe it as such, It's my Harley, not exactly a knights white charger, but it will get you where you want to go."

   John swings his leg over the hog and then kick starts it into life.
   "Coming Helen?" She positions herself behind him. John wraps both her arms around his waist.
   "You ever played Gauntlet when you were a child."
   "No. I cannot say I know it."
   "Well. Two lines of boys line up with a passageway down the middle, another, the chosen one has to run through the centre."
   "What's the point exactly?"
   "The point is to show you have the steel to make it all the way through while you are punched and kicked all the way along the line."

   "Look above and along the buildings, and no doubt all the way to Sanctuary, do you have the steel Helen."
   "I'm sitting here aren't I?"
   "Then in the words of the local vernacular, let's blow this joint." John makes a left turn and twists the revs to max, the bike lurches forward and powers off toward Sanctuary.


                                             The Gauntlet part 2

   The hog roars along the empty thoroughfare, no headlights showing, the twilight illuminates the road ahead. John catches a glimpse of Helen's face in the mirror, Studying it he can see her long dark hair blown back by the bikes acceleration, all framed by that black hat. Looking again he sees that Helen has caught him looking, a faint smile passes between them.

   Helen asks John. "Your assistant is he reliable?"
   "Yes, his name is James, I've known him all my life." Sensing a slight awkwardness in asking the question she drops the subject.

   Helen's arms squeeze John's abdomen tightly.
   "John Look." A yellow taxicab screeches from a side street powering towards them. John drops a gear pulling back hard on the accelerator, the hog responds, the back of the bike sinks down as it accelerates, a surge of raw power rages through the custom pipes.

   The taxicab swerves from side to side as it chases down its prey, Helen looking back is somewhat surprised to see a middle aged man in a business suit driving, an innocent.
   She pulls out her pistol and shoots, aiming for the tyres. Blam! Blam! John turns to her and shouts.
   "Take out the driver." Helen points and shoots penetrating the screen and killing the human inside, She looks away as the cab veers to the left and smashes into a parked car, no explosion but the outcome was already settled. She had now killed her second innocent. The first might be argued to be self-defence, but this one?

   Helen is jerked unceremoniously back to reality as John increases the speed even more, Ahead there is a blockade made from cars and street rubbish, Innocents can be seen getting into position and the dark shimmer of the breed was all over it, John shouts one last order as they prepare to enter this melee.
   "Gun down the innocents and slash the breeds". John slides the hilt of his second dirk towards Helen where she can access it easily.

   John steers the hog towards a pedestrian access ramp to the side of the blockade, if he can hit it at just the right angle they might just make this impossible jump and clear the cars.

   The hog sinks deeply at the front as it hits the ramps sharp incline, a momentary roar of the engine and through the gap with inches to spare, airborne, the engine squeals freed from earthly constraints red lining as they hurl toward the cars.
   John quickly turns on the headlight and flashing hazards, trying to create some visual confusion to the breed and their hosts.

   There seems an eternity of time and silence before they glide past the first of the cars, Helen looks to her right as an innocent comes at her like a wild animal, She shoots him through the heart, then kicks his lifeless body aside as it slams into her.
   No time to think, the instinct to survive has taking over, Helen stands upright on the hogs rear foot rests, shooting innocents with one hand and slashing the dark entities with the other.
   John meanwhile is looking out for a safe landing spot and slashing left right and centre, the blade of his dirk reflecting the bikes flashing lights, blood, hair, tooth and nail fly in all directions, Innocents and the breed drop like confetti.

   The further they enter this nest of darkness the more they fail, Helen's legs bleed from the bites and strikes of the creatures, John, blood running from his forehead, hands bruised and battered. Helen shouts at to him.
   "I fear we have lost" as the breed scamper towards them.

   Helen bows her head slightly looking toward John, he holds up his arm exposing a bracelet of the same design he had giving her, He nods his head toward her wrist indicating to show hers, Helen pulls back her sleeve and John strikes the bracelets one against the other.

   A brilliant blue/green flash, lights up the street, the sound of scraping and tearing metal is all around, and then a secondary explosion that sends the hog smashing into a shop window closely followed by its passengers.
   Silence falls all around, John's hand reaches out toward Helen's just visible below a ripped up counter top, She stirs, opening her eyes, Looking at John, she says.
   "Next time, just buy me chocolates."

   They stand up covered in dirt and dust, Helen in a whisper says.
   "I know this street, the alley behind leads to a main road, we are but a short distance from sanctuary." They find the rear exit, and avoiding lookout and blockade they make their way to the entrance of sanctuary.

   Standing together, hidden by thick foliage they look around for a safe path. John whispers into Helen's ear.
   "Three innocents guard the gate, and there will also be a breed close by, any ideas Helen."
   "Yes. There is an old water outlet by the telephone box over there, Look John, there is a woman using the phone, do you think her an innocent?"
   "Not sure, lets wait a little and see what she does."

   "I was wondering, when we were back at the blockade, after you struck our bracelets together, what happened?"
   "The bracelets...yes, I collected them from the dead bodies of innocents, I soon discovered that they glow with a faint blue/green light when near a dimensional event, or a breed."
   "I did not see a bracelet on the chap at the tobacconists."
   "No you wouldn't, only the spotters wear them, I found out about touching them together about a year ago after landing across the other side of my study.
   I theorized that when the two are brought into contact they form some kind of dimensional short circuit, the stainless steel blade of my dirk appears to work in a similar way, earthing their energy until they can no longer maintain a link between both dimensions."

   "Back at the tobacconists in the dark of that room John, I wouldn't normally.... not so soon after meeting someone."
   "No, I never thought for a moment you would, I was as much to blame if not more." John stands behind Helen, he wraps his arms around her waist, they embrace and looking out toward Sanctuary they wonder at the task ahead.

   "Helen, look the woman has left the phone box."
   "Thank god, I don't believe I could ever get used to killing innocents." John looks at Helen sympathetically.
   "It is the only way to reach the creature within, the innocents never survive becoming twinned with the breed."

                                              The Gauntlet part 3


   Helen takes the lead as they quickly cross the road to the water outlet, they jump down into a small gully, and they duck beneath the little arched opening and through to the other side.

   They climb up a small banking and lay flat as they near the top, John whispers to Helen.
   "Over there." They focus on a black cloudlike form revolving slowly around a young woman.
   "John."
   "Yes I know, I've just not seen it before, see the innocent standing off to the left, look at his wrist."
   "Yes, I see, a bracelet just like ours."
   "A spotter, he's brought that young woman here to be twinned."

   John takes Helen's hand and leads her away from this disturbing scene; they descend crossing the gully, Helen silently pointing the way to her house,
as they approach the edge of the woods the cathedral looms up before them, Its lofty walls seem impregnable, John turns to Helen about to ask how they will get in, She holds a key ring with one big iron key on it.

   On entering they stop, standing quietly they listen to the sounds echoing through the hallways, a light knocking sound can be heard somewhere in the bowels of the cathedral accompanied by a gentle humming sound.

   John pushes Helen into a small alcove and puts his index finger over her lips. They listen intently as approaching footsteps grow louder; John turns around keeping Helen behind him. He takes out his dirk and holds it loosely by his side, Helen's pistol in her hand they listen.

   A large form passes them, John jumps out at the beast, blade ready to strike. A roar goes up.
   "Arrr!" Helen shouts,
   "Stop." Silence, Helen lights a nearby candle, John is hanging in a tight bear hug, feet dangling off the ground.
   "Stop John you'll frighten him." John looks up into a large hairy face then over to Helen.
   "I'll frighten him?"

   Bigfoot releases John letting him drop to the ground.
   "Ouch"
   "Helen, tell chewy to be more careful."
   Bigfoot gives a growl aimed toward John who lifts his hands in surrender.
   "Hey big fellow."

   Helen talks to her man, She returns looking worried.
   "There are innocents and breeds throughout sanctuary, there are also others that appear to be un-twinned humans."
   "Members of the cartel Helen, I'd bet on it, the heavies, here to safeguard the cartels interests."

   "My daughter Ashley and associate William are being held in one of the side rooms, I plan to free them and take back my home. John tells Helen he will come with her.
   "John, your assistant was last seen heading down that corridor after trying to warn everyone, you should go, and take my man with you."
   "That's okay, you take the bfg with you, and I'll find James and catch up with you."

   Heading down the dimly lit corridor, John comes to an arched wooden door slightly open, a familiar odour comes from inside, on entering John slowly steps forward; he feels something sticky underfoot.

   John flicks open the lid of his lighter and strikes it, the flame allows him to look around, and he sees some barrels and old wooden boxes and the odd tarp here and there. Something catches John's eye and ear, there is a slight movement coming from under one of the tarps, a guttural breathing sound, John walks over holding up the lighter to see better, He bends down and reaches over pulling back the tarpaulin, he jumps back slightly giving out an involuntary, "ugh!"

   James is before him, his body battered and bruised to a pulp, his face unrecognisable. John puts down the lighter and kneels close to James; pulling James's body up to him he cradles it against his chest. John breathes out heavily; Eyes closed he looks up into the dark.
   "No! Who has done this?"
   James's body twitches and John flinches in surprise.
   "James your alive?"

   James turns toward John's body, his face blooded eyes unable to see he looks up in the direction of John's voice.
   "Johnny is that you, you made it."
   "Yes James, I'm here lad. Who did this to you? James, are you alright?"
   "Johnny, It was the man with the dagger Johnny, on his hand Johnny." John knew exactly whom James meant, the leader of the brain trust, the one that hit him the hardest.

   "Rest James, don't try to talk, I'll get help."
   "No Johnny, don't leave me, stay with me, don't leave me in the dark." John's lips tighten as he bites the side of his lip, looking away not wanting James to sense his pain or his tears.

   "I never blamed you Johnny, never, you looked after me and we looked after each other. James's words cut through John like a knife, surprised at his clarity, John remembers back.
   It was about a year before, James had been with him for about eight months, and on coming back from diminishing a breed he noticed the house door open, entering, John went into the kitchen, James came at him with a knife stabbing him in the shoulder, John quickly disarmed James, but he would not stop.
   John tried again and again to restrain him but to no avail, in the end John had to begin beating James, beating him in an attempt to release the beast within him, James was blooded and beating to within an inch of his life, by some miracle the beast released enough for John to diminish it.

   After an extended stay in hospital John cared for James, nursing him back to health, but not full health, never again would James enjoy that.
   James remained and continued to work with John; they looked after each other.
   "Johnny."
   "Yes Jamie."
   "I love you Johnny."
   "Shush Jamie, save your strength." A little shudder in James's body and he had gone. John could not see nor speak, tears ran freely down his face, his chest heaved with pain unable to breath. John whispers.
   "Go gently into the night my little soldier, my friend, my brother."


                                            The Gauntlet part 4

                             "Till the day Dawns - Battle for Sanctuary"

   John stands up, his mind still clouded by his brother's murder. The events play over in his head, he wonders if there was something he could have done to save him.
   No rage coursed through his body, only an ice-cold wish for the end of all breeds and innocs, that's what James called the innocents.

   A figure reveals himself in the doorway, its Bigfoot, he has been watching for some little while, witness to James passing.

   John looks over toward him, his clothes are torn, his hair matted with congealing blood.
   "You all right chewy?"
   "You must come." Bigfoot's eyes speak volumes reflecting the need for help.

   John bends over and takes the bracelet from James's wrist and places it in his pocket. As he stands up he speaks in a soft voice.
   "Till the day dawns - and we meet again." Bigfoot turns and heads back the way he'd come, John follows close behind. As they run through the corridors the sound of gunshots ring out accompanied by high pitched shrieks. Two innocs come barrelling toward them, chewy grabs the first by its arm and neck, lifting and smashing one into another rendering one dead and the other unconscious.

   John shouts. "Leave the dead one to me." as a breed emerges from its lifeless body. Bigfoot's blood hot with wild instinctive rage lifts and smashes it to the ground, John slashes from side to side and at their centre, harder and harder he cuts until in a frenzy the innocs bodies are cut to pieces, and the breed diminish in a faint blue/green light.

   John looks over at Bigfoot; they are both exhausted, breathing in and out sharply, blood is splattered all over.
   "Okay chewy, where now." John tries to give the impression of strength but inside he feels they are in for a real night of slicing and dicing.

   Bigfoot heads off again, on reaching the end of the corridor he stops. Pointing to the left he says, "Ashley" then pushing John to the right he points, "Dr Magnus."
   "Okay I get it, I'll go for Helen and we'll come find you." They part heading for their individual missions.

   John moves quickly along the corridor heading toward a low whirring sound up ahead, he slows to a walk and tip toes up to a half open door and listens. The whirring sound is louder now; he carefully peers into the room.
   This room is lit more so than the others, in the corner a slowly revolving breed is twinning a human, to the side a tall muscled spotter looks on. John can't see or hear anyone else in the room; he decides to go for the spotter before the breed can finish its work.

   He quietly steps into the room pulling out his dirk, Thwack! A fist strikes his face from his blind side; someone was behind the door, as John crumples forward, boof!An upward kick to the face, he falls forward rolling over onto his left shoulder and springing up into a fighting stance, His dirk having been thrown finds his attackers chest, the man falls forward holding the hilt in both hands to await certain death.

   "Hello Johnny." Turning on the spot John sees that the voice comes from the leader of the brain trust.
   "You've come up in the world - not, I see you're a spotter for the breed."
   "A Johnny, the cartel were so limited, money was their only concern."
   "And you muscles, what of you."
   "Johnny, they offer so much more, this is not just a visit Johnny, it's a full on invasion."
   "Nice bracelet muscles, and if I might add, a nice tattoo below it. A dagger if I'm not mistaken."

   "Talk is cheap Johnny, look over to the corner, into the breeds form."
   "Helen!"
   "Correct Johnny, she will soon be twinned with the breed." Muscles raises his arm up, He has Helens gun, John dives to the left grabbing at his belt before rolling behind some barrels. Blam! Blam!
   The bullets burrow into the barrels, John stands up throwing a metallic object at muscles, it flashes as it catches the light. Blam! A bullet slices through Johns hip leaving a flesh wound, Muscles grunts as the shurikan-throwing star embeds itself in his upper chest, the gun falls from his hand among the barrels.

   John vaults the barrel and runs at muscles, closing in he makes to grab him, blocking the attack muscles steps forward and head butts John in the face, He staggers backward before dropping and rolling over on his left shoulder, coming up in a defensive stance.
   "You are not like your assistant James, He was soft and easy to break."

   John moves forward, his anger aroused, by the time he covers the few feet to muscles he is raging. John quickly steps forward planting his left leg down, he brings up his right leg kicking out forward, his toes curled back. The ball of his foot sinks deep into muscles belly, doubled over, John grabs his hair in both hands and knees him in the head, then holding onto him by one hand, John delivers a good old fashioned knuckle sandwich to his face, ending with a straight flat hand strike to his throat.

   Muscle's falls back onto the floor, John makes for him, but muscles lifts his legs into Johns stomach and sends him flying over his head into some barrels, they both jump up and make for each other, Muscles feigns a front kick, then turns and swings his left leg around at head height, making to kick John in the head, John ducks below the kick and sweeps muscles other leg away from him. Muscles falls, landing hard on his back. John rolls over and grabs his neck in an attempt to finish him off, Muscles pounds at Johns head with the bottom of his fists.

   They both break rolling away from each other, Spotting Helens gun beside a barrel they both dive for it, Muscles is closer and reaches the gun first, and he turns to shoot. Diving just after muscles John lands on top of him, they struggle with each other trying to get control, Blam! No one moves? John pulls back and up off of muscles. he bends down and picks up the gun, Muscles almost dead, a skean-dhu sticks out of his chest, John looks at him and thinks of his brother James, John kicks muscles foot, Muscles open's his eyes a little. Blam!

                            The Gauntlet part 5 " Final Engagement "

   John hears a rustling noise from his left, but it's what he doesn't hear that bothers him more, no whirring sound from the twinning, He slowly turns his head to the left and stops, Helen stands in the corner slightly crouched over, she stares intently at John. Her hair is straggly, the result of a struggle, there is blood dotted all over her white blouse, the fastenings to her clothes torn or missing, she is barefoot.

   John does not know what to do? Helen speaks in a whisper. "John". John is a little shaken, as the innocs never speak.
   "Are you all right Helen?" She steps forward slowly.
   "John...help... me." Before John can decide Helen runs at him.
   "I'll kill you! Rip you apart." Forcefully knocking him down and sitting on him.
   "Where am I John?"
   "Let me up Helen and I'll help you." They stand up, Helen, I do not think you are properly twinned, usually innocents have no self-awareness or speech."
   Grabbing him, she pushes him up against a barrel, She shouts, "You did this to me! You used me for your pleasure then left me."
   "Let me help you Helen. I can help you." John reaches out to try and embrace her to comfort her.
   "Do not touch me! I will kill you!"
   "All right let me show you."

   As soon as Helen releases him and turns away, John pushes her aside and runs for the open door, He did not know what to do, but nothing could be resolved with Helen beside him. Running at a sprint John could hear Helen catching up with him, Innocs gain extra strength from twinning, John feels a knock on his ankle and trips; he turns in mid air before landing on his back. Helen crashes down on top of him, she pins his shoulders down.

   Lowering her head beside his, she breathes in his scent. "Is that fear I smell?" (Whispering). "Do you want me John?" Helen slides her legs down on top of Johns preventing him from moving, She moves her head toward his left cheek and licks up from his chin along into his mouth, sliding her tongue along his teeth and out onto his right cheek, then biting deep into the flesh of his neck.
   "Ahhh!" John twists ending on top of her, he jumps up and somersaulting over her he runs again.

   After a few minutes he stops to catch his breath,
   "Come out...come out...wherever you are." John speaks out aloud
   "Oh crap!" He starts running again, seconds later. Ooff! Doubled over by some punch or kick he lands sitting slumped against the wall. Helen sits on his legs and head butts him twice then cuddling him to her chest she says.
,  "Don't you want me John, am I not lovely enough for you, you know my husband appears in and out of my life when it pleases him."
   John cannot think what to say, when Helen flies back off of him.
   "Chewy you beauty. Hold her she is not herself."

   John and Bigfoot look at each other unsure what to do next. John asks Bigfoot.   "Ashley and Will."
   "They are safe. They search for the bad men, most dead." Helen struggles her speech more garbled as the breeds influence grows inside.
   "Blue light." Bigfoot exclaims! Looking at John with expectation?
   "What blue light where is it." Bigfoot takes off carrying Helen over his shoulder.

   They burst through a door, John's eyes squint at the brightness of the room, they are in the gallery, and numerous glass windows look into the abnormals cells. A Large metallic gantry hangs from the ceiling, hovering just underneath, a circular revolving ball shaped bag of darkness, and the surface shimmered as something moved within.

   John takes out the glasses, and putting them on looks up at the ball. Inside there appears to be hundreds if not thousands of formless entities flowing around, "Yuk." He takes of the glasses and looks at Bigfoot. "I've got a plan, I don't know if it will work but it's the only chance Dr Magnus has, listen carefully." Bigfoot holds Helen down while John binds her arms and legs, Bigfoot then runs off following instructions.

   When Bigfoot returns he has a long length of metal cable and a rope, "All right chewy this is it, take the cable and throw it over the gantry making sure both ends come close to the ground." John lays Helen down and runs over to the corner, he begins dragging three innoc bodies back to the edge of the gantry, He keeps an eye on Helen and Bigfoot while tying the three bodies to one end of the rope, Bigfoot runs back, he is alive with anticipation and fear of their task.

   John's head is spinning with the innumerable possibilities of what could go wrong. He barks out more orders, "Right chewy this rope must be thrown over the highest part of the gantry." John runs over to wait for the rope coming over; he catches it and brings it down to the floor, the sound of gunshots and shrieks can be heard, Bigfoot speaks.
   "Ashley and Will kill bad people."
   "What about the breed inside." He makes a slashing movement answering the question.

   John and Bigfoot pull on the rope, the innoc bodies rise up to the highest point, and Bigfoot holds the rope while John ties Helen and himself together with the loose end. Helen stares her eyes as black as her hair. John hands Bigfoot Dr Magnus's pistol. They look at each other wondering what the next few minutes will bring.
   "It is all up to you now chewy, our lives are in your hands." John takes Bigfoot's hand in his and smiles at him with a slight nod of his head.

   John takes hold of the rope and looks up, wrapping his arm around Helens waist he shouts. "Now!" Bigfoot lets go of the rope; John and Helen rise up at speed as the innocs bodies descend on the other side, on reaching the top they are flipped onto the top of the quivering ball, Pulling out his second dirk he stabs deep into the breeds nest, slicing back toward him they begin to sink into the liquid.
   "NOW CHEEEWY!" DO IT NOW!"

   Bigfoot lifts his arm and points Dr Magnus's pistol at the mermaid tank, Blam! Blam! Blam! At first nothing, then a faint cracking noise, then Whoosh! All hell lets loose as the tank floods the gallery floor covering the ends of the wire cables. John pulls up Helen's sleeve, No bracelet! Muscles must have removed it, as they sink deeper into the dark liquid John remembers! He slips his hand into his pocket and pulls out Jamie's bracelet. He strikes them together; He will remember the bright blue flash, but the following blast and squeals of the breed or the dimensional earthing and diminishing of the breed no. The last thing he will remember is pulling Helen close to him and kissing her one last time.

    John's eyes open, he is laying in a hospital style bed, He looks around, Bigfoot stands looking down at him grinning from ear to ear, Bigfoot calls over to Dr Magnus. Helen walks over, battered bruised but alive.
   "John we were worried about you. Ashley and Will found us in the water, my man pulled us out." John looks at Helen.
   "Helen are you, you."
   "Yes the breed has gone, out of me and out of this world."

   Helen sits beside John. "What will you do now John, do you have any plans?"
   "I have a duty to return my brother to the old country. We have a place there, James will sleep in the arms of our Clan, but after that, who knows."

   They look deep into each other's eyes and smile.

The End