AN- As I've said before, this story can be troublesome to my muses sometimes, but as this is the last chapter, I'll be starting on a new project soon to write over the summer! Thankyou so much to everyone who read this and commented on it, I can't thank you guys enough. I know this story was kind of short compared to how long it could have been, but my next one will be longer, I swear, and plus my other stories aren't finished yet!
Enjoy, and Thankyou.
Moving surprisingly fast for their age, Quatermain and Nemo raced towards the shouting, Skinner struggling to keep up with them. He paused briefly, panting for breath as he leaned against a tree. There came a loud, familiar sounding cry and he ran quickly towards the source of the noise.
He came to a small clearing, with a tiny stream winding its way through the ground. Nemo had his sword pointed towards a vicious hybrid of pig and ape- it was large, with fangs and tusks. Alan was standing his ground over Sawyer, who lying on the ground, seemed to be bleeding from his arm. He yelled in pain as he tried to sit up, clutching his right arm.
Skinner winced slightly as the ape-boar charged, obviously returned to its feral nature and dangerously confused, and gored itself on the fine point of the Indians sword, dark blood gushing out and tainting the silver metal. Nemo, satisfied that the creature was dead, pushed it back with his boot and removed the sword from its body. He wiped the blood across its back, covered in coarse, silvery hair.
The old hunter was now bent down next to Sawyer, placing his rifle down next to him. The spy flinched violently and yelled out in pain as Quatermain felt the sensitive arm- it was broken. The gash across his arm bled badly, and Alan apologised for causing him more pain as he bandaged it up with his scarf and created a makeshift sling for him. Tom replied through gritted teeth that it didn't hurt so much and he'd be fine.
''It's a relief to know you're alive, boy. A broken arm is much better than what we thought may have happened to you.'' Quatermain said, gently helping him to his feet. Sawyer grinned slightly despite the tenderness of his arm.
''Don't bloody scare me again, Sawyer!'' Skinner remarked, joining the spy and seeing if he needed any help walking. He was waved away and met with a cocky smile.
''I think you're forgettin' that it was you who disappeared.''
Mina and Hyde were already on their way towards the source of the shouting even though it had stopped. The vampiress had already pinpointed where it had been coming from earlier, and Mr Hyde followed her flying overhead.
They had left the men alone to argue amongst each other, but Moreau had seemed distracted. He carried a hunters rifle in his hands and had wandered into the undergrowth alone. It seemed that he had kept secret the potential ferocity of the escaped cat and planned to kill it himself. Perhaps even to subdue and recapture it that he might continue his vivisection.
The lady vampire and her monstrous team mate arrived to see that Tom was safe and well- expect for some cuts and a broken arm of course. He began to tell them of the things he'd seen as well as Skinner, who finally explained the things he had witnessed with the 'Sayer of the law' in the cave. The League shared a sense of horror and disgust at his tale.
''I believe Moreau has gone after the cat himself. He plans to kill it.'' Mina explained to them after leaving the doctor and his associates. Hyde expressed his amusement at 'that pratt Prendick'.
''That's who we came to get? We should leave him here.''
Sawyer was distracted by Mina's words about the panther. He could imagine her being hunted and something struck a chord inside him….he just couldn't explain it. He had hunted rabbits and birds as a kid for food and fun, and that had never bothered him. He enjoyed Alan's tales about his hunting days back in Africa. Unable to work out his reason, Sawyer made an announcement.
''I think we should stop him from killing the panther,'' he noticed looks of confusion from the group, especially Alan. When asked why, he explained further, ''I don't know why exactly, but I saw it earlier…it could have ripped me to shreds if it had wanted to, even though it was hurt…but it didn't. I left the cat alone and she left me. It was damn near the most beautiful thing I've ever seen too. Besides, Moreau's no hunter, he's a maniac.''
Hyde laughed slightly, looking down at the injured American. ''Sawyer, if you love this bloody cat so much, why don't you let it get its own back and rip Moreau to pieces?''
''He's right, Hyde. We can't let either of them die. The animal has a right to live, and unfortunately, no matter how much we think differently Moreau is a human being…'' Nemo said bitterly, sheathing his sword. There came a loud gunshot from the distance, followed by an eerie silence.
''That came from the beach…'' Alan said slowly, looking around to his fellow League members. He noted that they were stood in a circle, similar to when they had prepared to go their separate ways in M's fortress.
Moving quickly, Sawyer ignoring his pain for the time being despite the sharpness of it running through his arm, the group made their way back towards the shore. As they emerged from the trees, they spotted a tall figure lying in the sand, an area of dark sand around their form as the blood soaked down into the ground.
Alan approached alone, holding up a hand so the others wouldn't follow. He leaned down and observed Moreau's wide, open eyes, cold and grey as steel. He closed them respectfully, the sea beginning to wash in around his boots and Moreau's head.
''What are we to do about the other men?'' Mina asked, watching as the cool water closed in around the body of the deceased doctor. Alan pondered for a moment, glancing at the Captain. Nemo looked at the lightening sky line to his Nautilus.
''We were meant to collect Prendick besides…but Montgomery may need 'rescuing' also. He no longer has someone to work for here.'' The Indian said. Skinner sighed and looked back towards the trees.
''Speak of the devil…''
The straw haired man approached them wearily, waving slightly to show he meant no harm. The Captain addressed him first.
''Will you be requiring a ship home?''
The man nodded gratefully and glared at the jungle behind him. He noticed Moreau lying on the sand and shook his head.
''I would very much love to return to England now…Thankyou. Prendick won't be coming. He took his own life with that pistol…couldn't handle anymore, poor wretched soul…''
Silently the League moved towards the Nautili that sat waiting on the shore. They waded through the water, some entering the pod and heading back to the ship. Sawyer insisted on waiting, offering to Mina to go first. She scolded him for staying behind when he needed medical attention, but he cheekily replied that the doctor of the ship hadn't turned back yet anyway.
He waited with Alan for Hyde to shrink back into Jekyll, which ensued in a mater of minutes. The doctor shakily tended to Tom, who told him he should wait until he'd gotten his senses back fully. As they boarded the last pod, the American glanced back to see the panther watching him from the undergrowth. He continued to watch her from the pod window, his companions noticing the sleek, black cat as it approached Moreau on the shore.
''See ya.'' Tom muttered, smiling a little. He sat in the back of the pod as Alan directed it back to the ship, Dr Jekyll examining his arm as gently as he could.
Once back on board, the Captain set a course for the port in Peru where the prototypes they had collected where to be dropped off. As soon as this was done, the course was set back to England where their passenger was to be dropped off and they were to report back to Mycroft Holmes.
British Museum
Bloomsbury
London
Two Weeks Later
''Congratulations, gentlemen. You completed your mission sufficiently and a deposit will be made to the bank account created especially for you…'' The stout Mr Holmes addressed the League, observing a strange specimen in a jar.
''Thankyou, Mr Holmes.'' Alan replied, watching with amusement as Tom continuously scratched at his arm, still bandaged and healing. He hissed slightly as he treated it too roughly and sulked.
''We'll be in touch, of course, should we need your services.'' Their 'boss' waved to the team as they left the museum, heading out into the spring weather of London- a light rain- and walked down to their transport. The cab took them down to the docks where they boarded the Nautilus, ready to begin wandering the planet until they were called upon again.
End.
Thanks again for reading and reviewing 'The House Of Pain', I;m glad you enjoyed it. I certainly enjoyed writing it and I;m a little sad to think it's over. Hopefully you may check out my other current stories and my new one once I've begun to write it. Goodbye for now dear readers.