BatIM AU: Henry's Path (OLD - rewrite in progress/consideration)

Act 3, Scene 18: Dark River

Linda

"So, Sammy's gone? Just like that?" Linda swallowed back her tears. He can't be gone, can he?

"Yeah. There was no trace of him." Henry made a weird face. One that Linda knew all too well.

"What are you hiding?"

"Hiding? I'm not hiding anything," Henry replied quickly. Too quick.

"Mm-hm. Sure. You saw something in there, didn't you?"

"You did something, while I was gone, didn't you?" Henry countered.

"We ran into someone. But they're gone now," Alison answered. Linda thanked her silently. "We need to get a move on. We don't have time to mourn."

"The river's just around the corner. From there, we can get to the Lost City. We'll be a hop, skip, and a jump from the Ink Demon's lair from there," Tom added.

Henry tensed beside Linda, which made her wonder what really went on. He should be excited to get rid of Joey once and for all, not terrified to do so.

While the four made their way to the docks, Linda kept only a small distance from Henry, hoping that he would at least tell her about what happened. But he only stayed silent, a forlorn look washed over his face. Wait a minute. His face. His eye was different. It wasn't crossed like before, and not pie-cut like the other, but human-like.

"Henry, what happened to your eye?"

"Amazing right? I can see better now. And I have my friend to thank for that."

"Friend? What friend?"

Henry stopped walking and fell silent. He cursed under his breath and muttered, "I shouldn't have said that."

Linda bit back an amused chuckle. "Now you're starting to sound like Sammy."

"I guess I am."

What a minute. Did he just avoid my question again? What's going on? He never does this.

"Henry, you still didn't—"

Linda was interrupted by Tom, why fell back behind them and shoved the forwards. "Come on, get a move on," he growled. "We just got here and you're already slowing us down."

Linda and Henry exchanged annoyed glances and looked out at the docks before them. It was beautiful in a way. Though it was dark, the little lights that came from candles or carnival lights reflected off of the ink river's shiny surface. Henry tensed beside Linda again, eyes fixated on the floor.

"There's something in the river," he whispered. Then he shook his head as if clearing away clouds that shrouded his mind. "Wonder what that means."

I shouldn't ask, Linda told herself, longing to know what Henry had saw. Most of the messages that he's seen so far have become true, so what did this one mean? Was whatever in the river dangerous or friendly? Linda's mind focused on something else for the time being. She laid her eyes on the two boats that waited at the edge of the river, one seeming old and rusty, while the other looked like it was used frequently and cared for. She looked at Henry again, searching his eyes for answers.

Henry Stein

"So," Linda said, raising an eyebrow at Henry, "Which boat are we going to take?"

"I'm not going with any of you," Tom growled, climbing into one of the boats.

"Too bad," Alison teased. She picked up Henry (much to his embarrassment and anger) and helped him in the boat that Tom was in. "We're all taking the same one."