Abe Sapien and the Witch

Chapter 36

Chapter thirty- six

Red and Johann were indeed moving in a pincer- like formation around the edge of the room. Both men were armed with smoke bombs of a special variety, the ingredients of which should if the ancient text Abe had found were correct, render the witches paralysed long enough for them to grab her, and make a quick retreat.

Their plan went without a hitch, and with great luck none of the witches spotted their movement, not until two large cannisters rattled across the ground in unison. Yellow vapours hissed up through the room from them, filling the air with a terrible-smelling gas that made the rooms occupants fall over, screaming in pain and unable to move away.

Laufey started to shout orders, but he too was soon on his knees on the altar, his hand reaching out towards her. She fell flat against the cold tiles, her chest convulsing from the gas' attack on her respiratory system. The obsidian ring Laufey had placed on her finger at their wedding was too large for her thin fingers now. It fell off as her hand smacked against the tiles, rolling along the floor and away.

She was coughing, struggling to breathe and could not manage to see anything past the thick yellow smog that enveloped everything around her. The vapours burned her eyes, though she still struggled between painful breaths to look around her to find her rescuers. From the nothing, she felt a strong pair of arms reach under her, pulling her up and against a solid chest.

She felt herself being lifted higher, held closer. Her body felt heavy to her as she sagged against the arms that held her. Her fingers reached towards the chest, and she could feel the rapid beating of a heart on the other side of the thin fabric there.

She was then bobbing up and down at speed. Though she could see nothing but yellow swirls of gas, she knew that whoever held her must be running now, for the movements caused her robes to swing out around them like a cape that disturbed the yellow gasses as they moved.

Through hallways, up and up, until the fog began to clear. She rubbed her eyes and could now see Reds face smiling down at her, the butt of a cigar held between his teeth, unlit.

"Red?" she asked, clearing her throat which was sore and dry. "You found me..."

"We don't got time to chat right now, tiny, but believe me when I say, there's someone out here that can't wait to see you." "Abe is alright?" she asked, and he nodded, his pace slowing down now as Johann caught up with them, his suit rattling as he moved.

"Johann..." she said, reaching a hand out towards him. He took it in hers, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze. "You are a sight for very sore eyes" he exclaimed, shaking his head, "I can't believe ve haf finally found you!"

"Thank you, thank you so much..." she said, relief and nausea washing over her as the effects of the gas began to wear off. Liz came running out from behind the back entranceway which had been open for them on arrival, and Red set her on her feet so that she could give her a hug. "I've missed you!" she said, as they held each other tighter.

She noticed them all take a step back to clear her view of the doorway. When she looked, there he stood.

Abe.