down and retrieved the man’s passport. The photo and information identified him as Andrew Knight. This was the man being sought in the death of the police sergeant from the Berlin police.
“May I see your papers please?” Yuri rose and walked over to the man. He gave up the passport. Yuri opened it.
“Exactly what happened here Mister Schultz,” Yuri asked referring to the passport. “Mister Eric Schultz.”
“There was a knock at the door,” he explained. “When I opened it, that man there forced me back inside.”
“How did you subdue him?” Yuri curiously asked.
“He was watching out the window and I hit him over the head,” Eric replied. “I had taken some self-defense classes and, well, used it to knock him out.
“Well,” Yuri said handing him back his passport. “This man is suspected of killing a police officer in Berlin. It was very brave of you, but stupid to take this man on.”
“I never realized that,” Eric answered, wide-eyed.
“We will take him into custody,” Yuri further said. “You are to remain on the train until after everyone is questioned.”
“What happened?” Eric asked.
“Two people were found dead in the baggage car by a Porter,” Yuri explained. He looked down at Andrew. “I suspect that this man was also involved somehow.”
“I need to let my boss know that I will be delayed,” Eric said. “May I text her?”
“By all means,” Yuri answered. “Then I would ask you to move to the passenger cars so that we may question you and the others further.”
“Alright,” Eric replied. He took out his phone as Yuri radioed for assistance.
Blackness. There was nothing but the sound of her breathing. Was there anyone there beyond the dark? Was she all alone? No way to measure time.
Darkness. There was nothing but the sound of her gentle breathing. The last images burned in her mind were of Andrew lying on the ground. Was he still alive?
Abyss. The sound of her breathing grew more labored. Panic had taken over and she felt wetness in the corner of her eyes. Where was she?
Nightshade. Her breathing was grew faster and faster. She couldn’t catch her breath. Her arms and legs were bound with rope. Was any one there?
Ebony. This time there were new sounds. A key being turned in a lock and a heavy sounding door opening. Footsteps drew near with an air of purpose. The door closed. The footsteps stopped. She was not alone.
Nothingness. Her breathing had slowed down. She listened to see what the other person was doing. They were not moving. Were they looking her over? Were they toying with her by remaining silent? She tried to speak but her mouth was bound with tape. Why were they not speaking?
Bleakness. Her breathing was calmer now. She strained to hear what was going on.
“Welcome home, Raven Blade,” an all too familiar woman’s voice spoke from the dark. Suddenly, the darkness had withdrawn and firelight strained her eyes. The tape was stripped from her mouth and the tingling felt like a thousand needles striking at once.
“I no longer go by that name,” Talia replied.
“To me you will always be Raven Blade,” the woman answered. Her hair was black and streaked with stokes of silver gray. The black dress she wore was long and flowing. Flesh, the color of alabaster, peaked out from beneath the accentuated v-neck. “But you have betrayed us to the outsiders.”
“What I did in the name of good was wrong, Anastasia,” Talia answered.
“We purge the world of evil,” Anastasia calmly replied. “As you recall it all started with my great-great grandfather, Abraham VanHelsing.”
“Andrew will come,” Talia suddenly announced defiantly.
“We know,” Anastasia replied. “He won’t last much longer. He is no match for us.”
“He will come,” Talia repeated.
“He will die!” Anastasia answered bluntly.
“Where is Kara?” Talia demanded.
“She is safe,” Anastasia replied. Her phone buzzed. She took it out of her pocket and saw that there was a text message. She smiled and glanced in Talia’s direction. “I just received a text message from Gold Blade.”
“What is it?” Talia asked.
“He just texted me that Andrew Knight has been arrested by the Zwickau police.” Anastasia had a wide grin of satisfaction on her face. “It looks like your so called hero is out of action and won’t be coming to rescue you or Kara.” She texted Gold Blade that she would send a helicopter to pick him up and that she needed his location. Anastasia waited for a reply. He texted his location and that he would be ready. She walked over to the door and opened it. Two knights entered the room and loosened Talia from the chair. They each grabbed her by the arm and escorted Talia out of the room.
Kara bolted straight up. She scanned the room with wild-eyed confusion. Where was she? The room had one single window, no furniture save for a simple desk and chair, along with the bed she was lying on.
The last thing Kara saw was Nick being attacked. She didn’t even know if he were still alive. Kara started to cry, but she quickly scolded herself for being a wimp and stopped. She also realized she was no longer wearing her dress. Someone had changed her into a black jumpsuit and shoes. Kara bounded off the bed and over to the door. She tried the handle, it was locked. She went over to the window. It was tall and narrow without any way to open it. Kara was trapped.
Eric had changed into his knight’s garb and was just strapping on his weaponry. Andrew was still unconscious and had been moved to the bed. Eric heard the helicopter in the distance. He pulled the door open quickly and knocked out the solitary officer standing guard over him and Andrew. He grabbed both suitcases and headed for the exit. He never intended to go to the passenger’s cars as ordered. Eric had to get to Gothica at all costs. He set one case down and opened the door. Eric propped the door open and retrieved the case. He quickly descended the steps and ran towards the open field not far from the train.
Captain Brewster was interviewing a male passenger on the train when he heard what sounded like a helicopter. He stopped to peer out one of the windows. There in the distance was a black helicopter preparing for a landing in the field not far from the train. Yuri was about to turn his attention back to the investigation, but something else caught his eye. There, not far from the train, he saw someone in a Knight’s of VanHelsing uniform running while carrying a suitcase in both hands. Yuri grabbed his walkie and called for the officer standing guard at that location. There was no reply. Yuri immediately started screaming in it for some of his men to stop the person.
Eric felt the rush of the wind from the helicopter blades as he approached it. The door slid open and one of his compatriots in full gear, reached out to give him a hand. Eric tossed up one of the suitcases.
Yuri and several of his men took off in pursuit of Eric. They bounded over the rails and quickly rushed towards the helicopter. Yuri saw the door slide open and someone reach out towards Eric. Yuri drew his gun and fired off several shots.
Eric froze as the dinging of bullets struck the helicopter. They were shooting at him! He tossed in the last suitcase inside and reached for the crossbow. Eric loaded an arrow and fired!
Yuri felt a pressure in his thigh and he tumbled down in the grassy mud. He rolled over and saw the arrow shaft buried in the flesh of his leg. He managed to pull himself up on one foot and fired until his gun was empty.
Eric jumped inside as another volley of shots struck frighteningly close; too close as far as he was concerned.
“Take off now!” Eric barked as he loaded another arrow. He fired again.
Yuri was knocked to the ground from the forced of the arrow as it slammed him in the right shoulder. His gun flew out of his hand and seconds later, landed some distance away from him. He screamed at his men to keep firing, but it had no affect. Yuri watched helplessly as the helicopter disappeared from sight. His men helped Yuri to his feet and helped him back to the train. Yuri grimaced in pain as he hobbled along back to the train.
The glowing red sun was slowly disappearing on the distant horizon as the sound of metal whirling blades filled the still air of the valley. It would be dark soon, and time for Gold Blade to finally come home again.
