Chapter 16

The clock was to strike midnight. There was an eerie stillness out in the city, as if it knew what was drawing near. Gustav, Ansem, and Rosya sat around the dining table, planning their next move. They put the case on hold. That meant that any action taken would be outside the law. Ansem didn't have a problem with that. However, Gustav and Rosya, who had sworn to uphold the law, were putting their careers on the line. But if they we able to find evidence that linked that the hospital and Dr. Clive Becker to the murder of Abbey Dodson, they would be able to keep their jobs. Though, a suspension would most likely be the result of their actions.

For Gustav, his intention to close the case went beyond professional reasons. There was Natalya. The homunculi girl that considered him her 'father.' Her life was at stake as well. However, for that part, he decided to keep it from Rosya. He didn't know she would react when she finds out about her existence. Maybe at a later date he would reveal it to her.

However, something had been bothering Gustav. There was a sense of urgency at the forefront of his mind. Something never felt before when working a case. It was beginning to cloud his judgment. He needed a way to clear his mind. He was about to walk into the wolf's den.

"What's wrong?" Rosya asked.

"Nothing, I'm fine."

Rosya looked quizzically at Gustav. She could tell something was on his mind. But she couldn't identify what could it be. He was the type who would rarely open up. In that aspect, she reminded him of Captain Baker.

"Can you tell me more about the hospital's basement?" Gustav asked of her.

Rosya sighed and recalled what happened.

"There's not much to tell. I saw something strange there, but couldn't tell you what it was. It was a very dark place, eerie even."

Gustav stared at Ansem. He had the suspicion that he had led her there. But why would he do that?

"The basement it's a good place to start," Gustav said. "Maybe there we will find the evidence we're looking for."

"What type of evidence?" Rosya asked.

"Anything we can get our hands on," Ansem replied. "We can sort it out later."

Being detectives, Gustav and Rosya were about to reprimand Ansem. But realized that they were in the same boat as him.

"Getting there would be difficult, though." Ansem remarked.

"You're right," Gustav hated to admit. "We'll have to get a little creative."

After one of their patients was taken from the premises, the hospital would have to tighten its security measures.. But this hospital was unlike any other. They would have to worry about more than just human guards. Last time Gustav and Ansem broke into one of The Council's facilities, it ended up becoming a raging inferno. Some of the patients there were being used for nefarious purposes, but they were still innocent bystanders, and had to keep casualties to a minimum.

"If you want to get creative, detective." Ansem commented, "Then I have a plan that could work out."

**

When morning came, Gustav and Rosya had assembled a small arsenal. A semi-auto rifle and a handgun Gustav kept in his house, Rosya's service piece, a few cases of bullets, and not much else. Access to more sophisticated weaponry would require the authorization of Captain Baker. It wouldn't be enough for what awaited them.

"Do you think we'll need these?" Rosya asked. "Seems a little overkill for a hospital."

"Might be, but it's better to be prepared," Gustav replied, as he finished cleaning up his gun. A gun similar to his service .45ACP, but he had modified to include a fitted speed trigger, modified sights, grip and other modifications to reduce recoil and jamming.

The gun made a clicking noise as the slide fit into place. It was a satisfying sound, like music to his ears.

"Leave nothing to chance."

Gustav checked the clock on the wall. It was almost time to meet up with Ansem. Part of him was still unsure as to trust him with the plan he had come up with.

"Time to leave." Gustav grabbed a duffel bag, placed the rifle and the extra ammunition for it while holstering his gun to his belt.

As they were about to leave, Gustav noticed a hint of hesitation in Rosya's eyes. What they were about to do was illegal, but also dangerous. He still had some doubts. After all, they also thrust him into a world of supernatural terror against his own will. "It's OK if you want to stay behind."

"Why would I do that?" His words shook Rosya. "I'm with you till the end."

Gustav smiled. Knowing she was by his side eased up his own doubts. It amazed him at the strength of her character. Anyone else would've broken after what happened the previous night.

"Good, there's no one I'd rather have backing me up."

Rosya felt the color rise up to her face, and she tried to hide it. "D... Don't mention it."

Both detectives walked to the nearest subway station and took it to the station closest to where Ansem would be waiting for them. The announcer spoke out of the destination through the loudspeaker, and the detectives left the subway. They examined the stop where they were dropped off instead of waiting for the next one.. It was practically empty.

This was called the 34th Lancelot St. station. In years past, it was one of the most popular stops. However, when the city redistributed the subway lines and shuffled the schedule, it suddenly began to be used less and less. The subway would occasionally stop here, but most of the time it went to the next stop.

However, this stop had a peculiar detail. It was the closest to the hospital they were going to infiltrate.

From here, they would take the next step in their travel. There was a door that would lead them to an even older subway line. It was what they needed for their plan. However, it was unknown what awaited them there.

Their footsteps echoed as they stepped into the abandoned tunnels. The smell of dust and mold welcomed them. The tunnels themselves displayed an antique design, like they belonged in a museum rather than mass-transit infrastructure, silent witnesses to a bygone era. The few lights that remained functional flickered, making it more difficult to navigate. Gustav drew out his gun and a flashlight and took the lead.

"I don't really like this place," Rosya remarked. "Why haven't they torn down these tunnels?"

"Probably more expensive than just letting them be," Gustav replied.

"We're going to meet up with Ansem, right? How are we going to find him?" Rosya asked.

"He said he would leave crumbs for us to follow," replied Gustav.

Although abandoned, the tunnels were numerous, winding and extended for miles.. It would be easy to wander around and get lost, never to reach the surface again.

"Crumbs?" Rosya looked around the tunnels, finding nothing worth following.

Gustav knew what type of 'crumbs' Ansem had in mind. So he stopped and lowered his flashlight. He fixed his attention on the half-lit tunnel ahead of him. It was time to use the 'eyes' again. He could feel the magic gathering in his pupils, allowing him to discern the path that Ansem had laid for them.

"What are you doing?" Rosya questioned.

"I'm trying something out," Gustav replied.

Before them lay a trail of sigils branded on the floor. No doubt this was the work of Ansem. That man liked to act mysterious, and probably found enjoyment in doing so.

"Over there," Gustav began to follow the sigils.

"How do you know is that way?" Rosya followed, unsure if they were on the right track.

Understanding Rosya's hesitation, Gustav continued to walk the path that Ansem had set out for him.

"What the hell?" Gustav exclaimed as they reach a split in the tunnels.

"What happened?" Rosya asked.

Gustav examined every inch of the tunnels, but the sigils he was following until now had disappeared. But how could that be possible? Was this a trap set up by Ansem? To trap them in the tunnels? That thought alone was enough to make Gustav sick to his stomach.

A clicking noise echoed in the tunnels. They weren't alone.

"Gustav, did you hear that?" Rosya raised her gun.

Gustav nodded in agreement and raised his flashlight. Turning its beam to one of the darkened tunnels. There was nothing there, but the clicking noise remained, but it turned into something like a skittering noise as it drew near.

Turning the beam to the other tunnel, that's when Gustav saw it. Gustav saw a misshapen creature, human-like, with a bloated belly when he turned the beam to the other tunnel.. When the creature noticed them, it skittered back into the darkness, away from the reach of the flashlight.

Before it disappeared into the darkness, Gustav could've sworn it saw it licking something off the ground. Then he inferred what the creature was doing. That thing was feeding off the sigils had left for them.