A Story, Bit by Bit
Hellbender: Chapter 36 – Through the Darkness

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“You better hope I never get these cuffs off, or I will kill each and every one of you.”
Charlene sighed. “Lulu, shut up.”
The transport they were on had made a landing. In the back with them were Lara and three other devotees of Elza, some wearing Protector uniforms and the others what looked like medical garb. Bryce was pretty certain they were in a caravan, though, and thus there would be more of them at the destination. “So have you been working for these psychos the whole time?” Bryce asked Lara.
“Let’s just say my resume is complicated.”
“So what do you gals have planned for us? Is it weird sexual things? If so, I’m game, and I’m sure Lulu will keep an open mind.”
“Bryce, you can shut up too,” Charlene said.
Lulu glared at Charlene. “I always knew something like this would happen because you’re a stuck up bitch, and that’s why I kept telling the others we needed to one day just drive you out into the middle of the woods and leave you there. Doug was against it though, because he’s stupid.”
“I was ambivalent on the issue,” Bryce said.
“We’ve been playing a kids game for a very long time,” Charlene answered. “I decided to grow up.”
“Then why are you still so short?” Lulu retorted.
“Hello, ladies,” a rough looking man said as he entered the transport. He was followed by two other men wearing Protector uniforms.
This wasn’t something Bryce had planned for. “I have to say, you are some ugly looking women.”
Colette entered after them having traded her evening gown for something more combat worthy. She looked at the handcuffed Lulu and Bryce and then Charlene. Finally, she turned to Lara. “What the hell are they doing here?”
Lulu smiled. “Hey! You got your hand back!”
“Are you guys working together?” Bryce asked. “Since we technically work for Dammon too, we’re all on the same side. No reason for us to be cuffed, then.”
“Yes. Get my cuffs off so I can give everyone a hug,” Lulu said.
The transport began to take off. Colette looked to Lara again. “Will you explain to me why we don’t just toss these idiots out the door as soon as we reach altitude?”
Lara shrugged. “Because that would be violent, and we’re all pacifists.”
Colette looked at Charlene. “And she’s on your side now?”
“She’s a filthy, mudblood traitor!” Lulu shouted.
“Your group was never organized enough to be betrayed.” Colette said. “So, do you have any idea what they’re keeping you alive for?”
“I’m sticking with my guess of weird sex stuff,” Bryce answered. “You know how murderous lesbians are.”
Lara looked offended. “Who said we’re lesbians? Just because a group of women get together for violent purposes doesn’t mean they’re lesbians. If a group of men get together for military purposes, do you assume they’re homosexuals?”
“Well… uh…”
“Don’t fall for her lesbian mind tricks,” Lulu whispered to Bryce.
“Prepare for flying over the wasteland,” the driver said.
“And how do we prepare for that?” Lara asked.
“Just don’t freak out, I guess,” the driver answered.
Bryce looked out a window and could see the black of the wasteland. It was his understanding that there was a specific high-altitude path through the wasteland that allowed access to Ronove’s lab. Bryce hoped the Amazons knew what they were doing, as the darkness swirled as if preparing to consume them. “So how does one break apart reality?”
“I hear every time you try to divide by zero on a pocket calculator, you break apart a piece of reality,” Lulu said.
Lara moved to look out the window. “You know, I’ve never actually heard of anyone actually being killed in the wastelands.”
“That’s because the creatures inside of it rip you from reality so it’s like you never existed,” Lulu explained.
Colette scoffed. “And where did you hear that?”
“I read it in a science magazine,” Lulu replied. “I also hear that pi equals exactly three in there, and if you even look at a circle while in the wasteland, your head will explode.”
“This is a real professional operation, huh?” one of the men griped.
“This certainly wasn’t my planning,” Bryce said. “I can just tell this is going to be a big disaster.” In fact, he was going to make certain of that. He looked again out the window at the swirling darkness waiting to annihilate anything it touched, and he smiled.
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6 Comments

  1. Awesome plan by Charlene to get them into Ronove’s lab. I always like it when Lulu refers to people as “bitch” and I think that would have been a better word to use on Charlene or Peregrine John than mudblood.

  2. Awesome, Frank!! Glad that you have continued the story!
    Just one request – could you provide a cheat-sheet? There are so many different characters, and so many double-agents, that I am having a hard time keeping up. “Hellbender 2” has been going on for many months, and so it is hard to remember all the twists and turns…
    Thanks for sharing your writing talent with us!!

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