Hold the Line

She moved to close the door before William could reply. “Please, Abigail. I hate to intrude, but we have much to discuss.”

She held the door for a moment before relenting and opening it wider for both men to step inside. Abigail led them through to a cluttered kitchen. She set some water to boil to make a pot of tea for all of them, while William and Thorvenhold sat around a small table. Neither of them had set foot in the house for twenty years. William felt like he could feel the spectre of Johannes’ presence as he sat there. He watched Abigail pour it for them. She set the drinks down at the table, and there was an uneasy silence until Abigail eventually spoke.

“I’ve waited twenty years for my father to return, or at least someone to bring me news of what happened on that expedition. I got news you lived, William. But for what reason have you waited this long to get the courage to speak to me?”

Abigail slammed her cup down on the table, shattering it. She saw that she had cut her hand doing so, which made her laugh darkly when inspecting the wound.

“I’m sorry, Abigail. I have been unkind to you. The expedition failed, so many lives were lost. I was weak, lost for many years I should have come sooner.” William said, trying to sound apologetic.

“You are hurt. Let me tend to it.” Thorvenhold said to her.

He got up and found bandages to wrap Abigail’s hand. William thought it an odd sight, tenderness of this kind from one of the most dangerous men he had ever met. The Ragnar had many hidden facets, it seemed.

“What of my father?” Abigail said harshly

“In truth. At the end of things, I don’t know if your father lived or died. That we found the prize he was looking for is not the solace you are looking for. We escaped with our lives.” William recalled.

“Are you saying you left my father to die?” Abigail asked, sounding angry.

“I’m uncertain. Edward opened the Logos, and all hell broke loose. A madness took him, and he attacked us, including your father.”

Abigail laughed bitterly at William’s reply. “He found it, and it claimed his life. Why are you here, William? You’ve already said you didn’t dare to face me.”

“I need his journals. I said that Edward was driven mad by it. Edward is obsessed with it and won’t stop until he reclaims it. I need to retrace the steps of the expedition. There are things your father knew he didn’t share with us, or I’ve simply forgotten over the years.”

“And what if I destroyed them, William?”

“A part of me hopes you have. That Edward will catch up with us, kill me, and this will all be over.”

“My mother passed a few years ago. She would stand on that sea wall in the morning every day for ten years waiting for his ship to come in. It never did. She died never having reunited with him. Not knowing what became of him. I’ve both loved and hated my father’s research for years. It is all I have left of him and was also the thing which drove him from us… I should have burned those books.”

Abigail started crying.

William stood up to comfort her, but she held up her hand to stop him.

“I’ll fetch them for you.”

They were interrupted by a voice shouting from outside. A voice none of them had heard in twenty years. “William.”

“Ravenhill,” Thorvenhold stated.

“Let's spring his trap,” William suggested.

“The members of the Chatham expedition reunited at last.” Thorvenhold joked.

William and Thorvenhold stood up to go and confront Edward. William turned to face Abigail. “Stay inside. I won’t put you in danger.”

They exited the manor, and William was dismayed at the sight in front of him. Edward was not alone. He had this throng of Wretches with him, but to William’s dismay, he saw that he was holding Ken and Oliver hostage. Edward was standing behind the two of them with his pistol trained on both of them. He noted that Edward had a brief look of surprise when he saw the Thorvenhold was standing with him. William saw the creatures that Edward had with him. There were ten of them standing there, passively waiting on Edward’s command

“This is why you ventured to that desolate place. William, it has been too long. I had hoped for a warmer reunion. No matter.”

“Edward. I was hoping that you had remained in whatever pit you climbed into.” William replied curtly.

“You wound me, William. Is that any way to greet an old friend?” Edward retorted.

“We stopped being friends a long time ago, Edward. When you opened that fucking box.” Thorvenhold said defiantly.

“I was sure I killed you once. I would be happy to do so again.” Edward snarled.

“I want you to try,” Thorvenhold screamed back.

William looked over at Oliver and Ken; both of them looked anxious and afraid at what was unfolding. William wished he could offer both reassurance, but he was not sure how Edward would react. William wasn’t even sure if he could de-escalate this without it leading to conflict. Their conversation was interrupted by Abigail exiting the house and joining them. She was clutching several leather-bound books.

“I said to stay inside,” William told her.

“Stand behind me,” Thorvenhold instructed.

“Is that young Abigail? Come and greet Uncle William,” Edward smirked.

“Where is my father?” Abigail shouted at Ravenhill.

Edward ignored her entirely.

“Hand it over, William.” Edward requested.

“I don’t have it, Edward and even if I did, I would never hand it over,” William replied.

“I’m running out of patience, William,” Edward said sternly.

Before anyone else could react, Edward pointed the gun at Ken and pulled the trigger. A smoking wound appeared in the old sailor’s forehead. His eyes were glassy as he hit the floor. William saw Oliver’s visceral reaction to a friend being executed in front of him. He wasn’t sure how he was going to get the young aide out of this.

“Let Oliver go,” William demanded.

“You lack any means to compel me, William. Hand the journals over, and I might let him live.” Edward threatened.

In a low register, William spoke to Abigail and Thorvenhold. “We run and pray he doesn’t hurt Oliver. Let him have the journals it might buy us some time.”

“You would let him have our prize?” Thorvenhold asked.

“We have little choice. On my mark.” William looked over to check on Abigail.

He could see fear in her eyes but also a grim sense of determination. She gave him a knowing look.

William looked over at Oliver, mouthing the words, Stay safe.

“RUN NOW.” He screamed at Abigail and Thorvenhold

Things erupted into chaos. Abigail threw the books in Ravenhill’s direction, and three of them took off, charging towards the back of the Johannes’ estate. They were relieved to discover that it was open ground and found a track leading back towards the harbour. William prayed to whatever divine forces were above them that Kitty and Finn had returned to the ship. He heard footfalls behind him and saw that Ravenhill’s creatures were pursuing them.

Abigail was younger and in better shape and took off in a sprint ahead of William and Thorvenhold. The things were gaining on then, they ran low to the ground, some of them on all fours. Their speed seemed unnatural. Two of them gained on him, and he felt clawed fingers grabbing at him. He looked over to see the Ragnar bringing his axe to bear on one of them and cleaving its head from its shoulders. William spun and reached for his cutlass. He swung at one of them that had taken hold of him and severed a limb. The other swiped for his face with those awful-looking claws, he knew it cut him, but he did not register anything as he was too exhilarated. He drove his sword through the face of the one that had cut him, felling it.

William heard screams from behind him and saw that two of them had pinned Abigail down. He watched Thorvenhold dispatch the remaining one that had been attacking him. He moved to help Abigail. William pierced it through the back, hoping it had organs in the same place as a person would. It thrashed on his blade, leaking black fluid onto Abigail’s dress before it stopped moving. He decapitated the second and saw the rest were gaining on them. Thorvenhold stood arms outstretched in front of them.

“Go. I’ll meet you at the ship.” The Ragnar shouted.

William pulled Abigail to her feet and took off. They made it down the hill and towards the market. In the distance, he could hear screams.

“I AM THORVENHOLD. SON OF UTHGERDT. I WILL REND YOUR FUCKING LIMBS. I AM THE SEAWALL YOUR WAVE WILL CRASH AGAINST. I WILL HOLD THE LINE.”

Abigail took the lead once they reached the market. She led him through backstreets. They didn’t slow until they reached the harbour. They charged onto the ship and found Kearnley and Tim readying some cargo.

William was gasping for breath when trying to speak to them. “Did Kitty and Finn get back to the ship?”

“About twenty minutes ago, Cap’n,” Kearnley said to him.

“Good. Ready for fucking launch now. All hands.”

William hunched over as the crew set about readying the Fancy for launch. Abigail stood near him, bewildered, still processing what had just happened. He noticed she had lost her hat in the struggle and her golden locks were flowing freely. William waited for Thorvenhold to appear. The large Ragnar appeared at the last minute, just as they were about to take in the gangplank. The Fancy departed from Tabakkust as quickly as they could. As the ship left the port, William stood alone on the stern. He looked back, his heart filled with concern and regret.

“Oliver.”