London Darkness- Infernal Inventions

by Christopher Stocking

  “This is, uh, homey,” Wendell commented.

  “Come on,” Adelina said.

  The doors were wide enough to fit the wheel device and the cart through without unhooking them. As they entered the common room of the apartment building, rats scurried about. They squeaked and climbed over each other to escape the large device and the intruders.

  “This way,” Adelina pressed. She led them through a doorway that forced them to stand behind the cart and push as the wheel device pulled it through. The cart just barely squeezed through and nearly crashed into the adjacent wall. “We’re almost there,” she said.

  “Are you sure about this place?” Wendell asked.

  “Positive,” Adelina assured him. They came to another door and Adelina tried to open it. “It’s locked,” she said, although her tone sounded almost as if she expected it. She felt around the top of the door frame, and then removed a key from a gap in the molding and the wall. She smiled and unlocked the door.

  After another nearly-failed attempt at getting the wheel device and the cart through the door, Adelina led them into a large room. Nearly the entire floor was made of concrete, except for a one foot gap around the edges that was wood.

  “Now what?” Wendell asked.

  “You’re awfully inquisitive, you know?” Adelina said.

  Wendell shrugged and watched as she pulled a lever on the wall, and the concrete square shifted, and then slowly began to lower. The loud hiss of pressure being released filled the room, and the group stared in awe as they were lowered into a massive laboratory. A giant generator rested in the center of the lab, and produced a dim glow of green light.

  When the lift reached the bottom, they moved the cart off and Adelina immediately began checking the dusty gas lamps to see if they were operational.

  Within a few minutes Adelina had most of the gas lanterns lit, and Ryker, Wendell, and Shamus had fully activated the generator. The lab was now fully illuminated, yet incredibly dusty with age.

  “This is it,” Adelina said calmly, as if it were nothing but a common lab.

  Ryker, Wendell, and Shamus explored the lab as thoroughly as they could. They checked every machine, cog, and gear they could find.

  Adelina cleared her throat loudly. “Don’t we have work to attend to?” she asked.

  “Certainly,” Shamus answered. They met in the center of the lab. “So, what do we know about Partum Chaos?”

  “Not much,” Ryker answered. “We know that Ishbelza, Clive, and Caroline are a part of it; and that there is someone referred to as the Caiden, their ‘Overlord.’”

  “And Clive and Caroline reside in the sewers. And we have no idea where Ishbelza ran off to,” Wendell added. There was a moment of silence.

  “So it looks like Clive and Caroline are our best option to finding this Partum Chaos,” Adelina said. “Or at least this Ishbelza person.”

  “I know the way to where they were holding Ryker,” Wendell said. “But I imagine they won’t be there anymore. That cane only knocked them out.”

  “We could at least find some clues as to where they may have gone, or where this order is. Surely they have a headquarters of some sort.”

  “It’s getting late, though,” Celia said. “We should check it out in the morning. We’ve had a rough day and I’m sure we could all use some rest.”

  “Agreed,” Ryker said.

  “There’s not much in the way of beds here, but you’re welcome to use whatever you can find,” Adelina said.

  As dusk approached, Shamus and Livvy had made their own bed area in the back corner of the lab, Wendell had fallen asleep on a steel inventing table, Celia had gone out to make what money she could, and Ryker and Adelina sat next to the generator, chatting. “Shamus tells me you joined the League when you were fifteen?” Ryker asked.

  Adelina nodded. “My grandfather raised me in this very apartment building. He had this lab built in secret back when it was illegal to own personal labs.”

  “This lab is most impressive,” Ryker commented. He gazed around the lab again, still impressed by the large size. “You make it seem like it is a quaint little lab.”

  Adelina smiled. “My grandfather was quite a visionary, actually. I don’t know how he managed to get all of this, but I’m certainly glad he did. He raised me to be an inventor, and taught me as much as he could. But, he was sick and getting worse every day. By my tenth birthday he couldn’t even get out of bed. But that didn’t stop him from inventing. We kept a table by his bed full of tools and other inventing supplies. I can’t imagine a better way for him to go.”

  “So what did you do after he passed?”

  “I spent every day down here inventing and experimenting. He has a vast library in a room down the hall full of inventing books. Most of them he stole when he was captured in France during the War of the Devices.”

  “France has always been inept when it comes to inventing.”

  “Not always. My grandfather quite literally stole the knowledge from them when he stole those books.”

  Ryker smiled. “He sounds like a fantastic man. I’m envious.”

  “So, what do you do?” Adelina asked.

  “I’m an inventor,” Ryker answered proudly.

  “Really? I’ve never seen you around the Headquarters.”

  “I’m an independent inventor, actually.”

  Adelina smiled. “My apologies,”

  “It’s quite alright,” Ryker answered. “I have a lab next to the clock tower.”

  “Wait, you’re Ryker Mayson?” she asked.

  “Yes ma’am,” Ryker confirmed with a smile.

  “Interesting,” Adelina said wryly.

  “Is there a station coming up where I may be able to board your train of thought?” Ryker asked playfully.

  Adelina laughed. “You’re somewhat famous; in the inventing world, anyway. But don’t get a swelled head.”

  “Oh?” Ryker questioned. “How so?”

  “You’re the one with the watch in his hand, no?”

  Ryker looked at his bandaged hand. “Well, I was the one with the watch in his hand,” he answered bitterly.

  Adelina took his hand and looked at it. “What happened?” she asked curiously.

  “Do you remember when we mentioned Clive and Caroline?” he asked. Adelina nodded. “Clive ripped it out.”

  Adelina winced. “Ouch,” she replied. Ryker nodded. “Do you have the watch still?”

  Ryker reached into his waistcoat pocket and removed the polished watch. He held it up and Adelina eyed it closely. “We can put that back in, no problem,” she said optimistically. She snatched the watch from him and made her way to a steel table.

  “You mean right now?” Ryker asked. He followed her to the table where she took out an assortment of sharp cutters, some metal wires, and stitching tools.

  “Ready?” she asked.

  Ryker looked at his hand and shrugged. He unwrapped it, revealing the hole where his watch once was. The inside of the hole consisted of a small steel compartment, with several small holes in the bottom that allowed the clock to connect to his heart, providing the necessary charge for the watch to work.

  “Very impressive craftsmanship,” Adelina commented.

  “You can thank my mother, actually,” Ryker said.

  “Your mother must have been quite the inventor.”

  Ryker smiled. “Very much so.”

  Adelina attached some new wires in the hole, and then into the back of the watch. She then carefully slid the watch back into place. “This is probably the worst part,” she said.

  “After dealing with the pain of having it ripped out of my hand, I’m sure I can survive this.”

  Ryker grunted as Adelina began stitching the watch into place. Her work was neat and precise; there were no errors in her perfect stitching. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’ve even had medical training. You’re stitching is amazing.”

  “My grandfather taught me, actually. He had to s
titch up a few of his own wounds when he was captured in France.”

  “That’s quite fascinating.”

  “Finished.”

  Ryker observed his hand and smiled. “Perfect,” he said. He felt recharged now that he had his beloved watch back. He’d never been without it since he’d gotten it, so now that he had it back it was like he had just received it for the first time again. He opened and closed his hand. It was still very sore, but he was willing to put up with a few days of soreness now that he had his watch back. “Thank you so very much.” He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.

  “It was my pleasure,” Adelina answered. She stared at him for a moment. “I hadn’t done any stitching in quite some time, so it was good to get the practice.”

  They returned to their original spot by the generator and sat down. “So, what did you work on at the League Headquarters?”

  “Well, when I first started a lot of the other inventors didn’t like me because I was so young. They had me working as an apprentice working on power sources for generators. Within three days I was teaching my teacher new things about it he’d never heard of.”

  Ryker laughed. “Sounds just like the League.”

  “I couldn’t help but notice you’re not a fan of the League of Inventors.”

  “Certainly not,” Ryker scowled. “They’re so caught up in their politics and their money and fame. They don’t know what real inventing is.”

  “Oh, so I’m not a real inventor?” she asked slyly.

  Ryker smiled. “You’re more of an inventor than anyone else I’ve ever seen there.”

  Adelina smiled and leaned in close to him. “Don’t tell anyone, but I did most of the planning and construction on Shamus’s mechanical arm. It was even my idea to allow him to unscrew his hand and put on different tools; including his revolver.”

  “Really? Very impressive.”

  They stared at each other for a moment. The radiant color of the generator washed over them and gave her tanned skin and black hair an exquisite glow. Ryker slowly leaned in toward her.

  “Ahem,” a voice sounded from behind them. Ryker spun his head around to see Celia standing just a few feet away.

  Ryker smiled. “Oh, hello Celia,” he said. “How was business tonight?”

  “You just got more than I did all night,” Celia answered irritably. “Everyone is so up-in-arms about the murders they’re afraid to go out at night or let any stranger into their home. I guess I don’t really blame them.”

  “We’ll get things back to normal,” Ryker said, hoping to cheer her up. He awkwardly looked back and forth between Celia and Adelina. “I suppose I’d better get some rest,” he said as he stood up. “Long day tomorrow.” He faced Adelina. “It was good talking to you,” he said politely.

  She smiled. “Agreed.”

  Ryker kissed Celia on the cheek and went to find someplace to sleep for the night.

  Celia looked at Adelina for a moment, smiled, and walked away.

  Chapter 16

  Ryker jerked awake from a nightmare. He was drenched in a cold sweat, and his new stitches made his hand throb. He fumbled in the darkness of the windowless lab until he found a gas lantern. Unfortunately, it was one of the inoperative ones. He stumbled over to another table and accidently kicked something.

  “Watch where you’re kicking,” Wendell grumbled as he shoved Ryker’s foot away.

  The light from a gas lantern illuminated the area around Ryker and Wendell. Ryker held his hand up to the light. “5:43,” he said. “We’d better get going.”

  Wendell reached high into the air and groaned as he stretched his muscles. “Should we wake the others?” he asked.

  “No, let them sleep. Get your rifle and let’s head out. I think I saw a sewer grate nearby on the way here.”

  Wendell slung his rifle over his shoulder and rode the lift up with Ryker. They reached the top and walked out of the first door, locking it behind them.

  “Who are you?” a new, scratchy voice asked. Ryker put his hand on his revolver and scanned the dark room.

  “Who’s there?” Ryker asked.

  An old, gray-bearded man wearing filthy, ripped, ragged clothes limped up to them. “Have you got any spare coins for an old man?” he asked.

  Ryker released his revolver. “Sorry, we’re actually in a bit of a hurry.”

  “That doesn’t mean you haven’t got any spare coins,” the man retorted.

  “Just give him some coins and let’s get out of here,” Wendell whispered.

  Ryker looked at the old man for a moment. “I think maybe you should find someplace else to live, old man.”

  The tired-looking old man narrowed his eyes at Ryker. “And just where am I supposed to go?”

  Ryker drew his revolver. “Anywhere but here.”

  The old man’s eyes shot open and he limped away as quickly as they could.

  “Would you mind telling me what the bloody-hell that was about?” Wendell asked as they started walking.

  “We can’t be too careful with anyone around here. If anyone finds the lab they could expose us to Partum Chaos.”

  Wendell sighed. “I suppose,” he confessed.

  They exited the apartment building and walked down the dark street. “Over here,” Ryker said. They ran over to a metal grate in the center of the street and swung it open. Ryker covered his nose with his sleeve. “I can’t believe you decided to hide out in the sewer.”

  “It’s better than sitting in a jail cell for a crime I didn’t commit,” Wendell answered. “Let’s go.”

  They descended the ladder into the filthy, rat-infested sewer. The stench was horrendous, and gagged them both. “Are you sure you know where you’re going?” Ryker asked, annoyed by the filth and odor.

  “I think so,” Wendell answered. They walked along the edge of the sewer for nearly half an hour.

  “I can’t help but think we’ve been walking in circles,” Ryker said.

  “I can’t help but think the same,” Wendell answered. “Wait, over here.”

  Wendell led Ryker to a narrow passageway just wide enough for them to shuffle through sideways. The passageway led them out to a tunnel identical to the one they had just left, except with a door on the other side. “There it is. Now all we have to do is get over this twelve foot gap of sewer sludge.”

  Ryker stared at the thick, slow-moving river of greenish black-colored waste than ran in front of them. “Look over there,” he said. He squinted in the darkness and could just barely make out two long pieces of wood lying on the edge of the other side. “We can use those to make a bridge.”

  “Okay, but how do we get to them?” Wendell asked.

  Ryker looked at Wendell. “Oh no, you’re not throwing me over there,” Wendell protested. “I’ll not be shamed in that manner.”

  “Come on, Wendell, it’s our only option right now.”

  Wendell looked at Ryker, and then at the two wood pieces. He sighed. “Fine,” he grunted. “But if I fall in there, it’ll be your head.”

  “You’ll be fine,” Ryker answered. He grabbed Wendell under his arm and picked him up. “Ready?” he asked.

  Wendell grunted and Ryker tossed the gnome into the air. Wendell flailed his arms and legs as he soared through the dark sewer and landed on the edge of the path. “Oh no!” he shouted as he began to tip backward. He swung his arms and leaned forward, attempting to grab onto anything on the sewer wall. The only thing he could feel was the slimy filth. He began to fall over backward but managed to grab onto an iron ring nailed into the wall.

  “Are you alright?” Ryker asked.

  Wendell pulled himself onto the path and panted heavily. “I guess,” he answered angrily.

  “Go grab those pieces of wood,” Ryker said.

  Wendell grumbled as he walked toward the wooden planks. “Get lost you filthy beasts,” he shouted. Three rats squeaked as they scurried off into the darkness. He grabbed the two planks of wood and laid them across the river of sludge
.

  Ryker placed a foot on the wood pieces. They cracked and splintered under his weight. “You’d better make it quick,” Wendell urged.

  Ryker took big long steps. As his final step left the boards, they split in half and fell into the sewer water. Wendell reached out and grabbed Ryker’s arm, stopping him from falling.

  “Thanks,” Ryker said graciously.

  Wendell nodded and led Ryker to the wooden door. The door handle was broken and the door was cracked open. Ryker slowly opened the door and they entered the room. A gas lantern was lit on a table on the other side, and two masses lay on the floor in front of the table. They cautiously approached the masses.

  “It’s Clive and Caroline,” Wendell said, aghast.

  “They’re dead,” Ryker added. He knelt down in front of Clive’s corpse. “Look at this,” he said. He lifted up Clive’s arm and pushed up his sleeve. The patch of skin where the coiled snake tattoo had once been had been cut off.

  Wendell checked Caroline’s wrists. “Caroline has the same.”

  Suddenly, Caroline coughed and groaned. Her eyes slowly opened and gazed upon Wendell. Wendell, caught off guard, stepped back; but then approached her again. “Who did this to you?” Wendell asked. “What happened?”

  Caroline coughed again and blood ran down her chin. Her hand slid to her stomach where she felt a knife wound. “Failure will not be tolerated,” she answered softly. She coughed up more blood and began to tremble.

  “Who did this to you?” Ryker asked. “Where can we find them?”

  Caroline turned her head and looked at Clive. She stared at her husband’s lifeless body and grabbed his hand. She held it as tightly as she could and smiled. She blinked once, and then her eyes faded as her life slipped away. “Caroline?” Ryker said. He grabbed her shoulders. “Caroline,” he called again. But there was no answer. She merely stared her cold, dead stare.

  “What do we do now?” Wendell asked.

  Ryker sighed, “Search the room for any clues of anyone who may have been here.”

  Wendell nodded and began searching the tables and drawers in the room, but found nothing.

  Ryker walked over to the chair where he had been bound. He stared at the pool of his own blood around the chair, and then looked at his palm-watch. He grabbed the chair and flung it across the room as hard as he could. The chair struck the wall and broke into four pieces. Ryker looked at the splintered wood pieces strewn across the floor, and then shifted his red eyes to Clive’s dead body. He gritted his teeth and took quick steps over to the corpse. He pulled out his revolver and fired six rounds into Clive’s chest.