I headed down the streets of Meirengen, a town I had always heard was so beautiful. But now it was to me just a frightful memory, like a ghost town, a site of blood and butchery, no good memories were formed from this place.
Looking into the distance from where we came the day before I could see the odd creature shambling, but nothing more than a small scattering of foes. They would inevitably head for the souls I had left defending the inn, but that was their task now, I had given everything I had to give to them, and now must set about my original task.
I was now reaching the edge of the town, but faced an unsightly last hurdle, five zombis were coming in the very direction I was going, and I could do little to avoid them. Having so little ammunition, I could not waste it, nor could I risk having them chase me for the rest of my journey. At this time I no longer cared for my own safety, but was purely driving on to return to my friend’s side. I was no longer fuelled by anything but anger and fire in my heart, I hated these beasts, and they would feel the might of my distain for them with cold steel.
My hand reached for the mighty light cavalry sword upon my side and the lovely ring of steel on steel sounded out as the wickedly curved blade again saw the light of day. Butchering had left a sickening feeling in my gut, but facing off in close combat was a challenge more than anything, and the disgust they made me feel banished all worry from my mind.
I strove forward towards the first creature, and without stopping took a perfect horizontal slash to its head, removing it in one, gladly remembering why I chose this sword above all else. The second reached for me and I parried its arm off with a hanging parry before bringing the blade down onto its neck, cleaving deeply. The strong cutting edge of this sword meant I felt little resistance against the soft flesh of my foes. Drawing back the blade which sliced further into the spine, the beast was done. As I drew back the blade the third bore down to my side, I quickly wrenched the final part of the blade from my victim and smashed the pommel in to the thirds nose, knocking it back, it’s face already perspiring fresh blood. I swung the blade around taking its head off as I had the first.
A hand grabbed at my shoulder, twisting me around, the fourth beast was attempting to reel me in, but as it did, I crashed the knuckle bow into its face, caving in its nose, striking a third and fourth time until its face was obliterated and it dropped in a bloodied mess. The skull of the beast was fractured in multiple places, the nose bone driven up into the brain. I spun around to see the fifth reaching for me and in one cut upwards to its arm, removed it below the elbow, blood gushed from its wound but it kept coming. Finally I brought the blade down on its skull, the heavy curved blade burrowing deeply into the centre of the skull and the force driving it to its knees.
My work here was done, time not wholly wasted. Putting my foot on the beast I prized the sword from its skull. I looked at the sword which had given such fine service, the edge was now chipped and burred, the blood of several days work was eating at the metal, but it had done me proud. It was time to continue on my journey, I had at least cleared a path for myself and reduced the threat to the inn. The path of destruction I had just created went some way to reducing the anger I felt.
I now faced a forced march situation, but without the discipline and combined strength of an army, I had to rely only on my own will to drive me forwards. With my blood running hot and temper equally as highly strung, it was frustrating to now have to toil on along a path I had already walked once. I had left many friends behind on this journey, both old and new, and now I had been parted from Holmes, my only hope lay in the knowledge of his capable nature. I knew in my heart that he would ultimately triumph, the only question was at what expense.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
I made for the path which I had so lately descended. It had taken me an hour to come down. For all my efforts two more had passed before I found myself at the falls of Reichenbach once more. The trip had been a dreadful one, emotionally. Having spent an hour climbing down, at least one fighting and now two back up, I was more than concerned for Holmes. A lot can happen in four hours, and I truly had no idea what to expect. It was rather unlikely I would stumble upon a fight, as it would have either already happened and been over by now or not at all, a fortunate fact considering my ammunition situation, but none the more comforting.
Along the hard journey I could only wonder about the possible outcomes of this whole situation. Would ending Moriarty finish the beasts off? As a doctor I could not see how, he seemed to have released a disease upon the world. It would however stop him creating and controlling more, as well as any other wicked deeds he would inevitably pursue. This would mean that no matter the outcome of the day, we could well be fighting for many months to come, if we could survive at all. None of it mattered though, Moriarty had to be stopped, and that was the only important element now.
Half way along my journey back to the falls I saw a boy, it was Peter’s son heading towards me. I had not expected him to be returning this way, back to the besieged town, why had he left Holmes?
“Where are you going?” I asked.
“Mr Wilkinson told me to go back to the inn, sir.” The boy spoke good English, as his father did, but he
also confirmed my worst fears. Moriarty and Holmes were in the same location, and that could only end in some kind of battle. I had faith in Holmes’ intelligence and skills as a fighter, but I also now fully understood Moriarty’s wickedness and capability to pursue evil.
“Where is Holmes?” I insisted.
“I do not know sir, he told me to keep back from the waterfall, and I did, but he vanished up towards to edge, and I waited for him, but he never returned, and then Mr. Wilkinson came along and told me to return to my father.”
“Thank you my boy, the town is a fearful mess, but it is still probably the safest place for you providing you can get back to your father. Do you know how to get back into the upper floor of the inn?”
“Yes sir, I have climbed it many times,” he replied.
“Good, then do so, avoid contact with any people until you can get in to be with your father.”
“Ok, sir.”
“Good lad.”
The boy hurried off towards the town with an immense amount of energy, the likes of which I only wished I could now possess. I continued with my journey, now more weary than before, as there was a chance I could stumble upon the villain himself.
As I approached the falls I noticed two men walking away from the place where I had last seen Holmes. I froze, not expecting to see anyone at this time and place, other than Holmes of course, and praying not to see sign of that villain Moriarty. I squinted to try and see and establish whether they were humans or zombis. They appeared cleaner than zombis, but dirtier than any gentleman should look, a fact I was all to aware of with my own attire. The men spotted me and stopped, as surprised as me, this was a concern, because only those expecting a fight would be so concerned to see another man.
The two men were tall and strong, though fairly simple. Their expressions and body posture suggested they were men who relied on the strength and physical prowess as a job, these were not sightseers. The two looked me up and down and then at each other, my face evidently not familiar, but my blood and dirt stained clothes catching their attention. My sword was in plain view for them to see, giving no false pretences to my purpose, though my Adams guns remained hidden to them beneath my jacket.