Victoria

Vincent twirled me. “Sorry, for interrupting but I found something that might be important.” He whispered. “Sorry about earlier by the way.” He said sheepishly.

I shrugged. “What did you find?”

“Follow me, it will be easier to just show you.” I followed him off the dance floor and towards a hallway off in the corner of the room. We passed a couple making out against the wall before entering a stairwell with stairs leading down into the basement. We flew down the stairs as quickly and quietly as I could in a ball gown. I suppose being able to move was something we should’ve taken into consideration when breaking into a royal ball.

When we got to the bottom of the stairs he grabbed my hand and pulled me back as a group of gentlemen came rushing down the stairs, we held our breath as they passed. Down the hall we went entering a room lit only by dark candles in the corners. A large crowd of people were gathered in front of what looked like an alter. I put my hand over my mouth to keep the gasp of disgust inside. On top of the ‘alter’ was a long table with a rotting body and behind it- was the scientist from Cardigan Hall.

We crept forward into the crowd, Vincent still holding my hand. The crowd was murmuring to each other in hushed voices as the scientist prepared for his… experiment. I wanted to warn them. I knew exactly how this played out.

“Are they bloody insane?” I whispered to Vincent, careful to be quiet.

“Most people are.” He muttered back. I thought back to Cyrus, and decided that wasn’t too far from the truth. Oh dear, what about Cyrus and Angelica? I looked around the group of people gathered here, wondering what on Earth these people were doing. How is being colored, or gay a problem, but not raising the bloody flipping dead not?

“Thank you for gathering today to watch this spectacular event!” The scientist said, the doors behind us shut and everyone’s murmuring slowly faded out, leaving them in curious silence. “I know I have had problems in the past but tonight is the night that we revive the dead!”

He spoke a little more, mostly repeating things about his experiments and necromancy whatevers. Finally he shoved the needle into the rotting creatures skull, a process that would have had the rest of our little group squiriming. Everyone held their breath. We watched as the creatures rotting skin fell off and new fresh skin grew in its place and the dead boy’s eyes opened. He sat up and blinked, looking at us. He almost looked human. But then he didn’t. His head jerked unnaturally, and he flopped backwards, arching his back. His wrists turned in unnatural directions, and he thrashed against the restraints at his waist.

I nearly thunked my forehead at the scientist’s stupidity. You don’t put one bloody restraint on a killing machine! The abomination of a boy’s new skin seemed to just start rotting all over again, shriveling in against his bones as he slid backwards out of the ropes. They filled themselves up all over again as he fell off the metal bed, and people started screaming as he launched himself into the crowd.

The boy gorged himself on the nobles, who were trying to open the doors to get out of the room. Vincent pulled his tailcoat off, revealing his revolver hidden under it. I pulled up the bottom of my dresses skirt to grab my own gun, and nearly fell over trying to get through the damn skirt. Mortieu! I silently screeched at him as I hobbled around. Vincent stood in front of me, looking through the crowd. The risk of hitting an actual living person was too great, and the boy was hopping from person to person.

Mr. I Can’t Figure Out Restraints scientist was standing up on the stage, looking down at the scene not in horror, but anger. “Not again!” He shouted, throwing the metal table off the stage in frustration. It landed on top of two noblemen, and the boy was immediately on them. He hopped off of the table, and injected a needle into the undead boy, putting a hand to his forehead in tired frustration as the monster stopped moving.

People were still running around screaming, and the scientist looked to the royal guards in the room. “Take them all away!” He called out. “They can donate to the cause.” He sighed, walking away from the horror he had ensued.

“Time for us to go!” Vincent said pulling me behind him as he ran to the door everyone was crowding at. He raised his gun and shot into the air. Everyone scattered and he shot the lock, people pushed it open and we followed, rushing up the stairs.

“NO! STOP THEM!” We could hear the scientist bellowing from the room. Everyone ignored his pleas, not feeling particularly willing to help him out right now.

Vincent pushed me against the wall as a plethora of guards ran past into the ballroom where the rest of the guests were screaming and running in confusion. I peeked my head over his shoulder at the massive panic, looking for any sign of Angelica or Cyrus. I could see him looking around in the back, shoving through people in I assume an attempt to find us. He was clearly shouting, and I could just barely make out my name.

Vincent stepped away from me and waved, shouting Cyrus’s name. He saw us and ran straight over. Knocking over a plethora of people.

“What’s happening?” He demanded, gripping the sides of my arms a tad too tightly. His eyes scanned me for any injury out of habit.

“The scientist! He was here!” I huffed, still breathing heavily. Ball gowns were really the worst outfit in existence. He glanced around the crowd of panicking people, the majority of them not even knowing what they were panicking over.

“Let’s find Angelica and get out of here.” Cyrus stated, starting towards the servants rooms. Vincent let go of my hand quickly and followed. Cyrus either hadn’t noticed, or didn’t find it a priority at this very moment. We ran through the madness, Cyrus at front, still shoving people away. We made our way to the door at the very back of the hall, throwing it open as we continued to run down the hallway after it. Some others followed, and I assumed it was either to warn the servants or just escape through the back.

The servants obviously hadn’t been told about the panic upstairs as they were still working dilligently as the parade of panicked people stormed in. “Run!” Some shouted, others did not bother with any warning. Cryus, Vincent, and I threw open door after door in search of Angelica.

We finally found her talking to another serving boy. She looked up in surprise when we walked in. Without saying anything Cyrus grabbed her arm and dragged her behind us. She looked at the boy she had been speaking with in shock, and I stuck my head back in the room real quick.

“Run you fools!” I shouted, before stomping right back out to the group. We regrouped out onto the cobblestone street. Angelica and Cyrus were getting filled in on what happened by Vincent.

“I wonder how he plans on trying to cover this up.” Cyrus muttered, watching as the crowds of people dissipated, fading into the night. His eyes widened in horror as he seemed to remember something. He turned to Vincent. “The men in white.” He said to him, and Vincent paled.

“What now?” I asked as the two scanned their surroundings.

“We hope we don’t die.” Vincent said.

“Oh that’s helpful!” Angelica snapped at him. Cyrus glanced around.

“We hide!” He shouted. He looked up in horror at the sight of a blimp flying over head.

“Oh how inconspicuous!” I shouted at the sky. Cause that wasn’t going to draw any attention.

“Shut up!” Vincent hissed as he pulled me along after Cyrus and Angelica. Cyrus looked around panicked.

“Vincent!” He called out over his shoulder.

“Yes Captain?” Vincent asked.

“You damn well know how to hide, go take Vic away from here.” He shouted at him. Vincent nodded, and before I could say anything in protest I was being dragged off by Vincent once again. He pulled me into an alley and practically threw me down a set of stairs leading to the back door of a tavern. He tried the door, finding it unlocked he pushed me inside.

I hitched over, trying to catch my breath. Vincent looked just about ready to hurl, himself. He pushed me under a table while he locked the windows and doors. The entire place was empty except us. He joined me under the table, his revolver in hand.

We held our breath, listening to the sound of gunfire and screaming outside. The tavern’s door handle rattled and I saw Vincent tense, his finger twitching over the trigger. After a minute the people moved on, and we both relaxed. I silently prayed Cyrus and Angelica were alright.

We sat under the table for an hour until the gunfire stopped, then another half an hour to make sure they left. Vincent stood up, gesturing for me to wait as he opened the door. I would’ve kicked him for treating me like a damsel in distress if it were not for the situation. He opened the door, and looked around, before telling me it was clear.

I followed him out of the alleyway, and he looked around in amazement at the sight. “It’s all gone.” He whispered. The entire street was empty, and not a single blood splatter could be found. “They did it again.” He said, throwing his fist down, his voice cracked.

I put my hand on his shoulder, not really sure what to do at the moment.“Let's go,” I told him gently, before removing my hand.

We snuck down a few blokes before Vincent called a cab to take us back to the port. The cabbie looked in stunned silence as we climbed in, our clothing covered in dirt, and my dress torn. An hour and a half later we were back at the port. We hurried onto the deck.

“Has the Captain arrived back yet?” Vincent barked at one of the crew members. The crew member looked at our tattered state in shock.

“I’m afrai’ no’.” He told us. “Why, is thur anyfin’ goin’ on?” the man asked. Vincent scowled.

“Bloody hell!” He shouted. “If he went down like Patrick, so help me I will raise him from the dead and kill him again!”He ignored the man's question and stalked off towards the kitchen. I followed closely behind. Em hurried up when she saw us come down.

“Not right now Em.” He snapped, his voice hoarse as he pushed past her into the kitchen. She pouted and frowned in confusion.

“What’s got his knickers in a twist?” She asked me, hands on hips.

“It's been a long night.” I said tiredly. I walked almost in a trance back to my room where I changed out of the ballgown. I looked sadly at the tattered dress. Mortieu would be beggin the God’s for mercy had he been here. I slipped into my bed, and stared numbly at the ceiling.

They better come home, I thought, as sleep’s tides gradually dragged me under. I woke up being nudged gently on the shoulder. I blinked adjusting to the light. Yawning, I sat up and looked into Angelica’s smiling face.

“Hey!” She greeted me with. I engulfed her in a hug.

“You’re not dead!” I cried out. I pushed her away. “What about Cyrus.”

“He’s fine too.” She replied laughing. I sighed and pulled her back into a hug.

They’re not dead, and neither am I. I clambered out of bed and rushed to the deck where Vincent and Cyrus were speaking. Cyrus caught sight of me, and as I ran out he twirled me around in a hug.

I pulled away, my hands still at his side before I slapped him on the arm. “What took you so long?” I demanded, and he smiled. Masochist, I muttered to myself.

“Why I was busy no’ dyin’.” He said, stepping back and grabbing my shoulders. “I’s a ‘ard job when one needs to take the piss.” He said all too joyfully, and I would have punched him had I not been relieved he was not dead.

“Nice to know. Real nice.” I said drily.

“Indeed.” He said. He turned towards Vincent, his cheery tone dimming. “I trus’ you le’ no ‘arm come ‘er way?” He questioned. Vincent nodded, and I rolled my eyes.

“I can protect myself just fine.” I muttered, shoving his arms off me. The mech one was gripping too tightly. I looked at his tattered clothes, and thought back to my own sorry rags for a dress, wincing. “Mortieu’s going to be crushed.” I pouted, pulling on his dress coat’s sleeve.

Cyrus looked down at his clothing as well, and joined me in a grimace. “Do we really ‘ave tuh tell ‘im?” He asked. I glared up at him.

“Yes, we do. He has no idea about anything that happened last night!” I told Cyrus. “We don’t want him to be left in the dark if one day we just show up dead!” I scolded. Cyrus scowled.

“Fine!” He groaned, stalking off towards my quarters.

“Where are you going?” I asked him. He looked over his shoulder.

“I’m gettin’ Angel!” He called back, stomping off to get her, leaving Vincent and I alone.

“So...” He said, kicking at the ground.

“Yes?” I asked. He rubbed the back of his neck, staring upwards.

“Nothing.” He replied. He sighed, and Cyrus soon returned with my tattered dress as well.

“Well then, let’s get goin’!”