Chapter 4 - Capture

Walter proceeded up the stairs. It might be too late for concealment but he tried to move silently and stay in the shadows. On the way up he saw a man walk out into a long hallway. He bounded up the stairs, grabbed the man around the shoulders and put the gun to his forehead.

"Silence!" Walter whispered harshly.

The man looked up at him, frightened. His eyes were blue, rather than red.

Walter hissed into his ear. "I need to know if a woman named Seras Victoria is here."

Walter looked nervously at the door, and dragged the man down the stairs to finish the conversation.

"She's a vampire... why are you looking for her?" the man asked.

"Just tell me if she's here, now," replied Walter.

The man's eyes widened. "You're from Hellsing! They've been waiting for someone to come... but you're a human."

"So are you."

"For now I am... but they promised to turn me." The man stared at the floor.

Walter's eyes narrowed. "Human stupidity amazes me. Now you will tell me what's going on here. Silver bullets can kill men as well as vampires."

"You'd kill a human, old man?" The man gulped.

"I killed who I had to, during the war. I wonder they even think of making a coward like you a vampire; you're even afraid of me and my little gun. Now talk."

"I saw her come in. She had this big gun, I've never seen anything like it. She was taking down ghouls right and left. I was hiding. She got some of the vampires, too, but then Raine showed up."

"Raine?" Walter tightened his grip on the gun.

"Bloody Raine, the queen of this place. Nobody messes with her, especially not some red-eyed upstart. Silver bullets don't stop Raine for long, and she got to the girl before she could do much. Raine said something about Hellsing, and took the girl upstairs."

"That Harkonnen has more than just silver; clearly this Raine is a force to be reckoned with... but we'll see," said Walter. "Do you know if Seras has been killed?" He was afraid to hear the answer.

"I don't know for sure but I think not. Raine probably wanted to play with her for a bit first; she's like that. You're not going to take on Raine, are you? You'll die."

Walter shrugged. "I'm going to do whatever I have to. And unless you want to be here when it happens, I suggest you get out of here quickly."

"I can't just run... if they catch up to me they'll kill me."

"They're not going to be able to do anything when Hellsing is finished with them, I assure you," said Walter.

"Well if all Hellsing were like that Seras you'd be right. That was a bloodbath, I was dragging out ghoul bodies for an hour. But you're just one old man."

"I've had enough of you," said Walter.

He hit him in the head with the butt of the gun and knocked him out. Despite everything he didn't want to shoot a human in cold blood. He considered tying him up but finally just left him there; whatever was going to happen was probably going to be over before the man woke up.

Walter went up the stairs again, considering with some dispassion the idea that he could very well be heading to his own death. But there was no time to get any help before Seras could be destroyed. And if he couldn't save her, perhaps at least the Angel of Death could go down fighting.


To be continued...