Work Text:
Newark, New York
Cementary
23.12.2008.
05:00h
Tom Mannig ran up the hill, slipping every half meter on the mud. It looked funny as he held the umbrella with one hand and tried to balance on his feet with the other.
-Mr. Krauss! Sir! Mr.... Mr. Krauss?—he gasped.
I don't think that's a good idea, sir! - said Manning, finally standing next to Krauss.
However, Johann Krauss didn’t care that Manning was protesting.
Be calm, Mr. Manning! - he answered with his German accent. I know what I'm doing!
The rain poured relentlessly.
Several FBI agents stood with their backs turned to the grave they had just exhumed.
Abe Sapien was standing between them, typing something on his PDA.
I don't like this freak show, Fishstick! Manning said to Abe.
Abe said nothing.
Even though he had no expression on his face, you could still see that he was not very fond of this whole event.
-All this freaks me out. Manning said that and ate one of his antacids. -When you guys decided to return to B.P.R.D., I didn't imagine we'd be digging up graves! Do you remember the resurrection of that Ivan in Russia a few years ago? This looks exactly like it!
Maybe you're just exaggerating, Abe said calmly.
Am I exaggerating? Manning retorted ironically. Look at this bottle of antacid! It's empty! And do you know when I bought it? Yesterday!
A few meters away, Hellboy tossed the end of a Cuban cigar and stretched.
Okay, guys. That's it, Hellboy said, jumping into the excavated grave. A thump was heard as he landed on the metal coffin.
Vorsicht, Agent Hellboy!—Johann called after him.
Wakey, wakey, auntie! Hellboy blew his breath and removed the heavy lid of the metal coffin with a groan.
Everyone looked on with open mouths in interest as Hellboy opened the coffin.
Instead of a decomposed body, inside was the body of a young woman dressed in a long black dress. The body looked completely fresh, as if she had been buried five minutes ago. Not 5 years ago.
Even Hellboy, who had seen a lot in his long life, was a bit surprised.
Manning looked like he was going to either scream in surprise or vomit from the stress.
Dear God! he sighed. -She looks like...
It's like she's sleeping, Mr. Manning," replied Johann Krauss. Quick, Agent Hellboy. Take her in your arms and put her in the van! We must go!
Hellboy looked at her for a few seconds, then did as Krauss said.
Let's go, auntie. I'm taking you home," he said, and he jumped out of the grave with her in his arms.
As they made their way to the van, Manning couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over him.
Abe Sapien watched her peacefully rest in Hellboy's arms, giving him hope that perhaps there was still a chance for her to be saved.
JOHAN KRAUSS POV
Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense
Newark, New York
23.12.2008.
09:22h
I knew it! I knew from the first day I heard she died! I knew it was impossible!
A being like her does not die. It just... falls in a deep sleep. When she is tired. When she has too much of the worldly life. When she lost all hope in life... When it seems to her that she has nothing left to live for and no one to live for,
I was looking at her here on the table. She looked like an angel. Her Y/H/C long hair glistened under the neon light. The others were also amazed by her appearance.
She looks exactly as I remember her when I was little, said Liz Sherman, snuggling up next to Hellboy. not a day older.
He shares his opinion with her. I also remember exactly how she looks now.
"Dr. Krauss, are you sure you can bring her back? - Abe asked. Because if you are not 100% sure...
I'm sure, Agent Sapien! I answered immediately. Y/N means a lot to me too! I wouldn't risk it if I wasn't sure! I can briefly take control of entities, both mechanical and organic, and reactivate their neural systems.
We know about the letter, Dr. Krauss," said Liz Sheman, looking at me.
A letter, what kind of letter? - Manning immediately asked.
That is none of your concern, Agent Sherman. I retorted in my defense. - The letter was private.
Hey! Hellboy intervened immediately. We are like a family; there is nothing "private"!
I was silent for a few seconds.
A few months ago, I received a letter sent to me by a long-lost countryman. I replied.
A countryman? - asked Manning. What kind of countryman?
I didn't want it to come to this. If I say his name here in the room in front of them all, there may be trouble.
From the suit, I took out a short letter written in cursive on old paper.
The letter contained only a few words.
Manning took the letter from me.
What the hell is this? Is this German? What does it say? he said.
-German??-Hellboy snapped.
Wenn ich nicht überlebe, bringe sie zurück.
K.R.K
P.S. Vorsicht Johann!
It says, If I don't survive, bring her back."
And K.R.K..? asked Manning.-What does K.R.K. stand for?
K.R.K. stands for... I tried to reply,, but Hellboy was faster.
Karl Ruprecht Kroenen
I saw his hands touch the belt where the gun was.
And how do you know this is original? Manning said. Okay, it was written by hand. And here are the initials. But anyone could have written that!
-If that's the only reason why you believe in her resurrection or awakening, whatever, it's not a good enough reason. Abe continued.
Please! I said. Don't mix my private life with my knowledge and science! And instead, below in the postscriptum, it says "Vorsicht Johann!" and Dr. Kroenen said that exact sentence only to me and to no one else!
Everyone still doubted me. And they looked at me like I was only here to fulfill the dying wish of some madman and get us all into big trouble.
I didn't tell you all about this letter or about my intention until I was sure that all this was possible and that all this was true," I said.- You all know I haven't been here for almost three weeks. I was in Munich, in their old house. I collected all the data on Y/N that Dr. Kroenen has collected over the years. From the day he found her at the edge of that forest to her daily life, habits, diet, how fast her scars healed, lab results,, and everything else that would help me be 100% sure I can get her back! If I wasn't sure, would I have gone to open her grave in the first place? How could I live with seeing her rotting body?
Everyone looked at me in silence.
And if I know anything about Dr. Karl Ruprecht Kroenen, it's that he adored his wife and, on top of that, he adored researching what she really was. I said. I made a mistake once when I wanted to bring someone back from the dead. I would never do it again so lightly!
I was looking at her face. And I had the feeling that everyone was watching as I was.
She reminded me of my wife. They were similar in character, appearance, and, and almost nothing else.
After a few minutes of silence, an impatient Manning interrupted.
What are you planning to do? - asked Manning.
I will go into her subconscious and wake her up. I answered by simply opening the lid on my right index finger.
A protoplasmic emanation seeps out from my my fingertips, slightly deflating my body.
Is that the same thing he did last year with that dead fairy? Manning whispered to Abe.
Protoplasm slowly entered through Y/N's mouth.
I felt myself flying through hundreds of corridors, all dark. Only at the end of one corridor can light be seen. And the light that peeked out slightly from under the door The door was old and led somewhere.
I opened them. I smelled cigarettes, food, and and wine. Heat spread through my body.
It was an old-fashioned apartment. Like an apartment from the 40s. The walls were decorated with dark green wallpaper. Candlesticks were burning at every corner,, creating a pleasant atmosphere. Soft classical music could be heard, probably coming from a gramophone.
-You're late! Y/N's voice laughed in front of me. She was beautiful, as always. She was wearing a a dark red dress. She spoke to me in German. Then she grabbed my right hand. My hands were human. I was wearing a dark green suit, as if I were going to a a dinner party.
But... that was a dinner party.
Y/N led me into the dining room,,, where there was a long brown table. Here,,, the music was heard much more clearly. Here too, the murmur of people was heard. Those were the dinner guests. It was dark outside; I could see through the tall white window. The window was poorly illuminated by the street lights.
Vorsicht Johann! a familiar voice chuckled. You know Y/N doesn't like anyone being late!
The blond man smiled at me.
Dr. Kronen? - I asked, confused. I've never seen him this normal. Normally dressed. With a face, moreover.
Everything looked so detailed. Even the bravest could be fooled by this.
This is her safe place. Her fantasy. Her dream.
I think we all deserved a good dinner after everything, didn't we? Prof. Broom's young face smiled at me. He touched my shoulders with his hands and sat down at the table.
I was standing in the same place, not knowing what to do next.
Jonathan, why is he standing here? Y/N asked. Sit down!
I stared at her, trying to understand how this was all so convincing. I could smell the candles—even the slight chill coming from the window that wasn't closed well enough.
Anneliese, please reason with your husband! Y/N looked over my shoulder.
Johann? The most wonderful voice said my name. I turned around in utter fear and saw my long-dead wife in front of me. My legs were cut off; I even felt that feeling.
Johann, you are behaving strangely, she said, touching my face.
You're not real," I whispered.
Maybe you are sick? - she said, touching my cheek and forehead. You have no reason to behave like this; we are here among friends.
She took my hand, led me to the table, and sat me down as if I were a child.
Dr.Kroenen was grinning at me across the table until Y/N called him to come help her with something in the kitchen.
Johann, you worry me," Anneliese said to me. You have never behaved this strangely!
-Anneliese, I... I’m not here, and you're not here. This is all unreal! I said.
She looked at me with furrowed brows, as if she didn't understand.
Dr.Kroenen returned with a bottle of wine and glasses, while Y/N brought the cake.
-Y/N, I need to talk to you urgently! -I said before that this all went too far.
But my enthusiasm was interrupted by the children's giggles.
-Hey! No rubber bullets in dining room! Dr.Kroenen immediately called out, but gently and atypically for him.
One child was completely red; one hand was bigger and the other smaller. Hellboy? The second child had a mask on his face—a gas mask,,, in fact—like Kroenen himself wore during World War II.
And one more, the youngest. There was a little girl who immediately climbed into Dr.Kroenen's lap.
She was unusually blonde, with long golden curls. She looked like she was complaining about the boys playing war and not letting her.
Boys, let Y/D/N play with you! he said.
But war is not for little girls! - said the boy, removing the mask from his face.
Yes! Little Hellboy confirmed.
I don't want to play war! - the girl answered.
What would you like to play? - Prof. Broom asked,,, smiling.
I want... I want to be Princess Nuala! Elf princess! she said with a a a big smile on her face.
Really?Y/N asked,,, and then she lookededed at Prof. Broom. You were telling them bedtime stories about the Elves of the Bethmoora Clan again, Trevor?
It seems that they like that story the most," retorted Prof. Broom in his defense.
Aunty, can we listen to stories tonight? Young Hellboy asked.We would like you to tell us about aliens!
Aliens? my wife asked,,, smiling.
- That! To the great ones who will come down to earth and conquer it! The same about little green ones and purple ones!
I would like pink aliens! a little girl smiled from Kroenen's lap.
I hope that soon we will also have a reason to tell bedtime stories. Anneliese smiled and hugged me around my right arm.
I could feel her perfume filling my nostrils.
I looked up. This was a wonderful dream. My wife is is is next to me. Y/N is bright and cheerful,,, together with her loving husband and children.
But neither Kroenen nor Y/N ever had children. In fact, they couldn't even have them. After an accident, Kroenen underwent surgery and was diagnosed with complete infertility. And not long after that, Y/N willingly removed her uterus and ovaries so that neither of them would ever have children if they couldn't have them together.
And then again, here I see their children.
A figment of her imagination.
So, this is all Y/N ever wanted?
A normal house and a normal life with a normal husband. To sit and enjoy dinner surrounded by her closest friends. To have a peaceful existence where the only worries were trivial, everyday matters But deep down, Y/N knew that the phantom children before her were just a bittersweet reminder of the life she could never have. The pain of their absence, both her husband and imaginary children, weighed heavily on her heart.
I am having a nice and peaceful life with my deceased wife. Prof. Broom is alive; he enjoys telling children the most beautiful stories of each species. Kroenen, smiling, held his daughter.
This had to stop before I went down with her.
-Y/N, we really need to talk. I tried again.I came all the way here to save you, to come with me. To take you home.
What are you talking about, Johann? - she asked,,, confused. I'm at home.
Maybe so many candles bother him. Dr. Kroenen said, laughing.
I ignored him.
Y/N, listen to me. -I said.None of this is real!
Johann, you're scaring me! Anneliese told me.
Y/N, you know what I'm talking about, I said. None of this is real! Look around you; this is not real.
Y/N changed her facial expression.
It's real, Johann," she retorted, not smiling anymore.
I stood up and approached her slowly. She stood at the head of the table.
You yourself know that my wife is no longer among the living, I said.But still, she is here at the table. You know very well that Karl is different and that he never looked like this. Nor did he behave like this in society. And Prof. Broom, my dear friend, is also no longer alive. You know Karl killed him the same way he killed you. And children... You know that you can't have children and that you chose it yourself.
I saw the exact second.Y/N's eyes turned black. And I felt the ground beneath me shake. How the table shakes and how the wine bottle breaks.
I saw bloody tears running down her face. And then Kroenen disappeared, the girl in his arms, then the boy, then Prof. Broom, then the young Hellboy, and finally my wife, who was looking at me.
The atmosphere became terrible, and the air became stifling and heavy. I felt like I was locked in a metal coffin. I felt trapped, like I was hanging upside down in a box.
For the first time, everything was against my will. I couldn't control anything. Neither her dream, which I lived as if it were real, as if I were a part of it, nor her as a person nor the events I didn't know if this was still going on or if it was over. I can briefly take control of entities, both mechanical and organic, and reactivate their neural systems.
But this time, nothing.
I felt my organs and my lungs running out of oxygen. I haven't felt anything like this since I had my real body. My muscles were cramping, and it hurt. I haven't felt physical pain for a long time, and that's why it hurt even more than it should have.
An inexplicable force began to pull me backward. It was as if someone had tied a rope around my waist and was dragging me along the road with a car.
A force I've never felt...
I felt it pulling me out of this dream against my will.
A protoplasmic emanation seeps out of the Y/N body, slightly filing up my suit.
It took me a few seconds to come to my senses.
-Johan??Hellboy was already shaking me and calling me. -Hello?? Johan??
I said that I don't like that idea! - Manning commented from behind.
Dr. Krauss, are you okay? Abe Spien asked.
When I got up and sat on the floor, I saw Y/N sitting up straight on the metal table. And no one seemed to notice that scene.
I looked at her. Her face looked angry.
You have three seconds to explain to me why you did that! Her voice sounded sad, like the morning. But he was angry, and her sullen face was looking straight at me.
READER POV
I felt myself waking up.
The smell of the room blew into my face. My lungs took their first breath.
I didn't like the smell of so many perfectly washed tiles. I immediately knew where I was before I even opened my eyes.
The light that was so strong in the simple pierced my eyes.
Johann Krauss.
Who else? Than that ectoplasmic nosy creature!
He was sitting on the floor, Hellboy kneeling next to him. And he was looking at me. If Krauss had eyes, they would now be four times bigger in fear and uncertainty.
You have three seconds to explain to me why you did it! My voice sounded like a morning voice, tired and sticky with dry saliva.
Yes, that's what happens when you've been dead for about 5 years and then suddenly someone brings you back to the world of the living!
Everyone looked at me.
-Hey, auntie!!-Hellboy smiled at me, jumping to my feet and approaching me. I missed you a lot!
His large arms hugged me.
I missed you too, red monkey. I retorted.
I felt like I was on some kind of long trip and my nephew came to pick me up at the airport. Yeah, I think Hellboy felt the same way.
I managed to sit on the edge of the table and Tom Manning took a step away from me. He was always afraid of me, in a way. Trevor said it's because “I look so normal” when I'm actually “not normal”.
-Miss Kroenen. -Manning said with a slightly stuttering voice.
-Y/N.-I retorted, correcting him to never call me by my last name.
-Yes, Y/N.-He corrected himself. -Welcome back.
-I would say that I'm glad...-I started to say and then I looked at Hellboy who was holding my hand and smiling from ear to ear like when he was a child and when I would come to visit for Christmas.
I touched his face with my palm and he blushed even more.
- My sweet, sweet boy...- I retorted. He had the purest heart I have ever met. My dear, dear red boy.
- I told you Liz, I told you! This will be the best Christmas yet! - he said excitedly.
-Dear child...-I said looking at Elizabeth Sherman. She smiled at me and held out her hand. I took her hand and smiled. I haven't seen her in years, since she came here as a child. She was really special. Trevor loved her like a daughter. And Hellboy...he always loved her even more.
When I looked at her a little better, I saw that she was pregnant.
Then I looked at my red monkey because I could immediately tell who the father was.
-Auntie, I have so much to tell you! -he told me excitedly.
- But before I fully dedicate myself to you, I have to talk to Johann. - I said and looked at him.
I jumped off the table.
-Johann. -I said and walked past him.
I walked fast. Johann walked behind me with a heavy and slow step. Agents walked around the corridors. A few recognized me and in disbelief they backed up to the wall. I didn't care. It kind of reminded me of the old days when I lived in a military complex. And when they said “which” behind my back as I passed, thinking I couldn't hear them.
Times have changed, but humans have always remained humans.
Corridor 51. I entered a large room where there was a library.
I have no idea why I entered this one out of all the rooms that were here.
Johann came after me after a few moments.
I looked around and then looked at where I was. I was standing exactly where...I died. Where my soul and my love died. Where all my earthly things died.
The statue of the archangel slaying Satan suddenly seemed bigger to me than it had been before. And Abe's water tank looked like it was going to spill on me at any moment.
- I died right here. - I said. That event flashed in my head and I clutched my heart. My breath stopped for a moment, I closed my eyes and forcibly took a deep breath.
Johann immediately came up to me and put his hand on my shoulder.
-He killed me here, Johann! -I said and cried bitterly. It all flew out of me like an avalanche. Emotions overwhelmed me, I couldn't breathe. My heart ached; I felt his blade cutting into my heart again as his lifeless bright blue eyes looked at me. Johann's grip tightened on my shoulder, offering a comforting presence amidst the flood of emotions. As tears streamed down my face, I couldn't help but wonder how I had managed to survive that horrifying moment.
- He promised that he would always be by my side, that he would love me and that he would never let me go! And he killed me! He killed me, Johann! The weight of betrayal and loss consumed me, as I struggled to comprehend how someone I loved could become my worst nightmare.
Everything was drumming in my head, and then it stopped. And then it drummed again and fell silent.
It's like one second, I'm next to the speakers at a rock concert and the next I'm locked in a metal coffin 8 meters underground.
Johann sat me down on the red steps.
-Y/N, Karl knew you couldn't die. -said Johann.
-Johann, can you defend him after everything!?- I asked in disbelief.
Johan then pulled out a small half-decomposed brown book from his suit.
- What is that? - I asked.
- Dr. Kroenen's diary. - he said. - I found it in your house in Munich.
I looked at him in disbelief.
-Dr. Kroenen knew that he would die soon, I suppose. -said Johann. -And that's why he sent me this letter before his death, which traveled a long time to me.
Then he gave me a short letter.
I threw both the diary and the letter on the floor.
- I can't handle it. - I said. - No, not now.
Johann picked up what I dropped.
- He wrote: If I don't survive, bring her back. - he told me. - I believe that Dr. Kroenen had some kind of plan that didn't work out for him.
-What do you mean, if he doesn't survive? -I asked, only now understanding Johann's sentences from before.
I was afraid of the answer.
- He died five years ago. - said Johann.
I was silent for a few seconds.
- Who killed him? - I asked.
Johann was silent.
-Who, Johann? -I repeated louder.
-Agent Hellboy. -he said to which I slightly nodded my head.-Because Dr. Kroenen killed his father. You too. Agent Hellboy took it very hard. I wasn't here at the time, but I heard that it was a very hard and dark times for him.
- I can't imagine what kind of pain my little red monkey was going through, and all by himself! - I said, rubbing my face with my hands.
Johann sighed and continued.
-It was a difficult period for all of us. Agent Hellboy carried the weight of his past on his shoulders, but he never let it define him. He channeled his pain into protecting others, just like he did for you.
Johann's words resonated deeply within me. It was a testament to Hellboy's resilience and strength of character. Despite his own struggles, he always prioritized the safety and well-being of those around him, including myself. His selflessness was truly inspiring, and it made me appreciate him even more.
-He suffered so much...And what was I doing? -I shook my head, angry with myself.-I was living in a dream of my own!
-You waited for your resurrection. -Johann answered. -Hellboy will never blame you for that. You can't blame yourself for that either.
- You should have left me there, Johanne. - I said. - Eight meters underground in a metal coffin. It doesn't matter that it was Karl's wish. Karl didn't even deserve to have any of his wishes fulfilled.
We were silent for almost a minute,
-But it was so beautiful. -I said. -There, in my dream, I had my own house. A husband, children and friends. And here... here, no matter how much I search, I will always find only suffering. I don't belong to this world anymore, Johann. My days are long gone.
-Hellboy needs you. Now maybe more than ever. - said Johann.
- He created his own life, which I will now disrupt. Just now, when he found his place in this world. - I retorted.
Johann looked at me for a few seconds, then took out a stack of tarot cards from his suit. I recognized them, they belonged to Trevor.
- Where do you get all these things from? - I asked. I knew, if he had a face, he would surely smile.
- Choose a card. - he told me.
I rolled my eyes.
- Come on. - he was persistent. - Choose a card.
I took the deck in my hands, shuffled it, cut the deck three times.
And drew a card.
Fool.
-And, what does it mean? -he asked.
-The Fool card is that spark of a new beginning.-I replied.-The way that you feel when you are full of wonder, anticipation and excitement for what is next.
-That sounds pretty good to me.-Johann said.
I looked briefly at the card.
- Here, along with suffering, you will always find the hand of a friend. - he told me, extending his hand for me to stand up.- Sometimes things turn out better than you think.
Maybe Johann was right. But I would never admit it out loud to him. He has always been the type of person who liked to follow protocols, who liked laws and order. He never did anything beyond that.
But now he did it. For me. And that must mean something.
I started slowly towards the door.
- I'm going to talk to my red monkey now. - I said with a smile. - I think I have a lot to catch up on.
Maybe this really is my new chance. A chance to live another life I didn't deserve. My new chance to redeem for my sins and the sins of my beloved husband.
I walked bravely through the door into my new life.
I awaited my resurrection.