To Hell and Back: Chapter Seven

The Doctor was off like a shot and the family was racing to keep up. Thankfully, he got slowed when it came to crossing the street and wasn't blindly looking down. The device of his uttered a repetitive beep as they went on the right path, it's rate slowing if they waivered from the trail. Like a search party led by a bloodhound, they were off through the streets of Boston. Everywhere they went people gawked and several shouted as they pushed through crowds with barely a 'pardon me' or 'excuse us'.

Being unfamiliar with the direction they were headed, the family was quite surprised when the device led them into a very well-to-do part of town. "Surely its a mistake?" Aunt Anna asked, her gaze taken from the path and at the lavish homes all around them. "There couldn't be beasts lurking about in such a civilized part of Boston."

"On the contrary. Everyone expects the monsters to lurk in the dark, in the dank and seedier bowels of the world. But here, here in upper echelons of society a creature could lurk in comfort - assuming its true form can be disguised properly," the Doctor replied. The audible 'beep' from the device was increasing but so was a hissing sound. "The sample is degrading! We must hurry!!!"

And faster they went. Down one street, crossing to another. Around ladies in fine dresses, with maids in tow pushing baby carriages made of gilded brass. Old gents walking dogs who had matching sweaters were cast aside as they pursued their quarry. At last the beep stopped - no longer a mad chirping but a single tone, like that of an alarm. Then a 'pop' and a puff of smoke escaped the bag.

They stood in front of one of the grandest estates any of them had ever seen. A large iron gate blocked their entry and the family crest was emblazoned across the top. "I should have known," the Doctor muttered.

"Known what? Who lives here?" Mother asked.

It was Uncle Tobias who spoke up instead. "This is the Dupont Estate - quite likely the richest family in all of Boston. They owned the factory I was engineer at. Was run by a man who only came in once a month - Theodore Curwen. While he looked like a stodgy old banker type I once saw him scare a man to death when he yelled at him. And I ain't exaggerating. Man got so scared at whatever it was Curwen said to him, he had a heart attack and died on the spot."

"Thankfully, our operation was only one of many he managed for the Dupont's so we only saw him on his monthly visit - more if there was a problem. In 30 years working there I only saw one of the Dupont's themselves a handful of times. Last time was at my retirement party. Come to think of it...when the boy's gave me my silver handled cane, the Missus had to excuse herself. But surely that's a coincidence, Doc, right?"

While Uncle Tobias had been speaking the Doctor had led them down an alley at the side of the estate. He'd been listening and nodding along and digging through the other bag, the one Tobias had been carrying the whole time until just now. "There's no such thing as coincidences in my profession, just theories waiting to be proven," the Doctor replied, standing. As he did, he withdrew a hefty shotgun from his bag.

"Tobias, sir, if you would be so kind as to give your cane to Amos - more suiting his size as a weapon than this," the Doctor said handing the gun to him. "And these are for you Miss Anna," the Doctor said, handing a pair of menacing looking blades to Aunt Anna.

"Gosh," she exclaimed, "are these silver?"

"Of course," the Doctor replied. "And for Mrs. Burrows, may I suggest you exchange your sidearm with these two?" And he handed her a pair of shiny pistols. Then he knelt again, emptied the rounds from the large pistol he'd carried before and replaced them with different cartridges.

"The premise is the same as with normal weapons... any wound with these will hurt worse, being silver, and be permanent but to end things proper make it a critical hit. I know this is all very new to you all and I wish I had time to better prepare you for what you are possibly about to face but we haven't the time. Know this, anyone and everyone we encounter within could, at will, transform into a creature just like Mr. Burrows did. Those who don't are servants to those who do and will likely kill you to help keep their master's secrets safe. Do you understand?"

No one spoke. They'd all heard the Doctor's speech. They'd all seen a beast nearly kill them all and as it died transform into their loved one. A brother, a father, a husband and at the same time a beast because of what the people within had done to him. And now Amos might suffer the same fate if they didn't do what was necessary.

"You are about to go down a road from which there is no return. While the events of the night before last seem horrendous, I can tell you from experience that it gets much worse. If we fail, Amos will either turn by the next full moon as Mr. Burrows did or my superiors will realize what's happened and finish him before that can happen. So are you-," and before the Doctor could finish, Mother shot the lock off the gate and was opening the door.

"Nice speech Doc, but like you said, time is of the essence," she said with a grin.

Everyone else just nodded in agreement, took a deep breath, and entered the Dupont Estate.