Otto saw Andrew and the woman board the train. He sped up his pace to get on the train and stop Andrew before he got away. He had just reached the steps when the train began pulling out of the station.
Nick was almost to the train when he was pounced on by several uniformed police officers. They pushed Nick to the floor to restrain him. He looked up to see Andrew moving towards the back of the train. Otto was closing the gap between them.
Andrew was practically at a full run. He glanced back for a second to see Otto getting even closer. The train was picking up speed and the scenery began to move past still faster as it headed on the way. Andrew had just reached the door of the last passenger car and was about to enter the sleeping compartments sections.
Nick’s heart sunk when he saw the train leave the station. Andrew was certain to be captured by Otto. There was no way he could escape. The uniformed officers shoved Nick along as they approached the exit. If Andrew did manage to escape Otto, he would have to face the Knights of VanHelsing alone. That prospect worried Nick greatly.
Andrew rushed past the sleeping compartments and paused briefly at the exit door. He looked back to see if Otto had caught up with him, but he hadn’t. Andrew exited the sleeping car, crossed the platform and forced open the door to the baggage car. He quickly closed it behind him. He threw down the duffle bag and began to strip off the beard and wig.
Andrew knew he only had a few minutes before Otto arrived.
Otto exited the last sleeping car. The rush of the wind from the speeding train almost sucked him out. He had to hold on tightly to the railing of the steps. Otto pushed open the door to the baggage car and jumped inside.
Andrew had managed to change his clothes and identity, but it was too late. When he turned around, Andrew saw Otto standing there.
Otto pointed his gun at Andrew. It was the end of the chase and he was glad. Otto moved away from the door, all the time keeping his distance but gun trained on Andrew. He was well aware of Andrew’s martial arts skills and wanted to keep as far away as possible.
“I have you now,” Otto spat out his disgust for Andrew. “How could you do that to Fredrick? How could you shoot him from behind like that? You are a coward!”
“I didn’t do it,” Andrew answered in his own defense. “Talia shot him to protect me.” Andrew moved closer, but Otto threatened him with the gun. Andrew retreated. “Fred was a Knight of VanHelsing. He and the two others with him were kidnapping Kara. I had trailed them to the place by the river.”
“Liar!” Otto cursed. “I knew Fredrick since he was a young boy. I would have known if he were one.”
“Was Fredrick ever gone for at least a year or more?” Andrew asked.
“Ya,” Otto answered. “But he told me it was for school.”
“That’s when he had his training,” Andrew said.
“Just shut up,” Otto threatened with his gun. He reached for a pair of handcuffs on his belt and tossed them at Andrew. “Put them on,” Otto ordered.
“I will not.” Andrew threw them to the floor.
“Pick them up,” Otto stared wild-eyed at Andrew.
The door opened unexpectedly, causing both of them to look. Before Otto or Andrew could react, they were attacked. Otto tried to fire his gun, but one sword blade tore it from his grasp and the other slashed him across the chest. Otto stumbled as blood began to seep through his once white shirt. Andrew had just managed to grab his duffle bag as a shield only seconds before the Knight of VanHelsing swung at him with both razor-sharp blades. Instead of Andrew being ripped to shreds, it was the duffle bag that was ripped to shreds instead. Andrew instantaneously tossed aside the bag and followed it with a round house kick. He caught their attacker in the back and the force of the blow sent them reeling towards the door. They hit the door with a loud thud and stumbled to their knees. Otto’s shirt front was drenched with blood as he rushed to get his gun. The Knight recovered quickly and with one final attack, ran Otto through with the blade. Andrew screamed out his anguish as Otto lurched forward when the blade was withdrawn. Otto stared expressionlessly at Andrew as he coughed up blood. The Knight of VanHelsing pushed Otto down to the floor with their boot. Andrew now faced them alone.
“Let’s make it fair,” Andrew bowed respectfully.
“Agreed,” she said. She tossed Andrew the sword.
Andrew looked over the blade he held in his hand. “I’ve never had much use for one of these,” Andrew lowered the blade.
“Then it will be over with soon,” she answered back.
Andrew immediately raised his blade to counter her first strike. She parlayed the blade to the right, but Andrew blocked it again. With each strike Andrew countered with his own move. They circled each other as the sound of clashing metal resounded throughout the baggage car. Andrew went on the attack with blade strikes and kick combinations driving her up against the luggage netting. She tried to counter, but with every thrust of her sword Andrew blocked, with his own moves. In desperation, she brought her knee up and caught Andrew unexpectedly in the groin. He tumbled to the floor, writhing in agony. Seizing the opportunity, she raised her blade and rushed forward. She drove her sword downwards towards Andrew’s unprotected chest. At the same moment Andrew drove his sword upward driving it into her, just inches below the body armor she wore. The sword slipped out of her hand and to the floor. She stared in utter disbelief at the sword protruding from her belly.
“I never said I didn’t know how to use one,” Andrew said withdrawing the blade. She crumbled to the floor mortally wounded. Andrew rose to his feet and tossed the sword away. He grasped hold of her mask and tore it off. Andrew recognized her. She was the hotel desk clerk that had checked them into the hotel.
“They…they know you are coming,” She choked up blood and it ran down the corners of her mouth.
“It doesn’t matter,” Andrew replied unemotionally. “Now it’s personal.” Andrew bent down on one knee in front of her. “All I wanted to do was to bring Wyatt back to Bayport. The Knights of VanHelsing made it worse by bringing him to Germany.”
“You…you will surely die,” She shivered violently.
“What’s your name?” Andrew asked.
“Hannah,” she gasped with a whimper.
“It didn’t have to come to this Hannah,” Andrew grasped her by the shoulders. “I’m…” Andrew didn’t even have a chance to say he was sorry. Hannah’s face lost all expression and she went limp, and gently slipped from his grasp to the floor. She was dead. Andrew rose to his feet again. He knew that Hannah already had to be on the train waiting for them to arrive. She couldn’t have been in the passenger cars, because he would have seen her. So that meant that Hannah had booked a sleeping compartment. It was the only possible way for Hannah to change unnoticed. So Hannah’s sleeping compartment had to be close to the baggage car. Andrew retrieved Otto’s gun and extra clips. He rummaged through his shredded duffle bag for his passport and a few other things he needed. Andrew paused at the door and took one last look around. There was no sign of him being in the baggage car. Andrew opened the door and slipped out. He went to find Hannah’s compartment.
Andrew entered the sleeping car again. As he walked along, Andrew would pause at each door to listen. After several unsuccessful attempts, and when he was at the last door, Andrew heard someone about to exit the compartment.
The train was nearing the station in Zwickau and it was one of Gunter’s duties as a porter to check the baggage car. It wasn’t one of his most important or favorite duties, but nonetheless important.
Gunter had just exited the last sleeping car when he noticed that the lock on the door to the baggage car was damaged. He first called on his walkie talkie for assistance, opened the door and stepped inside.
The horrific site that greeted him caused Gunter to immediately exit for some fresh air.