A Journey to the Underworld

The blast of lightning from the suspect's wand narrowly missed me as I rounded the corner after them.

Anna was only a step behind me and wasn't so lucky.

The elf behind the wand put on some extra speed and legged it down the stairs, but he wasn't my concern any more.

Turning, I scrambled to my partner who had crumpled into the wall opposite. Her eyes were already going glassy, and I felt no pulse.

I pulled my radio from my belt and activated the emergency beacon rune on it. "Control, DS Turner requesting immediate retrieval for an injured officer!"

A clipped voice came back. "Stand by for transport."

While the teleportation circle traced itself around us in glowing purple light, I used my penknife and carefully clipped a lock of Anna's dark hair, trying to avoid the rainbow coloured streaks she treasured so much.

The glow stepped up a few notches and the world lurched, shifting into the receiving room of King's. Two medics pushing a bed accompanied by the resident desk officer were with us before everything stopped moving.

I waved them off. "No point lads, she's cooked. Just move her somewhere comfortable yeah? I've got this."

The medics looks of confusion lasted only a second before they started loading her for travel.

The desk officer, Chen printed on her tag, didn't interfere but continued to look unhappy. "Sir, if she's gone why did we do an emergency 'port?"

"Dead doesn't always mean dead any more," I said, gently putting a hand on her shoulder. "Right now, I need to know where the morgue is and for you to tell Oracle Squad to track the elven git with the wand."

She pointed in the same direction the medics had taken the bed. "Take the lift to B2 and follow the purple line. You can't miss it."

I was moving before she finished and shouted back, "Much appreciated."

The door to the morgue was found easily, a helpful if very bored looking clerk sitting behind a desk to one side.

She looked up and started to say something before catching the amulet hanging off of the badge around my neck and the lock of hair in my hand. "Underworld visit?"

Nodding, I pulled the amulet from the badge and handed it over.

She inspected it before dropping it into a little bag and setting it into an open chest tucked under the desk. "It's not often we see his marks here. I hope the person it worth it."

Smiling, I said, "Trust me, Dusk owes me a lot more than just that mark and she'd be worth it even if he didn't."

Her expression didn't change. "I'm sure. I'll need a name, token and reason."

"DC Annabelle Burgess." I placed the hair on her deck. "She's not done with police work yet."

She quickly filled out a form, used another bag to attach the hair to it and held it aloft. Muttering a few words, the form disappeared in a flash of green flame.

The smoke hadn't yet dissipated when a rectangle of green fire crawled up the wall and then faded, leaving a yawning darkness.

A figure stepped from the side, carrying an old-fashioned oil lantern, wearing the uniform of aa Victorian era railway conductor.

"This way Officer. Mind your step."

He led the way into the dark, the lantern giving us a pool of light to walk in as we walked through the thing corridor of stone.

Suddenly, the corridor ended and we traversed a narrow bridge over a chasm so deep the lantern failed to show anything. On the other side, we stepped into a maze of corridors only somebody like the guide would know how to navigate.

The path twisted like old memories. My career thus far had involved a couple of visits to the underworld and it was never pleasant.

"This is her room," the guide said, stopping in front of a plain wooden door. "I will wait."

Inside, Anna was lying on a simple bed, looking as she did when alive. I knelt down next to her and gave her a gentle shake.

"Anna. Time to wake up."

Her eyes opened immediately, focussing on me before taking in the surroundings. "Dave? This doesn't look like Kings. What happened?"

"Don't worry too much, but you died. Caught a wand blast centre mass."

She sat up, opening her mouth to speak and then snapping it shut. Taking in the room again, she slowly nodded. "Dead, huh? Not what I thought it would be. Did you get the guy?"

"You were more important," I said, shaking my head. "Oracle Squad's tracking him though and you're coming back to help."

"Going back?" She looked confused. "We can do that?"

I nodded. "As long as the right person owes you a favour and you're quick enough yeah."

The guide had appeared beside us. "It is time."

He pressed a hand to Anna's head. Her eyes flicked to the hand and then to me.

"Dave, I-"

She vanished.

The guide started moving back out of the room. "We must return now, officer."

I followed, content there was at least one more partner I wouldn't have to mourn.