Under the waning afternoon sun, Bruce, Gloria, and Henry continued their journey, driven by both purpose and uncertainty. Their destination was the docks, where they hoped to find Big Sam, a key figure crucial to their plans. The car's tires hummed against the asphalt as they navigated through a maze of streets leading to the harbor district. The steady purr of the engine underscored the quiet determination among them. **Please be alive, Big Sam... we're coming,** Bruce thought to himself.
Gloria kept her hands firmly on the wheel, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. Bruce sat in the passenger seat, scanning the town's bustling streets. He watched as ordinary people went about their daily lives—something that felt foreign to him now. His gaze lingered on a young girl laughing with her father, triggering a memory of his own daughter, April. The thought strengthened his resolve. Finding Big Sam was a step closer to reuniting with her.
In the back seat, Henry leaned back, his anticipation palpable. He, too, had unfinished business with the Dark Lord.
As they ventured deeper into the harbor district, the scent of saltwater grew stronger, carried by a cool sea breeze. The docks sprawled before them, a labyrinth of old, creaking wood and tangled ropes. The strange, timeworn buildings along the water's edge cast long shadows, adding to the desolate atmosphere. Gloria slowed the car, her eyes scanning the dockside for any sign of Big Sam's ship—the **Barb**.
"We're not alone," Henry murmured, his senses sharp. Bruce and Gloria exchanged knowing glances, both feeling the presence of others nearby.
Their search led them through the winding docks, a seemingly endless maze of ships and weather-beaten crates. Each turn brought more frustration as the **Barb** remained elusive. The afternoon sun, now sinking toward the horizon, bathed the docks in hues of orange and gold.
Then, Bruce's sharp eyes caught sight of bold lettering on a weathered hull. "There! That's the boat," he exclaimed, pointing ahead. Excitement surged through the trio as Gloria steered the car closer.
They parked and stepped onto the creaking wooden planks, their footsteps echoing in the quiet of the docks. The **Barb** sat before them, a vessel that had clearly seen better days. The gentle sound of waves lapping against the ship added an odd sense of calm to the scene.
As they approached, Henry squinted, scanning the surroundings. "See anyone that could be Big Sam?" he asked. They all looked around, searching for a clue. Then, Bruce's enhanced vision picked up on something—a group of figures chasing someone through the maze of the docks. The one being chased was skillfully evading capture.
"Hey, do you see that?" Bruce asked, his eyes narrowing on the scene. "Looks like Vamprys are after him."
Henry sighed. "Yeah, I see it. But should we help? The guy being chased is a Vampry too. Might be better to stay out of it."
Bruce shook his head. "I can't just stand by and watch."
With a resigned sigh, Henry agreed. As the two prepared to move, Gloria crossed her arms and shot them both a stern look. "Where do you think you're going?"
"Trust me, we'll be back in a sec," Bruce replied, flashing a confident smile.
Taken aback by his unexpected grin, Gloria hesitated. She wanted to follow, but Bruce stopped her. "Stay with the car," he insisted. "We might need a quick exit."
Reluctantly, Gloria stayed behind, watching as Bruce and Henry rushed off into the fray. The scene felt like déjà vu—this was exactly how things had gone just hours earlier.
Henry and Bruce moved swiftly toward the man being pursued. He was short and unimpressive in appearance, almost fading into the background. They spotted him hiding behind a vessel and approached cautiously.
"Hey, we're here to help," Henry whispered. "You're in a pinch, right? I see some serious dudes hunting you."
"Yeah... what's up with that?" Bruce added.
The frightened man looked at them in panic, momentarily paralyzed by the sight of a Lycan and some other strange being approaching him, especially while being hunted by his own kind. But as he listened to their words, he could sense instinctively that Henry wasn't too bright, and Bruce was genuine, though he didn't know their names yet.
"They're getting closer. We need to move," the man urged in a low voice.
Together, they moved carefully, trying to stay out of sight.
"I only sense five Vampyrs, including you," Henry remarked. "I thought there'd be more."
"There are just four chasing you? Why are you hiding? Can't you take them on?" Bruce asked, genuinely surprised.
The man looked at them, checking to see if they were serious. They both returned his confused stare, clearly not joking. He couldn't believe it.
"You're not joking?!" The man almost raised his voice but caught himself, lowering it again. "Those are Vampyrs! Four of them! Do you know how strong we Vampyrs are? Taking them on isn't easy!"
"We know. We just took down over a dozen of them in a rundown house not long ago. They were after some strong Vampyr named Big Sam," Bruce said nonchalantly.
"And big—don't forget that," Henry added.
"Yes, *big* Sam," Bruce corrected himself.
The man's face was a mix of shock and disbelief. "Wait... you saw a dozen of them at my house and managed to defeat them?"
"Your house? You live with Big Sam?" Bruce asked.
Before the man could respond, they heard a loud thud nearby and quickly moved to a new hiding spot.
"I'm Samuel... Big Sam. People call me big for other reasons," the man revealed as they moved. "I'm trying to get to my boat, Barb, and head to my town, Cugeria. But I can't shake these guys—they've been after me since last night."
Bruce's expression darkened as recognition hit him. "Wait... you're the guy I helped at the bar last night! You almost got me into a fight."
Big Sam recalled the incident and nodded. "Yeah, I remember you. You tripped a guy who was chasing me. You were with a really hot chick."
"Hot chick?" Henry repeated, the words sticking in his mind.
Bruce shook his head, refocusing. "Anyway, we were sent by Madam Cerci to find you. We also need to get to Cugeria. Can we come along?"
"Cerci? Of course! If you can get us safely to my ship, I'll give you a lift. You've already helped me once, it's the least I can do," Sam said, grateful.
Bruce smiled and shared a knowing glance with Henry. "Stay here," Bruce told Sam. "We'll be back."
Sam was left alone, his fear returning as he heard the sounds of a fight break out—bodies being thrown into the water, accompanied by seagulls screeching overhead. The commotion eventually died down, and Bruce and Henry reappeared, looking slightly roughed up but victorious.
"Let's go, Sam. Our friend is waiting for us by Barb," Bruce said, as Sam, still in awe, followed them.
As they approached the boat, Gloria's voice rang out, "What took you guys so long?"
"Don't be mad, my queen, we ran into someone," Henry said, trying to lighten the mood.
"Gloria, meet Big Sam. Big Sam, Gloria," Bruce introduced.
"Pleased to meet you, Big Sam. We need your help to—"
"You don't need to ask, Miss Gloria. I owe you and your boyfriend here. I'll take you all to Cugeria," Sam interrupted, smiling.
Gloria blushed. "Boyfriend? No, we're not... together like that."
Unfazed, Sam grinned. "Anyway, there she is—Barb. I better get her ready."
He pulled out the keys, visibly relieved to be preparing for departure. As the sun began to sink, casting long shadows across the water, Bruce, Gloria, and Henry stood by Barb, watching as Sam prepped the boat for their journey. The weathered wood and salt-stained sails told of past voyages, and now the ship was calling them toward new truths—Cugeria being one of them.
Finally, they were one step closer to their goal.