Containment in skyscrapers chapter 14

[tankicola 111]

Chapter 14

 

Once they had explored the tunnels and the different intersecting pathways for a few hours, Redman called for silence and started handing out new water bottles filled with cool, clean water. The air was damp and stuffy; it seemed almost unbearable if breathed in excess. There were moans of relief and gratitude as everyone drank. After everyone had drunk their fill, Redman spoke. “We know that they want us. We don’t know why. But they have bombed our compound and killed our people. I don’t know about the city, but it’s probably destroyed. Our radios do not work, and we cannot contact anyone from any other city. But we can still escape.”

Many heads looked up, the pain etched in their expressions lightening slightly with hope. 

Redman surveyed the scene with a fierce fire burning in his throat. “These pathways should lead, if I am correct, into the power plant. If we get there before they get there, we can use the cameras stationed at the place to spot the enemy. Remember, this is not training. This is real, with real consequences. If we can spot where the enemy is, we may be able to kill enough of them to escape through the hole in the crushed buildings.”

Many people looked confused. “Remember the explosion? It created a hole in the buildings! The SPP leads directly into the left building, so if we travel sideways we can escape through the hole and get into the city, where we can have more space to hide and plan. After that, well, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. In the meantime, we ought to be planning about the escape. But right now, we should be following this path.”

And with a flourish, he slammed his hand into a broken light switch. 

Nothing happened. 

Then there was a resounding roar, and light started to appear all around them. 

There was a narrow pathway in front of them now, illuminated by the lights.

It was eerily quiet as they stepped gingerly over bloodstains, broken and twisted pieces of metal, and small shards of crystalline glass that sparkled in the shuddering light. 

The tension and fear was suspended and palpable in the atmosphere. The humming of the overhead lights was almost deafening in the silence. Flies buzzed in the air, adding to the din. 

Their footsteps echoed, almost metallic. Every small breath's noise was magnified, every gasp, shudder or trip, terrifying. As they passed the smashed windows of what looked like classrooms, they could see rotten food, cracked stone, and filthy clothes strewn everywhere. What looked suspiciously like a body lay slumped over a black-stained desk. Then, suddenly, all the lights turned off. The walls and floor started to tremble slightly. 

"What?!"

"Ouch!"

"What is going on?!" 

"Get off my foot!" 

"Why is it all gone dark?" 

"Leo!" 

There was now a loud rushing noise, then everyone tripped over a ledge. The blinding light hit them all like a ball to the face. There were many gasps of surprise as everyone saw the yellowish light strobing the tunnel-like area. Rose, who had cuts and lacerations over her arms from the fall, stood up, shaking the dust from her clothes. Then she realised what they were standing on. 

Rustic and metallic, the curved lines of a weathered train track was beneath their feet. 

"Run!" screamed Rose, as there was a horrible grinding of metal, and then a horn blasted the air. A train was speeding towards them. 

And driving it, looking surprised and scared, was a pallid Justin. 

"Justin!" exclaimed Redman. 

Everyone leapt out of the way as the train came hurtling towards them, and Leo was almost hit by a metal pole sticking out of the train window. 

"Where are we?" asked a freckly young girl.

"Underneath the control tower," replied Redman. 

"The what?!" asked Rose.

"The control tower. Built by Arthur Macleen in 2491. Arthur Macleen. Son of George Macleen. George Macleen!" Redman repeated.

A look of comprehension swept across Rose's face. 

"Oh."

"Who is Arthur Macleen?" asked Leo. 

"Arthur Macleen invented the Skyscrapers passages, which was meant to be a facility to hold insane people. After the Great War of Skyscrapers. You know. Some people went insane after all the killing. I've seen the pictures," said Redman, looking disturbed. 

"After the war, all of the mental people had to be locked up somewhere. And Arthur Macleen started to build the passageways, and after that, the control tower. CCTVs of every room of the place. It's probably not working, but it'll be good to go up there and see if we can get any other information."

"Anyway, the tower is meant to be somewhere here, with a ladder, but that was ten years ago. Best chance we have now is find Justin and-"

Redman's words were drowned by loud clanging noises coming from behind them. Rose turned a panicked face towards Redman. "We need to get out of here, now!" she said. 

Redman nodded. "But there's nowhere to go!" 

As everyone looked about, Cherry screamed. 

"A ladder! There! There!" 

She pointed at the wall, where, sure enough, there was a ladder. 

"Go! Go!" urged Redman. 

As everyone climbed up the ladder hurriedly, the clanging and echoing noises grew louder. Once everyone had climbed inside the room, Redman shut a small trapdoor. They heard what sounded like feral screaming, then running footsteps. Then the noises disappeared. Redman breathed a sigh of relief and mopped his brow. But Rose tapped him on the shoulder, her face turned away from him and the trapdoor. She was shaking. 

Chunks of wall had been clawed away so violently it left bloodstains mixed in with dust and wallpaper. Small letters had been etched on the remaining amount of wall. 

"Leave our city, filthy thieves."

[Person_Random 4,991]

Approved.

First off, welcome back; it's been a short while since I've seen this story series pop up in the approval queue. We're two for two - I just approved War for the Kingdom, Chapter 7, and I can say that this one is just as good. The execution and wording is just perfect, and the plot is developing so well (I feel a dark twist coming, but that's just me). I just can't wait for more!

Edits: Removed a few commas.

Spoiler

As stated in War for the Kingdom as well, commas are used with coordinating conjunctions when connecting two independent clauses. Other than that small issue, the grammar is spot-on.

 

[Lose 881]

Welcome back, and yet another piece written to perfection by you.

[tankicola 111]

 

 

1 hour ago, Person_Random said:

(I feel a dark twist coming, but that's just me).

[dupuy 318]

From the author of the aforementioned War For the Kingdom series, congratulations on a story well written. I'm going to have to check out the rest of your series: it sounds really good! Judging from just this clip, I think I will enjoy it immensely. 

[Viking4s 10,791]

what a cliffhanger!?