(eng) Marshall Ryan Maresca - The Streets of Maradaine 01 by The Holver Alley Crew

Author:The Holver Alley Crew [Crew, The Holver Alley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

ASTI BEAT DOWN HIS body’s instincts, the urge to retch. It had been a half hour of crawling in near total darkness, the stench of the city’s waste assaulting his nose, and he wasn’t getting used to it. He could feel that dark rage clawing at the base of his skull. He wasn’t going to let it take him. Not twice in one night. Not ever again.

Verci stopped, tapping Asti one time on the shoulder to let him know they had reached the spot. A moment later a pale sickly glow was coming from a vial in Verci’s hands, providing only the slightest amount of light. Verci handed the vial to Asti and got into a crouched position.

Asti knew the doorway was right next to them, but he couldn’t see it at all. If he hadn’t come out this way before, he never would have suspected it was there. Verci ran his hands along the wall, cautious and gentle. His fingers lightly dusted the masonry, occasionally giving a nearly imperceptible tap on each stone. Asti always marveled at how deft and dexterous his brother was. After a few moments Verci found a point that satisfied him. He reached into the pouches at his belt and pulled out a couple of devices. Not taking his eyes off the stones, he assembled the tools blindly into a small drill. He put the drill against the grout and very slowly began to grind his way through it.

Asti counted time as Verci drilled. He knew he had to be patient, as Verci couldn’t work too quickly, lest the drilling make a sound that the Old Lady could hear. Even as quiet as he was going, each turn of the drill made Asti’s heart race, every noise from the drill and the sewer around them causing him a hint of panic. He pushed it all down into the back of his head, forcing himself to stay absolutely still, not letting the beating, pounding fear and rage find its way out. He was in control.

In the distance the church bells rang out three bells.

Asti had counted to 1,841 by the time Verci was able to carefully slide the brick he had been drilling at out of its spot in the masonry. Gently Verci reached into the small hole he had made.

Asti held his breath.

There was a very slight clicking sound. Sweat was beading on Verci’s brow. He pulled out a small, thin tool with his left hand while his right hand stayed in the hole. He slid the tool in, passing it to his right hand, inching it in. Asti imagined Verci had his finger on a catch of some sort, holding it in place until he could get the tool into his other fingers.

Another faint click.

The door moved. It cracked open only a hint. Verci gave Asti a tap, and then pointed to two spots on the lip of the door. Asti understood, taking hold of the edge at the points his brother indicated. Verci held up his free hand, and silently mouthed, “Five.

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