Dead World by Lucas Pederson

Author:Lucas Pederson [Pederson, Lucas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severed Press
Published: 2018-02-27T22:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

The first thing she notices the moment her boots touch the city’s floor is how the heavy dust and dirt is disturbed. As though a group of people walked through it.

“They’re here,” she says.

“You sure?” Gerty glances around. “Those could’ve been made by anything and holy hell this place is creepy.”

“Here,” she points at a few tracks. “Distinct boot prints. Marine issue, am I right?”

Rip kneels, checking out the prints, then nods. “Marine issue tread. Yes.”

Alyx eyes the prints for a moment, gaze following them into the city. “Let’s go.”

Large, stone buildings loom over them. Somewhere in this huge cavern, there’s a hollow whistling sound. Like a breeze across an empty glass jug. A hooting noise, almost. The sound gives Alyx a small case of the shivers, but nothing to deter her.

Each building is built tall and wide. The round windows stare at her like empty, black eye sockets. Yes, there’s a watchful sense here. Much like she felt in the tunnels above. A waiting and watching sensation prickles at the back of her neck like hundreds of tiny needles. Either it’s the vacant buildings surrounding her, or something more, she doesn’t know. So far, there’s no other evidence of something stalking around down here. No other prints, save for Company 3’s. And she knows it’s them. Finally, after all this time.

“So where do you think that light was coming from?” Rip asks.

“Deeper in,” Alyx says.

“At least we have a path to follow,” Gerty spouts.

Alyx laughs a little. “Definitely a bonus.”

Gerty makes a weird, shuddery breath. “Anyone get the feeling of being watched?”

“It’s the windows,” Alyx says, not really knowing, but anything to ease the girl’s nerves a bit. Even Marines get uneasy. They’re humans too, after all.

“Right,” Gerty says.

They walk through the boot deep dust on what Alyx assumes is the main street of the city. The one that’s like the lifeline for all commuters. Or once was. It’s wide and the buildings on either side might’ve been shops or homes at one time. Her explorer’s heart tugs her toward one of the buildings. Just to look around and perhaps solve part of the mystery surrounding the underground city. Why is it abandoned? Where did everyone go? There are no signs of a fight, or bones in the street. Just…emptiness.

The deeper they venture into the city, the more Alyx wonders what Sully thought of all this. Was he intrigued, as she is, by all the silence and emptiness. Did he want to also figure out why? Or was he so steadfast on finding the artifact that nothing else mattered?

These things, she plans on asking him when she finds him.

And she will find him. Even if he’s no longer alive, she’ll find him. She’ll bring him home.

The buildings on both sides grow taller and wider as they continue on. Ahead, like a dark idol, stands the Coliseum-like structure. The round walled area hiding its own secrets.

“So what do you think?” Gerty asks. “Are they still alive?”

“That’s what I’m hoping,” Alyx says.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.