The Monsters in our Shadows by Edward J Cembal

Author:Edward J Cembal [Cembal, Edward J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tempus Press
Published: 2023-10-02T16:00:00+00:00

24

Anthem gagged on the stale air. He was soaked up to his knees in cold water, and the dismal light from above ground didn’t reach past the siloed ladder.

He tightened the bag hanging loose from his shoulders so it wouldn’t dip in the water and soak the food, flares and map.

“How far?” His voice echoed with the hollow water drops. “How far until we can go back to the surface?” Could they just wait out the threat there?

“No far. No, no, no.”

Rib sloshed ahead, into the black.

“Okay.” The deep dark of the concrete tunnel was far from inviting; the surface less so. “One second.”

Anthem reached into the bag and pulled out one of Doubleday’s flares. There were three, and this seemed like a good time to use one.

“Watch out,” he said, pointing the flare away from them both. He felt for the plastic cap, removed it, and struck the exposed rough striker across the other end of the flare. Nothing. He tried it again and drew a burst of light that blazed for a moment, then fizzled down to a steady glow.

Rib retreated into a small alcove and put his hand up over his eyes.

“It’s okay. This will help. It should last fifteen minutes,” Anthem said, reading the faded instructions. “Rib, can you get us through these tunnels and back to the surface by then?”

Rib said nothing but looked disapprovingly at the artificial burn, smelling the phosphorus tinge. After a moment he eased, nodded and turned to go, wading through the water to the edge of the red glow and the darkness beyond. Anthem followed, hoping the wild man understood the urgency.

Anthem was just able to reach out with both hands, to keep stable along the arched walls of smooth brick. He needed to duck a little to clear the ceiling. Keeping the flare hand extended, he steadied himself with the other and hurried to keep up with Rib’s pace.

The tunnels seemed to be getting smaller. No, that can’t be. He reached his arms out and they measured the same distance from each wall as before.

He hurried ahead, expecting the smell of feces and rot. Atlas utilized septic systems, and he figured the sewer would be an amplified version of that reek. Without the flare, he thought, he would surely be gagging and crawling through fields of rats. But that wasn’t the case. With no civilization to operate the sewer, he guessed he must only be wading through rainwater. The rats would have no reason to hide down here anymore; the humanless Earth was theirs to wander.

Up ahead, Rib was small and quick, already at the edge of the flare’s glow, swishing through the water as Anthem fought the drag with each step. He almost missed seeing Rib dart left off of the main tunnel, down another.

Anthem trudged on, turned down the tunnel, and startled as he collided with the feral man. Rib stood still, hunched and waiting, staring at him.

“What is it?” Anthem said, trying to keep his cool. He pointed the flare away from Rib, back into the collapsing dark.

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