Metamorphosis by Marty Chan

Author:Marty Chan [Chan, Marty]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Red Deer Press
Published: 2019-10-17T15:39:52+00:00

The tunnel

Ehrich itched to get off the train as he looked out the window at the black plumes of smoke snaking up to the sky from various parts of Manhattan. He had no idea what had caused such widespread fires, but he feared this might have something to do with Ba Tian. He wondered if the warlord had been able to secure the exoskeletons and was now launching an attack on the city.

When the train finally arrived at the station, the two Weisz brothers joined the crowd streaming to the exit. They weren’t the only ones interested in seeing where the fire was. Ehrich pushed through the crowd. Beside him, Dash clung to the back of Ehrich’s jacket as they made their way off the platform and down the stairs to the street level. Ehrich eyed the nearest column of smoke and started toward it. It seemed to be coming from the Bowery area. He navigated the streets, which were now filled with spectators emerging from shops and offices to survey the smoke. No one paid attention to the two boys zigzagging through the crowds. Ehrich quickened his pace as he neared the black plume. As he reached the Bowery a few blocks later, a quiet sense of dread began to take hold of him. He recognized the streets and calculated the sources of the smoke.

“Dash, we have to run. Keep up.”

“Wait. Wait! I’m coming.”

Ehrich didn’t look back. He sprinted the next three blocks until he reached a corner and turned to see black smoke engulfing a building that wasn’t burning. The smoke was coming from the cellar doors leading to the basement. The guardian he had seen earlier when they had come to the surface stood among the others, watching helplessly. The fire was coming from under the ground. Purgatory.

Ehrich rushed to the woman and grabbed her arm. “What happened?”

Her eyes were moist with tears and her face covered with soot. At first she didn’t recognize Ehrich, but he pulled her close and her eyes widened with recognition. “Thank goodness you left when you did.”

“Don’t worry about me. What happened here?”

“I don’t know. One minute I was selling my wares; the next the ground shook. At first I thought it was a tremor but, a few minutes later, smoke began to pour out of the cellar doors. I tried to investigate. It looked like the smoke was coming from the pneumatic tubes.”

“Did anyone come out?”

She shook her head. “No one. Not a soul.”

Ehrich chewed his bottom lip. “Stay here and keep an eye out for any survivors.” He had a sinking feeling there would be none.

Dash pulled on Ehrich’s sleeve. “What happened?”

“I’m not sure.”

“What do we do?”

Ehrich scanned the area. He had no idea what to do or where to go. Mr. Serenity would have been in Purgatory along with the other travellers. The army that would have stood against Ba Tian was either trapped below or worse.

Ehrich had to warn the others. He slipped into an alley away from the bustle of onlookers gawking at the smoke.

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