Chapter 30 #2
“What about the other path?” I curiously asked, looking down the darkened cave.
“Leads deeper into the tunnel, but if yer smart, yeh could take a few rights an’ be re-routed back ta da lab.”
I nodded in understanding and followed Pete as he turned to retrace our steps back to his home.
“Just lettin’ yeh know—be careful when yeh climb the ladder an’ get inta the lab. It’s a large facility dat fixes those nasty Dogs, so they’re everywhere.”
“How do you usually get by them to get your food?” Gabe asked in curiosity.
“I don’,” he admitted. “I cut a hole in da pipe and made a barrier, so the pod stops right at da bottom o’ the ladder. Too dangerous ta go up there. I just keep signin’ the paperwork fer refills.”
“Pretty smart,” Gabe admitted, with a laugh.
Closer to the door, my vision slowly adapted to the dim light, the oppressive darkness starting to recede.
Truthfully, I wasn’t sure if my eyes were adjusting to the dim light or if the bulbs were warming to a brighter glow.
Nearing the massive metal door, a shiver wracked my body.
The sight of the dynamite—red sticks seemingly sprouting growths, crudely packed in worn wooden boxes within the dark, echoing mine, was unnerving.
Jude moved from his makeshift bed, albeit not far.
Instead of lying on the ground, contemplating his life choices, he was now sitting upright on the couch.
As soon as we emerged from the door, his head swiveled.
“Where’ve you guys been?” He threw his arm up and slapped his knee.
“It should not be taking the three of them this long to install the batteries. I’m gonna see what’s going on.
” Throwing on his jacket, he disappeared beyond the curtained door.
“What’s his problem?” Pete’s lip was upturned in disgust.
Jude’s body was thrown back into the cave, landing roughly on the ground. Nine burst through the door, colliding with him, and Four followed close behind, both leaving a trail of blood.
“D-Dogs k-killed F-F-Fifteen.”
The words that left Four’s mouth hung in the air, and everyone’s bodies stiffened.
The environment grew tense, and the next few moments felt like they happened in slow motion.
With a sudden leap, a Dog bounded from behind the curtain, its paws landing squarely on Nine’s shoulders.
It opened its mouth, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth glinting in the dim light before clamping down onto the man’s head with a crunch.
With a twist, the Dog ripped Nine’s head from its body, a spray of blood and gore coating the surrounding area like rain.
I stared, completely stunned, as Jude stumbled toward me, his clothes soaked and dark with blood. Nine’s limp body landed heavily on top of him, a thud echoing in the room as the Dog’s eyes scanned the room. Five more beasts walked in, sniffing the mangled head on the floor.
I don’t know exactly when it happened, but Gabe grabbed my hand with his gun pointed at the Dogs and pulled me toward the metal door leading to the dark mining tunnels. With a grin, Pete grabbed his weapon and unleashed a volley of paintballs at the bloodthirsty Dogs intruding within his home.
A daze enveloped me as I ran, slightly behind Gabe, the world blurring around me. “G-gabe, we need to get Jude. We can’t leave him behind.” My words came out in a choke as my body was pulled down the mine.
“My only concern is for you,” Gabe growled back.
Following the tunnel’s dimly lit path, we took a right at the fork, where the air grew noticeably colder.
The barks and cries seemed to drown out the further we ran.
I looked toward the ceiling and saw the large pipe, knowing we were heading in the right direction.
Only a few moments passed before we neared the tunnel’s end, where a rusty metal ladder was bolted against the cave’s cold stone.
“You go first.” Gabe moved out of the way, putting one hand on the ladder and shaking it. “Actually, I’ll go first in case this breaks.”
I nodded, my body shaking. The rhythmic clang of Gabe’s boots on the metal ladder echoed through the cave as he climbed. He swiftly moved upward, and I placed my foot on the first rung of the ladder, reaching for the next with a slightly trembling hand.
“Vinny, where are you?”
It was Jude. My heart jumped. It was like whatever daze I was in was lifted. I couldn’t leave him behind. Gabe looked down at me, and I lifted my chin to him. “I gotta get Jude. We can’t leave him.”
“Vinny, no—”
The echo of Gabe’s voice faded as I began sprinting down the tunnel.
I tried to keep my breathing and footsteps quiet, running on my tiptoes.
As the fork came into view, I saw the silhouette of a round man.
Coming down the tunnel, a pack of Dogs emerged, their red eyes gleaming menacingly in the dim light.
“Pete!” I yelled. “Run!”
He turned to face me. “Turn ‘round, Vincent. Go up the ladder, it’s not safe for yeh here.”
I saw a flicker of light dance near his overalls, and his eyes shifted downward. At his feet was a box of dynamite, and in his hands, he held a stick, the fuse sparking dangerously. My mouth dropped. “Pete, what-what are you doing?”
“There’s no way we’re all makin’ it out o’ this an’ those bastards will notify their pack of anyone who escapes.” He held up the sparked dynamite. “I’m makin’ sure ya’ll get outta here.”
“No, you can’t, there must be another way!”
“It’s time for me to be with Patty. She’s been waitin’ fer me fer far too long.” Pete touched my face, water glistening in his eyes. “Run back ta da ladder, so you don’ get caught in da crossfire.”
“I-is Jude okay?” I started backing away slowly, knowing my pleas were useless.
Pete nodded and cocked his head down the other tunnel at the fork. “Don’ forget what I told ya—listen to yer heart and live yer life because yeh only got one to live.”
I watched in horror as the six Dogs ascended upon Pete, their claws scraping against the ground as they launched themselves at him.
With a rush of wind, they landed on the round man and the box of dynamite.
My last memory of Pete was his hand in the air, reaching for his wife, even though his body had been pummeled to the ground.
The sudden loud bang echoed through the empty space, replaced only by an unsettling, heavy silence.
A high-pitched sound ran through my ears.
The impact hit me with the force of a runaway train, throwing me forward and ripping my legs out from under me.
A white-hot pain shot through me as I slammed against a wall of the stony tunnel.
“Vinny! Where are you?”
It was Gabe. His voice was scared and hoarse.
I never heard him like this. It scared me because I knew something was wrong.
I tried yelling back to him, but I couldn’t speak.
A wave of paralysis washed over me, and though I tried to move, I was trapped within my own body.
I felt useless, like my brain and body weren’t connected.
Fear ran through my mind. Was I dying?
A high-pitched squeal vibrated in my ears, drowning out Gabe’s terrified screams as darkness consumed me.
I carry on, I carry on.