Fifteen
“Come, we must hurry.” Dan urged as he led them towards the DUV.
“How much time do we have till the main event?” Dad asked as he walked alongside the man.
Dan glanced at his wristwatch. “In about sixty minutes.”
“Main event?” Anaya wondered out loud.
“We have that long to get as deep as we can before the asteroid hits.” Dan explained as he opened the hatch door. ” I’ll take Eli, Ma’am.”
Mom nodded as she handed the infant to Dan, and climbed in. Once inside, Dan passed Eli back to her.
“After you, pumpkin.” Dad motioned for Anaya.
She nodded and squeezed into the small opening, and nearly slipped as she missed the last step.
“Okay?” Mom reluctantly touched her shoulder.
“Yeah.” Anaya then meandered her way towards the back of the vessel.
There were only four seats here. The rest of the space was filled with assorted gears and equipments.
Dan entered the DUV last and sealed the hatch. He then moved to the front and sat in the pilot’s seat.
“Alright, folks.” Dan muttered as he strapped himself in. “Take your seats and put on your seatbelts.”
Anaya took the seat closest to her and fell into it.
“Ana?” Mom’s voice came from behind.
“I-I’m alright.” She fumbled with her belt as she pulled it across her body and secured it. “Just tired.”
“How’s your back?” Dad asked as he leaned over and placed a hand on her forehead.
“Very sore.” She mumbled.
“You have a fever.” Dad replied. “How long before we reach the city, Dan?”
“ETA two hours.” The man responded as he pushed a switch and the DUV came to life with a rumble.
“Hang in there, honey.” Dad rubbed her head. “We’ll be there soon.”
Anaya sighed once and closed her eyes.
———————————————————————————————————————————
Anaya’s head spun. Her body felt heavy as if a boulder was pressed upon her. The pain pulsated across her back. Gradually, she drifted deeper into the blissful blackness.
“Anaya.” A coarse voice spoke.
The blackness brightened until everything around her was filled with gray nothingness.
“Anaya.” The voice grew more feminine.
A shadowy spec appeared somewhere ahead as she floated towards it. The closer she came to it, the spec took on the shape of a robed figure. The hood completely covered its head.
“Hello?” She reached out towards the mysterious form.
As she was about to touch it, a pallor, wrinkled hand shot out at her.
“Excito!”
Anaya jerked awake as she searched around and saw she hadn’t moved. She remained in her seat within the DUV as her body bounced up and down.
“Ana?” Thank goodness Mom was still here.
“How long was I asleep?” She slurred.
“Nearly an hour.”
An hour? How was that possible? She just closed her eyes!
Was that thing only a dream?
Her gut told her otherwise.
Copyright © 2012 Carrie Ann Golden
All rights reserved.
Fourteen
Anaya ran. She thought of nothing else but only to run as fast as possible. All she heard was the pounding of her feet which managed to drown out the thunderous noise behind her.
With the flashlight in one hand, she kept the light on the ground. Her legs ached, but she forced herself to continue onward. She trained the light straight ahead and saw that this tunnel was much wider than the others. The earth under her feet wasn’t smooth like the others either. The ground was riddled with strange tracks.
“Ana!” Dad called somewhere from behind.
She willed herself to stop, and waited. Dad reached her seconds later with Mom and Eli following shortly afterwards. Panting, she bent over slightly with one hand on a hip as she tried to catch her breath.
“I-I think we’re okay for now.” Dad replied, breathing hard.
She noticed for the first time that the roaring seemed to have subsided.
Are they really safe now?
“Where’s Dan?” She asked.
Dad turned towards the darkness behind them and shrugged. “I’m not certain.”
Anaya straightened and beamed the light directly at Dad. “We left him behind just like we did Jeff. A-and Nate!” Tears spilled down her cheeks and her hand shook as the light wavered up and down.
“Oh, Ana.” Mom stepped towards her.
“Don’t!” Anaya hissed. “I don’t want your comfort!”
“Anaya.” Dad’s stern voice cut in.
Her hand steadied as she moved the light to his face. His eyes darkened with anger.
“You should have helped him.” She said in a low voice.
With that, she turned and walked away.
“Ana?” Mom’s voice quivered.
“Let her go.” Dad replied.
—————————————————————————————————————————–
The family walked through the tunnel with Anaya in front. The roar of the water all but gone as a heavy blanket of silence settled over them. She shone the light over the walls and roofing, and instead of being smooth or cemented, they were grated as if some kind of machinery had dug through the earth.
Further ahead, the gloominess suddenly went stark black.
She slowed as she approached the source of the blackness which rose nearly one story high. When she reached the enormous steel door, she swept the light over it. No door handle. No key card swiper.
So, now what?
“Do you hear something?” Mom asked Dad.
“Hear what?” He replied as he turned around.
“Footsteps.” Anaya whispered as she shifted the light to the tunnel behind them.
The pattering grew louder until a shadowy figure emerged from the darkness.
“It’s Dan!” Mom cried out.
“Thanks be the gods!” Dad reached out and slapped the man on the shoulder. “We all thought you didn’t make it.”
“Same here.” Dan let out a loud breath as he studied the blocked entry before him. “We don’t have much time.”
“What else is new.” Anaya mumbled as she handed the flashlight to him.
Dan glanced briefly down at her. “Not too much further now and I’ll have you safe.”
“How did you get away?” Dad asked. “That door should have come down well before now.”
Dan turned his attention back to the steel obstacle. “I found a way.”
“How?” Dad reiterated.
“I don’t have the time to explain.” Dan ran his free hand along the granite wall. “And if I did, I don’t believe you’d understand.”
“Try me.” Dad pushed.
“Perhaps one day I will.” Dan’s hand roamed further away from the door. ”Ita vero!”
He pushed into the wall and a block shifted inwards with a whish sound. Several clangs ranged out and the steel door automatically opened partway.
“Time to move on.” Dan waved them in.
Anaya went first as she crossed through the steel entrance and found herself in a small cavern. Her mouth dropped as she blinked several times.
A few meters in front of her stood a large, strange-looking vessel. It couldn’t be much longer than ten feet with its front and back outfitted with cutter heads.
Dan appeared beside her. “That’s a DUV.”
“What’s a DUV?” She continued to stare at it.
“Deep Underground Vehicle.” He answered.
“You mean we’re going deeper?” Mom asked in a shaky voice.
“Very deep.”
Copyright © 2012 Carrie Ann Golden
All rights reserved.
Thirteen
Anaya winced at the pain when she pressed her back against the wall. The black water settled near her chest. Mom comforted Eli as he wept loudly. Dad, at the other corner closest to Mom, reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder.
Dan stood silently with his back to everyone as the elevator noisily crept deeper into the earth.
With the door now completely shut, the water began to recede.
Anaya fixed her eyes on the narrow electronic panel ahead of her, and watched as the numbers gradually increased.
27…28…29…30…
How far down does this thing go?
“As soon as we reach the bottom we need to move fast.” Dan spoke in a gruff tone.
Moments later, the elevator settled hard which threw everyone to the floor in a heap. An electronic *ding* sounded and the door slid opened only to stop partway.
Dan drove his shoulder into the opening with a loud grunt, and forced the door to open wider.
“This has to do.” He huffed as he turned side-way and slipped out.
Anaya then squeezed through and stepped out into a rain storm.
“That door up there won’t hold for much longer.” Dan urged as he reached and took Eli so Mom could climb out.
Anaya glanced around and saw that they were in yet another tunnel.
“Follow me.” Dan muttered as he handed the boy back to Mom.
They tailed closely behind the lone, armed man as he led them down the dark passage. The rain storm back at the elevator quickly grew in to a raging waterfall.
“Faster!” Dan called out and they quickened their pace.
Anaya could barely see ahead so she focused on Dan’s waving flashlight. Without any warning, the flashlight stopped moving and she collided into him.
“Easy there.” Dan’s hand grasped her arm as he steadied her.
“Sorry.” Her face felt hot all of a sudden. “Didn’t see you.”
“No apologies necessary.” He turned away from her.
It was then she noticed that they stood before a rocky barrier. She strained to see the top but the wall continued upwards into utter darkness.
“Another door?” Dad asked as the men studied the metallic entry molded into the stony earth.
“Yes.” Dan answered and turned the round knob.
As they crossed the narrow threshold, a blast rocked everything. The sounds of boulders and water crashing to the ground vibrated through Anaya’s body with such force, she could barely breathe.
Dan pushed the flashlight into her hand and yelled. “Run!”
With her next breath, she ran.
Copyright © 2012 Carrie Ann Golden
All rights reserved.
Twelve
Anaya saw the exchanged look between Jeff and Dan.
We’re so going to die.
Eli writhed in Mom’s arms and cried. “Down!”
“Not yet!” Mom’s red face contorted as she fought the squirming toddler.
The booming sound coming from above caused Anaya’s ears to throb. She reached out for the wall as the ground shook more. She glanced over to the armed men. “Do something!”
With his hands, Dan felt along the door’s edges. There was nothing there to allow him to force the door open.
Jeff, as he watched Dan, raked his fingers through his thinning hair. He paused part way and swore out loud. He bent down and reached into a pocket of one of his lower pants’ legs, and pulled out a black card.
Dan let out a whoop, grabbed the object, and ran the card through the swiper on the wall next to the door.
Nothing.
“Again!” Jeff bellowed.
Dan ran it through once more and this time, a series of red and green lights blipped until the lock released with a clang. He pulled the door partially opened. “Inside!”
Dad grabbed Anaya’s wrist and pulled her with him as they ran into the dark expanse. Once in, he released his grip and she moved to the middle and glanced up. The gray ceiling was covered with built-in lights that have since gone dark.
She nearly leaped when the large door re-closed with a bang.
Jeff stepped into the center near her. His face held a stunned stare. “Where are they?”
“Look like they gone on without us.” Dan murmured.
“Cowards!” The balding man hissed.
A deafening thud slammed against the steel door and everyone jumped.
“We don’t have much time.” Dan spoke in a firm voice.
“I know.” Jeff answered as he made his way for the other side.
For the first time, Anaya noticed a pair of doors built into the wall.
“Elevators?” She asked.
“Yes.” Dan replied. “And they’re our only tickets to safe grounds.”
“So, what seems to be the problem?” Dad grumbled.
“The problem is.” Jeff muttered as he stood in front of one door and rested a hand on an electronic panel. “Someone was supposed to be here to let us in.”
“These elevators require special codes in order to access them.” Dan explained. “But, the person who had them isn’t here now.”
“Cowards.” Jeff repeated.
“In other words, we’re screwed.” Anaya mumbled as she looked back towards the fortified door. It begun to quiver as water squirted through its edges.
“Not necessarily.” Jeff replied as he rolled up his sleeves which revealed a strange-looking tattoo of an eye on his right forearm. “I believe I can manually open one of these doors through this panel.”
Reaching back into one of the pants’ pockets, he pulled out a small screwdriver and quickly worked to remove the panel’s covering. It revealed a complex series of colored wires.
“Dan, get them ready.” He grimaced as he reached a hand into the panel. Sweat beads formed on his forehead.
The steel door groaned behind them as a chunk of the ceiling over it tore away and crashed to the floor. Water gushed through the newly formed opening. Within moments, everyone stood in at least waist-high of the cold, dark water as it continued to rise.
“Anytime now, Jeff!” Dan stood ready by one of the doors as he grabbed Anaya’s arm before she slipped in the torrents.
“Almost there.” With one hand holding a set of wires, Jeff reached inside with a screwdriver in the other hand and…
The door slid opened.
“Get in!” Dan shoved Anaya and her family into the elevator as the water gushed in with them.
“You too, Dan!” Jeff hollered over the roar.
“Not without you.” Dan stood in defiant.
“Someone has to stay and manually shut the door.” Jeff retorted. “Or everyone will die.”
Dan flinched briefly before nodding.
“Ave atque vale.” Jeff bowed his head slightly.
“Ave atque vale, frater.” Dan answered and retreated inside the elevator.
The door groaned as it slowly closed.
Copyright © 2012 Carrie Ann Golden
All rights reserved.
Eleven
In a single line, they walked down the dark tunnel. Anaya followed behind Dan as Mom and Eli trailed her. Dad took the rear while Jeff led. The only source of light came from the flashlights carried by the two men in front.
The gloomy, man-made passageway stretched endlessly ahead. Anaya wondered why there were no lights here. She glanced up and saw caged, fluorescent bulbs near the ceiling.
Okay then, that answered her question. No power.
Great.
“Easy now.” Jeff turned towards them. “We’re coming up to another set of steps.”
Carefully, they made their way down the cemented stairs. This time, uneventfully.
When Anaya reached the bottom, she peered ahead and saw yet another tunnel.
“How many levels are there?” Mom asked obviously thinking the same thing.
“Three more after this one, I believe.” Dan answered.
Anaya took a deep breath as she rolled her shoulders back. The pain now more bearable but she felt tired.
“How are you doing?” Mom gently touched her arm.
“I’m okay.” She muttered.
Without warning, the flooring trembled. Everyone froze.
When nothing else happened, Jeff barked. “Let’s step it up!”
They moved on at a quickened pace.
Minutes later they cleared the next set of stairs, and then the next.
“One more to go.” Mom huffed as she held the whimpering Eli closer to her.
They continue to jog through the dusky passage when a crash sounded from a distance. They stopped and listened. A faint roaring could be heard as it grew steadily louder.
Jeff swore under his breath and yelled. “Run!”
By the time they reached the bottom of the last flight of stairs, the roaring drowned out all other sounds.
Anaya’s chest ached from the pounding of her heart as she struggled to keep up with Jeff and Dan. The final tunnel continued for what felt like an eternity.
“Stop!” Jeff called out.
The passageway abruptly ended as they now stood in front of an enormous steel door which held no handle.
“Key card?” Jeff panted.
Dan’s eyes widened as his voice dropped to a whisper. “Nate had it.”
Copyright © 2012 Carrie Ann Golden
All rights reserved.
Ten
Anaya slowly grew aware of the frigid ground beneath her. She tried to open her eyes, but the lids refused to obey. Then, the pain began as the burning radiated across her back.
She moaned.
“Sweetie?” Mom’s voice sounded so far away.
“Will she be okay?” It was Dad.
“Try to get her to sit up.” Dan stated in a somewhat breathless voice.
She sensed her body being lifted up as the air touched her skin. The pain worsened.
“Jeff?” Dan’s voice lowered.
She felt fingers gently probed at various spots on her back.
What happened?
“She’s definitely burned, but the burns are no worse than first degree.” Jeff answered.
“Sweet Jesus.” Dad exclaimed.
“Your daughter’s a very lucky girl.” Jeff continued. “If Nate hadn’t closed the hatch when he did…” He trailed off.
“It should have been me.” Dad muttered. “This should have been me!”
“They’re still up there.” Mom cut in.
“Yes.” Dan replied.
“Dead?” Anaya’s eyes now opened as she looked directly at Dad.
“I’m afraid so, pumpkin.” He reached out and with shaking hands, touched her face.
“Can you walk?” Jeff asked as he stood over her.
Anaya held her hands out which Dad took and carefully pulled her up. For a brief moment, she looked around. Everything seemed to be coated in a murky darkness. The steps behind her now covered in rubbles.
She swayed slightly.
“Ana?” Mom appeared at her side.
“I-I’m alright.” Anaya straightened but then groaned as the pain nearly took her breath away. “It hurts!”
“The sooner we can get down to the city the sooner the doctors can help you with the pain.” Jeff moved past them and met Dan at the front of the line. “Ready?”
Dan peered back towards Anaya. “Keep her right behind me.”
“Sure.” Dad answered.
Dan turned to the balding man in front. “Let’s go.”
Copyright © 2012 Carrie Ann Golden
All rights reserved.
Nine
“This way folks.” The bearded man pointed towards the trees.
Anaya could barely make out a trail as she followed behind her parents. They moved quickly. The trail, dark and uneven, ended suddenly when they charged out into a clearing. Standing in the center was a small structure made out of cement. It had no windows and only a single door.
To Anaya, it was smaller than Dad’s storage shed back home.
Was this a joke?
She opened her mouth to say something when a high-pitched, whistling sound grew louder and louder until a deafening explosion rocked everything, and threw them to the ground.
One of the armed men scrambled back to his feet and rushed to the building, and flung the steel door wide opened.
“Inside!” He yelled out.
Without any hesitation, everyone ran in.
The structure was barely large enough to fit all of them inside as the bearded man entered last and slammed the door shut.
Being sandwiched between her parents, Anaya tried to look around. The place held no furniture. The only thing she saw was an exposed trapdoor in the center of the floor.
“Dan, go ahead and open the hatch.” The bearded man grimaced as he stood with his back pressed against the cold, gray wall.
Dan, the one with chocolate-brown eyes, reached down and yanked hard at the rope attached to the door. It swung up and over, and landed on the floor with a loud clap. The opening revealed stairs.
He then stepped down into the hole and disappeared.
“All is clear!” He yelled back.
“Follow him.” The bearded man ordered the rest.
The second armed man held his hand out towards Mom. “I’ll take your boy.”
Mom hesitated briefly before she handed Eli to him. The toddler whimpered at first, but stopped once the man climbed down into the hole. And they were gone.
“Ma’am?” The third armed man stood waiting at the opening.
Mom nodded in silence and made her way down the steps.
Another whistling sound pierced the air and then a jarring explosion. Mom screamed and a thud was heard somewhere at the bottom of the hole.
Dad fell to his knees and cried down into the opening. “Urma?!”
A long moment of silence.
“She’s fine!” Dan called back.
“Dad?” Anaya went and helped him to his feet. “He’s said Mom’s fine.”
He nodded. “Yes. Yes, thank God!”
“Go to her.” She urged him.
Without another word, Dad was gone.
“Your turn.” The armed man touched her elbow gently.
“Okay.” Anaya took a deep breath and stepped into the darkness.
She took only four steps down when another explosion shook everything. A blinding light flashed above, and searing heat ravaged her back.
Then there was nothing.
Copyright © 2012 Carrie Ann Golden
All rights reserved.
