Page 26 of When Monsters Rise
Therehad to be a way to get back into the mall, some…Waita second… “Bee, do you still have the radio?”
“Fuck, yes!”Sherummaged in her pocket to pull out the small walkie, hands shaking as she fumbled to depress the talk button. “Beehere, come in.Over.”
Static.
“Hello?Bastian?Tumiel?Canyou hear me?Over.”
Nothingbut static again.
“Thereception is bad here,”Beesaid. “Shit.”
Irattled the door again as if that would make a difference.
“Rue, what are we gonna do?”Beeasked.
Wewere separated fromBastianby layers of cement but… “Ifwe can get to the tunnel above us, we might be able to get some reception.”
“Isn’tthat area close to the runes tunnel?”
“Yes.ButIthink…Ithink it’s also closer to the southern side whereBastianmight be.”
“Fuck.”Beetook a deep breath. “Let’sdo this.”
Chapter13
BASTIAN
Themotion detector lights turn on asIwalk up and down the tunnel.Energysaving lights.Perfectfor the job.We’realmost done clearing out the route.Anotherday and it’ll be ready for use.Afterthat, we can scout the area above and make it as safe as possible by clearing out a building or two and prepping them as stop points on the way out of the city.We’llneed non-perishables, blankets, and lanterns.Generalon-the-road supplies.
Thefact that this route exists is no surprise.Jamieonce showed me schematics he found of a town and its underground passages, as if the people who built the cities were afraid that humanity might one day need to hide from the sun.
Citiesbeneath cities, he’d called them.Ifthe celestials hadn’t come and helped us build our settlements, would humanity have been driven underground?
I’mhoping we never have to run from here, though.
I’mhoping that this place can become a home for many more humans for many years to come.Willthe people here want to move to theGoldenCityafter the monsters are gone?Idoubt it.
“You’vedone good work,”Tumielsays. “Whenthe scout watcher team returns, we can get them to help clear out the rest of the tunnel.”
“Ican do it now.”
“Youneed to rest.”Tumiellooks at me with concern. “Youlook pale and tired.”
Bluntas always. “I’mfine.”
“Humorme, then.”
Idon’t want to be reminded of my condition.Idon’t want to be seen as weak and dying.Ihave too much to do before that point, but he’s right.Iam tired.Icould sleep.Wakingup this morning was hard, and my limbs ache, butI’llbe damned ifIlet anyone see my weakness.
I’llbe damned ifIgiveRueanything more to worry about.
WhenIgo,I’lldo it quietly and quickly, hopefully in my sleep. “I’mfine.Let’sget started and then—”Myradio crackles.
“—astian…hear…trouble…Michael…”
I’drecognizeRue’svoice anywhere even when overlayed with static. “Hello!Rue?Over.”
“ThankGod.Bastianyou have tocrackle crackle.”
