Suburban Island V

Freak (Lost Underground)

Freak (Lost Underground)

-Annie-

I don't know where I am now. It's starting to look the same. Okay, I need to calm down. Panicking is not going to get me out of here. I closed my eyes and took a breath. Wait... What is that smell? I opened one eye and looked around. I can't fully describe it in words. It's kind of sweet yet musty, you know? Kind of like that new car smell with rotting fruit. If I didn't know any better it would smell like part of those trees outside.

I froze. Oh no...

I covered my nose with my shirt. How did I get this far off course. I didn't even go that far underground. At least I don't think that I did. How long have I been down here? I couldn't reach Mike on the radio anymore. I've tried, but I get no response. The static isn't a good sign. There's no way I'm that far out of range. Come on, think. You have to try and get it together. Just go back the way you came.

I turned back to the many pathways. Where was that? I could feel my eyes starting to water. I couldn't stay here. I started running further down the path. Where was I going? I was supposed to be going back the other way. I didn't have time to think. All I knew was that I had to get away from that scent. I had heard stories of the poison from the tree roots. Until now, I would've never thought about it. Then again, I didn't think about going underground.

I ended up going further down than I had planned. (Ha! What plan?) I sat back down onto the ground. By now, my muscle began to ache. My chest hurt as I tried to catch my breath. I let go of my shirt by then. I let out a huge gasp. There was none of that scent here. I should be good for now. I looked down at my shirt. Why didn't Mike talk me out of this one? I smacked myself in the forehead.

Stupid.

Too late to worry about that now.

My throat felt so dry. I took off my backpack and pulled out my water bottle. I uncapped it and took my drink. Ah! That's much better. I am going to need to eat soon. It was a good thing that I wasn't tired. It wouldn't be a good idea to go to sleep down here. Looks like I have only one choice. But where was I supposed to go?

"So what the hell possessed you to come down here?" I asked myself aloud. "Well. There was a hatch in my backyard."

"A hatch? Why was there a hatch?"

"I don't know. I just found it while Mama and the old man while fighting. I just had to go down and look at it."

My footsteps echoed against the walls. I shoved my hands into my pockets.

"Why would you do that?"

I shrugged to myself. "Well, I was just curious." I frowned to myself remembering all of that. I shook my head.

"What did you expect to find down here?"

"I don't know."

"How is that going for you?"

I looked around the tunnel. "Well..." I dryly laughed to myself. Is this what this has come down to? Me talking to myself as I walk further down this tunnel. I looked around at the dirt-packed walls around me. Where was I even going? I shook my head as I shivered.

I lifted my head.

"What was that?" I asked. I strained for a listen. Are those... footsteps? I narrowed my eyes. That can't be right. Why would anyone be down here in a place like this? It then I remembered the coyote system. Maybe one of them was out on their deliveries? Wait... If a coyote was down here, maybe I could get some help. But where were they? I didn't even know where I was. Still, it was better than just standing around here. This was one chance that I would have to take. I turned and looked at the tunnels in front of me. I didn't have time to think about it. I was just to have to just go.