Changed: Deep

Chapter 1: A walk in the Tunnels

[K's Pov]

Four years into this madness, and the human behind the chamber is still fast asleep. Through the cameras, I once spotted one of the failed experiments approaching the chamber. It looked fascinated with the human behind the glass. I won't be opening that chamber soon, I fear that the human carries the virus. The deserted wastes of the ruined Earth is 99% clean from the virus, and according to my calculations, it should be safe for me to begin the plan in the next month. I should check up on the Botany department and search for any technologies that might be of use in the future.

I stood up from my seat and yawned through my gasmask. I completely forgot about my wolf snout, and how it feels very different from my original facial structures. I raised my wolf paws in the air, looking at both of my paw pads as I fold my digits, close and open. It still feels different from my original human hands. It's less than one finger, but nonetheless it gets the job done. I reached for my lab coat that was hanged on my chair and wrapped it around myself.

It's time to visit the old subway station under the tower. I approached the elevator doors and pressed for the button, and soon the elevator doors slid open. I took a step inside and pressed the button on the elevator control labeled as "B", and the elevator switched into motion as it lowers me down to the basement level. The constant buzzing of the elevator lights deafens my ears despite having better sense of hearing. The screen above the elevator controls switches numbers as it lowers deeper, then it shows the letter "B", basement level. The elevator doors slid open, and I took a step outside of the elevator.

A plain laboratory room with a steel table sits on the east wall welcomes me. Two poorly maintained potted plants sits on each corner of the north wall, and in between is the conspicuous huge metal door on the north wall. The plants are bare, presumably dead. A digital clock is hanged on the west wall, showing the date and time as of today. Below the digital clock is a metal panel clinging on the wall, loosened from the intentionally missing bolts. The floor is made out of marble tiles, finished into smooth and shining just like the ones upstairs.

A card reader is located just to the right of the huge metal door, authorized to only read the maintenance and administrator clearance. What lies behind the huge metal door is off limits to common staffs, and are only used to access the tunnels connecting the tower to the Botany department. It is a miracle that they discovered the abandoned subway tunnels, and used it as an access point from point A to point B. I reached out for my key card in my lab coat and swiped it on the card reader.

The huge metal door moved into action, and it slowly raised up to reveal the dark tunnels of the subway. I opened the metal panel to my left using my two wolf paws, and with a "click" the panel swung open. Behind it is a column of switches with the sides of the switches labeled with the color red and green, indicating on and off. I flicked each switches on one by one, and the tunnels were soon lit up by the lights. I closed the metal panel stepped into the subway station, swiping my key card on the card reader behind me to close the huge metal door.

Despite being a section cut off from the tower and the Botany department, the subway tunnels are well ventilated. I was expecting it to be blazing hot inside on the first time I stepped in here, because of the abnormal rising temperatures of the ruined Earth. It is rather cold instead, and the paw pads of my hind legs do not like how cold the tiles are. I hopped down on the rails, and I began my long walk from the tower to the Botany department.

Abandoned section of the subway tunnels, renovated to be cut off from the main railway. Thick concrete walls serving as dead end, impenetrable to protect the tunnels dedicated to being service tunnels from point A to point B. They did a really impressive work on renovating the tunnels. Halfway through the tunnels, I spotted a human lying on the cold tiled flooring of a subway station. I immediately hopped on the station and examined the person. It's a man, and it's lying on it's front. I gently raised their head with my right paw. The face of the man is pale, and their lips dry.

The man, he's infected with the virus. I thought that these four years are enough to wipe out every infected outside, but what's this? If the tunnels were renovated to secure the service tunnels, then how did he end up here? I looked around and noticed the wall of the subway station. A crack was formed on a portion of the wall, eventually forming into a hole wide enough for the human to squeeze through. This is bad. I have to contain the man and secure the hole, but I have to make sure that the man is alive.

Fireman's carry should do the trick. With my wolf strength, I slowly carried the man on my shoulders. It is impossible to tend to the human in the tower as the latex creatures will swarm over this man. Perhaps the Botany department may contain any form of medications that can aid the unconscious man. I ran for the other side of the tunnel, carrying the unconscious pale man on my shoulders. Every step I take echoes through the tunnels back and forth. The panting and the sound of my heart racing mixing as I near the huge metal door of the Botany department.

Arriving at the door, I gently put the pale man on the floor and quickly reached out for my key card in my lab coat. I swiped the key card on the card reader, and the huge metal door slowly raised up. Behind the door reveals a plain laboratory room with a vending machine containing rows of bottles of water on the west wall of the room. A fire extinguisher sits conveniently on the northeast corner of the room. I immediately grabbed the fire extinguisher with my two paws and smashed the glass cover of the vending machine while looking away, sending shards of glass all over.

I was lucky that none of the shards hit me. I carefully snatched the bottle of water from the now broken vending machine. I have to save this man no matter what.