Gregor and the under turning up

Chapter 2

Gregor woke with a start the following morning once again drenched in sweat. Over the past six years the nightmares had never really gone away. Sometimes images of dying mice and ash would haunt his dreams while other nights it would be the terrifying images of the Bane attacking him. Ares dying.

However,  that night it was a dream he hadn't had in a long time.  Gregor didn't know what it was about the apartment that brought it on, but that first night he was plagued with the terror of falling through dark space without ever hitting the bottom. In his dreams his echolocation never worked and no bat ever swooped in to save him no matter how many times he called out for Ares, Luca,  anybody.

Shaking his head he got up to get a glass of water to try and clear his mind. The clock above his oven told him it was early enough to be up and if he left now he'd be able to make it back in time before the breakfast Mrs. Cormaci had invited him to at her house.

Digging his shoes out of a box and changing out of his panamas quickly, Gregor set out with no real destination in mind. As he ran he realized just how much he had missed New York. It wasn't just that the city happened to have two entrences to the Underland that made Gregor want to return, at least that wasn't the whole reason. He missed the busy hustle bustle of the city. With alll the lights and sounds constantly blaring it was easy to think calmly,  or better yet not think at all.

After all wasn't that what Gregor was good at? Not thinking. Not thinking about the clothes he had to wear the cover up the map of scars drawn all over his body. Not thinking of all the lies he had to tell on a daily basses just to appear sane. Not thinking of Ares and what he sacrificed to save Gregor. But especially not thinking about Luxa. Never Luxa. Some things just hurt too much.

Unfortunately, without paying attention to where he was going, Gregor ended up in Central Park. He seemed to automatically gravitate toward the sewer that would led him to the Underland.

"This is where I will think of you," he remembered his last conversation with Luxa as she perked her head out to get a good look of the Overland six years ago.

His heart twisted painfully as he jogged on. He checked his watch. Mrs. Cormaci would be wondering where he was soon.

Twenty minutes later and after a quick shower, Gregor knocked on the old lady's door. It occurred to him then that maybe he should of brought something. Don't people usually bring a plate of food when they're invited to places, but just then she opened the door. Oh well, it's not like she invited him over because of his social skills.

"Hey, sorry I'm late, " Gregor apologized.

"Nonsense, you're just on time, " she countered. Grabbing his hand, Mrs. Cormaci started dragging him toward the television. "You need to see this."

On the screen danced one very escentric man, bobbing up and down wearing what appeared to be clothed spun from the web of a slider and shoes made of lizard skin. Underland clothes.