Fast Food Furries Book 1

Chapter 4: The Underground

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Combine

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I was in a total daze. The sight of a knife being plunged into one of my closest friends—the blade glimmering in the moonlight as it split flesh—immediately after witnessing the love of my life be consumed by a collapsing building was enough to darken the edge of my vision and turn gravity about 85 degrees to the left.

I had collapsed to the side even before Big City Mouse retreated back into the alley from whence she came. Mach had fallen to his knees—he was still alive, but he wasn't quite a picture of health. I could hear you shuffling around, trying to get your bearings—it sounded like a distant echo.

"Combine!" you cried out, coming to my side. "We have to help him!" You grabbed my arm and helped me prop myself up to a sitting position. Grit from the road clung to the wet streams left on my cheeks, but was promptly washed away by even more tears. You hugged me from the side. I returned the favour with one arm and my vision began to re-sharpen.

"He needs medical supplies," I said, out of breath.

You stood. "I'll go find some."

"No," I leaned out and grabbed your arm before you could leave. It took all my strength. "Lab creature bodies don't take well to human medicine." I took a deep breath, trying to find footing within my own mind. "I know where we can find lab creature medical supplies and someone who knows how to use them."

Mach was still kneeling a ways up the street, staring off into the distance. "Watchtower," he sputtered, his breath shaky.

"The place with that one general they were talking about over the radio?" you asked.

I nodded.

"I can lead us there—through the tunnels," you said.

"We can find," Mach grunted, "our own way there. You need to get somewhere safe, Ned."

"No," you said sternly. "I won't be hidden away. I'm helping."

"We'll escort her back to the safehouse first," said Mach, ignoring you. "The tunnels could be swarming with Mike-knows-who. It's why we didn't try to take them from the safehouse to Harambe High. It's not safe."

"You'll die before you make it to Watchtower," you explained (correctly.) "Even heading directly there across the surface could take too long. We're taking the tunnels."

I wiped away some tears and sucked in a sniffle. "She's right, Mach. It could be dangerous but there's no time. Ned, lead the way, I'll get him and follow behind you."

It took you a few seconds to recall where a nearby tunnel entrance would be, but once you figured it out, you set off. I could tell as you were leaving that your morbid curiosity got the better of you and you tried to catch a glimpse of Mach's wound and this golden blood of his that you had seen the first day, but alas, between the darkness and your path taking you in a different direction, you couldn't see much.

I forced myself to my feet and made my way to Mach. I might've lost Candy, but I wasn't about to lose him too. I laid his arm across my shoulders and hoisted him up.

"Combine," he said quietly. "I..."

"Yeah," I responded as my eyes welled up again.

I can't say I had fully processed what happened—it would take me a while, but we set off regardless.