Gods and Monsters

Epilogue

Unknown Location

It's time to wake up, Mr Quinn. It's time to wake up.

I would argue that you of all people deserve a rest, particularly after the last few months, but unfortunately circumstances deny us this opportunity. Dark forces are at work and you need to be on the front line. You see, the right man in the wrong place truly can make all the difference in the world.

So, Mr Quinn, I think you'll agree that it's time to wake up. It's time to wake up.

His head spinning, Charlie jolted upright suddenly.

It took a moment for him to identify his surroundings, but as his vision cleared he recognised the '80s inspired chair designs and a distinct musk in the air that constantly inhabited a London Underground train.

Charlie remembered being on Blackfriars Bridge, but everything after was a blur. Looking in the reflection of the glass, he didn't appear any different, still slightly banged up from events at the safe house but otherwise okay.

He stepped up from his chair and walked towards the doors of the empty train carriage, waiting to find out where he was heading. It was only then that above the door he noticed a small glass window with a plastic hammer next to it, the sort of thing that would cover a fire alarm. However, the window was labelled "Emergency Survival Kit" and contained a taser gun, a small syringe containing an orange fluid, and bandages. Certainly not standard fare for a train in central London.

The train made its signature ding-ding noise before blasting an announcement over the speakers, "The next station is, Canary Wharf. Please remember to take all your belongings and mind the gap. In the case of an incident, your nearest Emergency Survival Kit can be located above the train doors."

"What the bloody hell is going on?" Charlie muttered to himself, utterly perplexed at the entire situation.

The train began to pull into the station leaving Charlie to look around at adverts for handguns and portable survival kits that could seemingly be bought as if they were a pair of socks. All of this was baffling, but the biggest surprise was yet to come.

As the train came to a complete stop, Charlie stood in front of the doors as they slid open. Stepping out onto the platform, he found this too to be devoid of life. That was until four people began to run down the escalators not too far away from him.

The first two were instantly recognisable. The young woman on the left was Peggy Parker, her hair cut short and spiked giving her the look of a disgruntled punk. The man to her side was Nick Campbell. He was alive. In fact, he looked in better shape than Charlie could have ever imagined. The third person to come down the stairs was a man Charlie didn't recognise. His floppy blonde hair swayed from side to side as he dashed towards Charlie, a peculiar looking device in his hands.

The blonde lad pointed the device squarely at Charlie, moving it up and down as it bleeped and blooped before stopping. "It's him, Ma'am. All readings are a match."

The final figure walked past the other three, standing merely inches away from Charlie as his jaw almost smashed against the cold platform floor. "Thank you, Stuart. And I've already told you, don't call me Ma'am. Mary will do fine."

Charlie could only stare back at his sister in shock. Dressed in all black combat gear she looked a million miles away from her usual self. Trying to splutter out some words, Charlie found himself truly gobsmacked at what he was witnessing.

Then, slowly reaching behind her, Mary produced a pistol from her waistband. Pointing it straight between Charlie's eyes, she smirked slightly, "Welcome to Earth 88, Charlie." 

To be continued...

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