The Sky Beneath Us (on hold)

NINE

Day 2. 15:54.

___________

Eve spent the night in a filthy sewer run-off, waking every hour with even the slightest sound. She was forced out of her refuge around 7am, according to her watch, when rats swarmed her sleeping form.

Now she was travelling the tunnels, not a soul in sight. Not every building had access to the system. She guessed that most of the survivors remained trapped in their workplaces and dwellings.

The thought was horrible, especially after witnessing that building fall. At least Eve was fortunate enough to have a chance. But a chance for what?

She made sure to step over a pipe that protruded across her path, not far from a tunnel junction. As she reached the opened cross section, some sort of chanting could be heard from the right. Eve instinctively slammed her back to the wall. As she did so, the nonsensical chanting became words.

"...darkness, only death and pain and salvation in both..." a frantic male voice called to itself.

Her right hand balled into a fist, her left scrambling into her bag for a weapon - it closed around a pocket knife.

She was looking for survivors, yes. But not the dangerous kind.

"...God was all a lie, my life, our lives, yes, our lives, lie, wasted".

The voice grew nearer, and Eve gently slid the blade from its resting place. The meager shard of shining steel pointed towards the source of the chanting as Eve readied her arm for a thrust. Slowly, she began to back away the way she came, entering an area of shadow.

When in doubt, retreat.

Focusing on the madman's ramblings and proximity, she forgot about the pipe behind her feet.

It caught her, and Eve fell backwards in tumultuous commotion. The blade clattered away in the darkness.

"A sound! A person and a sound and I hear a person!" the voice called excitedly, mere meters away. It giggled horrifically, before a silhouette appeared in the tunnel entrance.

"I seeeeee youuuuuuuu".

He began to sprint forward, giggling ever more frighteningly.

Eve rolled to her feet, searching frantically for the pocket knife as she dazedly attempted to run. The madman dived across the pipe, slamming her into the ground face first. Suffering from momentary blindness and tasting blood, Eve rolled onto her back and clawed desperately at his face. His hands knocked off hers and he slammed his fist into her.

Her ears were ringing.

Her vision was blurry.

Her head ached.

Blood pooled in her eye sockets and at the back of her throat.

Her body was dragged into the intersection.

As she began to regain full consciousness, she realised her wrists were tied together beneath her. Upon further inspection, she found her ankles tied too. Her mouth was gagged.

"Oh but you are pretty, yes, very, the Darkness would cherish you as I will".

Eve locked eyes on her captor in the dim green light.

He wore priest's clothing, a long black garb with white collar. His face contained strange markings, sliced into his skin. What kind of sicko was this?

"I was a man of God, a man of God I was", he chanted through sliced open lips. He wiped straggly red hair from his brow, revealing bloodshot eyes.

"But where was God when the world went wheeeeeeee? Nowhere! Ha! Only the Darkness was there! Our true-"

He paused, face full of thought, choosing his next words. Movement behind him.

"The Da-"

A metal bar struck his head, sending the mad priest to the floor. In his place stood a man, Eve's rescuer.

He looked to be in his 30's, with short blonde hair and stubble. He wore a hoodie, jeans and fading leather jacket. He flashed a pocket knife - Eve's pocket knife - and unbound her.

Removing her gag, he spoke - "quick, on your feet, he's getting up".

The priest rose roaring, and received another blow across the jaw. He fell on his side, rolled and ran into the shadows - chased by Eve's rescuer.

Hastily wiping the blood from her face, and spitting out the rest - along with a back tooth - Eve turned to face the newcomer. He held out the blade, smiling.

"Funny how the crazies all come out once the world goes to shit eh?" he placed the knife in her palm, "just so you trust me" he added.

"Friend of yours?" Eve asked, nodding in the direction that the psycho priest ran.

"No, but he's not the first one I've encountered. There's more like him". He revealed a fresh wound on his neck - deep, but not fatal.

"I'm Eve".

"I'm Brady".

"Well, Brady, do you know somewhere safe I can go?" she asked innocently, testing the water.

He laughed, his teeth seeming to glow in the green hue.

"Actually no, I don't. But hey, I'm searching. So if you wanna join..."

He trailed off, a cheeky grin creeping up his face. He knew she would. And she didn't deny it. His company was better than no company.

"Yeah, alright" she returned the smile, "but if the priest comes back, it's your problem".