The Sky Beneath Us (on hold)

TWELVE

Day 6. 08:21.

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Another day, another boring search for refuge in a tunnel system where every wall looked the same. It didn't help that the sewers ran five levels deep. Why they did, Eve didn't know. But she did know that this was a big-ass city, and most of its population never made it this far.

Every time a building fell beneath them, they could hear it. Eve had kept count - twelve. She and Brady had taken a peek outside, all those that fell were old, barely maintained towers. The newer, modern buildings still hung like giant pikes out of the earth.

Eve stopped at a wall, ran her fingers over an 'X' carved into the brickwork.

"We're walking in circles. Again." she sighed deeply. This was the third damn time this happened.

"How can you be so sure?" Brady retaliated sounding annoyed, "every tunnel looks like the last".

Eve stepped back, pointing to the etching in the dim light.

"Because I've marked it".

"Shit" Brady said simply but at the same time clearly frustrated. He slid down the back of the opposite wall and closed his eyes. It was early, and they had spent half the night trying to avoid a roaming group of thugs. Both of them wanted nothing more than to sleep.

"Third time, Brady".

"I know Eve" he said angrily through gritted teeth, eyes still closed.

About thirty seconds went by in silence, Eve passed the time inspecting her filth-covered nails.

"I'm sorry, I'm a bit snappy right now" he said opening his eyes, "do you know what level we're on?"

"Fourth, I think. Do you know how far out we are from the city centre?"

"I think we're over the suburbs" he replied.

How much longer of this? How much longer of walking around, searching basements, eating scraps and sleeping insecurely? Eve longed for a decent meal, something to fill her, actually put a genuine smile on her face. Total normality. How much longer would she have to wait for that? Would things ever be normal again?

"So...when do I find out more about you? You know what I used to do, but you never told me what you did before all this" Brady enquired. He was persistent, but Eve battled with herself on whether or not to tell him.

No harm in it...

Deciding to do it, she sat down too, on an old out-jutting rock. Resting her back against the wall, she felt one of the bricks rattle under her weight. She leaned forward, turning around, searched for that very brick. All the other bricks around it were loose also, barely held together. In fact, the very centre of the wall was hollow.

"What are you doing?" Brady asked, watching her pull away brick after brick.

"There's something behind here" she replied, throwing a brick to the ground as she did so.

"And what if the entire roof caves in?"

"It won't".

When she had tossed away the last block, a black hole about a meter in diameter lay before her. The sewer's green light bounced off something shiny inside. Eve knew what was in here, the militants she reluctantly fought in the Middle-East did this sort of thing all the time. A honey jar.

She pulled her flashlight out of her bag, made sure it still had power, and shone its beam into the dark crevice. There was multiple black bin bags, all holding something. The shine she had noticed previously came from a revealed piece of metal. Eve opened every bag with Brady looking curiously over her shoulder.

Guns. Bullets. Money. Drugs.

A gangster's secret stash.

But guns.

"Ohhhhh shit" Brady remarked, letting out a low whistle.

"I think we just found some protection" she whispered, more to herself than Brady.

Leaving the drugs and worthless money behind, they cleared the stash out and took inventory of what they had.

"An assault rifle, a 12-guage shotgun, three pistols, enough bullets for all five" Brady commented, eyebrows raised, "you know how to use one of these things?"

"Uhm..."

They heard a noise, a splash in one of the few remaining sewerage puddles - seconds away, if anything. Eve cursed herself for talking so loud. She grabbed one of the pistols, and fluently placed bullets into the clip just as a man came into view.

"Drop the gun, now!" he ordered, his scope-equipped assault rifle aimed directly at Eve's heart. She dropped the half-loaded gun to her feet with a noisy thump.

The man had short black hair that was greying along the sides. His pale chiselled features contrasted his black-as-night tactical vest. Eve knew that sort of vest anywhere.

Game on.

"Move away from the bag, I'll be taking them all" he commanded with a brisk voice.

Brady backed away instantly. Eve stood her ground.

"You're not just some thug or gun nut, are you?" she challenged, "judging by your black tac-gear, you're a cop. I'm guessing SWAT".

He smiled. Checkmate.

"That's a very keen eye you have there young lady, and judging by the service medal hanging out of your pocket, you're a decorated veteran".

Brady stared confusedly at her eyes, then the dangling medal, then her eyes again.

"Oh" he muttered.

"We're not a threat, Officer. Just two lost people looking for safety. Do you know somewhere where we might find that?" Eve asked, hoping beyond anything else that this man wasn't just a wandering survivor like them.

The cop thought it over, gun lowered slightly but eyes locked intently on Eve's.

"Yeah, I do. I know a place" he said finally, "but you'll be searched upon arrival. And your guns confiscated, understand?"

"Yes", Eve replied confidently.

Brady stepped forward, now that the danger had passed. He was covered in thick beads of sweat, unlike Eve whose face was bone dry.

"So...Officer, what's your name? And where are we headed?" he asked uncertainly.

The cop slung his rifle over his shoulder, a grin beginning to crawl along his mouth.

"My name is Officer Richard Hawkins, and we're heading to The Settlement".