Chapter 14

They tread carefully down a rocky incline towards the concrete face built into the canyon’s wall. There, they found a narrow walkway along the canyon’s edge that connected to the entrance of the spillway. The walkway had no handrails. The mighty river surged below like a great white serpent.

After a series of nerve-wracking steps, the party found themselves at the mouth of the underground waterway. A sizable current emptied from it into the river below. The walkway turned and continued into the tunnel along the edge of the water. The passage fell into total darkness a short way in. Sour air issued forth from its depths. Moja entered first, donning her own pair of Night-Eyes. Lena followed. Jazun brought up the rear.

Moja turned to Lena at the threshold. “Do not speak unless completely necessary,” she warned. “We need to remain hidden. These tunnels will not forgive trespassers.”

Lena nodded.

Warm air rushed to greet them as they passed into the portal. Their footsteps echoed along with the sounds of water. The inside stank, but they acclimated as they continued further inwards. Their glasses allowed them to see that the tunnel stretched beyond sight, straight as an arrow. Overlaid graffiti adorned the walls, but thinned out as they ventured deeper.

The sound of water grew louder as they walked. They came to their first junction ten minutes in. Two streams collided, feeding into the one they had followed in. Moja led them right, stepping across a metal grate that spanned the water. Lena looked back down the tunnel from whence they came. She could barely discern the faintest pinpoint of light, even with the Night-Eye’s aid. She took a deep breath and followed.

They followed Moja, turning ever so often. She seemed confident in their direction, but began consulting Jazun at each junction the further they ventured. The duo referenced a paper map that displayed the city. A drawing had been made that estimated the tunnel’s layout underneath the city. Only the correct path had been completed. The branching tunnels faded to nothing. If they were to make a wrong turn, they would certainly become lost in the labyrinth.

The ceiling remained low as they walked. The walls were cracked in areas, exposing dirt underneath. Large pipes poked through in some spots, spewing their contents into the storm drain. Their path showed no signs of previous foot traffic.

Down a particularly long tunnel, Lena thought she heard a chorus of incoherent voices. It was so far off she questioned whether it was her imagination straining to become real. She still noted no sign of human presence. The hairs on her arms stiffened.

The group paused at another T intersection. Moja and Jazun debated on which way they should follow the river. Jazun suggested that they were too far east, and that they should head more south. Moja was unsure of this. She pointed out that either way they took would lead them to an exit.

As Moja spoke, Lena saw something floating towards them in the water. It was at the edge of her vision, barely holding its shape as it emerged from the shadows in the distance. She nudged Moja’s arm, pointing towards the object. Moja glanced at Jazun, but he too was locked on the mysterious lump. The water carried it slowly, heavy and waterlogged. Closer it came, bouncing off of the drain wall with the current.

Lena stared into the water as it passed directly in front of them. Floating lifelessly, the rotted shell of an unrecognizable corpse came into view. It faced downwards, hiding its terrible face beneath the black water. Lena turned her head away from the putrid smell. Jazun watched it float past.

He ushered them forward. They continued up the long hall, following the path from where the corpse had come. In this tunnel, the dull odor had grown into an unescapable stench.

Moja stopped in her tracks. Lena nearly bumped into her. She held up her arm in a right angle, signaling with an enclosed fist. The susurrus of voices returned when Lena paused to listen. Lena’s heartbeat quickened. Moja crouched and ushered Lena and Jazun to do the same. Moja moved forward in silence. Lena took a step to follow, but Jazun grabbed her by the shoulder.

Lena could see it. A crumpled heap in the walkway far ahead of them. From this far back, Lena could not tell exactly what it was. Moja approached, keeping her movements slow and silent.

Moja was directly on top of the mysterious mass when she looked back to Lena and Jazun, motioning them to move forward. It was a discarded mattress. Dirty blankets, fast food wrappers, and empty bottles of all sizes were strewn about it.