Bad Premonition

Domingo returned to me with a tone that was like that of an artist lost in thought who is now returning to the world around them.

"Let's get out of here now while we've got the chance." Domingo said.

"You've got it." I said.

Domingo tugged at the rope two times, and we dashed. I went slow enough to feel the tug of the rope and the direction it went towards.

The wind whistled by as we ran through. The heat from the fire kissed my body farewell as it grew further and further away. The smell of the undead crockpot was not as easy to say goodbye. The smell was lingering around, like that of a party member who remained when the music died and the decorations were packed.

"I feel strange. They're still burning. I can feel it. Only a little." I thought.

The feeling of a warm torch kissing one place of my body and traveling to the next. I can feel it. It's satisfying but hurtful. The pain of the undead is lingering.

"A few more miles and we'll be at the tunnel entrance." Domingo said.

With enough tension on the rope to feel the tug of direction I followed Domingo.

"Here- Stop here-" Domingo said.

The sense of smell that filled the air and followed us for a few miles slowly ran the other direction. The warm touch of fire that swelled from one body part to the other also left. The pain was gone.

The atmosphere was warm. It was hot and the sun played a large presence on what I feel now.

"I'm going to open the hatch. Keep following me and we can make it through here in a matter of an hour or two." Domingo said.

Domingo walked a few steps and caused the rope between us to strengthen with tension. I felt the rope lower as I heard him rummage towards the floor and grind metal to metal.

"Is it a latch or a combination lock, Domingo"?

"Huh- it's a combination lock." Domingo said.

He came close to release the tension on the rope and gave it a sharp tug. It was time to walk the metro system towards the settlement.

"We usually have good security and people running around here trying to trade. Things have really changed when the other settlements declared war. That being said, we're gonna walk slowly and be on alert. If you hear something say something. Only a few parties have been in and out but the other settlements might have hit us where it hurts." He said.

"I've got your back if you've got mine. Just tell me when we're safe." I said.

"We won't be. Not until we get to the other side. But, right now I'd expect we have a lot less worries here than we do out there."

"Uh- that doesn't sit well with me Domingo. Those are strong words." I said.

Domingo walked forward and kept the pace we had while we were running, just enough for me to feel the direction he went and not bump into him.

The tunnels were cold and the air was stagnant. The sweat that stained my collar was freezing my chest. Inside the tunnels was the smell of rotten food and again the smell of something that was burnt.

Domingo kept his mouth shut and I kept my ears open.

I heard the tension of the rope between us strengthen and loosen up again and again. There was whispers of squeaks that was either large objects setting into place or the sounds of rats.

"How much further now, Domingo?" I whispered.

"One more turn and its straight ahead. Don't worry too much." Domingo replied.

I'm excited because the first city or remnants of what a common city might be of today is only a few more steps away.

"Don't leave me right away. I don't do too good with strangers." I said.

"You say that but here we are." Domingo said.

He's not wrong. The both of us only met a day ago. Here we are now. We speak if we've become good friends that can depend on each other.

"Domingo, I hear something. It's louder than the regular sounds I've heard."

"Are you sure?" Domingo said.

"Yeah-"

The air in the tunnel was stagnant before, but now there was a slight breeze. The smell was also rotten and rancid with the aroma of something burnt.

The regular off beat squeaks that sounded far away are scattering and running further out of hearing.

"It smells as if something is burning now." I said.

"Tuesday, no matter what- do not let go of this rope." He said.

It sounded like he had the idea of what was going to happen and wanted me to brace myself.

The tunnel was now alive and it was angry.

The breeze turned to harsh wind and the sounds of squeaks turned into bangs.

"Shit! They're attacking!" Domingo said.

"Who-" I tried to say.

The nearby wall pushed us towards the other side and we banged our bodies towards the tunnel. The floor beneath us began to crack before we could stand up again.

"Get ready Tuesday!"

The floor was becoming more sensitive to be on and ran cracks through my fingertips. Where we sat gave out but I didn't experience anything at that moment. I only heard the floor crumble away and finally give up.

The ropes tension grew and pulled me towards the sound of the broken floor.

"Tuesday, we're going to fall!" Domingo yelled.

The rope jerked my body at that moment. It took me by full force, as if my body was the weight of a feather that can be dragged by the wind. I was dragged down the hole following the rope that was tied to the belt loop of my pants.

I wanted to scream but this wasn't a time for theater. The undead could have followed us wherever the echoes of our screams were.