Squeeze woke with a thumping headache. A faint light was coming from somewhere close by, but he couldn’t tell where. He was lying under a heap of dust and debris, deep under ground. He'd been dreaming again of the sea, but it was stronger this time, more vivid. The lights of the Mumbles were glowing in the distance across the water. In front of him was the coastal wall, 'protection' they called it, against rising sea water and global warming. Yeah, right.
In the low chamber were other figures, crouched and cramped in the gloom, cowering neat the flickering light. There were voices too that he could just make out over the pounding in his ears.
“Who’s there?” he mumbled, uncertain whether he’d even spoken. When an answer wasn’t forthcoming he opened his mouth again to speak but was saved the effort.
“Mike?”
“Nia? That you?”
“Yes.” Her voice sounded tiny and he wasn’t sure it was just the effect of the headache. He stumbled over to the light and dropped to a kneel next to her. She was sitting next to a small battery torch and hugging her knees. There was a nasty looking gash running down the side of her face.
“Are you okay?” He stammered. Images of their turbulent months meeting in the park flashed through his mind. Those embarrassing first moments together, the sweaty palms and erratic heartbeat.
She gave him a withering look that told him he needn’t have asked. “How long was I out for?” He asked, a little more sensibly.
“Minutes. Hours. Don’t know.”
“Who’s down here all together?”
Nia shrugged. She was holding Malady’s hand, who was sitting next to her, looking dazed and upset. Nia’s cloak was in tatters but nevertheless she was using it to keep them warm. Squeeze sat up and asked to borrow the light. Malady whimpered as he examined the crevices that led away from the partially collapsed chamber with the torch. “Nothing.” He muttered, more to himself than anyone else. Flicker was sitting close by cradling her head and twitching more than usual.
Everyone jumped at the sound of sliding rock but it was only the Elementals returning from their search. Beacon looked every bit the idiot Squeeze had assumed he was. Blonde, blue eyed and dressed in a Union Jack. Elixir was a darker horse, with lots of eye make-up and an unreadable expression. Squeeze wondered whether she was that pale normally.
“We could only find a long-ish tunnel that leads out somewhere,” Beacon announced, hands on hips like the picture-perfect boy scout, “Elixir managed to draw some water along it so we think it must go somewhere.”
“I’m going with you.” Squeeze said, feeling preemptively brave.
“And you are?” Beacon replied.
“Squeeze.”
Beacon considered him for a moment, sizing him up, and shrugged. What did he care? Elixir gave him a steady, dark appraisal and they both turned away to talk in silence.
"Mike – don't go," Nia said, her eyes darting furtively at the two Elementals. Squeeze looked over at Malady and Flicker, they weren't listening. Squeeze wondered whether they had a concussion.
“I can be useful. Watch.” Carefully, he began to extend his arm outwards. He was expecting his muscles to strain and stop listening after a metre, but it kept on going until it reached the far end of the cavern. "Wow. It's never gone that far before."
"I have that effect on people," Nia replied, blushing at how stupid it sounded, "I mean – that's my power, that's what I do. I'll shut up now." They laughed. The sharp, bright sound felt alien in the enclosed space.
"Be careful of those two," Nia whispered, nodding to Beacon and Elixir, "As far as they're concerned, if you aren't Hounds you’re criminals. If and when we get out they'll arrest you."
Squeeze nodded, "Why do you stay with them?"
"Where else could I go?" She blinked, "Besides, we do good. We save people's lives and protect the public. They aren't bad people. They're just snobs – they aren't bad." Squeeze nodded, thinking that she sounded like a propaganda poster.
"Take care of Malady," Squeeze changed the subject. "She absorbs illnesses and injuries. She's probably the one stopping the radiation from cooking us." Squeeze nodded and looked over at the other two. Flicker appeared to be getting worse, one second she was there and the next she was gone. It was getting faster and faster. Malady coughed – her skin was going green and jaundiced.
"Hurry." Nia muttered. Squeeze stood up and marched over to the two Elementals.
"We should go," he muttered. Beacon nodded and they began walking over the piles of rubble. Elixir shot a look back at Siren, but she was too busy taking care of the others to notice.
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2 comments:
Ooooh, very exciting! Having Omen dream it is a great way of mounting up the tension. I'm only JUST keeping up with who all the characters are now. I can do it, but many more and I think it'll get confusing. It's not too bad, though, as they're all doing different things etc. I love all your ideas for different powers, and I'm glad you haven't told us what Lotus does yet. Adds interest, and makes it clear that she is to be valued as a character in her own right too.
I don't really follow how they ended up where they are. I'm assuming this all happened when Mike was unconcious? I might go read back over that section again.
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