by David Meyer
Jenson didn’t know how he’d survived the battle. The last thing he remembered was seeing his friends bent over at the waist, their arms splayed to the side, their bodies riddled with holes.
After the war ended, he’d returned to his family. He’d gone back to work at Brooklyn Gas & Electric. And for weeks on end, he’d sat in a chair, hunched over a desk, checking transactions for eight hours a day. He’d tried to live a normal life. And it had worked.
At least for a little while.
Admittedly, he hadn’t tried that hard. What was the point? He wasn’t the same person, not anymore. So, how could he be expected to return to the same life? Sure, living with the other tunnel bums wasn’t exactly paradise. But at least they didn’t expect anything from him. At least they didn’t turn their noses up at him.
What was that?
Jenson cocked his head and listened for a second. He heard noises coming from the general direction of the subway car. An uneasy feeling arose inside him and he felt a small pinprick at the base of his skull.
Taking a deep breath, he clamped down on his emotions. Most likely, the subway car was one of the R36 MLs that had been caught in the inferno. That meant the noises probably came from subway workers. They were preparing to tow the car back to one of the yards for repairs. Yes, that explained everything.
Squinting, he saw two shadowy figures. They climbed through a gaping hole in the south wall and made their way to the subway car. They carried a massive bell-shaped object between them. It looked like it weighed a thousand pounds. And yet, they held it aloft with ease.
The two men reached the subway car. They disappeared into it and then reappeared a few seconds later, sans object.
As they walked back to the hole, Jenson felt a twinge of curiosity. Crouching down, he moved toward the center of the tracks.
But before he could get another look at the strange object, the men returned. This time, they carried a large burlap bag between them. Jenson stared at it for a moment.
Then the bag moved.
Panic filled Jenson’s chest. He didn’t understand the situation. But he’d seen enough. Too much, in fact. If the men spotted him, his life wouldn’t be worth a rusty rail spike.
Spinning around, he darted through the tunnel. Twin lights surged behind him, casting a bright glow on the walls. Cursing, he slipped to the side of the track, opposite the third rail, and put on a burst of speed.
The non-pedestrian track under his feet connected the 42nd Street Shuttle Line to the Lexington Avenue Line. Ordinarily, it allowed shuttles to be taken in and out of service. But now, it served another purpose.
It was his way out.
The ground trembled. Digging deep, he picked up the pace.
The lights grew brighter and brighter. Lurching forward, he ducked into the cross-tunnel. He plastered his back against a wall. His heart slammed against his chest.
The subway car slowed as it passed by him. Jenson couldn’t help but stare at it. Like its cargo, it was highly unusual. A rich coat of silver paint covered it, making a sharp contrast to the faded gray paintjobs that adorned most subway cars. And instead of graffiti scrawls, black lettering adorned the low alloy high tensile steel siding. Jenson mouthed the word in his head.
Omega.
The Omega slowed a bit more. Jenson pressed his back as hard as he could against the concrete. Someone had seen him. He was sure of it.
But with a mechanical groan, the car turned away from him. It passed into the opposite cross tunnel and pressed forward, heading south.
Relief swept over Jenson. He slid downward, his back scraping against the wall. His haunches came to a rest just above his worn shoes.
A high-pitched shriek reverberated through the tunnel, ping-ponging from wall to wall. Jenson glanced to the south and watched as the Omega slid to a stop. For a moment, it stood quietly in the semi-darkness. Then metal scraped against metal. Three shadows hopped out of the subway car’s side and ventured to the front.
“Running rails,” one of the figures announced. “How the hell …?”
Jenson squinted. Long metal slabs lay perpendicular across the tracks. He didn’t remember seeing them earlier.
Gunfire erupted. One of the shadows jerked backward. The other two retreated to the Omega.
Invisible knives sliced back into Jenson’s skull, sending waves of debilitating pain down his spine. He sank to the ground.
More shadows appeared out of the darkness. Swiftly, they swarmed the subway car, peppering it with gunfire.
The barrage ended almost as quickly as it started. And as the tunnel fell quiet, Jenson felt more screams barreling their way toward his throat. He shut his mouth and fought them back with all his strength.
Blackness reappeared at the corners of his vision, eating its way toward the center. Straining his eyes, he looked toward the Omega. Its rear door had come open during the gunfight and he could see the bell-shaped object looming before him. At last, he understood its secret.
And it scared the hell out of him.
Darkness swept across his eyes, consuming his sight. He felt himself falling into a deep abyss. And then he felt nothing.
Nothing but blackness.
About the Author
David Meyer is an adventurer and the international bestselling author of the Cy Reed Adventure series and the Apex Predator series. He’s been creating for as long as he can remember. As a kid, he made his own toys, invented games, and built elaborate cities with blocks and legos. Before long, he was planning out murder mysteries and trap-filled treasure quests for his family and friends.
These days, his lifelong interests—lost treasure, mysteries of history, monsters, conspiracies, forgotten lands, exploration, and archaeology—fuel his personal adventures. Whether hunting for pirate treasure or exploring ancient ruins, he loves seeking out answers to the unknown. Over the years, Meyer has consulted on a variety of television shows. Most recently, he made an appearance on H2’s #1 hit original series, America Unearthed.
Meyer lives in New Hampshire with his wife and son. For more information about him, his adventures, and his stories, please see the links below.
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Books by David Meyer
Cy Reed Adventure Series
CHAOS
ICE STORM
TORRENT
VAPOR
Apex Predator Series
BEHEMOTH