Awakening

by Hayden Pearton

  *

  Maloch quickly led them out of the alleyway and into a side road. Behind them, the hospital gave off a death wail, as another large section fell away amid a cloud of dust and smoke. The scene was repeating itself all across the city, as skyscrapers became groundscrapers and businesses closed down forever. Soon a thick cloud of debris had settled over the dying city, obscuring the scenes of devastation and leaving only the sounds of destruction.

  Throwing caution to the dust-laden wind, they ran through the broken streets at full speed. Maloch ran in front, leading them through decomposing parks and residential districts at a blurring pace. Overhead, the afternoon sun drenched the city in tones of red and violet, further hampering visibility.

  At that moment, Barsch could not decide if it would be better or worse to know just how much time remained. If he knew, perhaps he could coax his exhausted body to go just a little bit faster. If he did not, then at least he would be vaporised without warning, and spared the associated pain and despair of knowing that his life was about to end.

  Several agonising minutes after they left the hospital, a siren began to wail. It was the final countdown, left behind by the departed re-mech for the ghosts to hear. Ahead, the streets had become cluttered with rubble, and progress was measured in inches. It was as if the city was enraged by their attempts to leave, and so was doing everything it could to stop them.

  But the vengeful city could not compete with Maloch’s encyclopaedic knowledge, and he led them through shortcuts and by-ways without ever slowing or showing hesitation. When he did finally come to a rest, it was because they had reached their destination. It was a simple thing, a thick, steel door located in a nondescript dead-end, with the words, “KEEP OUT!” cut into the metal. It had been designed to be ignored by the panicking common masses, and only the dignitaries and city leaders would know if for what it was: an escape route.

  As they approached, Barsch saw that there was a small computer console beside the door, and worried that hacking it would take more time than they had. But Maloch appeared to understand this, and ignored it, choosing to instead focus on bringing his full might against the reinforced door. Again displaying a level of power Barsch would normally associate with a tank, the re-mech quickly reduced the door to a pile of scrap metal.

  Past the vaporised door was a stairwell lit by several orange and red spheres attached to the metal bannisters, which made the entire structure look like a path to the underworld. But time was running down, and Barsch thought it counter-productive to point this out. Mercifully, the incessant wail of the siren was brought down to a barely perceptible whine by the thick concrete walls.

  Another small mercy was Kingston returning to consciousness as they descended the tall stairwell. The old man was not yet in any condition to talk, but it brought Barsch no small measure of relief to see his friend awake and semi-alert.