The Unnaturals Prequel - Cataclysm
The nearness of the fire storm and the lack of oxygen makes the closet option the best one. You can see the opening of the stairs that lead underground. The group scatters in different directions, and you join the stampede of hundreds of people heading for the staircase.
Panic overrides your mind, made worse by the fact that potential salvation is just in front of you. But so many other people seem to be suffering from the same feeling. The group bunches in front of you, swelling around the opening as people scream and shove to get inside. The crowd is tearing itself apart, as some fall under the press of bodies. Noone stops to help them up. Within moments, those who fell have been trampled unconcious, or worse.
You steel yourself and push through the crowd. Finally you reach the top of the steps. Below you, above the heads of the scrambling people, you see cool darkness. The electricity in the tunnels must have been cut off.
You desperately try to keep your feet as you make your way down the steps. Behind you, you can hear the howling of the storm as it approaches and the screaming of those who have not made it inside yet. You know it cannot be long before it reaches you.
Finally, you make it down the several flights of stairs and look around the darkened platform. It does feel cooler down here. It is extremely difficult to see which direction you should go, not only because it is pitch black but the crying and pushing of the people is impairing your focus. You look at where you know the tracks should be and push your way towards them.
Suddenly, before you can catch yourself, you slip off of the platform and land hard on the gravel and metal of the rails. It bruises your legs and back but you know you only have mere seconds to regain your feet or you will be crushed by the others falling after you. With a heave, you manage to get back to your feet. You glance back at the only source of light: the entrance to the tunnel.
Orange sunlight is cascading down, interrupted in spurts by the shadows of the people. The howling outside is ferociously loud and you realize you can no longer hear the people screaming. Some of the last people cramming into the darkness show scorch marks on their skin and the glazed eyes of someone in shock.
Then, as you watch, fire begins blasting down the stairs, all but incinerating those at the bottom who cannot get away. Their flesh melts off of them right before your eyes. The screaming is not coming from their throats but from the many who are being forced to watch.
Even more terrifying, underneath of the bursts of flame you see a red hot liquid substance oozing down the steps. Whether it is concrete or asphalt, you can't be sure but it will certainly burn you as quickly as the fire itself would.
You cannot make it back up the steps. You can't stay in your current position on the tracks. You only have one option: Race through the darkened tunnels.
Panic overrides your mind, made worse by the fact that potential salvation is just in front of you. But so many other people seem to be suffering from the same feeling. The group bunches in front of you, swelling around the opening as people scream and shove to get inside. The crowd is tearing itself apart, as some fall under the press of bodies. Noone stops to help them up. Within moments, those who fell have been trampled unconcious, or worse.
You steel yourself and push through the crowd. Finally you reach the top of the steps. Below you, above the heads of the scrambling people, you see cool darkness. The electricity in the tunnels must have been cut off.
You desperately try to keep your feet as you make your way down the steps. Behind you, you can hear the howling of the storm as it approaches and the screaming of those who have not made it inside yet. You know it cannot be long before it reaches you.
Finally, you make it down the several flights of stairs and look around the darkened platform. It does feel cooler down here. It is extremely difficult to see which direction you should go, not only because it is pitch black but the crying and pushing of the people is impairing your focus. You look at where you know the tracks should be and push your way towards them.
Suddenly, before you can catch yourself, you slip off of the platform and land hard on the gravel and metal of the rails. It bruises your legs and back but you know you only have mere seconds to regain your feet or you will be crushed by the others falling after you. With a heave, you manage to get back to your feet. You glance back at the only source of light: the entrance to the tunnel.
Orange sunlight is cascading down, interrupted in spurts by the shadows of the people. The howling outside is ferociously loud and you realize you can no longer hear the people screaming. Some of the last people cramming into the darkness show scorch marks on their skin and the glazed eyes of someone in shock.
Then, as you watch, fire begins blasting down the stairs, all but incinerating those at the bottom who cannot get away. Their flesh melts off of them right before your eyes. The screaming is not coming from their throats but from the many who are being forced to watch.
Even more terrifying, underneath of the bursts of flame you see a red hot liquid substance oozing down the steps. Whether it is concrete or asphalt, you can't be sure but it will certainly burn you as quickly as the fire itself would.
You cannot make it back up the steps. You can't stay in your current position on the tracks. You only have one option: Race through the darkened tunnels.