Machia Veil Timeline

11 pm, August 24th – Club 7 vaults, Suffox Place, Londoom

“This way!” Nate and Kenya descended the spiral staircase leading to the Mirror.

When they arrived, Nate glanced around when Kenya led him to the end of the hall. They headed down four flights of stairs. Then onto the labyrinth stairway he discovered some days ago.

Nate felt vertigo as he observed the warped kaleidoscope set of stairwells.

“Crikey. Here we are,” said Kenya. “It’s like a labyrinth!”

Nate’s eyes lifted to the ceiling, then around the walls. “There are telltale signs of hidden rooms we could use for safety.”

“I didn’t see any,” said Kenya.

“They are everywhere. Secret rooms with secret doors.”

Nate searched the walls, squinting to find the faintest hint of a line.

“Here!” he pushed a door in, and it clicked open. “Ace!”

The door led them through another corridor. This time, an old stone staircase with corrugated iron.

The stairs also led to the roof.

“Let’s go down the stairs,” said Nate.

Two floors below, there were no exit doors, so they continued until they reached a vault. They almost fell into a black pit.

“This is only leading to the cellar,” said Kenya.

“I didn’t know it went so deep,” said Nate.

“I’m sure the kitchen is a few floors up. Let’s go back up.”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“It’s too dangerous. They’ll be after me by now.” Nate scanned his surroundings, expecting to hear footsteps. “Through here!” he said, leading Kenya through a dark passage. “There has to be a switch somewhere.”

There were only humid stone walls and old cobbled stone slabs.

“I can’t breathe!” Kenya covered her nose. There was an overpowering smell of urine and faeces. “We should turn back!”

“If we do, they will kill you and put me in a coma.”

She switched her attitude. “I see. Let’s do this!”

He tore his short sleeves. “Here, cover your mouth and nose with this. It will help,” he said, protecting himself as well.

They clasped hands and headed down the long hall.

“No one will come down here,” said Nate.

***

Further alcoves and passageways opened off their main path. Water dripped from the tunnel roof and the puddles on the floor soaked their shoes.

“My eyes sting!” said Kenya.

“Yes, mine too. Where are we?”

“A switch!” said Kenya, feeling it with both hands.

“Wait, wait! I don’t like this. The smells. You close your eyes and let me look first,” said Nate.

“Okay, okay, here’s the switch,” said Kenya, leading Nate’s hands to the switch as she closed her eyes.

Nate embraced her, and she buried her head in his chest.

A lone lightbulb lit up under a cracked lamp, Nate’s breathing stopped. Kenya squeezed him tighter.

***

Corpses and skulls were everywhere, accompanied by the scurrying of pests. Beside it was an oven filled with black soot. A crematory.

“What is it?” Kenya’s voice quavered.

“It’s not g-good,” said Nate. There was an exit. But they had to push past the corpses. He approached the next door and Kenya released a muffled, icy scream.

“Shh! They will hear us!” said Nate.

Inspecting the next room, they forged ahead through a tunnel and arrived at a sewer. Kenya retched.

There were footsteps echoing off the walls.

They hurried and reached a narrow hole, sliding through squelching and foul-smelling mud. Kenya wanted to cough, and Nate covered her mouth, reminding her to hold it in. She nodded; their eyes locked in anguish.

They reached a set of iron gates. Nate shook the iron wrought bars, searching for a way out.

No! There were scuffling and footsteps getting closer. Nate’s head throbbed. Resigned, he put his hands to his head and slid down the wall.

“It’s over,” he whispered. “It’s over, can’t be.”

They surrendered.

Nate’s face was bright red. He shut his eyes, wanting to scream.

***

Nate and Kenya hugged. Their hearts were heavy with dread. This might be goodbye.

Whoever followed them they were now in the sewer. The swirling water grew louder. His doom getting closer.

A lone figure appeared.

“Nate, are you there? It’s Clarice. I want to help you.”

Nate motioned for Kenya to stay hushed. The light of a flashlight aimed at every angle of the room. Until it reached them.