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Sonnet: The Nightmare. CH. 1: The Burning City
It was two months ago when the grand city of Runermos mysteriously went up in flames. No one could explain the phenomenon. The government could not explain anything, so the press made up stories and rumors that everyone seemed to believe . There was no clear explanation why a city, that was mostly in the ground, would suddenly burn up. One month ago the government finally started to recruit people to a “Special Task Force” to extinguish the remaining flames in the city. Dozens flocked to join. Little did they know that something was brewing in the undergrounds of the city.
Azrei looked around and saw nothing but burnt buildings, remains of cars, bikes, and telephone poles. occasionally blackened bones were spotted on the ground. lights still on inside some houses and peoples luggage laying on the floor was proof that this happened in mere hours. For unclear reasons the great city of Runermos lay in smoldering ruins.
"how did this happen?" he thought out loud kneeling down to inspect a small ash covered doll and small bones beside it. "i heard some arsonist did it. Some chain reactions in fuel tanks and a lot of home-made bombs caused this." A dark-haired man by the name of Kain said walking up to him.
"Ric, is the stuff set up?" Kain called to his friend. "yeah, elevators working and we're locked and loaded!" Ric said with enthusiasm. "Alright, lets get a move on then." sighed Azrei as he stood up.
"you sure we're up for this?" questioned Azrei as he walked into a small elevator like chamber.
"we're just extinguishing fire, how hard could it be?" replied Kain as he also walks into it followed by Ric. "I'm just thinking, what if something caves in and we get trapped?" "no one will be able to hears us if something happens" Azrei said a little worried. "well, I'm sure nothing bad is going to happen, lets just do this and get out as soon as possible" added Ric. as the elevator starts to move at a slow pace all start to feel somewhat ill at ease if not already. the eerie red light leading the way didn't help the situation either. suddenly, a mysterious voice starts to sing softly " and when the darkness falls, please do not fear...". it's so soft it's barely heard .
"did you hear that, guys?" Azrei whispered quickly. "
"hear what?" said Ric. "hmm, maybe it was the elevator" replied Kain.
"i heard a girls voice singing!" Azrei answered back to Kain and Ric. suddenly the elevator stopped. "we can't already be at the first level!" exclaimed Kain. "i wonder if that girl i heard is doing this..." questioned Azrei. "dude, i think your going crazy, there can't possibly be anyone alive in this place. Well, besides us and the rest of the task force" assured Ric. "look i definitely heard someones voice!" said Azrei, still defending his claim.
“calm down. Like Ric said: there can't possibly be anyone alive in this place” Kain said to Azrei
"Heh, You're probably just horny, we haven't seen a girl in days since we left home to get to this place" Ric said jokingly. "whatever, as long as i know I'm right, i don't care if either of you don't believe me." said Azrei as he peered through the bar like door of the elevator. "fine, if your sure someone is here, we can look for her. the higher levels is not as on fire as the lower levels, she has to be on this level if you heard her." Kain said trying to keep Azrei calm.
"because I'll always be here for you my dear." the voice sang once more.
"okay, i definitely heard that!" exclaimed Kain. "I told you i heard someone!" replied Azrei. "are both of you going crazy?" questioned Ric. "look, both of us heard someone and we're not going to disregard it, so if you don't believe us you can listen for yourself!" Azrei replied to Ric irritated.
"whatever the case is down there, it sure is giving a creepy vibe" said Kain to the others. "ya know what i just realized?" began Ric "if theirs spos' to be five of us, where are the other two?" "they'll be arriving late due to weather conditions" replied Kain. finally the elevator started moving to the level they needed to be in. "Geez, they need to fix this elevator..." Azrei said under his breath
finally the elevator stopped at the first level and the trio walk out in almost quickened pace. "where should we start looking for the girl?" asked Azrei.
"ugh, enough with the girl, we have a job to do" Ric said in an irritated voice. "sorry Az, but we have a job to do before we can go looking for someone who might be dead by now" Kain said solemnly. "but..." Azrei said trying to convince him. "we have a job to do! In the best but unlikely case: she might no longer be in the area. Besides, it's to dangerous to waste time on someone who might be dead in a place like this" Kain replied coldly.
"...fine, lets just get this section clear for today" grumbled Azrei. "good, lets get to business!" Ric said relieved and he unlatched his S.T.E. (special task extinguisher)
While they extinguished flame after flame, Azrei made sure to keep an eye out for the person who was singing despite the unlikely possibilities of someone still alive in the wreckage.
As Azrei kicked aside rubble and continued putting out fire he notices a small shadow behind a nearly broken down door. "what the..." Azrei says under his breath as he slowly and silently walks towards it. but before he can get to the door, the shadow disappears quickly. "i can't be imagining things...' Azrei says reasons with himself. Crackling flames call to Azrei and he is forced to continue his extinguishing mission.
A few hours pass and no other shadow is sighted and no song has been sung.
"i know i heard someone sing, dammit..." Azrei mutters to himself as he puts out a still burning table."Yo, Az, we're done with this section, lets go back up and get some rest!" hollers Ric. "be right there." Azrei replies. "something is definitely down here..." he thinks out loud not noticing Ric is still near him."don't tell us you heard something again..."Ric complains. "I'll tell ya what happen at dinner." Azrei says as he walks past Ric.
"Geez, can't this guy give it a rest?" Ric says under his breath as he turns around. As Ric follows Azrei to the elevator, he spots a shadow through a burnt hall way. "aw, s**t...now he's got me seeing things" he complains. While the elevator began to go up, Ric and Azrei notice a few shadows appear and disappear, but neither say anything.
Later, all three enter a large tent on the outskirts of the city and sit on the floor around a small low lying table where food has been heated and left for them to eat. "looks like the chefs decided to just leave the stuff here and not cook it fresh for us." Kain said with a look of irritation on his face. " they're prolly running behind on their rounds." Ric said attempting to back them up. "at least the food is still warm" Azrei said with relief.
As they were eating, Ric decided to ask about what happen in section one. "well, i didn't hear something this time if that's what your asking." Azrei replied to Ric. "well then...what DID happen?" questioned Ric. "he probably saw something." Kain said trying to joke a little. "as a matter-a-fact, i did see something." Azrei said with a smirk. "please tell me your joking.." Kain said in a concerned voice and a frown. "i saw a shadow behind a broken door" said Azrei. "but when i went to inspect it, it disappeared." he continued.
"was it human shaped?" Asked Ric in a serious voice.
"yeah, I guess...why?' asked Azrei. "well...cuz' i saw a human shaped shadow through a hallway when we were leaving." admitted Ric. "what!?" Azrei said in surprise."god, i hope we're all just going a little insane..."Kain moaned. "i also noticed shadows when the elevator was starting to go up..." Ric added to his story. "you too?" Azrei asked in surprise. "huh?...you mean you saw them too?" asked Ric. "please, just finish eating...if you two want to search the place, do it tomorrow." Kain said as he got up and went to another tent to sleep in.
That night, no one was able to rest easy. Howling winds and the pitch black night made the three nerves and awake most of the night. Thoughts of the shadows ran through both Ric's and Azrei's minds. The next day was fast approaching and the burnt cities secrets were waiting to be revealed
~End Chapter 1: The Burning City~
Project ~Sonnet~
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