The Good Samaritan - Chapter 1
"You sure you don't want to come along?" asked Marc Walters from the narrow ledge above Scott. On his hands and knees, Marc worked to pull bricks from the old decaying mortar keeping them in place. He had already removed more than a dozen blocks and the small hole created started letting in a cold draft. The tunnel soon began to drop in temperature, causing Scott to fumble with his flashlight as he shivered in the chilled air.
"Nah, you've already got enough people going. No point in making a bigger target out there," replied Scott as he pulled his threadbare jacket closer.
Marc stopped pulling on a crumbling brick and fixed Scott with a hard stare. "Scott, you are the one that convinced me a larger group would actually blend in better with the Souls than just two or three of us. Did you change your mind?"
"No…No…" stammered Scott. "As long as the entire group is calm, smiling, and wears the contacts I'm sure you'll blend right in."
Marc didn't look entirely convinced and grimaced. "So far only you and I have done the Soul disguise act up above. It would help if you came along."
Scott sighed irritably. "Fine, if you need me, I'll go."
Marc's frown did not leave his face, but he went back to his work at widening the gap by removing the last of the bricks. The beam of Scott's flashlight penetrated beyond the tunnel into the room above the two men. Grimy old gray walls were dimly illuminated. Giving a hard yank, the last chunk of masonry pulled free and Marc peered inside. Examining the murky space, Marc abruptly motioned Scott to cut the light. With a quick snap of the flashlight's off switch, Scott brought complete darkness to the tunnel.
Giving their eyes time to readjust to the dark, both men waited patiently in the inky blackness. In less than a minute the faintest of lights filtered in from a grate taking up part of the room's ceiling. In the pale light, Marc slowly pulled himself through the opening. After making sure his friend was through, Scott hopped up on the ledge and followed after him.
The newly entered room was hardly more than a crawl space and both men had to hunch low to the ground to fit. The source of the cold air came from the grate overhead. What was the ceiling for Scott and Marc was the floor for the refrigerated storage room above. While Marc was examining the grille, a loud clunk came from the upper room.
Overhead the sounds of a large door opening, closing, and then heavy footsteps were heard. Almost instantly, both men pulled back into the shadows of the of the crawl space. Seen through the grate a man moved into view. Scott could make out a short man wearing an apron picking up a box of apples. He started to leave when the large door to the freezer once again opened. The man stopped, right on top the grill. Scott held his breath.
"Dark Night Crier, could you bring an extra case of milk? We are nearly out in the store," came a woman's voice mixed in with sounds of a busy store outside the chilly storage room.
"Yes, not a problem," replied Dark Night Crier. The small man carefully picked up a crate of milk cartons. Both Marc and Scott watched the squat Soul carry the large load out of the refrigerated room. If he had bothered to look down, Dark Night Crier would have seen the two humans watching him. But he had no reason to suspect Humans were lurking in the tunnels beneath the store and didn't pay the vent any attention.
As the Soul exited the room, Scott relaxed and let out his held breath. In the dim light Scott could see Marc's grin. "A little too close," he whispered, "thought they would be closing down for the day, but sounds like they are planning on staying open late."
Scott silently listened, he thought he could just make out a sound he had not heard in a long time. Marc touched him lightly on his arm and Scott shook himself. "Come on, it's time we were heading back," said Marc.
"Right," answered Scott and followed Marc back into the tunnel below. Both men worked at placing a 'plug' into the hole. The 'plug' was made to look like the old bricks of the wall and fit in perfectly to the recently created hole. Now it would be a simple matter to remove it and enter the store whenever the Humans wanted.
"Well," said Marc as he switched on his flashlight again, "in a few days we'll come back with Dell and Eric. Dell can help us with moving supplies. And Eric can do his computer wizardry on the store's inventory and the Souls will be none the wiser." Scott had to admit the plan was a good one and if they were careful, it would be an excellent food source for their little community.
As they walked along in the tunnel, Marc returned to his original question to Scott, "Do you not want to go? Is it because of Auntie?"
"Oh…No," said Scott hurriedly, "It's nothing to do with Autumn Gusting Wind, she's great. I don't mind her, even if she is a Soul."
Puzzled Marc asked his friend, "What is it then?"
They both continued in silence and then Scott spoke up, "You know, back at the store I think they were playing Jingle Bells."
Marc considered, "Well it is the right season for the song."
"Just wouldn't expect the Souls to play Christmas music," replied Scott. "They usual go for such dull stuff."
In the gloom, Scott saw Marc shrug. "They like happy fluffy songs, doesn't get much better than Jingle Bells."
"By the people who think elevator music is edgy," snapped Scott sarcastically.
Marc stopped short in the tunnel and he spun around on Scott. "Seriously Scott, what's going on?"
Scott sighed heavily and leaned back against the worn wall of the tunnel. "You know…it's Christmas time. Can't help but think about family…about loss…" he trailed off and looked away. Every one of the Humans who lived in the tunnels beneath Chicago had lost friends and family to the invasion by the Souls. A time like Christmas, once a time of joy, could easily become a painful reminder of what had been lost.
Marc was trying to think of some words of comfort, but Scott continued, "I mean you've got Auntie, she's as close to family as you've got. I get why you want to see her. If I go…it will just be a reminder of…mine."
"Scott…really I'm sorry," said Marc apologetically. "I didn't mean to rub your face in it."
Scott held his hands up, "No, you didn't do that. It's fine, I'll go with you out to Autumn's house."
But Marc shook his head. "No worries," he replied. "I'll have Sister Mary-Margret with me. She can keep us safe. Dell's doing dinner for the rest of us. Stay here. Try to have a good time."
They continued on into the tunnels, going deeper and deeper, into their refuge from the millions of Souls above. As they walked along Scott suddenly laughed out loud. Marc glanced over at Scott to see him smiling.
"What's so funny?" asked Marc.
Scott replied, still laughing, "Just realizing you are going to have Sister Mary-Margret and Autumn Gusting Wind together for dinner. A Nun and a Soul, that ought to make for an unusual dinner."
Marc just sighed, "Yeah, don't remind me."