Arny sat boredly in his chair as he flicked through the channels on the TV.
Click! 'To start, press any key. Where's the "Any" Key?' "Seen it."
Click! 'The City of Townsville.' "Seen it."
Click! 'I'm sheriff John Bunnell.' "Seen it."
Click! 'Ah ain't gettin' on no plane Hannibal!' "Seen it."
Click! the next channel showed a paused video feed. "Hey I ain't seen this, must be time to start the next chapter, so lets get right back to it!" He quickly hits 'Play' on the remote.
THE DISPATCH
Part 8: Tunnels Of The Damned
(MSP) Haunting Atmospheric Soundscape - Nothing in here is quite how it seems
Beast Boy trundled down another darkened tunnel, this one looked more like a traditional sewer system. Large puddles of water would appear frequently across the concret floor, a row of overhead pipes on each side were constantly rattling, and a... suspicious whistling just somewhere of in the distance.
Remaining on full alert he clutched his left shoulder where the bo-staff had torn through his spandex. The cut wasn't deep but it had drawn some blood. He whimpered softly, hoping it wouldn't get infected as he was practically surrounded by bacteria. As he explored further into the underground he would now and then come across various markings on the walls. They consisted of large 'X's sprayed in orange paint. Beast Boy remembered the letter from earlier, something about Oliver having to mark the locations of casualtys... was this evidence that he was going to encounter more undead victums? Deciding he didn't want to know, he soldiered on.
A few echoing steps further on he was drawn to a piece of paper stuck to the wall. "Hmm...?" He took hold of it, finding it to be a message written in blue felt tip, it was from a man named 'Phil.'
Hank, I'm not sure whats going on, all I'm getting is static on the radio...
And you said we'd never need theses notepads HA!
"Must'a been one of the workers." He said allowed. Discarding the letter aside he moved forward, turning a corner he came across another piece of paper stuck to the wall:
Dammit, Hank. Tell me again why we didn't bring ACTUAL flashlights down here? These shitty glowsticks wont last long.
-Phil
Glowsticks? that's all they were using for guidance down here? Beast Boy bit his lip, wondering if it was safe to stay in one place for very long. The distant whistling kept him on edge. It was a low key whistle but his sensitive ears were easily picking it up in even intervals. He couldn't tell if was a breeze or human for that matter. Heaving a sigh he continued exploring, that was until he spotted a third note on the other wall. This one was different, as it was written in black felt tip and in all higher case letters.
PHIL, IF YOU SEE THIS, MY RADIO IS BUSTED-
HEADING BACK TO THE ACCESS LADDER TO GRAB A REPLACEMENT.
-HANK
"Hank...?" Beast Boy mumbled, realizing this to be a message from the other worker that Phil had been leaving notes for. Putting the letter down, he continued onward. The tunnel then came to a crossroad section. Staying close to the left wall, Beast Boy edged cautiously towards it, holding his lighter out above him. Reaching the destination, he peaked his head into the opening and glanced both ways. Each passage was just as dark and foreboding as the other. He stood stock-still for a moment, listening out for any signs of danger. The whistle now seemed to be coming from the passage to his right. Unsure of whether it would lead to something bad he decided to keep going forward. How many tunnels were in this sewer? they must all lead somewhere, but... Beast Boy got his answer and was torn from his thoughts. The path ended at a large open room.
(MSP)
The sound of functioning machinery filling his ears as two big pipes with enormous valves on then came into sight. Entering the room he was greeted to several pod-shaped machines and rows of pipes that ran up from the ground and along the ceiling. "Some kinda underground pumping station?" He guessed, looking over the ancient technology. His eyes then spotted another note stuck to one of the metal pods:
DAMMIT, AT THE LADDER AGAIN, BUT FORGOT THE KEYS TO THE ACCESS GATE... AND I'M ON MY LAST GLOWSTICK. THERE'S NO WAY I'LL BE ABLE TO FIND THEM WITHOUT THE EXTRA LIGHT.
-HANK
Beast Boy looked around the room, finding it to be square shaped with only one entrance. His foot hit something which rolled across the floor with the sound of plastic. Gripping his lighter in one hand he knelt down and examined it. A long cylinder shaped tube lay before him. It was a Glowstick. Licking his lips, Beast Boy picked it up and shook it a few times. A bright beam of green light pierced through the darkness, momentarily dazzling him. He blinked several times and aimed it away from his face. The light was still good enough to be used. "Wonder why you were left behind here?" The green teen mumbled. Satisfied that he now had a better light source, he pocketed the lighter and made his way out. The noise from machinery slowly faded as he backtracked down the tunnel. He ponder on which direction he should take as he approached the crossroads.
Something on four legs ran across the junction from the left passage.
(MSP) Haunting Atmospheric Soundscape - Nothing in here is quite how it seems
Beast Boy froze on the spot, his breath catching in his throat. The brief sound of something scurrying away was heard. "This feels... familiar." He whispered. Finding his footing again he hesitantly edged towards it, holding the glowstick above him like a baton he poked his head round the corner. Darkness instantly greeted him, he shone the glowstick into the tunnel and waited a few seconds. When nothing jumped out at him, he stepped into the opening. That's when he immediately saw another message stuck to the wall. This time is was from Phil:
Hank, where are you? Are you getting my notes? I don't even know where I am. I think there's something down here with us.
Where the hell is the water pump room again?
-Phil
Water pump room? wasn't that where he just was? Beast Boy heaved a troubled sigh. He could hear the distant whistle make itself known again, this time though... it was coming from up ahead. Swallowing, he made his way forward. The passage lead on for sometime, every now and then he'd come across more 'X's sprayed onto the walls. He then began to notice that they were becoming more frequent. As he turned a corner he encountered a fifth letter...
I'M TAKING A LOT MORE TURNS TO GET TO THE WATER PUMP ROOM THAN I REMEMBER.
THERE'S SOMETHING DEFINITELY FOLLOWING ME. I SWEAR IF THAT'S YOU PHIL, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU.
Beast Boy would have almost laughed if it wasn't for the growing paranoia that was starting to sink in. He moved onward, the though of something creeping up behind him lingered in his mind. The tunnel continued on for what felt like miles, with each turn being incredibly tense. The next note he discovered was again from Hank, but the handwriting had changed. It seemed quicker, more messy. As though he'd been in a hurry writing it.
DEFINITELY HEARD SOME HOWLING/SCREAMING ...SOMETHING.
STILL CAN'T FIND MY KEYS... OR ANYTHING.
I HOPE YOUR GETTING THESE MESSAGES PHIL.
-HANK
Beast Boy paused, wondering just how long ago these messages were written. Were they even sending him in the right direction? he couldn't tell. Turning back towards the darkness he continued on until he reached another sharp corner. He gasped when he got a better look at the opposite wall. A gaping hole had been clawed into the concrete... deeply shaken by whatever could have made this... he approached it to have a better a look. The hole was an entrance to a small carved out tunnel, just big enough for him to fit through. How far did it go? he couldn't see where it lead... but the strange whistling seemed to be coming from within it. He backed away from it, debating on whether it was safe to use or not.
"Eeeeesssssseeeeeeaaaaaaanaaaaa...." Beast Boy went pale and whirled around. His glowstick lanced towards the path to his right. It was a sound he hadn't heard in while, a whisper that made no sense. He trembled physicaly as his mined raced for a decision. This was followed by the sound of something metal striking the ground from behind him. He jumped and quickly decided on the dug tunnel, crouching down he crawled into the narrow passage. It went on for what felt like miles, he could have easily morphed into a smaller animal, but that would mean leaving all his items behind. The last thing he wanted was to be defenseless in complete darkness. Eventually he arrived at the end of the tunnel, crawling out slowly, he found himself in another sewer tunnel. Standing up to face the wall, he was met with a sixth note just above the hole...
It feels like I'm walking in circles... that or the walls are moving on me.
I think I took a wrong turn. I don't remember all the damn gates. And where the hell did those giant holes in the wall come from?
-Phil
(MSP)
Beast Boy felt like this Phil guy was speaking his mind, it was almost uncanny. He shuddered slightly, looking back towards the next passage. He listened carefully but could no longer hear the mysterious whistle. Just then, his ears picked up some movement further ahead. Shining the glowstick in the direction, he held his breath as he caught sight of something that looked like an animal fleeing into the darkness. This rather confused the young shape-shifter. Why did it flee from him? was it the same unknown animal from earlier? or the one he and Cyborg saw... Cyborg! he'd gone and left him alone and vulnerable in that nightmare of a city above. There's no telling what might have happen to him... Beast Boy shook his head to get the thought out. Now filled with a sense of guilt for leaving his friend, he began his journey down the next path. He walked for no less than a minute before he found yet another one of Hanks messages.
I THINK I JUST SAW SOMETHING CRAWL INTO THOSE DIRT TUNNELS...
I WOULDN'T GO IN THERE IF I WERE YOU.
LOOKED LIKE A GIANT RAT ...OR BIRD. SOMETHING WEIRD.
-HANK
(MSP) Dark Ambient Haunting Atmospheric Soundscape - So Cold
The feeling of guilt was now replaced with the paranoia that loomed over the jade colored teen. Apparently whatever Hank saw maybe still lurking around within the confines of the sewer system. He listened again for anymore noise, but only got silence... deafening silence. There was no more rattles of pipes or drips of water. It felt more like a tomb. He shivered at the thought, swallowing. He got back to following the path, but it wasn't long before he found the next entry left by Hank:
PHIL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT JUST HAPPENED. IT SNUCK UP RIGHT BEHIND ME. I KNEW I WAS GOING TO DIE SO I JUST STOOD THERE. I DON'T THINK IT COULD SEE ME.
STAY SAFE.
"Raaaaaaseeeeeooooohraaaaaaseeeeeeeth...." The whisper form before echoed around the passage. Beast Boy's breathing became quick and uneven. The walls seemed to grow darker by an unknown presence. He clenched his teeth and started walking at a quicker pace. What was it? where was it coming from? with his heart pounding, he contemplated on whether to shifting into something that had a high speed advantage. Before he could, he caught sight of another entry. Without stopping, he tore it from the wall.
DON'T EVER LOOK BACK
DON'T FOLLOW THE PIPES
THE WHISPERS LIE
He gasped, a bread of sweat working it's way down his face. This wasn't a message detailing the events, this was an urgent warning of survival. The whisper seemed to get louder. Hanks words began repeating themselves inside his head, he went from a fast pace walk to a full out sprint. Not even daring to look back. The path lead on for at least another minute, but it felt like an eternity. Beast Boy was starting to think that he was running in circles, in an endless loop forever. Just then, he was forced to an abrupt halt as he was faced with a large gate. It was an old iron bar gate, covered with rust and took up the whole tunnel. Beast Boy's eyes widened in realization. "The Access Gate!" Not only that, there was a set of keys hanging out of it's lock, much to his surprises. Without a second though he turned the keys in the old style lock. The tumblers in the lock cranked with age, and the gate swung open.
Beyond the gate was an open room with a ladder leading straight up mounted to one of the walls. Seeing a possible chance of escape he ran over to it and started climbing. Looking upwards he saw that it was a very long ladder, possibly leading all the way up to the surface... at least that's what he hoped. As he climbed higher and higher his mind went back to the set of keys that where in the gates lock. Weren't those Hanks keys? the ones he'd lost? did Hank and Phil even get outta this place? from what they'd left behind he wasn't so sure... he continued with the step climb up, preparing for whatever he would find waiting at the top.
(MSP)
Pausing the TV Arny looks towards the audience. "Yes, yes I know. Another long delay, but maybe it's for the better. My creator's mind takes a lot of inspiration, but has a hard time when comes to putting it into words." Arny then puts on a pair of oversized glasses. "And ya know what they say... A mind is a terrible organ to shovel. So I hope you guys can stick around for more, and leave a review if you have the time. Join me in part nine, cuz it's comin' soon. Later!"
