Chapter 6: The abandoned catacombs
-We were able to elude the mutants that chased us on the bridge. It's only a quick stroll to reach Market station. However, Bourbon suggested to go through a dark tunnel that leads to the lost catacombs. Though he warned us of the tunnel, it was something I felt there. Something of that tunnel has made it feel ominous to my senses. I did not like what to expect within it.- Demitri.
The group soon stumbled upon a utility drainage room littered with ominously untouched corpses of many men. Some mutants were also shown dead.
"Damn it! We avoided a pack of nosalies, now we wandered into a graveyard. You guys scavenge the bodies for supplies while I get this grate open." Bourbon said.
"Let's hurry. The sooner we get out of here, the better. There's something wrong in here." Demitri spoke ominously.
Artyom, Demitri, and Natasha separated and scavenged for supplies among the bodies. Bourbon was attempting to open a grated steel door through the use of a crank wheel. Soon, the group saw a strange dark hallway get into their vision. A large stone door was seen behind them, unable to open. Gusts of wind were starting to appear before the vision faded.
"What the…!? Bourbon, are you getting that door open? This place is seriously wrong here." Demitri said.
"Damn, it is. If you're feeling the same thing then we better get out of here quickly!" Bourbon spoke, now alert of the situation.
He began to move the crank wheel. Years of neglect have caused it to accumulate rust, making it difficult to move. Bourbon complained about it, forcing it to move. Green gas was starting to become visible to everyone in the area.
"Rusty son of a bitch! Artyom, Demitri, Natasha. My gut's telling me this place is not right at all. I'll hurry and get this door open. Remember our deal kids." Bourbon grunted.
Another vision assaulted the group. It was the same hallway with the door now opening with a bright red light behind it. The gusts were now becoming apparent to the group. The vision soon ended.
Artyom, Demitri and Natasha soon began to suffocate, forcing them to wear gas masks. Bourbon was soon driven in blissful madness from the gas.
"Come on little grille. I promise you to be lubricated and get a fresh coat of paint ready." Bourbon spoke with madness.
"Bourbon?" Demitri and Natasha asked to the man.
"Oh the great door! I hear you calling us!" Bourbon shouted.
Soon a third vision came to them. The stone door was fully open with a powerful gust sucking them in. Artyom, Natasha, and Demitri knew if they were pulled into the door, they would be dead. They were forced to fight through the gusts, attempting to reach to Bourbon.
"Sing! Sing more for us! We can hear your songs! It makes me happy! Sing! Sing more!" Bourbon spoke with gleeful madness.
Artyom managed to bring Natasha to the other side of the grate. Demitri struggled to bring Bourbon out of his blissful hallucination, dragging him forward. Demitri struggled to reach the end where Artyom was with Natasha. He stretched his hand out to the blue light opposite of the great door. Artyom got him but was being pulled by the gusts. All felt they would perish in the phenomenon till a strange hand got them out. Artyom and Demitri got a glimpse of the hand belonging to a familiar creature.
'A Dark One…!' They thought.
[]
The group was shocked of the experience they had. Demitri was now holding his nausea at bay. The young man managed to control his urge to vomit, worried more for his friends.
"Aaaa!!!! What the hell was that!? Artyom, Demitri, Natasha! You three heard those songs!? Brrr! I wouldn't want to wish that kind of scenario on an enemy." Bourbon shivered.
Demitri and Artyom soon began to record their thoughts of the experience.
-These tunnels had something supernatural in them. Whatever it was, Artyom, Natasha and I heard the voices shouting within our heads. Worst of all, the hallucination of a hallway with a giant stone door almost killed us, despite fighting it off. I dread to think what would happen if we were left in that awful room. Most importantly, a Dark One saved us from certain death. These beings, what are they and why did it save us despite knowing little about us in particular? Artyom and I were puzzled as to why the Dark One saved our lives. If we were forced to fight off the threats of the Metro, how would we cope to handle them if men are taken down one at a time like this? Writing this note has left me petrified, not knowing what more to expect, if there are fates worse than what we witnessed.-
Bourbon shook his head to rid off his mind from the horrific experience. The group was still reeling from the events that happened in the drainage room.
"You know, Artyom and Demitri… You guys are tougher than you look. Even Natasha showed her way through that. How the hell you knew something was wrong back there?" Bourbon questioned.
"I seem to possess latent psychic abilities. You saw how I reacted with the singing pipes. That room we left back there had something ominous. Something trapped in there that wants to claim any victims whom wander in its domain. I don't want to think about any scenarios involving that again right now. I'm still shaking…" Demitri explained, showing his arms shaking.
"Then let's get going. We're close to the market so it should be in walking distance. It would be a pity to end up being eaten when we're so close." Bourbon spoke.
"I agree. Let's hurry before another pack of nosalies show up." Demitri said.
The group ventured through the tunnels, passing the nearby drain pipes. Several corpses of partially eaten people were laid all over. Soon, Bourbon found the passage familiar to him.
"Here we are. The Market station. Let Uncle Bourbon take care of this. Just remain calm." Bourbon grunted with hope.
The group soon made their way to a large door that locked the passage to the station. Bourbon made a knocking sound to it, alerting any whom was posted to watch the station.
"Hey open up! Don't let your fellow humans die a pointless death." Bourbon called out.
There wasn't any response, which frustrated Bourbon.
"If anyone's deaf, hurry up and call for help! Don't let us get eaten!" Bourbon called out.
Soon, the ringing of bells echoed. The group sighed with relief before a loud bellowing echoed in the tunnels. A pack of nosalies caught the group's scent. They were now ready to fight them.
"Okay kids! We need to hold them off till the help arrives! Let's kill some snort nosed bitches!" Bourbon roared.
The group held off the charging nosalies. They seemed relentless as they performed an all out assault on the group. Bullets showered in the air, impacting on the mutants.
"Where the hell is the help!?" Demitri questioned.
Soon, a large railcar that roughly appeared like a tank came into view. They were providing suppressive fire against the charging nosalies.
"A Hanza railcar? We got lucky if this is the help we're getting." Bourbon noted.
The railcar began laying suppressive fire against the nosalies, killing or chasing them out of the station's premises. Artyom, Bourbon, Demitri and Natasha had a sigh of relief wash over them. However Bourbon looked nervous, knowing who was at the railcar.
"Show yourselves!" A gruff male voice called out.
"Don't make any sudden actions. These guys don't have any mood for humor. Just do as they say." Bourbon warned to the group.
"Well, if my eyes are not playing tricks, it's Bourbon in the flesh! I thought you'd turn into lunch for the mutants, old friend! Simon, look what the snouts brought in!" The male called to his comrade.
"Looks like we've stepped into the shitter and we won't be going scot-free." Bourbon commented with a disdained tone.
He turned to the man calling out.
"Hey Mikhalych! Pleasure seeing you, old friend! I had to pay a visit to this station to continue with the commodities! I figured why not see you to check how you're doing!" Bourbon spoke to the man.
"You heard the man, boys! Set up the dishes cause Bourbon's come to town!" Mikhalych called to his friends.
"Don't try to snake yourself out from this one, Bourbon! We got a task to take care of. Once we're done, we'll be dealing with you. Remember where you should wait for me." Mikhalych ordered.
"I do. I do." Bourbon spoke nervously.
"You sure? I can make sure you recall." Mikhalych spoke with skepticism.
"I'm certain." Bourbon confirmed.
The group heard the blast doors opening to the station. Bourbon's skin looked pale as they all went inside. They holstered their weapons, not wanting to incite any violence.
