Awake Read Online Free PDF

forced into
this?”
    Frightened, Norman replied, “No! The cat had
nothing to do with it.”
    “So there was a cat?” The large rat snapped,
“You should have fought that cat to the death!”
    Ashamed, Norman averted his eyes. “But I had
no chance…”
    The guard rat ordered his fellow rats, “Send
Norman down to the cleaning pool! Wash him clean of the beloved
filth!” He examined the two boys with a scornful glare. “As for
you, humans, get out of here! Scram! We want nothing to do with
you!”
    “Wait!” A small rat scurried through the
furry crowd. “Hold it right there!”
    The guard said to the small rat, “What is
it?”
    The small rat replied, “The queen has
commanded these kids be sent to her.”
    “T-the queen? Why would she—”
    The small rat shrugged. “I know
nothing.”
    The large rat scowled. “What is she
thinking? Fine. Bring them to the queen.”
    The sea of rats parted before them, leaving
some walking room for them to continue down the tunnel. Norman,
however, wouldn’t be joining them. Looking timid and sad, he was
dragged away by a couple of black rats.
    Andrew asked Kevin, “Should we go?”
    Kevin shrugged. “We’re at their mercy.”
    The two boys followed the trail given them.
Numerous rodents stayed on their guard, watching the boys
carefully. Most of these creatures were brown and gray, making it
hard to see them. Kevin kept his flashlight pointed to the ground
to watch where he was stepping. Andrew avoided eye contact with the
rats. The furry creatures seemed to be glaring at them. Even though
they made no sounds, he could tell that they resented humans by
their harsh stares.
    The sewers opened up more as they went in
deeper. When they reached a spacious chamber, the rats stopped
leaving a way for them to walk across. The rats surrounded them,
appearing as a thick blotchy carpet.
    All of a sudden the rodents began squeaking,
causing a loud commotion. Kevin noticed a small rat setting a lit
candle over a podium made from cheap plastic crates. Then a giant
white rat crawled up the podium and sat down, its ruby eyes shining
by the flame. Its fur was well groomed and shiny.
    The white rat said, “Welcome, children. You
may call me Queen. I am ruler of Korgen.” Her manner of speaking
was very elegant. “My servants have informed me of your coming as
well as the purpose of your visit. I know that you have come
seeking the Nexus. However, I’m afraid I cannot allow that.”
    Kevin said, “Why not?”
    “The Nexus is not something for
outsiders.”
    “But the world is in trouble! The humans
can’t wake up! They’ll all die!”
    “So? The humans are not our concern.”
    Kevin said, “Don’t you need the humans to
live? Don’t you eat our garbage?”
    “You misunderstand. We will suffer, but we
will adapt. Things will change, sure, but it will be for the
better. We will look for other food sources. The natural order of
things will rebalance, as it always has and always will.”
    Kevin bit his lip. “There’s nothing you can
do for us?”
    “For you there is but one thing. I brought
you here to warn you, dear children. Leave the city at once.”
    “Leave? Why?”
    “A great power is coming—one that will seek
your life. You will be in grave danger should you choose to stay
any longer.” She turned away and hopped off the crate. “Now be on
your way and heed my advice. Leave the city and never return.”
    “You can’t be serious!” Kevin desperately
shouted, “We have nowhere to go! If you don’t help us, no one will.
Please! There’s got to be more you can do for us!”
    Her red eyes gleaming, the queen said
coldly, “Help you? You still don’t understand. We hate humans. The only reason I offer you this warning is because you are
still children, still innocent. Save yourselves. Forget the others.
The humans brought this upon themselves. It is their problem, not
ours.” She went to a crack in the wall big enough for her to
squeeze through.
    “Wait!”