Underworld Read Online Free PDF Page A

try and clear my mind and
eradicate the fear. It must not know I am afraid.
    Paralyzed by horror I am unable to move. I stare into
the hood and meeting the penetrating gaze full on.
The smell of sulphur and vomit hang in the air and it
takes all my will to keep the bread in my stomach
down.
    I had forgotten about the footsteps behind me and am
taken by surprise when a powerful arm curls around
my waist. I am yanked backward, and a large hand
cups my mouth, and prevents me from screaming. I
pull at the hand but the pressure of the hold is
suffocating me. I am frozen by fear for a moment and
then the adrenaline finally kicks in and I began to
kick and fight. The arm around me tightens and I
struggle for air.
My mind flashes with images of Jeff
and then everything is dark.
    My eyes slowly open, and wander around, trying to
figure out where I am at. The pounding in my head is
making my vision blurred and it’s nearly impossible
to focus on anything. I find myself in a world of dark
shapes, eerie looking trees and there are rows of
twisted elms in the distance. It appears to be night, as
the sky above is dark. There is a sliver of moonlight
shining through the darkness and I am surprised
because I didn’t expect there to be a sky or any life
here. The otherworld seems to mirror the geography
of where I came from-only muted.
    The wind is whipping through the tree that is near
where I am lying. I strain my ears to listen for sounds
but it is eerily quiet. Off to the side I catch something
moving out of the corner of my eye. Two burning
eyes are peering out at me from the foliage and the
hair on the back of my neck stands on end. I can
make out the bulk of a creature, crouched low and
just hidden from my view. Then it moves. I hear the
foliage crackle and see the weeds sway as the creature
moves stealthily forward. A huge black dog steps out
of the brush and meets my gaze. There is an instant
connection of minds that comesthrough as a man’s
voice, very thin and far away.
“We must get moving from this place soon. There
isn’t much time before they find you”.
    The asphyxiation in the tunnel must have made me
delirious. Surely this animal is not talking to me? It
feels as though I am having another one of my crazy
dreams, and yet, when I sit up I can feel pain in my
side. I lift my shirt and survey a few choice bruises;
they are a deep purple, with orange on the outer
corners. I’ve never felt pain in a dream before. This
is something out of the ordinary, as far as dreams go.
“Who are you? Why should I go anywhere with
you”?
    The dog just stared at me with a hint of annoyance in
his eyes. I canhear the man’s voice again in my mind
but this time it is closer. “I told you we need to move
and we need to do it now. You’ll find out, soon
enough, who I am. If you don’t move now there
won’t be enough of you left to care. Stay here if you
like. You won’t get any complaints from me”.
    The authority in the dog orders intrigues me. How
remarkable that some mutt is telling me what to do. I
have always been an animal lover, but this mutt is
over the top, and sarcastic at that. The crystal blue
eyes of the animal challenged me and the sheer size
of its razor sharp teeth are enough to motivate. I
typically am not one to take orders but the mutt has
some good points. Note to self; never trust a snarky
dog again.
    My pace quickens as I try and keep up with the mutt.
I am climbing up a hill, and toward the top, I start to
fall backwards; and grab onto a scrub tree. My hair is
clinging to my damp neck and my head is pulsing
with pain. A gust of pungent wind blows past me and
beads of sweat drip off my nose.
I look down, and
there is a decaying rodent in front of me. His eyes
look like twin raisins that have withered in the sun.
My right foot brings me to the top of the hill. I scan
the area far below. It is preternaturally dark with a
grey cast to the sky. Trees and rocks are all I can