The Red Phoenix 12: Strength Comes in Numbers (38 page)

He looked up at the corpse, mortified that it was wrapped in thick, white webbing and hung by its ankles from webs that were like strong ropes. He stood, moving closer to the dangling body, and touched its face, feeling the web. He wiped his fingers on his shirt, cringing at the sight of the webbing wrapped around the man’s head, face, chest and the rest of his body.

Suddenly, something began to be pull the body up towards the ceiling.

“What the?” he said, staring towards the ceiling.

The lifeless body continued to ascend.

Siddoway stared upwards, hearing a strange crackling sound coming from the dark area of the ceiling. As the dead body went higher, a shadowy eight-legged creature with ten eyes and a round body with thorns came into the dimmed light. Its leg span was over eight-feet.

“Oh dear God,” he said.

The spider-beast opened its jaws with sharp teeth as it noticed Siddoway below and let out a whispery noise like it was hissing at him as the dead body reached his mouth. It sunk its hellacious teeth into the chest of the body, making a crude crushing sound like it broke some bones before sucking out its bodily fluids.

His heart pounded as he looked over the rest of the webs, noticing more of the spider creatures were coming out of dark corners near the ceiling like they knew his fresh blood was standing there.

“Oh, I’m out of here,” Siddoway gasped, backing away from the horrific sight. “I got to get out of here!”

He ran towards the door, passing streams of webbing, hearing the flock of spiders race towards him. He looked back, seeing a dozen of them rushing towards him over the tops of the webs. He opened the door to the corridor and slammed it, hollering, falling down, and panting as he heard the sounds of several of the spiders slam against the other side of the door and wall to the auditorium.

He rushed down the passageway a bit when he heard a double set of office doors behind him smash into pieces. He turned, watching pieces of wood and glass fly onto the corridor floor, scattering. Three creatures came into the corridor, roaring at him.

“Oh, you got to be kidding me,” he mumbled, terrified, as he turned around and sprinted up the long hallway.

The creatures ran after him, making loud stomping with their heavy feet, and shrieking.

Siddoway turned another corner then hurried to the elevator vestibule, slapping the
up
and
down
buttons, panting. He put his back against the elevator doors, scared as hell, hearing the creatures drawing closer. Just as the creatures came around the corner, roaring, the elevator doors opened. Siddoway forced his way in, screaming, collapsing to the floor. The doors closed just as one of them slashed at the door with its fierce claws and gaping mouth with sharp teeth, making a loud thud against its metal surface. Siddoway pushed the button for
LM29
and lay on the floor, catching his breath.

***

Braddock’s train approached level minus twenty-nine. The headlights beneath the windshield flickered. The lit sign, stating
Red Phoenix Express
above the windshield, flashed then turned off as the subway came to a stop.

“It’s got to be some kind of power surge,” said Osborne, looking around for something to get them moving.

Braddock ripped the breaker box door off the wall near the conductor’s closet. A few of the breakers sparked.

“Oh man, there’s our problem,” said Osborne. “The electrical system is effed up.”

“Does anyone have any experience with electrical wiring?” Braddock asked in a loud voice.

The soldiers were quiet, glancing at each other, clueless.

“We could walk the subway tunnel,” Osborne suggested.

“That would take too long to reach level minus seventy,” Braddock responded.

“What do you want to do, boss man?” asked Osborne.

“We’ll venture on this floor,” Braddock replied.

“Are you sure? All it’s got is stairs and elevators,” Osborne stated.

“We may have to compromise for the integrity and speed of this mission, Lieutenant,” Braddock responded, stepping off the train.

“Yes sir,” said Osborne.

Braddock and his men made their way to the entrance of the floor. Just as they were about to leave the platform and enter the main corridor, the sounds of the train’s engine revving and something sparking became louder. They turned, watching the headlights of the train flicker and the doors close. The subway started up and headed down the dark tunnel.

“There goes a damn good ride, dammit,” said Osborne, complaining.

“If the transit system is faulty, it’s unsafe,” Braddock replied. “Let’s move!” he ordered, hurrying down the corridor.

***

Siddoway stepped off the elevator on level minus twenty-nine. He rushed to the edge of the multi-elevator vestibule and peeked around the corner, hoping not to see anyone. The coast was clear. He hurried down the corridor, making it back to the room with the survivors, knowing there wasn’t much time. He turned a corner without slowing down, panting. The thoughts of being permanently trapped in the under levels of the enormous devastated building taunted him. He had to get back to Greenfield fast.

The office space door was approaching. There was no sign of creatures, military strike teams or any other form of trouble. A feeling of relief came over him as he slowed down, breathing hard, and opened the office door.

“Mr. Siddoway?” asked Karen, standing.

“I’m back,” Siddoway replied, leaning over the top of a cubicle, catching his breath, looking like hell.

“Where are the others?” asked another male employee.

“Yeah, where’s Ron?” asked a female.

“And Eric, Tim and Brian?” another male asked. “And why are you all dirty?”

“People, what you have to understand is that this place is dangerous,” Siddoway answered.

“So, they’re dead?” Karen cried, putting her hands over her mouth, sounding scared.

“I… I uh, don’t know how to explain this. I—”

“—Just tell us, Siddoway!” a male said.

“Yes! They’re dead,” Siddoway responded. “All of them. Okay?”

“What happened out there, Siddoway?” asked a female.

“Yeah, we have a right to know,” insisted another male.

“Listen to me! Listen to me!” Siddoway yelled, silencing them. “What we have to do is prepare for the worst.”

“The worst?” asked a male.

“What are you talking about?” asked a female.

“You’re not being straight up, Siddoway!” said another female.

“I’ve been to the surface, people!” he yelled, quieting them down again. “Ron and the others didn’t make it but the military is up there.”

“The military? That’s great! That means that they’re here to hel—”

“—No! They’re not!” Siddoway responded. “Now, listen.”

“We need to get out of this office,” said a male, desperate.

“Yes, we do,” said Karen, stern, glaring at Siddoway.

“I’m not going to just sit here while soldiers are running around,” another female stated.

“The military will kill us all!” said Siddoway in a loud voice.

“Kill us?” asked Karen. “Are you crazy?”

“What? Are you out of your mind?” asked a male.

“On the way back, I found dozens of employees shot to death, lying on the floor,” Siddoway answered. “Any survivors who are still in the facility are most likely deemed
contaminated
. The military is not here to rescue us. We need to take other precautions.”

“We have the president with us,” said a female. “They’re not going to shoot him.”

“Yes, they will!” Siddoway declared, glancing at Twelve who stood against the wall, watching the bickering escalate.

“Mr. President? Will you take us to the soldiers?” asked a male, politely.

“What do you think, Mr. Siddoway?” asked Twelve. “Are these troops just going to shoot us all down in cold blood?”

“Mr. President, we’ve all been deemed
infected
. We need to hide, sir, now,” Siddoway answered.

“But sir, you’re the President of the United States,” said Karen, scared.

Twelve stood in silence, rubbing his chin.

“Aren’t you going to say anything, sir?” asked a male.

“These matters are complicated for the sake of national security,” Twelve replied. “I think it’s best to be extra cautious and listen to Mr. Siddoway.”

“This is ridiculous,” said an office worker. “I’m not infected with anything. I’m getting out of here.”

“Me too,” said a female.

Everyone began to argue.

“Wait, wait! Shh! I hear something,” said a male.

The office became quiet. There were sounds of radios and boots trotting up the corridor outside the office.

“Hear that?” asked the male.

“I think it’s them,” said a female, sounding excited.

“It’s the soldiers,” said another female, smiling.

“Oh no,” said Siddoway in a quiet voice.

“Let’s go!” said a male, hurrying to the door.

“Everybody, you need to hide, now!” Siddoway declared, clenching a fist.

“They’re here to help us, Siddoway!” said a male, leaving through the door.

“Mr. President? We’ll let them know you’re in here,” said another female, leaving.

“Yeah, they’re the good guys,” said Karen, following them.

“You go out there, you’re all going to regret it,” said Siddoway.

“Don’t listen to him you guys, he’s nuts,” said another male, exiting. “C’mon, let’s go.”

The rest of the office workers left the room.

“Thanks for backing me up, sir,” said Siddoway, pulling Twelve aside.

“You’re welcome,” Twelve answered.

“Listen, we need to get out of here now, sir,” Siddoway insisted.

“What about the others?” asked Twelve.

“Those idiots have sealed their own fate,” Siddoway responded. “Now it’s about you and me.”

“Well, where do you think we should go?” asked Twelve.

“The back door,” Siddoway replied. “Follow me!”

***

Karen led the group of office workers down the corridor towards the sounds of boots tromping on the floor and echoing radio transmissions.

“Wait! We’re here! We’re here!” she cried as they turned a corner, seeing the soldiers jogging towards them.

“More citizens, Commander, at the twelve o’ clock,” said Osborne, who was second in the lead behind Braddock.