Merely a Madness Read Online Free Page B

“Fine.”
    Hannah doesn't say anything, just points behind her into the dark.
    Thoughts about Hannah are banging and screaming in Mullen's brain, but even as they surface, he's locking them up tight behind a door in his mind marked Do Not Ever Fucking Open , and that door is going to stay shut .
    Arnou says something to the other Earthlings in a language Mullen doesn't understand, then two of the men – animals – slosh past in the direction of the railway platform where the Boy Most Likely To Ask Stupid Questions and the remaining Kozlows are about to find their current nightmare morphing into an even bigger one.
    Arnou turns to Mullen and holds out his hand. Mullen looks at it stupidly. The whole thing is too weird, too surreal, and even though Arnou doesn't appear to intend to shoot either of them right now, Mullen's heart is still galloping. He stares at the Earthling's dirt-encrusted fingernails, and the only thought that swims out of the fog of his mind is I'm not shaking that.
    Then he remembers that the man has a gun and clearly has no qualms about using it. Pride can take a back seat, thank you very much.
    He's got his hand half way to Arnou when Hannah nudges him and whispers, “He wants your security key.”
    Oh. Mullen hands it over.
    “And your passwords,” Arnou says.
    Mullen knows he's supposed to say no, but the man has a gun. What other option does he have? He gives Arnou his passwords and codes. It's only after he does that he realises Arnou no longer has any reason to keep them alive.
    Fortunately the thought doesn't seem to immediately occur to Arnou because the Earthling just nods and records Mullen's passwords on his own ancient handheld.
    He nods again, without looking up, and one of the Earthlings – oh God, what happened to its nose – prods Mullen in the arm with his gun.
    Hannah's cold hand slips into his, and together they slosh through the water after Arnou. Mullen tries not to think about the rotten-nosed creature with the gun splashing behind them, but finds it impossible to get the image out of his mind. The thing is so disgusting, and it has a gun .
    His brain is slowly ticking back into gear. He's not dead. Hannah's not dead. But Amadi and Edward Kozlow are. Somewhere in the black and grime of the tunnel, the two of them are floating, lifeless, in a river of grimy water.
    The only reason he can think that they are still alive is that John Arnou has taken a shine to Hannah. Everyone likes Hannah. No one likes Mullen. He should be dead.
    It soon becomes apparent that people have been living in the tunnels. Sodden bedding and clothing is stacked on crates shoved against the walls, and piles of rubbish nudge at his calves. The inhabitants are missing.
    His mind is still trying to slot everything together when they round another curve of tunnel, and the light from the lanterns falls onto another train platform. This one was never aimed at tourists. There are no steps leading up onto the platform, no twee archway doors or replica antique posters.
    Everything is covered in mud and the ubiquitous black mould. Mullen hefts himself up onto the platform before reaching down to haul Hannah up.
    The spiral stairs taking them to the surface are styled the same as the ones back at the tourist accommodation; but, like the platform, these are dirty and crusted with mould. Mullen doesn't let go of Hannah. They walk up hand-in-hand. He begins running out of breath half way up, and his calves ache, but the troglodyte behind him doesn't falter, so neither does he.
    They get to the top and stumble outside. The world stinks of greasy smoke, and Mullen is aware of the sky overhead, huge and terrifying. He shudders, and keeps his eyes steadfastly ahead, refusing to look up.
    The straight-ahead view isn't much better. The mud is swarming with Earthlings. Where did they all come from?
    They'd seen locals from the bus, but not like this. It's as if every one of the mud-covered brutes has emerged from their