Page 71 of Marked for Execution

? ? ?

Fitri

“Can you come with me? I have something I need to do real quick,” Hannah pleaded.

“Okay.”

I should have made an effort to hang out more. I didn’t think I would make a good friend. I was not used to connecting with other women. Old Margaret never needed me for anything, but Hannah was the total opposite.

“Thank you! It will be quick, I promise.”

I nodded, and she led me toward the far west side of Ashborne, near the back wall. When she reached for a rusted steel handle on the ground, I frowned in confusion. I thought the doc was the only one with a bunker. Maybe I was wrong. Curiosity got the better of me, as well as worry for Hannah being alone down here, as I followed her down a metal ladder.

When we made it to the bottom, there was a wet smell, almost moldy, tickling my nose. Hannah didn’t react, instead following the tunnel until it forked. Taking a right, she grabbed a torch off the wall and pulled out a lighter.

The flame glowed, casting shadows behind us as she led me further until the wet smell started to disappear.

“Where are we going?” I whispered.

“We’re almost there.”

The darkness of the tunnel disappeared until we entered what looked like a concrete room from floor to ceiling.

A few wooden crates lined the ground, but other than that, there was nothing special.

“I need to talk to someone really quick, and then we can be out of here.”

Following Hannah, she led me to another room that broke off into three tunnels. The sound of moans floated to my ear, making it twitch. The frequency was too low for Hannah’s human ears to pick up. She chose the path straight ahead and continued forth with her torch, lighting the way. We passed at least three to four more segments of the tunnel until we came across another one that split into four.

Footsteps echoed, and I pushed Hannah behind me, going on high alert. It was so empty down here, I couldn’t tell where the sound was originating from. A glow entered from the left and my body tensed, preparing for whoever was here. Hannah didn’t say a word as we both held our breaths, until a dark cloaked figure came forth.

“Well, I didn’t expect to see anyone else down here. Are you guys lost?” The masculine voice was deep and raspy at the end.

“No. We’re heading toward the bunker to meet up with Otis,” Hannah answered.Otis? Why didn’t she just say that in the first place?

“Ah, you’re in luck. I’m heading to see the doc myself. May I accompany you girls?” He took a few steps toward us and lifted his head up, the flame of his own torch glowing against his marred skin.

His face had been burned on the left, one of his eyes clouded over. The other side of his lip hadn’t been scarred, but there was a severe cut at the corner all the way to the side of his ear, the scar not healing well. Flushing from staring, I turned away and let Hannah lead us again.

There was just something entirely too familiar about this person, yet not. I couldn’t put my finger on it. He was as tall as Reed, but not as broad, his skin kissed by the sun, like Samuel. Maybe I had run into him in the past, but his face was not sparking any of my memories.

We all walked with some distance between us, the tunnel turning dark once more before it lit up again.

It was the crazed cackle that let us know we were close, but the moan that accompanied it was not what I was expecting at all.

“You’re doing so well, don’t fail me now, dearie.”

I froze in place when we entered the next tunnel chamber that doubled as a room, and I saw what was happening in front of my eyes. Crazy Otis had his booted leg up against a metal spring frame that was leaning against the concrete wall. A woman was chained to it. Well, one of her arms since the other three limbs were scattered nearby on random carts and boxes. The smell of blood was overtaken by the smell of cauterized flesh as smoke still climbed from her left thigh.

She moaned in pain again, her skin pallid.

The most disturbing part? The doc was naked beneath his apron and boots, his dick at half-mast. A welder’s mask sat on his head as he smiled down at what was left of the woman who looked dirty and malnourished. What was probably once blond hair now looks brown at the singed ends.

Hannah retched beside me, and the stranger remained quiet.

“Ah, Hannah, my dear. You made it.” His eyes became wild as they looked over me.Why was he looking at me like that?I took a step back as the doctor continued to come toward me.

“I-I’m so sorry Fitri.”