Level Zero by Dan McDowell (debian ebook reader .txt) 📗

or cassette in the deck to play music in the tunnels. I figured it would be a nice touch if you ever do run with turning this into a haunted house one of these days.”

“This looks great. Wow. Livewire, you’ve really outdone yourself. Music in the tunnel, huh? Maybe even some WGBO? Nice touch.”

Chris studied the video displays again and scoffed.

“What’s wrong? Livewire asked. “I thought you’d be pleased.”

“I’m sorry,” Chris said. “I know you’ve done a lot of work. I don’t see a camera on the south end. You haven’t run into anyone… have you? I mean any… thing. Vermin? Anything like that?”

“Not really. Just me, myself, and I. I may have seen some critters here or there. About what you’d expect… There is a camera on the south end, but the screen’s blacked out. Dad-gum rats must have chewed the cable. I wrapped most of ‘em in conduit. I’ll go back down to check it out. What are you going to do with this, anyway?”

“I’ve got to stay a step ahead.”

“Step ahead of what?”

Chris rubbed his hands together as the glow of the monitors illuminated behind him. “I… uh… have a business reputation to protect. Creepy Nights is catching on quick. It won’t be long before kids, vagrants, and vandals snoop around. I can’t be having that.”

“Hey… what was that? I thought I saw somethin’ on the screen.”

“Probably just a glitch,” Chris said. “I wouldn’t worry about it.”

“Critiquin’ my work, huh? I guess you’re payin’ me for it, so what gives? I won’t press you any harder. It’s your tunnel. What you do with it is your business, not mine.”

Livewire studied the monitors. “I thought I saw it on zone four. There’s an old freezer link up. Looked like the light flickered for a second. I’ll engage the audio.”

“We need to get you back in the sun,” Chris said. “You’re seeing things. Security is just something I take seriously. Thanks.”

Whatever you say. Something about this just seems off.

“Not a problem. I’ll get back there to the south end with a new cable run, and we’ll get that section back online.”

Chris walked out of the room without a proper goodbye.

Just my luck… Almost done with this joint, and I still end up with the short end of the stick.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

That should just about do it, LIVEWIRE thought as he pulled the cable through the tunnel.

He gulped down another can of Flitz before pitching it into a dark corner. A sniffling sound became audible. He moved toward it.

Who is that? Is someone there?

He ran his fingers down the side of the wall and sniffed at them.

“I smell you. I know a woman’s body odor a little too well. You’re trespassing. I’m going to have to tell Mr. Wilkerson. If you leave now, I won’t say anything.”

Sure enough. Look right over there.

A woman was sitting in a dark corner crying. He called out to her, “I didn’t realize anyone else was here. I was just kidding about snitching. You okay?”

You’ve got to be kidding me. It’s Chris’s wife. He is some kind of freak, isn’t he?

“No. I’m not okay. Of course he didn’t. He hasn’t once tried to come and get me out of here.”

“What are you talking about? Are you trapped or what?”

The woman scoffed. “What’s it to you?”

What’s your deal, lady?

“Let’s not drag this out,” he said. “Seriously, just come out with me now. No woman in her right mind should lollygag around in a dark tunnel. Bound to be bats, rats, God knows what else is in here.”

He grabbed her by the hand and she shrieked.

“You mean… Who else!” A bizarre figure leapt out from behind a dark corner. “She’s not going anywhere. And neither are you! All those visions… those unexplainable feelings. I see it in your eyes!”

“What?”

“You’re one of them, and guess what… We’ve got room for you, buddy! And you know what? Your hands shed innocent blood. Those animals never deserved to die. You know that.”

“What’s wrong with you?” Livewire quipped back. “What you talkin’ about? One of what…? We weren’t workin’ out.”

“A likely story. An animal’s innocence isn’t worthy of our bloodthirsty hands. Come on, now… a housepet? You should know better! Back off the wagon, I see. What a booze-brained loser.” He bonked Livewire on the head with the Flitz beer can he pitched. “And a disrespectful litterbug. Why don’t I just rough you up a little?”

Who does this guy think he is?

The creep twisted the beer can in circles until it split in half and he spread it out.

“What? What in tarnation you doin’?”

“That’s for me to do and you to find out. Hold out your arm.”

Katrina spoke up, “This creep’s name is Joe.”

“Katrina, thanks, but, I’ll do the introductions. You just stay right where you are.”

Creeper Joe lurched toward Livewire as he wrapped his left arm around his neck.

“Get on the ground!”

Livewire fell to the floor. “Ain’t gonna get a fight out of me. I just want the hell out of here. Let the lady and me out, now!”

Joe raked the can across him as he cut into the top of his wrists.

“Just gonna mess you around a little. Heh-heh.”

“Please stop,” Katrina said. “Stop it before you kill him!”

Blood dripped from Livewire’s wrists onto the floor.

“On your knees…” Joe ordered. “Lap it up. Lap it up. Like a dog… Like the mutt you killed… Don’t make me keep cutting you.”

Livewire knelt, licking the blood off the floor and consuming the dirt and tar. He gagged, growing sicker from the torture. Drifting in and out of consciousness, he mumbled in incoherence, “You want me to… what? Want me to what!”

I’m as good as dead.

“That’s enough. I’ll take care of the rest,” Joe said.

Joe whacked Livewire in the back of the head hard enough to render him unconscious.

.     .     .     .     .

LIVEWIRE awoke, and his thoughts raced.

What a freak. I’ve gotta get out of here. At least the blood’s scabbing up now. I thought I was dead.

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