On the cold bare floor of a deep dark tunnel, two human figures could be seen.
One was sitting in a cross-legged position while the other sat with their back to the wall, a lost look on their face.
Of course it was Mark and the mystery girl. It has been a while since they had taken shelter in the old tunnel, the surface and gradually grown quiet after what seemed like and eternity of blasting and screaming.
Mark didn't have a way to monitor the passage of time but he knew quite well that almost half a day has passed. One way or another it wasn't possible for him to hide in this tunnel for the rest of his life, he had to leave and he has to do that soon else he risk a lot of things.
Not to talk about hunger and thirst, there was the possibility the tunnel was found by the abominations that had descended upon earth. He had to be on the constant move but there was a problem and the problem was right opposite him.
Since the start of the explosion till this moment, she hadn't moved an inch or uttered a word. She had remained in her crouching position not even moving her torso.
Mark couldn't see her face due to the disheveled state of her hair but he could hear the faint sound of her breathing. She had also stopped sobbing a long time ago which wasn't unexpected, she should have come to terms with whatever had transpired on the surface judging by that or maybe Mark was wrong and she was still grieving but anyways he couldn't stay forever.
He stared at her for some time, he then got up and walked over to her. He didn't know what had come over him at that moment, maybe he was reluctant to leave her alone here for some whatever reason or maybe it was a something entirely different.
He stood over her for a few seconds, seemingly studying her or trying to get a glimpse of her face. He then knelt before her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
She raised her head at that moment and he could get a slight view of her face, atleast he could see as much as the dark tunnel let him. in the darkness of the tunnel, she looked dirty, bruised, battered and unkempt. Her eyes were red and puffy, signs of prolonged crying and those same eyes were boring a hole in Mark's face. of course he hadn't forgotten the fact that she had a metal pipe in her hand.
Mark got up and stretched his hand out to her, he looked away a little then said
"We have to go"
There was a moment of silence and inactivity but then she grabbed his hand and pulled herself up. As she did, Mark only had one thought in his mind
"Strong"
He couldn't help but be surprised by how strong her grip was, it was almost like some heavyweight bodybuilder had grabbed onto his hand.
They stood doing nothing for a few moments, the Mark pointed to their right
"Let's go"
And with that they started walking. Silence surrounded them like a cone, the only sound present was that of their feet hitting the cold stone floor of the tunnel in a form of mindless rhythm.
And in that silence, Mark got submerged in his thoughts
Yes he was used to trekking, infact he had always trekked to whatever destination he had never getting on a train on bus. Are you kidding, he could barely afford the sorry excuse of stale bread he called food.
He chuckled to himself but in the silent expanse of the tunnel, it was reflected and it echoed throughout drawing a curious gaze from his partner.
He looked at her
"My bad" he said
"I didn't mean for that to come out loud, it's just that the silence is driving me nuts"
"I mean you're not mute right?"
Mark never expected an answer and he didn't get one also, a few more minutes of walking in silence followed them he continued
"I'm curious though, how do you come to know about this tunnel?"
He looked at her as he asked this trying to get a glimpse of how she'll react to it but he saw nothing, she was just as she had been since the start of everything, silent, battered and forlorn.
But then she did something unexpected, tilting her head a little, she looked at him and said "my grandfather was one of the workers that dug this tunnel" her voice was sharp and clear, a contrast to Mark expectations of a weak trembling voice.
It was also the first time in some hours that Mark had heard another human voice other than his own and it was the same voice he would be hearing for a few more since they were stuck together in this tunnel.....for now or so he thought.
There was a short pause then he heard her again
"What about you?" She asked
"How did you know about the tunnel?"
Mark briefly thought of a carefully crafted answer, he couldn't reveal the fact that he had known of this catastrophe beforehand
"Before the start of everything, I do work in the city as a mail delivery guy and I also work with trucks"
"So I came across it..." Mark was cut short as they came to a certain spot in the tunnel.
Situated in front of them was a long flight of stairs, it would have been a thing of relief if it was leading up to the surface but no.
The stairway stretched far away from the reaches of their sight leading deeper and deeper into the bowels of the earth.