Morning all and welcome to a slightly less chilly morning than yesterday. No early morning migraine today. Which is a relief. The ibuprofen knocks it out, but I hate having to wake up and take something. Always makes me feel off, you know? But today, it is not needed. And so off we go naturally into the world of Thursday. Are you ready to launch with the writing prompt? Good then Timers set and off we go.
I finally started to get a handle on this story when the timer went off. I like the post apocalyptical angle and think I am going to mark this as a story idea to come back to at some point.
Thursday, March 30th: You know the risks?
“You know the risks?” He asked.
Peter nodded. His mouth was too dry to speak and he was afraid anything he said would betray his nerves. It was a stupid question. Of course he knew the risks. If he was caught he would go down alone. No one would come after him, no one would admit to knowing him.
He couldn’t hold it against Cameron though. He knew Cam didn’t want him to go, didn’t want him to risk himself, but they were out of options.
‘If Hank hadn’t…’ Peter bit the inside of his cheek, the sharp pain focusing his thoughts. Now was not the time to dwell on things. They were what they were and he had to deal with them. This was their only option.
Cam startled him by lunging forward and grasping him in a fierce hug. It took him off guard as they were not by nature hugging sorts of people. Still it felt good and he hugged Cam back. Cam let go and backed away.
“Good luck,” he said gruffly as though ashamed of his show of emotion. Peter nodded and clapped a hand to Cam’s shoulder. He gave a squeeze before letting go and turning away. The gesture settled them both as it was more in line with their accustomed displays of affection.
Peter walked without looking back. He knew Cam would stay until the door closed behind him. He didn’t want to look back and see Cam left behind waiting. He knew it would weaken his resolve.
As his steps echoed against the concrete, Peter tried to reassure himself that he left Cam in a good place. All of their debts were paid and he made an arrangement With George to keep Cam from falling into harm should he not return. In addition, his going, whether successful or not would release Cam from the trouble Hank’s actions created. He would be free and clear.
Peter stepped through the open doorway. It was open only because he was going through. He could see the deep scrapes along the floor and ceiling where it was pried loose from it’s closed status. Time warped bout the door and it’s surrounds and it looked like the door was no longer interested in opening.
They made it open,. Just like they made him walk through it. Others would say it was his choice, but there really wasn’t much of a choice at all. There were others waiting on the other side. He passed through the door and they nodded, silent and stone faced. He continued into the tunnel and they exited. The sound of them forcing the door closed again behind him was loud.
The bolts slamming home to seal it shut again carried the note of finality. There was no going back.
The tunnel ran long and straight. The angle was ever so slowly sloped downward. It was originally designed to go under the river and connect the two sides of the city. That connection had been severed a long time ago. Everything past the river was wasteland, destroyed and rendered uninhabitable in the last war. When he reached the last lock he would engage the radiation blocker. It would hopefully get him past the remaining hot zone and into the wasteland beyond.
Ten til Midnight 