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Gasps of surprise were already coming from the crowd as Lily pushed through. Some walked away to vomit. The bus driver simply stood there dumbly, chewing on the sunflower seeds still left in his mouth. As Lily reached the front a grim vision waited for her. A sprawled body lay near an open manhole. It looked human but the skin was unnaturally slimy and its arms curled oddly. A horrible smell came from it and attacked Lily’s nose. Traffic began to pool and soon a crowd would be forming. It wouldn’t be long before Lily would be late. The woman in the nice clothes who had sat next to Lily huffed off and hissed about complaining to the bus company. Or at least it sounded like the hiss could be coming from her, but upon closer examination it was coming from the open manhole. It wasn’t mechanical but sounded like it was coming from someone, or something. The Bus Driver peered curiously over the open hole. Lily had a choice, stay and continue to watch or hurry on towards work.

The Old Man grasped the manhole cover and stared ominously at the crowd. Abruptly he removed his hand as though he were recoiling from touching something very hot. Seconds later the ground erupted and a surge of cement and earth was hurtled upwards into the sky. Some of those closest to the Old Man were flung into the air like limp dolls. The sound was deafening as glass from nearby buildings shattered and panic flooded the streets.

It was like an unnatural earthquake had suddenly erupted. All around Ember the ground was cracking and tearing itself apart leaving huge gaps down into the earth below the street. The boy who had talked to her slipped and fell. He grasped for a handhold as he fell. He found one but began to slip from his momentum and the shaking of the ground. Upwards he looked as sirens filled the air and he yelled at Ember.

“Help…help me up! Hurry!” He struggled to maintain his grip and he hoped she wasn’t too frightened to run off and save herself.

Lily had one of two options, be late for work and stay, or head off now and miss one of the most interesting things to happen to her. Never being one to truly care for working, Lily took a tentative step forward. However, she stopped dead in her tracks when the scent hit her. It was absolutely rancid. She pulled her shirt up over her nose, blocking the scent as best she could. Even with that horrid smell attacking her, she couldn't help but inch a little closer. Curiousity nagged at her, driving her forward. She just had to know what this slimy thing was. She ignored everything else, focusing on the creature before her. Whatever it was, it was surely going to be the most exciting thing ever for her.

Her attention was distracted when she heard the hiss. At first she thought it was that angry business woman, but when she listened more intently, she realized it was coming from the open manhole. She continued to slowly walk forward, unsure of how close she wanted to get to this scene. Finally she stopped moving, still covering her nose and trying to ignore the stench that reached her. She stood there, eyes wide in a mixture of horror, excitement, and wonder. She completely forgot about having to go to work, now entranced by this oddity before her eyes.

At the bottom of the ladder leading down from the street, Lily could see a slimy creature sprawled on the ground. It had no eyes that could be seen upon a head that looked twisted in an uncomfortable way. Perhaps it had also been hit by the bus. Its arms curved and came to a point forming a shape similar to a scythe. The torso down to its end was reminiscent of a snake or worm. The sliminess of its skin only reinforced this feeling. Hissing sounds were coming from it, though it had no mouth with which to make noise. Louder and louder the hissing began to grow. Others gathered around the hole where they could. Then, the hissing stopped. Some of the people looked at each other as if to say “What now?” The bus driver stretched apathetically and spit some seeds into a cup.

“Oh, s**t!” exclaimed a person looking down and there was a horrifying screech below. All eyes rushed back downward as another of those creatures appeared at the injured one’s side. This one, however, had an oddly shaped mouth which it was using to make those earsplitting cries. Fear surged through the onlookers as four more appeared down below.

There was no time. With frightening speed the five creatures hurtled out of the sewer and on to the streets. Panic exploded like a bomb. The creatures gave chase, as though lusting for revenge. A woman was overcome and in her last moments cried out before being silenced. The chaos that had ensued trapped Lily in a swarm of hisses and screams. Escape seemed grim and she could consider the circumstances only briefly. To try and escape by running through the crowd appeared difficult, what with the beasts in a frenzy and people trampling each other to flee. Two people who also had been ignored by the creatures bravely jumped down the manhole cover to flee. It appeared that the sewers themselves might be safer, but it was unknown if any others lurked down below. The bus sat running, the keys still in the ignition its door open and the driver’s seat empty. Near the open door however one of the creatures feverishly attacked an unfortunate victim. Three choices, but there was only time to make one.

The situation changed so quickly Lily barely had time to react. As the creatures had begun their attack, she somehow remained unharmed. Everything became a blur of action and panic, the sounds of the creatures and their victims filled Lily's head. She looked around for an escape route, and saw three options. She could take her chance with the crowd, but there was a greater chance she would either be trampled or attacked. She could try to steal the bus and make her escape that way, but she would have to get past that creature first, and she didn't even know how to drive a bus. Then there was the manhole, and eerily quiet black hole that opened up into mystery, and possibly a great deal more danger. Each one held its own risks, but she had to choose fast. She saw two other people jump down the manhole, and with one glance over her shoulder at the crowd behind her, she jumped as well. Only time would tell if this choice of hers had been foolish, or saved her life. She hadn't truly thought it over, merely taken the first option that seemed to hold any amount of safety. Later, she would likely regret this decision, as she had no light, and no way to navagate the maze that was the sewers. In and instant, everything was dark as the light from above was cut off, save for the circle of the manhole above. Nothing filled her mind as she fell, only a strange sense of calm. The sounds from above seemed muted in this dark place. The only thought that even crossed Lily's mind was, I should have climbed rather than jumped. Hopefully, she wouldn't be too hurt by her fall.

Lily's heart pounded heavily in her chest as everything went back. Her head turned, first left, then right, then back again. She did this for a few minutes, trying to calm her nerves and decide where to go. The stench that reached her didn't seem to bother her as much, she was likely growing accustomed to the smell, or she was too scared to care. All her life she had put on the tough girl act, as though nothing phased. Yet her she lie, below the surface, alone and never more terrified in her life. She shivered slightly, rocking back and forth. One foot slipped out and nudged the creature. She couldn't help herself. She let out a scream and scurryed backwards, hitting the rounded wall behind her. For a moment she simply knelt there, like a terrified child, whimpering and shaking in fear. Nothing like this had ever happened to her, she only wished she were not alone.

After only a few seconds, she found her whits and remembered that she had seen two others come down here. She took a slow, shuddering breath, forcing her fear from her mind, clearing it for the time being. She looked down on direction, where small bits of light showed where the manholes were. She then turned her head, and saw in the other direction, a small flashing light. Her heart lifted slightly and she forced herself to her feet, her hand staying on the wall as a guide. She slowly walked away from the still creature, pushing the thoughts of it from her mind, focusing only on the light. She hoped that the light was a person, if only to keep her from being alone. Her body still shook slightly, but she was starting to regain control.

Lily saw the figures and her heart skipped a beat. She could have leapt with joy, if she thought she wouldn't fall over. She never let her hand leave the wall, though her pace quickened. She had to hurry, or else she might loose the only other people that seemed to be down here. She could just make out where there was another bend in the tunnel, and they were so close to it. She had to get their attention, but was it wise to yell out? What if more creatures lurked in the darkness? She bit her lip as she now broke into a light jog, still unsure of what she could do. Under each manhole the sounds from above met her ears, but she blocked them out as best she could. She focused on that light, the point to which she had to get. The other two appeared to be walking, so perhaps she could cover the distance before she lost them. She could hear their voices, yet she couldn't hear what they were saying. Finally, she could take it no longer, she had to call out. "Hey. Stop, please wait." Her voice was not loud, she was still a little aprehensive. However, though her voice was quiet, it seemed to echo around her in the tunnel. It was likely the other two wouldn't hear her exact words, but maybe they would just hear her voice. "Hey!" She said it louder, almost a yell.