City in ruins_02

Going down into that darkness with his makeshift torch that did not provide more light than is necessary to observe the ground beneath his feet. That was a very strange place, after a systematic review of each wall he noted the place consisted of several underground rooms connected and all fully underground, luckily also found that there was only one viable route by which that might have escaped, it was a long tunnel that go down even more in the depths and had several more stairs one large and comfortable and other with very high steps.

He descended further in the depths of the earth, after having descended the stairs and walk a few steps he found himself in a very long room, which seemed to be part of a tunnel. One end had collapsed and he could not continue, however at the other end of the tunnel, it continued farther that the torch light could illuminate.

The part he had come seemed to form a kind of platform while the tunnel ran to one side of this and about two feet below.
He jumped down from the platform and continued in the direction being taken by the tunnel, it was very strange, after take the first steps down the tunnel he ran into some hard object and fell on the ground covered with rocks, he try to move his feet when he feel the object  realized it was long bar, he search the floor and his hands felt another like object, on the floor seemed to be long beams, which apparently were placed in pairs and there seemed no end since continue indefinitely in the direction of the tunnel. By touching the beams realized that they were very cold, he place on his knees bend over and put his ear to the beam hitting it with one of his knuckles. The beam emitted a metallic sound, without a doubt the beams were made of metal.
What was this strange place but yet do not worry much about it. I raise the torch that had fallen to the ground and get up high to see the extensions in place.
The tunnel was high, maybe half high and two people appeared to have almost the same width, the roof seemed to form a bow and watching the walls of the tunnel I see two ways of rock next to these, unlike the center of the tunnel where beams and was found filled with small rocks and sticks.
He decided it was time to follow his path in the only direction in which lay the tunnel. The air did not have good smell and was loaded with excessive moisture, but the temperature was quite comfortable and was beginning to get used to the stench of the tunnel. The only thing that really bothered him was the similarity of the tunnel with the environment of the cave where he had been imprisoned for so long.

After walking for about half an hour, he could hear that something move ahead. He saw the creature at the distance, his eyes were clearly visible due to the light reflection. Already being static, and because of the light, the vague outline of the creature has made familiar. At first could he not believe what his mind was telling him, that being that has lived in the perpetual darkness of those tunnels was actually human.
Cautiously he approached, walking slowly and trying to enlighten as much as possible with the torch those passages. Realizing his presence, the other person turned around and stared at him, immobile from the darkness.

Moving closer, he saw that it was a girl or a boy, it was hard to tell by the dim light. But for the appearance of her face he realized she was a little girl, she was in bad shape and his clothes were torn and dirty. He could not imagine how she had survived in that city and in that tunnels so hostile to life.

At first she was frightened as he approached but seeing it was another person, the girl approached with curiosity.

While he examined the girl in the dim light of the torch he tried to say her some words, maybe she could tell her what had happened to the city, but got no response, rather than a startled face. she did not seem able to speak and certainly could not give answers to what happened to everyone else.
That girl was starving, no doubt that she had not eaten in days. At that moment he felt some compassion, picked up some of the planks on the floor and lit a small fire to take some heat and light, then remove the bag of his back and take out the snake he had caught and holding out his hand. She took the snake without hesitation and turned around to eat in silence.
It would have been his first meal in so long, however, he had withstood centuries of confinement without tasting any food, he could wait a couple more days. She needed the food more at that time, after all, he could not die.

She ate in silence, when finished she lay down next to the fire and fell asleep, soon he too leaned back and pondered for a while. It had no case to continue in the city, surely the girl was the only person who lived there and has survived without him and probably would survive when he left, then he got up and left the scene while the girl was still asleep.

The only thing that bothered him was the thought of leaving her alone to her fate, however there was no other solution,  he still had to find answers and he will not find them there. Walked his way back through the tunnels, trying not to take some unknown way and lost in the process, when reached the exit of those tunnels the sun was appearing on the horizon and could clearly see the faint glow of the sky as he climbed the last steps before reaching the outside. He breath some clean air and started walking back to the building where he planned to spend the night, when arrive the flame of the fire still burned slightly, he review the building and took everything that could serve him and left.
It was time to get going, once again had to travel alone, forever alone. Walking toward the limit of the city, turned around and took a last look at the mountain that had imprisoned him for so long, and the ruined city where he had found only solitude.

As he left the city eastward hear a faint sound behind him, when turn back sees in the distance the silhouette of the girl walk staggering in his direction.
- Maybe this time, I'm not travel alone – said to himself while waited, and outlined a slight smile on his face.