Age of Silence - bloodlines
Chapter 8

Schlesischen Tor in Kreuzberg was a densely populated area of Berlin, brimming with creative expression, structures blanketed in graffiti. Tattoos covered the bodies of many of the humans walking around in the area. From street vendors and drug dealers to artists, this place had it all. Like many areas in the city, rust and erosion tarnished many of the structures. Roads were broken, buildings crumbled. Mari stepped off of the train, the frigid air biting at her face. She wrapped a scarf around her neck and walked with the herd of people out of the station.

She decided to start underground, at least she could appreciate some art while moving at a slow pace while walking with the crowd. One could find just about everything in these parts from artwork, old records, jewelry, and clothes to firearms and drugs.

Mari crossed the street and walked over to the entrance. Above the stairs was a blue sign that read, “U.”

Mari didn’t know where to look. As she walked through the crammed path, she decided to let her feelings guide her. Coming here just felt right, and as she made her way through the underground maze she passed by merchant tables filled with little trinkets and goods for sale or trade. Mari walked by a table that grabbed her attention, on it, there were tapestries made of geometrical shapes and symbols made of clay. People were more and more into ancient symbols and the effect of geometrical patterns on our lives. A digital currency replaced paper money not too long ago. In an attempt to take back control a growing number of people had gone back to a barter system. She walked by a woman in her twenties with a shaved head and colorful tattoos playing an old tune by The Rolling Stones, “Wild Horses,” on her acoustic guitar.

The government tried to crack down on this festive area, but they had more dire issues to attend to, as the city was infested with an alarming spike in crime and murder. Mari loved coming here because here she felt a sense of freedom, even tough it vanished the moment she left the area. To come down here and soak up the vibrant atmosphere and creativity was why she and her friends came here often. But today she wasn’t here for fun. The dread she felt from Justice’s death grew darker, the more she thought about it. Pain and sadness inside her belly grew stronger, all she could think about was revenge, and hate. If she found who had done this to him, she wanted to kill them. As she progressed down the path, she wound around the twisting cave. Just as she was about to take one more turn around a corner, she bumped into someone, slamming him into the wall.

“I’m so sorry,” gasped Mari.

“It’s quite all right, li’l lady,” a short old man with a long grey beard said with a smile and a southern American accent. He wore a long garnet robe and a hat that looked like a wizard’s hat from ancient times. She loved watching movies about wizards, faery’s and warriors. She chuckled to herself thinking how cute it looked on the old man.

He brushed off his coat and fixed his hat. “What are ya seeking darlin?”

Amused by his quirky voice and unique look, she smiled. “What makes you think I’m looking for something?”

“When you bumped into me, your energy field was that of seeking and hunting.”

Mari felt nervous that he could know that just by running into her. “You could tell just by me touching you?”

“it tis both my gift and curse,” He said as he stared at the ground.

“My friend was murdered at a club last week, have you heard anyone bragging about that?”

“Oh my lord. I have not heard, but you are right to come here. The underground is full of bumbling boasters.”

“Where should I look?”

“I did not sense that you were looking for your friend’s killer. From you I sense much more.”

“What did you feel?”

“Behind the wall of your rage lies a purpose important to our world.”

Jesus, more people talking about my purpose? “I’m getting tired of people telling me I have a purpose.” Just as she spoke, Mari felt a cold darkness breathing behind her. She froze and looked out the corner of her eye.

“What is it li’l lady?”

Her eyes widened, normally she wouldn’t mention anything but she had the sense that the old man would believe her. “I think a shadow person is behind me.”

The man looked behind her shoulder “I’m afraid you’re right.”

She felt scared. “What do I do?”

The old man looked at her, his wrinkled glassy eyes. “Find the courage to walk into the fear of your soul.”

Her body stiffened. “But what the hell do I do about this shadow person breathing on my neck?”

“Ask it what it wants.”

Mari had a blank expression on her face. “Doesn’t it just want to kill me?”

“Yes, but sometimes, a shadow person can reveal useful information”

“Sweet,” she said as she rolled her eyes. “How do I ask it?”

“My Lady. You have to try something before it pulls you into another dimension.”

The breath on her neck was hotter, it felt closer. Tears started to stream down her cheeks.

Gunshots in the distance fired and lodged into the walls, and screams wrapped around the cave halls. The old man’s eyes trembled as he looked at her. man.

His eyes shifted from side to side as people ran by. “Go lil lady, go.”

He looked at her one last time, hung his head and blended in with the crowd of people rushing by. As she watched him drift way, she worried that would be killed. Mari felt the breath again, then she sprinted down the dark hallway, trying to run away from it and the stray shots.

Bullets lodged in the walls, and screams of panic rang throughout the underground. Mari had to get out of there fast, because when she peaked over her shoulder she caught a glimpse of the gunmen…they were heading in her direction. All she could hear were screams, and flying bullets, the cavernous pathways transformed into a hunting ground of the innocent. People were pushing and shoving each as they struggled to escape. Moments like these revealed the true character of an individual, and although some acted heroic, most demonstrated coward’s heart, selfish and weak. In the midst of struggling to get away, she couldn’t help but think about how this place was packed with the thick stench of spineless humans only fending for themselves.

She knew most people had suddenly changed from acting like decent humans to vicious sheep. So she shoved people out of the way. They shot dirty looks at her as she made her way through the wall of humans. More gunshots, this time they were louder. Moans and screams amplified, all she could hear was the piercing cries, and bodies dropping to the ground.

I’ve got to move faster or I’m not going to make it. It was taking forever for her to get around the bends of the underground, and she still had a way to go before she would be able to see daylight. Her heart pounded hard against her chest. And the only thing she could think about was getting out. But the herd was moving so slowly that she realized she wouldn’t be able to make it out alive at this pace. As she continued to shove her way through the sea of people her feet got tangled with someone next to her, and the two tumbled to the ground. Nobody stopped to help, they just stepped over them as they trudged by. Mari braced herself as feet stomped on her body.

Another cluster of bullets hummed by. Moments later another round was fired, this time a bullet pierced the flesh of the person that Mari had fallen to the ground with.

“I can’t die like this,” she mumbled. Mari picked herself up and this time she weaved in and out of the crowd with a swift violence. No more worrying if people were upset with her shoving them out of the way, she was not going to die because of these people couldn’t think clearly and run fast enough. Mari shoved with force, as more bullets unloaded into the crowd, and more people dove to the ground. Inside these cave walls all that seemed audible was the sound of screams and bullets penetrating flesh and stone.

Then a voice sliced through the noise.

“Everybody get down on the ground! Do, it and we’ll spare your life. We are only looking for someone. Get in our way we will kill you.”

Her mind raced. She had a sinking feeling they were looking for her.

Mari spotted light just around the corner. An exit was close. One more bend around the hallway and she’d be out. But with everybody on the ground, she would be spotted if she got up, but she had to try.

“There she is!”

A bullet zipped by her, hitting a man behind her.

“My leg,” he screamed.

“Fuck,” Mari yelled out and ran faster.

She dived around the corner just as a bullet pulverized a section of the rock wall. She scampered as fast as she could, never before had she run this fast, but getting to the end of the tunnel felt like an eternity. Her legs felt like slabs of brick, and she was losing energy.

Two more shots scraped the walls next to her. She was almost to the end, but doubt crept in that she would not be able to make it. Getting closer now, she checked over her shoulder to see how far behind they were and spotted one of them at the end of the tunnel. Finally she was near the end. Another bullet zipped by, bouncing off the metal of the ladder she was about to grab. She lunged again for the ladder, but a bullet hit and she moved her hand away.

She paused to think, Mari knew she had to at least try. “Screw it.” Mari jumped toward the ladder again and this time the bullet was off the mark and she climbed up to street level. She emerged from the underground before one more bullet splattered on the wall just beneath her boots. Panting and sweating but with no time to stop now, she quickly surveyed the area to see if anymore gunman were in sight. Music filled the air as, she saw people dancing and laughing as if nothing had happened. Strange— Maybe they didn’t hear it?”

Murky water drained down the sodden cracked streets, she glanced at the grey sky as she walked by a man begging for food, his dog was boney and it’s eyes were droopy. Sometimes she stopped to talk to homeless people, she was angered that not everyone had enough food, and shelter. But there was no time to stop now. Her heartbeat pounded so fast she worried it would never slow down. She had to get out of here, as her feet splashed quickly across the stone road she knew they couldn’t be far behind her.

Another burst of screaming permeated the air from the opposite end of the street. She turned around and spotted two men with guns frantically looking around. A woman with a gun emerged from the exit she had escaped from. She spotted Mari.

“She there.” The woman said as she ran after her, and the other two followed.

Mari darted down the street heading toward the underground station a couple blocks away. She sprinted down the stairs, dodging people in the crowded station made of stone and metal. Mari pushed ahead, scanned her wrist to gain access, and hurried down to the track leading to her neighborhood. The train was on the landing and about to leave. Mari skipped steps and leapt down the stairs to the terminal platform, jumping into the train just as its doors slammed shut. Panting hard with eyes wide open she looked around to make sure the woman was not onboard Then Mari looked out the window and saw two men and the woman flashing into view as they sprinted down the stairs. She locked eyes with the woman as the train sped off. Déjà vu hit her. That’s weird. I recognize her. Is that the woman Justice met at the club?”

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