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All sounds and sensations fell away except for your psychic connection to the Web. You focused on the distant potential dangers lurking within the city. Somewhere out there, you felt the familiar looming dread of Terminal’s presence. He was far enough away that you didn’t really have to worry about him, but the thought of something so dangerous walking among you was terrifying in and of itself.
You focused on pushing your senses deeper and further and…you felt something. It was faint, but clearly a potential threat. It was…underground?
You stumbled around, feeling for secret passages or hidden doors, but found nothing so obvious. However, when you went to touch the nearby wall connected to the bridge above you, your hand sank in several inches! You yanked it away quickly, flexing your fingers in confusion and examining the wall closely.
<span class="mu-r">“Terminal,”</span> you whispered into your comm. <span class="mu-r">“The target’s disappeared, but I think I know how to find her. I’m not sure how good my reception’s gonna be in there, so I’m letting you know now.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Roger that. I’ve got a bead on your current location.”</span> he confirmed. <span class="mu-r">“Try not to die. It’ll be a pain to pick up the trail again if you do.”</span>
It shouldn’t have been a comfort, but knowing that the Silvertongue would have to deal with a walking, radioactive biohazard if it got the jump on you was slightly reassuring.
You took a deep breath, steeled your resolve and placed another hand on the wall. It rippled and flowed like a liquid, but it seemed to have a slightly squishy consistency.
<span class="mu-r">“Alright. I’m going in.”</span> you declared, before plunging your arm into the thing. It felt like reaching into a pool of jell-o.
After a few seconds, you confirmed that you arm hadn’t disintegrated or been crushed, and you put a leg in. A few seconds later, you slipped a portion of your torso into the gelatinous wall, and finally, your head. All sound and light was muffled and smothered for several excruciating moments, and you began to worry that you’d be trapped in here forever. But soon enough, you were slipping out through the other side, strands of wall still clinging to your body as you emerged with a wet squelch.
Beyond the wall, you saw a long, dark tunnel, submerged in inky darkness. As the prospect of stumbling around in the dark didn’t appeal to you, you took the risk of activating your spider signal and shined it around the room. It appeared to be an unused part of the subway system, long abandoned like some ancient, decrepit catacomb. Glancing around, you spotted something glinting in the distance.
Slowly, carefully, you approached the object. It was a large, iron gate with a cluster of metal snakes interwoven through its bars in intricate patterns. There didn’t seem to be a key anywhere, and you couldn’t see a way to open it that didn’t involve force. You were certain that the girl passed through here.
(Cont.)
