North End

by Jason Nevercott

  Chapter Eleven

  The shrieking continued as the tube went past, but the tube’s noise drowned much of it out. This was enough to get Tom moving out of his half paralysis. He grabbed Jodie. ‘Come on. We’ve got to go. They’ll be here soon!’

  He pushed her up through the hole and quickly followed after her. He then took her arm and hurried in the direction of the disused station on the left. He could see its lights at the end of the tunnel. His heart was racing: he had the creatures after him and the possibility of getting run over by a tube in front of him in a few minutes.

  Jodie was slowing him down. She was obviously exhausted, but Tom had to ignore her weak state; for her own good, he thought. She then stopped moving and Tom had to force her to do so again. This seemed to take ages. He was now almost dragging her. He could see she was weak but he had no choice.

  They reached the ‘southbound platform area’ and Tom could hear another tube coming. ‘Come on, Jodie. We’re not far now,’ he said, as he pulled her away from the track, towards the left-hand side of the station. All the time, Tom looked behind him for any sign of the creatures coming.

  The tube was getting louder and the tunnel windier all the time. They were now five metres away from the emergency stairway. Tom could see the tunnel begin to get a little brighter up ahead.

  They then reached the stairway. Tom helped Jodie up and onto the bottom of the wide stairs on the right. Here they rested as the tube went noisily by, the tunnel now very windy.

  Looking at Jodie, Tom recovered his breath and wondered whether she could go any further and if he would have to carry her after all. She looked awful, completely exhausted and obviously very dehydrated. He did not even bother to ask her how she felt. He could hear the tube rumble on in the distance.

  ‘We’ve got to go now Jodie. I know you don’t feel good. But the creatures will probably be here soon,’ he said as he got up and looked down at her. She said nothing and did not even look up at him.

  ‘Come on, give me your hand,’ he said reaching his down to her. He pulled her up and they went towards the bricked-off part of the tunnel. He could not hear the creatures behind him but was certain they would soon be there. They went down the stairs, round the concreted-off area, and then up again. After this they went through the t-junction passageway and up the 15 or so steps of the double staircase.

  They were going too slow, thought Tom; even he had to use the stair rail to help him ascend.

  They passed over the bridge passageway, half jogging/half walking; in the case of Jodie half stumbling. But the fear of the creatures kept Tom going with Jodie. As they left this passageway, Tom stopped and pulled shut its heavy door. He was tired and should not have really expended the energy in doing this but he remembered the last time he had been chased by the creatures. Their opening of this door had alerted him to how far they were behind him. This would be useful information.

  He grabbed Jodie again and moved off. She was nearly finished and he felt that he would have to carry her at any time. They reached and ascended the narrow staircase which led to the bottom of the shaft leading to the surface. Tom reluctantly stopped for a rest; Jodie could go no further.

  ‘This is the final part, Jodie. At the top of these steps lies freedom. We can do it.’ He was exhausted and dehydrated but he knew he had to encourage her somehow.

  They then began the long journey up the 197 steps. As before, Tom was in front pulling or mostly dragging Jodie behind him. After about six flights, Tom heard something which nearly made him fall backwards down the stairs: the door to the northbound bridge passageway door had just opened with a bang. The creatures were after them!

  Tom recovered himself and continued ascending the stairs. The creatures were still quite far away but he knew they would be in better shape than he and especially Jodie. They had to hurry or they would be caught.

  They got to the top of the staircase, and Tom stopped and looked down, catching his breath. His legs were now completely stiff and every step was an effort. God knows how Jodie is managing, he thought. She was sitting down with her arms around her knees, getting her breath back.

  He could see and hear some movement at the bottom of the stairs. He pulled Jodie up and they moved off past the lift door, through the open doorway to the final set of stairs. He felt Jodie stop behind him.

  ‘I can’t go on,’ she said in a weak dry raspy voice. ‘I’m...finished.’

  ‘Jodie, you must. Look, it’s only a few more flights of stairs and then we are out,’ Tom responded.

  ‘No...You go on...Save yourself,’ she feebly said.

  ‘Don’t be stupid. I’ll carry you,’ Tom said. He then put his head down, balanced her on his shoulder, stood up, and wrapped his right arm around the back of her legs to hold her. She was not very heavy, about seven stone, Tom thought. But it would be a long ascent up the stairs.

  He began. One step, two step, three steps, he counted in his head; he dared not think too far ahead. He used his left hand pulling him up to help his legs. He was exhausted but was determined to finish this rescue of Jodie. There was no way the creatures would get her again.

  After doing this for what seemed like ages, Tom came to the landing where the room to the lift engine was. His legs were completely stiff, his throat dry, and his lungs nearly finished, but he did not rest. The final hurdle, he thought to himself as he approached the last staircase. Jodie was silent.

  Each step was now a great effort and he thought the ascent would never end. He could hear the creatures behind him and knew they were getting nearer and nearer. He tried to put this out of his mind. Every part of his body ached and he had never felt so exhausted before. Finally, he was on the last flight and could see the small landing at the top.

  When he got there he balanced himself. The creatures were now only a couple of flights down. He approached the door with his left hand ready to push down the exit lever.

  ‘COMES BACK! COMES BACK!’ the creatures screamed below. He gulped with fear and rushed at the door. This time he put some force into it and it opened straight away. He stumbled outside, nearly falling down and dropping Jodie. He regained his balance but put her down. It was now raining quite heavily.

  ‘We’ve got to get over those gates,’ he shouted helping her and moving towards them. ‘Quick. They’ll be here soon. Put your foot in here,’ he said indicating the padlock hole. ‘Take hold of these spikes.’ He pushed her up. ‘Bend your knees before you land,’ he said quickly as she fell to the ground.

  He looked behind him. The creatures, thank God, had not arrived yet. He then hauled himself over the gates of the fenced off area of the surface building of North End.