Read Online End Day by James Axler - Free Book Online

Ryan told her.
    The trail the enforcers left behind was easy to follow, even in a full-out sprint. It consisted of broken bodies—some still crawling, most not. It led them through a doorway and down a long flight of stairs.
    As Ryan stepped onto the empty platform, a shrill horn sounded. In front of him, the low silver train was already in motion to the right. He got a quick but unmistakable glimpse of purple-hooded behemoths clogging the middle of one of the cars before the train disappeared into the tunnel.
    Across the tracks, beyond the row of ceiling supports, the opposite platform was empty—no passengers, no train.
    â€œWhat do we do now?” Ricky asked.
    Ryan turned to the woman with the unholstered, tiger-striped blaster. She didn’t look rattled by what she’d just seen, which surprised him. She looked really, really pissed off. “Which way is that train headed?”
    â€œNorth to Herald Square,” she said.
    â€œHow many stops in that direction?” Mildred asked.
    â€œIt isn’t the number of stops,” the woman said. “They could get off anywhere, change trains, reverse direction. If you don’t know where they’re going...”
    â€œWe don’t know where they’re going or why,” Ryan said.
    â€œNukin’ hell!” J.B. exclaimed, screwing down his fedora with one hand. “We did this for nothing? We’re going to die for nothing?”
    â€œAttention,” a voice bellowed through the speakers above the platform. “Attention, all subway passengers. This station is being cleared for security reasons. Repeat, this station is being cleared for security reasons. Until the procedure is complete, no more trains will be stopping here. For your own safety and the safety of those around you, please remain calm and follow the signs to the nearest street exit. If you need help, NYPD officers will be available to assist you.”
    â€œWhat’s going on?” Krysty asked.
    â€œThe ESU is about to clean house,” the woman with the tiger-striped blaster said as the announcement began to repeat.
    â€œCombat-trained, militarized police,” Mildred explained. “Automatic weapons. Grenades. Snipers. Explosives.”
    â€œThis place is about to be assaulted by men in black uniforms, battle helmets and armored vests,” the woman added. “They will see us as armed suspects at the scene of a mass murder or terrorist attack. They will shoot on sight. We have two choices. Abandon our weapons now, blend in with the other passengers as best we can before they sweep in and hope to hell they don’t review the station’s closed circuit video before we manage to get out—”
    â€œWe’re not going to throw away our blasters,” J.B. interrupted.
    â€œThat’s a nonstarter,” Mildred agreed.
    â€œThe other choice is to follow the purple hoodies down the tunnel,” the woman said.
    â€œBut they are on a train, my dear, and we are on foot,” Doc said.
    â€œI don’t mean follow them down the tunnel to catch them,” the woman stated. “I mean go down the tunnel to get out of here. ESU will clear the station first and then move on to the tunnels. If you want to keep your guns and stay alive, we have to escape while they’re busy elsewhere.”
    â€œDo you know the way?” Ryan asked.
    â€œYeah, as a matter of fact, I do,” the woman said as she holstered the big gold blaster. “Follow me. My name’s Veronica, by the way. Veronica Currant. But you can call me Vee.”
    They quickly exchanged names; there was no time for handshakes.
    Overhead the loudspeaker voice boomed, “Attention subway passengers. Attention subway passengers. If you are injured and unable to move or find yourself trapped, please remain calm. Do not resist the approaching armed police officers. Obey all their commands. They will take you to safety and medical help as quickly