Read Online My Apocalypse (Book 1): The Fall by Edward J. Eaton II - Free Book Online

drifted. I wondered why these people were so worried about me, why they seemed to think I was special. I was just a poor wretch, an unemployed idiot, which was trying to take care of, and get back to, his family. The most important thing I had ever done in my life was make the decision to quit using drugs, and hook up with my beloved. There was nothing special here.
    I was pulled back to reality by Alec’s touch on my arm. He waved the penlight towards the opening. I looked at the small hole, like a pitch mouth opening to swallow me, sighed, and ducked inside.

 
    16.
     
    Claustrophobia set in almost immediately. The corridor was so small, I had to crawl to make it through, and I could feel the pack on my back scratching the ceiling every so often. I could feel my heart begin to race, and sweat formed on my brow. I stopped suddenly, and Alec ran full force right into my back end.
    “What’s the matter?” he whispered, though in this confined space, it almost seemed like he was screaming.
    “I can’t do this.” I responded. “I’m not the fondest of tight places. I can’t breathe. I can’t think. I have to go back.”
    “Look,” Alec began, the exasperation easily heard in his voice, “just stays calm and keep going. The passage opens up here after a few more feet. You’ll be fine.”
    I took a few seconds to calm myself, shutting my eyes tight and taking more than a few deep breaths. After, I started back on my way, still more than a little shaken.
    We rounded a corner, than made a left turn around another. I was starting to feel the pressure coming on again, and was just about to say something to Alec, when, like he had told me, the passageway opened up.
    Right out from underneath me.
    I pitched forwards, my hands no longer touching ground, and began to fall. I called out, hearing my voice echo off of walls that I could not see. I vaguely heard Alec gasp, than felt his hands grab hold of my belt. He grunted as he pulled his smaller frame barely able to hold my two hundred and fifty pound bulk. When finally back to a safer area, I heard him panting, and then saw the penlight flash on.
    “Sorry man,” he said to me, a large devilish grin forming on his face. “Guess I probably should have warned ya. Or at least went first, right?”
    I couldn’t do anything but stare at him.
    “Sorry.” He said once again. “Let me go first. We have to go down two floors, then there’s another passageway.”
    “Go… Down…” I looked back towards the spot that I almost fell down. Alec swung the light the same direction, and I looked over the edge.
    We sat on the edge of an elevator shaft. I was hit by a wave of vertigo almost instantly, looking down and seeing nothing but open space beneath me. Alec's small light could not even penetrate the darkness; it was so total and deep. I sat back against the wall of the tiny passage, breathing hard and slamming my eyes tightly shut.
    “Now what’s the matter?” Alec asked me.
    “I’m not to incredibly fond of heights.” I responded.
    “Seriously?” he inquired. “You are afraid of heights?”
    “Not so much. I am more afraid of the sudden stop at the bottom of the heights. That hurts.”
    “Jesus,” Alec’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Is there anything else that I should know before we continue?”
    “Nope,” I said, finally catching my breath. “That’s about it.”
    “All right then,” Alec let out a hard breath before he continued. “We have two floors to go down, like I said before. We’ll end up on top of the right most elevators. The passage is to the cabs right, and it’s a bit of a squeeze, but manageable.
    “You ready?”
    “As ready as I’ll ever be.” I replied as I nodded.
    I gasped as he pushed past me, swinging over the edge like there was nothing to be worried about, disappearing into the darkness. I went and looked over the edge, and he was looking up at me, that devilish grin once more on his face. He chuckled a little and then