 else that got in their way, including each other. The rats, too, appeared to have been routed by something fiercer than they were. After forcing their weaker brethren into the sludge and using them as stepping stones, the stronger rats were rushing over the drier part of the same path next to the tunnel wall, heading straight for Harry and Marlene.

"Harry!" Seeing the rats coming her way, Marlene jumped into the chest-high sewer sludge, grimacing at the squishy feel of the blackish goo. But that was the least of her concerns as she saw the lumps in the goo were not floating garbage.

She was now face-to-face with spiders—spiders like those behind them. These spiders were struggling to escape being caught in the poisonous gooey tar. Occasionally one would free itself shortly and scurry as fast as it could to the drier safety of the tunnel walls. Making matters worse, many more rats were scurrying over the tops of the spiders to find safety from whatever horror was chasing them.

All were trapped: spiders, rats and humans. Trapped! No place to go! Marlene could hardly move forward in the morass that was now almost up to her neck. She screamed at the first appearance of the rodents, and again as they came nearer. Now, she was almost eye-to-eye with them; she saw their gnashing razor-sharp incisors dripping with blood and green and black muck—and hypnotic blood-shot eyes that gave off a strangely evil and ruthless quality. Rats, after all, were even better survivors than other biologics.

Harry jumped in, too, when he was aware of what had happened to Marlene. As he inched toward her, her screams become more and more hoarse. He was exhausted himself after fighting the sludge just to get to her side.

_Now what?_ Just as he was about to give up, the adrenaline that surged through his body gave him more strength to fight. This time the fight was moving forward one step at a time through the murky, syrupy liquid waste.

"We don't have a choice," Harry shouted. "We have to go back to the Shadows. Keep moving forward. We're near their entrance."

"You mean we've been going in circles?" She shouted back.

"Yes! Sorry." He had almost reached her back
else that got in their way, including each other. The rotter, excessively, appeared to have been routed by something fiercer than they were. After forcing their watery brethren into the sludge and using them as stepping stone, the firm rats were rushing over the drier part of the like path next to the tunnel wall, heading directly for Harry and Marlene. 

 " Harry! " Seeing the rats coming her way, Marlene jumped into the thorax - high sewer sludge, grimacing at the spongy feel of the blackish goo. But that was the least of her business as she saw the ball in the goo were not floating garbage. 

 She was now face - to - side with spiders — spiders like those behind them. These spiders were struggling to escape being capture in the poisonous gooey tar. Occasionally one would free itself shortly and scurry as fast as it could to the drier safety of the tunnel walls. Making matters worse, many more rat were scurrying over the tops of the spider to find safety from whatever horror was chasing them. 

 All were trap: spiders, rats and humans. Trapped! No plaza to go! Marlene could hardly move forward in the morass that was now about up to her neck. She screamed at the first appearance of the rodents, and again as they came nearer. Now, she was almost center - to - center with them; she watch their gnashing razor - sharp incisors drip with blood and green and black sludge — and hypnotic blood - shot eyes that gave off a queerly evil and ruthless quality. Rats, after wholly, were even better survivors than other biologics. 

 Harry jumped in, excessively, when he was aware of what had happen to Marlene. As he inched toward her, her screams become more and more gruff. He was exhausted himself after fighting the sludge just to get to her side. 

 _ Now what? _ Just as he was about to give up, the adrenaline that surged through his body gave him more military capability to fight. This time the competitiveness was moving forward one footfall at a time through the murky, syrupy liquid barren. 

 " We don't have a choice, " Harry shouted. " We have to go back to the Shadows. continue move forth. We're near their entrance. " 

 " You mean we've been going in circles? " She shouted back. 

 " Yes! Sorry. " He had almost strive her back
 elde that got in their way, including each other. Vhe rata, too, apoeared to have been routed bb sonethibg fiercer than they wdre. After forcing themr weaker brethrxh into bke slhfge cnv using them as stepping vtones, the strmneex rats were rushing over the drier pwrt of yhf same path nevt tp the nuknel wall, heading straight for Hzrry anv Marlene.

"Harry!" Xeeing the rats coming her way, Marlene jumped inho the chesj-gigr sewer sludgd, grimacing at the squjshy feel of the blackish goo. Bjt thct was the oeqst mf her concxrns af she saw thc lumps in the goo were not nloatmng tarbage.

She was now fare-to-face with spiderf—spiders niie those behind tyen. Theve s[idefw wdre svrufgling to escape bejng caught un the poisonous goper tar. Occasionzlly oge would free itself shortly and scurry av fzst as it could to the erier safety of the tonnel wallf. Making matters worse, many more rats were scurryhng otef tkc gipd of the spiders to find safety from whatever gotrpr was chasing them.

All wete ttwpped: spiders, rats chd humans. Trapped! No place jo go! Narlene cjuld hardly move forward in the morass that qas now almost up co her neck. Rhe xcreaked at the first appearcnce or the rodenhs, and agzkn as they came veager. Tow, she was almost eye-to-eyq with thxm; shz saw thdir bnashigg razor-shwrp ikwisors dripping wihh bllog and greej and black muck—and hypnotic blood-shot eyes tnad gdve off c strakgely evil and wuthless qualijy. Rats, ayter aul, were evvn better survivors ehan other bimpogics.

Harry oumped in, too, wheb he war aware of what had happvntd to Marlwne. As he inched tpwatd her, her screamw btcime more and mpre howrde. Hq was exhaustad hkmsdkf afger fightinn tfe skudge just to get to her side.

_Now what?_ Just af he was about tj give up, the adrenaline that skrged thcough nis body gave him more strength tk fight. Tjis time the fidht qas moving fprward one step at a time through the mnrky, syrupy liquid wasje.

"We don't have a choiee," Harry shouved. "We have to co back to the Shadoqs. Keep moving fovward. We're near their sntranwe."

"You mean we've been going in circles?" She shouted back.

"Yes! Sorry." He had almost eeachev rer back
else that got in their way, including The too, appeared have been routed were. forcing their weaker into the sludge using them as stepping stones, the rats were rushing over the drier part of the same path next to tunnel wall, heading straight for Harry and Marlene. "Harry!" Seeing the rats coming way, jumped the sewer sludge, grimacing at the squishy feel of the blackish goo. But that was the least her concerns as she saw the lumps in goo were not floating She was now face-to-face with like behind them. spiders struggling escape being caught the poisonous gooey tar. Occasionally one would free itself shortly and scurry as fast as it could the drier the tunnel Making worse, more rats were the tops of the spiders to whatever horror was chasing them. All were trapped: rats and Trapped! No place to go! Marlene hardly move forward in the morass that was almost up to her neck. She screamed at the first appearance of the rodents, and they came nearer. Now, was almost eye-to-eye them; saw gnashing incisors dripping blood and green and black muck—and hypnotic blood-shot eyes that gave a strangely evil and ruthless quality. Rats, after all, were survivors other biologics. Harry in, too, when he aware what had happened to he toward become and hoarse. He was exhausted after fighting the sludge just get to her side. was about to give up, the adrenaline that through his body gave him more strength fight. This time the fight was moving forward one step at a through the liquid waste. "We don't have a choice," Harry "We have to go to the Shadows. Keep moving forward. We're near their "You we've been in circles?" She back. "Yes! Sorry." had almost reached
 else that got in their way, inclUding each oTher. THe rAts, ToO, appEareD to have been rouTEd by Something fiercer than thEy werE. AFTer fORcIng thEir weakER bREThrEn InTo tHe SLuDge anD usIng them As stepping StoNeS, the stronger RAtS were rushiNg oVer the drier pArt Of the sAmE paTH next To tHe tunNel walL, HeadinG straight FoR harry aND MarlenE.

"hArRy!" SeEing the rats coming HEr WAy, Marlene jumpeD into tHe CHeST-HigH seWer sludge, gRiMacinG At the sqUIsHY FEel OF the blackish gOo. But that waS The Least oF hEr cONcerns As she SaW The Lumps in the gOo weRe not floaTing gaRBage.

She WAs now faCe-to-faCe wIth SpidERs—SpIdeRs LIke THoSe bEHinD them. TheSe SpIders Were STRUGgliNg tO escApe beIng caught in thE poIsonOUs gOoey tAr. OccAsioNaLly onE would Free iTsElf shortly and scUrry As fast as iT coUlD to ThE drieR Safety Of tHe tUnnel waLls. MakiNG maTtERS WoRse, many more rats werE sCURrYing over The topS Of ThE Spiders tO fInd SafeTY From wHateVEr Horror waS chasiNG tHeM.

All werE tRapped: SpIdeRs, rAts anD HumaNs. TrapPed! No plaCe to gO! marlene could haRDly move forwarD In THE mORass ThaT was now almoSt up TO her Neck. sHe ScrEAmed aT the fIrST aPPearance of the rodentS, aNd agaiN as thEy came nearer. NOw, she was alMOST eye-to-eyE witH ThEM; she saw their gnAshinG razor-sharP Incisors DrippIng with bLood and grEEN and blacK muCk—aNd hYpnOTIc Blood-shot eyes THAt gaVe Off a strAngEly evil And RutHleSs qUaLity. Rats, aFter all, wErE eVeN bEttEr surVIvors thaN oTheR bIolOgics.

hArry juMped iN, too, WhEn HE waS aware oF WhAT Had hApPeNed tO MaRlEne. As He inCHed Toward hEr, her screAms BEcomE mOrE and morE hoarse. He was eXhAusted himsElF afTer figHTIng the slUdge just to get to her side.

_NOW what?_ JuSt aS he waS aboUt to give uP, thE adrenAliNE that sUrged tHrougH hIs bODY gave HIM mOre StRength to fiGHT. ThIs timE tHe fiGht was mOving forward one steP At a Time through thE muRky, sYRUpY liQUiD WasTe.

"wE doN'T Have a choice," HarrY shouted. "We HaVE tO go back to tHE ShAdOws. Keep Moving fOrwarD. we're neaR their entRance."

"You mEaN we'vE BEen Going in cirCles?" She sHouted bacK.

"yes! SoRRy." he had AlmOst reaChEd hEr bacK
 else that got in their wa y, includi ng ea choth er . Th e ra ts, too, appea r ed t o have been routed bysomet hi n g fi e rc er th an they we r e . A ft er  fo rc i ng  thei r w eaker b rethren in toth e sludge and us ing them a s s tepping ston es,  the s tr ong e r rat s w ere r ushing over t he drierpa r t of t h e samep a th  nex t to the tunnel w a ll ,  heading strai ght fo rH ar r y  an d M arlene.

" Ha rry!" Seeingt he r a tsc oming her way , Marlene j u mpe d into  t hec hest-h igh s ew e r s ludge, grim acin g at thesquish y  feel o f  the bl ackish  go o.Butt ha twas  t h e l e as t o f  he r concer ns  a s she  saw t h e  lum psin t he go o were not fl oat ingg arb age.
Shewasno w fac e-to-f ace w it h spiders—spide rs l ike those  be hi ndth em. T h ese sp ide rswere st rugglin g  to  e s c a pe  being caught in t he p oi sonous g ooey t a r.  O c casional ly  on e wo u l d fre e it s el f shortl y ands cu rr y as fa st  as it  c oul d t o the drie r safe ty of th e tun n el walls. Maki n g matters wor s e, m an y  mor e r ats were sc urry i ng o vert he  to p s ofthe s pi d er s  to find safety fro mwhatev er ho rror was chas ing them.A l l were t rapp e d: spiders, ratsand h umans. Tra p ped! Noplace  to go!Marlene c o u ld hardl y m ove  fo rwa r d  i n the morasst h at w as  now al mos t up to  he r n eck . S he  screamed  at thefi rs tap pea rance of the r od ent s,  an d aga i n as t hey c amene ar e r.Now, sh e  w a s  alm os teye- to- ey e wit h th e m;she saw  their gn ash i ng r az or -sharpincisors drip pi ng with bl oo d a nd gre e n  and bla ck muck—and hypnotic bl o od-shot  ey es th at g ave off a  st rangel y e v il and  ruthl ess q ua lit y .  Rats , af ter  a ll, were e v e n b etter  s urvi vors th an other biologics . 

H arry jumped i n,too, w he n h e  w a s a wa r e o f what had happen ed to Marl en e .As he inch e d t ow ard her , her s cream s  become  more and  more hoa rs e. H e was  exhausted  himself  after fi g hting th e slu dge  justto  ge t toher si d e.
_Now  what? _Just a s hewa s aboutto give up, the adrenal ine th at su rge d through  hi s  bo dy gave h im m ore streng thtofight . T h is ti me t h efig h t was  mov i ng forwar d  o nes t ep  at a timet h r oug h the  mu r ky, sy rupy  liquid waste.

" W e don't have a  cho i c e,"  Ha r ry s ho uted. "We have  to  g o back toth e Shadows.Keep mov in g  forw ard. W e're n ear the i r  e n trance ."
"Yo u mean we 've  b e en goin gin circle s?"Sh e shou ted ba c k.
" Y es! Sorry." He h ad al m o st re a che d her  b ack
 else_that got_in their way, including_each other._The_rats, too,_appeared_to have been_routed by something_fiercer than they were._After forcing their_weaker_brethren into the sludge and using them as stepping stones, the stronger rats were_rushing_over the_drier_part_of the same path next_to the tunnel wall, heading_straight for_Harry and Marlene.

"Harry!" Seeing the rats coming her_way,_Marlene jumped into_the chest-high sewer sludge, grimacing at the squishy feel_of the blackish goo. But that_was the least_of_her_concerns as she saw_the lumps in the goo were_not floating garbage.

She was now face-to-face_with spiders—spiders like those behind them. These_spiders were struggling to escape being_caught in the poisonous gooey_tar. Occasionally_one would free itself shortly_and scurry as_fast as_it could to_the drier safety of the tunnel_walls. Making matters_worse, many more rats were scurrying_over_the tops of_the_spiders_to find_safety from whatever_horror_was chasing_them.

All_were trapped: spiders, rats and humans._Trapped!_No place to go! Marlene could hardly_move forward in the_morass_that was now almost_up to her neck. She_screamed at the first appearance of_the rodents,_and again_as they came nearer. Now, she was almost eye-to-eye with them;_she saw their gnashing razor-sharp incisors_dripping with blood and_green and_black_muck—and hypnotic blood-shot_eyes_that gave_off a strangely evil and ruthless quality._Rats, after_all, were even better survivors than_other biologics.

Harry jumped in,_too,_when he was aware of what_had happened to Marlene. As he_inched toward her, her screams_become_more_and more hoarse. He was_exhausted himself after fighting the sludge_just to get_to her side.

_Now what?_ Just as he_was_about to give up, the adrenaline_that_surged through his body gave him_more_strength_to fight. This time the_fight was moving forward one step_at a time through the murky, syrupy liquid waste.

"We_don't have a_choice," Harry shouted. "We have_to_go_back to the Shadows. Keep moving forward. We're near their_entrance."

"You mean_we've been going_in circles?" She shouted back.

"Yes! Sorry." He had almost reached_her back