Back in the Red
So I touch down in the UK. Get a train (the Heathrow express. It's actually quite nice) into London, and wonder down to the tube with my luggage. It's very early, not that many people. A train rumbles into the station. I wearily stumble onto it, and, well.... sit down.
There I am, sat on the tube. Going from Paddington to Aldgate (the wonders of the Circle line!). I'm very comfortable here. The feel and sound of the London Underground are all wonderfully familiar. A strange part of me feels at home. I'm reading a book, which is one of my favorite things to do when I'm alone, and reclining in my seat. I shall be at work soon, and I shall see my friends and be merry and oh what larks I will have.
I turn the page.
The train stops in a tunnel.
I turn a page.
I turn a page.
I turn a page.
The little part of me that felt like it was at home gasps.
Suddenly the walls begin to close in. I swear I can smell the evil sickly smell of sulphur in the air.
The nice looking girl on the seat in front of me me speaks:
"I want to eat your soul"
Rather bloody inconvenient. She smiles at me, all pointy, needly teeth. I... hit her. Hit her with the hefty book I was reading, showing a darn sight more disrespect to the publication that I would like, but needs must. Her head lolls back, bloody spraying the window behind her, bubbling on the glass. The other passengers are looking at us. They all have long nails, pointy teeth; the daemonic horde surges towards me. I really hope the book doesn't get too battered, because it really is rather good.
The lights flicker.
The girl opposite me is, of course, normal and unbeaten... but you knew that. The book is undamaged in my hand. I am tired; however I know this... London wants to kill me.
We are still in the tunnel.
The PA coughs to life. As always you can't actually hear what the driver says, but you can get an impression of what the archaic technology is trying to convey.
There is a signal failure, we'll be terminating at the next stop. Terminated. Is this a warning?
The girl in front smiles at me, and points to my luggage.
"Just got into London?"
"Just got back, yeah."
"Ha. Welcome home."
The train deposits us, moves on. She gets off in front of me. I fancy I can see a little daemonic tail, but you can never be too sure.
Interestingly enough the station we are at is Edgware Road. One of the places that was bombed back in July. I'm on my way to Aldgate, another bomb site...
This place wants me dead. Welcome back Kris. Someone save me soon, for I hate it here, and I think here knows it, and really, really isn't happy about it.