My boots clanged noisily as they made the transition from stone to metal and I started my descent among the masses.
All I could hear was the pounding of feet which echoed dully in the confined space. The light was so dim that I had to stare at the steps beneath my feet, terrified that I might trip.
The tunnel felt never ending. We delved deeper and deeper underground, and it seemed like the darkness was pressing in on us. I counted two hundred steps before we hit level ground. My breath came in little huffs and I stumbled as my legs adjusted to the change in pace. I tried not to think about how much earth was suspended above my head.
We came to a halt on a platform with tracks leading from left to right before disappearing into darkness. Laurie took my arm and guided me to the far end of the platform and I dragged Taylor along too.
A whooshing noise filled the tunnel and a rush of air ruffled my hair. Two pricks of light appeared from further down the track, getting clearer and clearer as something moved closer. A chill kissed my flesh as cold air seeped into my skin and I tucked my fingers into my armpits.
A deep rumble resonated all around me as the thing approached and the tunnel itself actually vibrated. A roar echoed around the open space so loudly that it drowned out every other sound.
“This is the transport network?" I asked Laurie in a shout as the train came into view. "I thought this was just used to travel between cities?"
“And to the Lawless Trials arena. Down here we don't have to worry about contamination," Laurie yelled back in explanation.
"How can they be sure of that?" Taylor asked, cupping his hand around his mouth to be heard.
"Constant testing," said Laurie dismissively, though Taylor didn't look convinced.
The train coasted to a stop with a set of doors in front of us and several others further back along the platform. We piled in and Laurie led us to the front of the carriage. The sudden silence made my ears tingle and I wondered how loud the train would be on the inside.
The seats were all arranged in fours, facing each other. Laurie directed us into chairs that faced forwards and I took the aisle seat. There were ankle cuffs attached to the floor before each seat which she locked securely onto each of us in turn.
Satisfied, Laurie took one of the seats opposite and relaxed into it, stretching her arms out in front of her and making her shoulders pop.
"Protocol," she said apologetically, indicating our restraints.
"Don't worry about it," I reassured her. I never would have thought that I could actually like a Warden. They’d always seemed so separate from the rest of us to me. But Laurie was so down to earth that I could almost forget what she was. "So how long will it take us to get there?"
“A few hours, but don't worry, you won't be awake for it." She smirked.
"More milk?" I scowled.
"If you're cooperative, otherwise it's a needle." She looked over my head and I craned around to see what had caught her attention. The huge man was being restrained a lot more heavily than we were and he didn't seem to be feeling cooperative. I watched a Warden preparing a needle and my eyes widened.
"Maybe two needles for him." I smiled but Laurie's face was stony as I turned back to her. She rummaged in a compartment next to her seat, took out two sealed bottles of milk and handed them to us.
“Be careful of him." She leaned close to me as she handed the bottles over before continuing in a whisper. "We aren't supposed to tell you about the other convicts but-" she paused as Fish-lips walked by.
“What?" I hissed.
"Just be careful, keep your distance. Especially you." She gave me a penetrating look which sent shivers down my spine.
I looked over my shoulder again as they plunged the needle into his neck. He was looking straight back at me and smiling, every one of his big yellow teeth on show.
I sank down into my seat and drained my milk without another word of complaint.
***
I woke to the rhythmic swaying of the train and blinked to clear the sleep from my eyes. I’d been leaning on Taylor and dribbling but thankfully he wasn't awake to notice and I wiped my chin super subtly, hoping no one else had either. I looked out of the window which was pointless as we were still in the tunnels and all I could see was my own reflection peering back at me.
"Stay fairly still or you'll have to drink more," Laurie whispered.
"Am I allowed to be awake?" I whispered back.
"Yes, just don't draw attention or they'll put you back under. They don't like to be disturbed on the journey."
I looked around at the other Wardens. They were all laughing, playing card games, watching movies on tablets and looking weirdly human. Laurie had a book and tablet set down on the seat next to her.