Torn Shadows Part 3

Aiden and his comrade floated aimlessly down the canal. Sirens roared in the night as the search for them began. He knew that at this moment up to a hundred armed police could be scouring the streets in search of him, not to mention the hundreds of soldiers stationed in the city. He did not truly fear them. This escape plan was fool proof. This tiny dingy was almost invisible in the water since it was covered by a dark colored tarp. He and his friend would soon be safe. They did not talk or move for even though they had little fear, they did not want to invite trouble by making any unnecessary noise. Now the canal began to narrow as it wound through the backstreets and allies of the city on one of its many tributaries. By the time they thought to check the canal, he thought, we will be far gone.
Now the surging of the water began to moan and gurgle as the tiny raft approached a large drainage tunnel that led to below the city. Iron girders protected anything from falling into its mouth, but right as the boat was about to hit them, they opened. Like iron teeth they rose up to permit the two travelers to fall down his throat and into the blackness below. The boat plunged into the sewer below as the waterfall dumped its passengers into the freezing water. The pair swam to the walkway on the side of this subterranean river and lay there soaked to the bone, clutching their guns with icy hands and breathing heavily.
Finally, Aiden's friend looked over at him and a huge grin spread across his face. Aiden smiled back. His friend let out a hoot of laughter. It rang unsettlingly loud through the sewage tunnel, bouncing off the walls and being distorted by the flowing water.

"Shut up, Manny!" Aiden scolded his friend in a hushed whisper.

Manny who's real name was Monroe, covered his mouth and sat up. Together they walked along the narrow ledge until they came to a hole in the grimy stone about five feet tall and two feet wide. They ducked through this portal and followed the short tunnel beyond until they reached a heavy wooden door. This opened easily and they entered into a small storage room. Boxes stood in stacks and piles but many were scattered about and there contents long ago eaten by rats and other vermin. This place smelled and looked of a place long forgotten by man. Casually they crossed this room until, shutting the door behind them, until they at last came to another wooden door hidden behind a wall of boxes. Manny knocked heartily on this door. A pause. Then Manny tapped a short cadence upon the wood. As soon as he finished the door swung wide and burly arms pulled the two men inside.
Dirty scoundrels of men jumped up around the room as the two men were half carried into the room. Cheers erupted and a man, somewhat taller than the others stepped forward. A woman, who obviously had been enjoying the wine hung on his shoulder.

"Well the triumphant heroes return!" he bellowed shrugging off the woman (who promptly fell to the floor in a dazed heap) and wrapped his arms around the shoulders of the two men.

"We heard the sirens and went on ahead and got the party started. I hope that's okay with you fellas?!" Laughter exploded in the room. "He is dead, right?" the leader asked of Aiden in a more hushed tone.

"Definitely." Aiden replied with a very business like expression.

"Good, good!" shouted the leader who left the two men and once again picked up his female companion (who had not left her spot on the floor) and grabbed a mug filled with drink.

He raised the mug high in the air and proclaimed very ceremoniously.

"A toast to our two heroes and to the war they have started!"

All raised their glasses and cheered.

To Be Continued