Read Dusk of Defiance (The Era of Ensemble Book 1) for Free Online

smell made him gag. He stepped down another few steps, the smell only got worse. Is it another half eaten, rotting body? He pinched his nose with his fingers to mask the stench, but he began to get an unpleasant pungent taste as he breathed through his mouth. He turned the corner of the staircase as it spiralled around a motionless elevator, and saw a pile of unrecognisable bones; they could have been from anyone or anything. He averted his head away from them as he passed. He pressed the device to open the door. Nothing happened. He pressed it again and again. He couldn’t hold his breath for much longer. The door eventually opened, and he fell through gasping for air.
    Luke rose from his knees, and dusted himself off. He looked up towards the tram station. There was no tram, and he hadn’t heard one. He began to grow nervous. What if something has happened to the tram ? It would take too long to get around the ship on foot. He didn’t know if he’d be able to get around just by walking. It’d be too dangerous. He made his way to the side of the tram track. There was an information stand. It was dimly lit, but still visible. Luke stepped in front of it. There was no information apart from a message which scrolled across the bottom.
    “ Would the nearest engineer please make their way to the engines and power section 32-B and reroute power.” It was the same as the automated computerised message that was spoken over the speaker system.
    Luke sat down on a nearby wooden bench. Words were carved into the wood. They just looked like random words, none of them made any sense. He checked his holstered revolver, and made sure his ammunition was still present. Once he had finished resting, he stood up straight, and walked towards the power section of the ship. Looks like I'm going to have to restore the power myself.

Chapter 4
    The passageway looked empty. It was difficult to see across the small room with only the shallow glow of the backup lights. Luke walked slowly, he was on edge, and he had a strange feeling about the cramped passageway. He had tiptoed to his targeted destination with a steady caution. The noises had at times surrounded him, but he never felt immediately threatened. His vision, although inhibited, was adjusting to the darkened shadows. The creatures seem to be preoccupied. None of them have hunted directly for me.
    There was a rattling noise to his left side. He turned quickly. It stopped, and then rattled again. Luke anticipated an altercation. He tried to prepare and envisioned a battle plan. Stay quiet. Keep alert. He told himself as the fine hairs pricked at his skin like rows of spiked needles standing to attention. Perhaps I spoke too soon when I thought they were not hunting me. Luke snatched the revolver out of its holster and aimed it at the wall. The noises were coming from the other side. He stuck his back against the opposite wall, and edged one foot at a time through the passage.
    Luke abruptly stopped as his foot was blocked by something on the floor. He kicked at it. It felt softer than he had anticipated. He put his foot on it and pushed it. A body rolled over slowly. He kneeled down next to the body, and checked for a pulse. The neck was cold, the man had been dead for a while. Luke sighed as the noises along the wall appeared to have stopped. He waited. No scratches, no discernable movements to either side. He placed his gun in its holster. It hung in readiness as he freed up the use of both his hands.
    Luke checked the man’s body for anything that would be useful. He found a few things. A fresh bottle of water that was unopened. He placed it into his backpack and continued to frisk. More suitable boots, luckily enough in his size. “Forgive me.” Luke mumbled, as his fingers momentarily struggled with the elaborate lacings. They fit a treat. He felt a shudder of guilt envelope him for a second. He wore a dead man's shoes. The boots would help him run and had a gripped sole. The