Read Red Widow (Vivian Xu, Book 1) for Free Online Page A

through
that crack again.
    The next few tunnels were equally as
abandoned, steering her further away from her destination. At least
she wouldn’t have to contend with oncoming trains this time, just
rats.
    A solitary figure emerged among the
ruins. Vivian quickly ducked behind the rubble.
    It can’t
be , she thought.
    The small figure shifted ahead,
prancing in the darkness. It was skipping stones down the tunnel
and hopping around like an imp.
    I need to turn around. I
should never have been so reckless in cutting through these
tunnels. Nikolai can suck it because I’m done!
    The hair on the back of her neck
bristled as something crawled up her legs. She dreaded the thought
of looking down to see whatever pest was exploring her body.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have to. The gnashing of little teeth
told her all she needed to know. Thoughts of rabies and other
rodent-borne diseases tormented her as needle-sharp claws pricked
her skin. She held her breath, trying not to provoke it with any
sudden movements. A nail poked her pink flesh and she let out a
sharp gasp. The rat skittered away. Vivian breathed easier and,
after a few minutes, she looked around the rubble. The silhouette
was gently petting the rat.
    The figure looked much smaller than
she thought, and Vivian smiled at the oddity. Maybe it wouldn’t
pose her any danger. Its head violently snapped up.
    The silhouette barreled toward her,
and before she knew it, a little boy buried her in a hug. Vivian’s
terror was quickly replaced with a smile.
    “ What are you doing down
here?” The boy didn’t reply. He only curled himself more intently
around her leg. He wore a jacket made of coarse fabric and his toes
poked through his shoes. Thick, brown hair wreathed his face, and
his marble-like eyes glimmered in the flecks of light. “Are you
lost?”
    He shook his head.
    “ So you live here? In these
tunnels?” She peered down the metro, its jaded horizon bathed in a
glossy pall. For all she knew, this surreal passage led to a realm
beyond the mortal world, condemning her soul to wander for
eternity. The boy tugged insistently on her hand.
    “ What in the world are you
doing underground? What’s your name?” He remained mute, nuzzling
against her warmth like a baby cub. “Can you at least take me to
the outskirts?” He nodded eagerly, almost too eagerly. Vivian had
so many questions bubbling up inside, but his voice seemed locked
away. Maybe the only way to extract any answers was to follow him.
“Okay, show me the way.”
    Similar to the tunnel behind her, the
ceiling had begun to sink into the floor, as if an enormous worm
had shaped the tunnel.
    “ Are you sure it’s safe?”
The boy’s chin only bobbed up and down. Tinted sunlight peeked
through holes gouged in the ceiling, casting its icy hue on the
tunnels. The jungle of concrete and shambles reminded her of a
post-apocalyptic scene from a film.
    Vivian could see light emanating from
around the sharp bend of the tunnel. She anticipated filling her
lungs with fresh air or soaking in the sunlight. She was gravely
disappointed when she stumbled around the corner. Sixteen figures
were gathered around a bonfire, gazing into its snapping
depths.
    “ Shit!” She stumbled back,
dragging the boy along with her. To her indignation, he refused.
“I’m not going that way!” she hissed.
    He matched her stubbornness, thrashing
and pulling her forward. His hands were like iron, clenching her so
tight that needles of pain burrowed into her skin.
    “ Stop
it! ” she screamed. Her voice echoed around
the bend, and she knew at once the mob of strangers heard her. The
rustle of bodies grew louder like a swarm in the dark, passionately
waiting to envelope her. Gritting her teeth, she gripped the boy’s
hand and marched ahead.
    One of the figures slowly reared up
from the fire, towering over the newcomers. His face was chiseled
by the elements of the metro, reflecting a rugged existence that
very few chose to