Read The Screaming (Book 1): Dead City for Free Online Page B

the barrier. They weren’t the looks of composed commuters or even slightly nervous country folk intimidated by the big city, and desperate to get home. There was something else hanging over their faces. Fear, pure fear. Every one of them was scared.
                  Confusion consumed Zac, his stride slowed to a shuffle as he edged closer to the gate.
     
    “What’s wrong with these people?”
     
                  Suddenly the gate flung open and swung around, clanging against the barrier, as it hit the extent of its large iron hinges. The crowd surged through like a human tidal wave, knocking earphones clean off his feet. A couple of young men, jumped over the barrier and started running down the platform towards the train. People yelled with panic as they surged up the platform, until the barrier was drained of life. A woman at the back of the other group of people broke from her pack and scurried across the platform towards the open gate, dragging her wheeled travel bag behind her.
                  Earphones picked himself up, his headphones swinging by the wire around his knees. He reached down for them, and without so much as a mutter, placed them on his head and walked through the gate with the same arrogant swagger. Zac looked back as people leapt on the train, pushing past guards, who vainly attempted to round up the flock, with no success. Zac turned back and continued his cautious shuffle up to the gate. As he passed through the threshold he saw the guard slumped next to it, his head in his hands. Zac’s tatty shoes caught the wilted authority figures eye and he slowly raised his head.
     
    “You ok mate?” Zac said with half an attempt of empathy.
     
                  No answer. The guard lowered his head and rested it on his hands as he started to weep.
     
    “What’s their problem? I thought there were no more trains tonight. Is it the riot?”
     
                  Nothing.
     
    “Cheers then.”
     
                  Zac shuffled off and through a large brick archway into the huge expansive hall. Ceilings reaching up like a cathedral, periodically supported by massive brick pillars. An orchestra of noise engulfed the impressive room. People darting from every direction, each sharing the same expressions of desperation and confusion. A small female shop assistant at a News agents, hung from a shutter, as she tried in vain to draw it down and shut up shop. The Burger King was already closed.
     
    “That’s dinner buggered.” Zac murmured.
     
                  He found himself standing in the middle of the large stone floor, glancing up at the information board that hung on the wall above his head. A list of train destinations and times covered the giant digital screen. Each line of information concluded with a single word in bright red.
     
    “CANCELLED.”
     
                  A family huddled underneath the sign, desperately staring up at the screen, willing the information to change. Suddenly Zac felt a hard thud in his back which spun him around. He staggered to regain his balance and was faced by a young woman. A pink mobile phone was spinning on the floor at her feet. Mascara tears stained her face as they were momentarily locked in eye contact.
     
    “Come on!” A man screamed from behind her.
     
                  He was edging towards the platforms, clutching a big red hiking rucksack. The woman snapped her head around, looked at the man and ran to him. The couple disappeared through the archway.
     
    “Wait. Your phone!”
     
                  The woman looked over her shoulder, eyeing the phone on the floor, but her feet kept moving and she disappeared into the flood of people filling the platforms. Suddenly the phone vibrated and belted out a poor rendition of an ABBA classic as it spun on the floor. Zac shook his head in disbelief as he reached down and picked up the phone. He