Chapter 1

A stabbing pain brought Doug Austin back to reality with a jolt. He groaned from the weight of the dead body lying on top of him. He peered into the smoke-filled carriage and coughed. Fumes filled his lungs and a dull ringing filled his ears.

                Doug reached out blindly, and his hand touched a metal pole. He gripped it, pulled, and tried to free himself. He flinched in agony, gritted his teeth and pulled again. The body on top of him slumped to one side. Doug tried to call out, but his throat felt tight and scorched.

                In the distance, a shaft of flickering light appeared. Doug gazed as shadows came and went. Someone was coming towards him. The ringing in his ears lessened and he could hear groaning. He pushed himself into a sitting position and something grabbed his ankle. He quickly kicked it away. It grunted and let go.

                The beam of light came closer, slicing through the black smoke. It stopped moving and shone directly upon his face. He held up his hand, shielding his eyes from its glare. A masked figure knelt down beside him. It gripped his shoulder and shook him.

                Doug winced and glared at the shadowy stranger. A visor covered their features, but there was a face staring back at him. It belonged to a middle-aged man with pale grey skin. His dark, lifeless eyes gazed blankly back at him. It was his reflection. Doug passed out.