Chapter 1 #2
Lightning flashed overhead, the rain kicking up into a steady downpour, as rivulets trickled down the rocks. Neve waited another thirty seconds before spraying a line across the cedar, chewing through some of the smaller branches as she grabbed the rope, jumped over the edge.
Stones rolled with her, tumbling over each other in a mini avalanche as she tripped her way down the gorge, landing on the rocky bank amidst a spray of mud and gravel.
Scout already had Kane waist deep in the water, one hand locked on his vest, keeping him from going under.
White-capped rapids roared down the river, logs and other debris rising and falling within the churning depths.
Wynn shadowed Archer, glancing back every few moments to check their six as they got carried downstream, both women fighting to get to the other side.
Neve tapped Zadie’s shoulder, relieved her from her position on point, then waved her on, following her into the icy stream.
Neve focused on the ridge line behind them, counting down the seconds until those assholes appeared at the edge.
She didn’t know how they moved so fast — took hits that would drop an elephant without blinking — just that if her team didn’t find a defendable position soon, they’d get overrun.
Searing cold choked off her next breath, cramping her muscles as she waded through the current, diving under when a large log shot out of the water, nearly striking her in the head before it plunged beneath the surface, vanishing in a swirl of white.
She gasped in a breath, fighting the constant pull as she reached her teammates — grabbed Archer’s arm.
He mumbled something about dragging his own ass out of the water, but it got lost to the clap of thunder that boomed overhead.
Beside them, the banks rose like crooked walls, blocking any view of the ridge behind, though, the water had only bought them a brief reprieve, not safety.
Scout signaled a minute later, and they fought the rising rapids, finally scrambling onto the far side — tripping their way across the rain-slick gravel onto an old two track.
Weeds and Scotch broom clawed at their fatigues as they hurried along the muddy road, heads on a swivel, Kane leaving a bloody trail behind them.
Ahead, a large rocky outcrop cut through the forest like a festering wound, water falling in sheets off the broken face. Off to the right, a black void blended into the shadows, the yawning opening blocked by a rusted, metal gate.
Scout moved out in front, kicked the damn thing open, the hinges giving with an ear-piercing screech.
The gate swung inward, bounced off another chunk of rock, then teetered in the opening, each creak like an explosion in the uneasy stillness.
They ventured forward, staring into the unforgiving darkness, the sharp scent of wet clay and stagnant water cutting through the air.
Neve moved to the opening, flashed a light down the main tunnel. “You know these old mines are just as likely to cave in on us as provide any form of cover, right?”
Scout shrugged. “I said you weren’t going to like it.”
“Not like we have many options. I’ll take a quick look then—”
Men.
Rising over the bank, moving with an eerie symmetry that sent shivers down Neve’s back.
The same way Coulter’s team had executed countless black ops missions.
The approaching men didn’t fire, just flanked to either side, closed in with incredible speed.
Fraser appeared at the riverbank, still smiling at them before he flanked right — seemingly vanished into the fog, reappearing impossibly closer.
No hesitating, this time. Neve just fired off a stream of rounds, slowed down a couple of the mercenaries with non-lethal hits as her team rushed inside, following the main section until the light from the entrance bled into utter darkness.
They donned their night vision goggles, switched to low level IR flashlights to enhance the visibility a bit, before weaving through the dank corridors, following a rusty rail system deeper into the mine.
The temperature dropped, their breath clouding around them in feathery white wisps, the air heavier than before, a slight breeze freezing the water clinging to Neve’s skin as Scout veered left, then right.
Empty tunnels branched off like hollowed fingers, the occasional shovel resting against the hard dirt walls.
Water dripped in the distance, echoed footsteps splashing through puddles behind them, fanning out in different directions in what felt more like herding than tracking.
Neve kept her flashlight on that IR beam, the NVGs bathing everything in an eerie greenish glow as she mentally tracked their location until they stopped at a tear-shaped chamber, a creaky metal ladder bolted into the wood braces vanishing into a large hole in the ground.
Scout kept them angled right, Neve covering their six, when the radio crackled.
A low voice echoed over the speaker. “Echo team, do you copy? Over.”
Zadie cranked down the volume, raising the handheld to her ear. “This is Echo team. Identify.”
Muffled sounds drifted up from the receiver next to Zadie’s ear, too quiet to make out.
Zadie pulled the unit away, held it out to Kane. “It’s someone claiming to be General Augustus Esposito. Said he needs to talk to you. That he’s got pivotal intel that’ll save our asses.” She snorted. “His words, Cap.”
Kane palmed the mic, dropped it when he tanked left before Wynn grabbed him, eased him against one of the shorings. He muttered under his breath before nodding at Zadie. “I know it’s a risk but put it on speaker.”
Zadie moved closer, dialed up the volume a bit, then hit the button. “I’ve got Captain Archer for you, General.”
More static, then a gruff voice whispering through the tinny speaker. “Now Kane, before you start asking for verification, all I’m gonna say is Dublin, the Fig and the Fiddle, and a redhead. We good?”
Kane coughed, spat out some blood before wiping his mouth on his sleeve. “You swore you’d take that story to the grave, Gus.”
“From the sounds of it, you’re not that far off. Now, I need you to listen, neither of us have much time. I know your training mission just turned lethal, and those men hunting you aren’t regular soldiers. I’ll explain everything later, assuming your team can get you out of there alive.”
Kane coughed, more blood dotting his fatigues. “Best damn unit I’ve ever worked with.”
“Let’s hope so because if these assholes get you cornered…
” He cleared his throat. “If my intel’s correct, you’re balls deep in that old black sand mine.
I need you to go to sub-level four. There’s a blasting locker with questionable ordinance still stored in some boxes.
Rig whatever they left to blow. Make it look like the mountain came down on you, then use the rear air vent directly above that locker to get back to the surface.
It’ll take you to the far side of the mountain.
From there, procure a truck from a logging camp three klicks southeast. I’ll send you coordinates on this line in twenty minutes from when we disconnect.
Don’t miss that call. They’ll take you to a cache outside Lytton.
You’ll find the final instructions in a Pelican case hidden in a hollow log.
If all goes well, I’ll see you at my bunker in the morning.
Until then, evade and escape, no highways, and absolutely no contact.
And if you do encounter more of those freaks, kill shots only.
Anything else just pisses them off.” He paused, a ripple of static sounding through the chamber.
“And Kane… Don’t get caught, and for god’s sake, don’t die. ”
The line cut off, the small area falling into a numbing silence. Wynn edged closer, the zipper from her kit a harsh rasp in the dark.
Kane shook his head. “You’ve done all you can for me, Whitmore. Monroe took a hit. Treat her.”
Neve snorted. “It’s just a graze, and it can wait.” She kicked at the dirt, the general’s words playing over in her head. That this was so much more than a simple betrayal. “Sounds like we’ve got new orders.”
Kane chuckled. “That’s one of the things I’ve always admired about you, Monroe. Your ability to shift gears without losing a step. And yeah, the clock’s ticking, and the general won’t give us a second chance to receive those coordinates, so… let’s not be late.”
“Yes, sir.” Neve moved over to the gaping hole in the floor, wondering how far down the ladder went. If time and rust had compromised the integrity. If they’d get halfway to sub-level four, then just run out of metal.
Not that they had a choice.
She grabbed one side, grunted at the way the bolts rattled against the wood beam, the entire structure shifting beneath her grip. “Pretty sure this thing hasn’t held any weight for over forty years, but…”
Scout nudged her as she moved in close. “Betting you wish you’d stayed with Barrett’s unit, right about now.”
“And trade all this in for fame and glory? That’s crazy talk. Besides…” She glanced at her teammates, meeting each of their intent gazes. “His team’s got nothing on all of you. Though, I wouldn’t say no to an extra sniper of his caliber.” Neve swung her carbine across her back. “I’ll go first—”
“Like hell, you will. You’re our overwatch.” Scout snagged one of the rungs and stepped down a few feet. “I’ll lead. Just, give me a few seconds to get down a level before you follow, in case…”
Neve hooked Scout’s arm. “No heroics. It’s bad enough we’re dragging Archer’s ass…” She grinned at his annoyed huff. “I don’t want to have to sling you over my shoulders, too.”
Scout nodded, took a breath, then inched down, pistol in one hand, flashlight beam illuminating the dark through the goggles. Neve waited until Scout had reached the next floor before waving Zadie ahead.