Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Hell.
At least, this is what Scout assumed Hell would be like — a complete absence of light.
The temperature slowly climbing with every foot they descended, turning the already thick, humid air into a heavy layer of stale, warm soup.
Water dripped down the walls, echoing up the shaft, as she slowly rappelled into the heart of the Devil’s Throat.
The scent of old wood and wet rock saturated the air, the metal frame of the ancient elevator shaft adding a metallic tang to the aroma. Expectation weighed on her shoulders, and she knew, despite his claims, a part of Quinn would be lost if they didn’t get Brea out alive.
Scout slowed her near-silent descent, nothing but the raspy hiss of rope through carabiners and the slide of fabric across rifle barrels sounding around her.
Her boots hit the next metal platform, a hushed clang ringing through the dark as she grabbed ahold of a steel crossbeam, shuffling to one side as the rest of her team descended to the catwalk.
Their weak, red LEDs barely illuminated more than a foot of distance.
Just enough for Zadie to snap a mesh-network node beside their next anchor point — connect their comms to the main relay outside the entrance — as Coulter secured the second line, then heaved it over the side.
It slithered out of the bag, dropping into the darkness, the end snapping once it reached its limit.
Coulter double-checked the attachment point, then waved Scout on.
She waited until Zadie had checked their comms, her voice sounding in Scout’s earpiece before she released her descender, clipped it to the new line, then stepped backwards into the void.
Air whistled up the funnel, the occasional flutter of leathery wings rustling past her as she lowered deeper into the shaft.
It took two more pitches to reach the bottom—the last rope coiled on top of the metal cage roof with the end trailing down one side.
Scout landed with a dull thud, nearly slipping off when her boots slid on the thick layer of grease, rock dust, and water covering the steel bonnet.
She placed one hand on the wall, using it to help keep her balance as she made room for Quinn.
He dropped down beside her a few seconds later, looking incredibly stable as he straddled the roof, running his hands along the top in search of the escape hatch. It only took him a moment to find the latch. But years of rust and water had obviously cemented the damn thing shut.
Quinn didn’t waste any time. He simply removed the rabbit tool from his kit, wedged the compact, hydraulic spreader between the hatch and the frame and started pumping the handle.
Under thirty seconds later, the metal groaned, the hatch bowing inward.
Another ten, and it hinged open, slamming against the roof before swinging back, finally stopping to hang straight down.
Scout smiled. Quinn never ceased to amaze her — how he’d fit into the team as if he’d been running maneuvers with them for years.
The same way Coulter had slotted in as if he’d always been there.
She just hoped this wouldn’t be Quinn’s last mission.
That he wouldn’t find a way to sacrifice himself for Brea.
Or worse, for her.
Water rained down from the walls, tapping on the roof like Morse code, each strike echoing in on itself.
She accepted Quinn’s hands, trusting him to hold her weight as she stepped into the opening, dangling mid-air.
He eased her down, allowing her to drop the last few feet.
She landed with a hushed thunk, instantly moving to the side, rifle at a high ready, the muzzle pointed at the door.
The rest of her team followed suit. Zadie clamped the last mesh-network node on top of the cage before Quinn lowered her inside.
Both Quinn and Coulter jumped through on their own, hanging from the lip before landing like freaking cats, nothing but a soft whoosh sounding inside the cage.
Scout waited until everyone had their weapons notched into their shoulders before opening the door and darting out.
She went left and low, Quinn high and right, clearing each side then darting ahead, taking up point as Neve and the others fell in behind them. A string of dull lights swayed overhead, the weak, yellow glow barely touching the dark shadows lining the walls.
The main tunnel continued for about fifty meters before disappearing off to the right, a white glow from somewhere beyond the corner brightening the end of the path.
Scout quickstepped to the branching tunnel, the air noticeably warmer with notes of ancient dirt and weathered pine adding to the humidity. She pressed her back against the stone, counted to three then snuck a quick peek around edge. “Holy, shit.”
Her voice barely carried, but she felt the weight of the words in the pit of her stomach.
Quinn darted in beside her, moving with her when she fully stepped out, stared at the official entrance to The Foundry.
Glass.
Jutting out from the jagged rock walls as if it had grown in place like a crystal.
Huge cubes built in a modern, modular design, each square a mixture of reinforced panels, steel, and harsh, white LED lights that made the entire complex look like a glowing spaceship dropped inside a prehistoric cave.
A constant, low-frequency hum vibrated through the walls and floor, a distinct breeze pushing past them as massive air scrubbers fought to clean the damp cavern air.
Sheets of slotted plastic hung at the entrance to one of the branches with what looked like colored floor lighting leading off in different directions.
Scout led her team over to the door, stepping aside to let Zadie in close.
Zadie popped the key-code lock cover, hooked up a cable to her tablet, then started working.
Numbers scrolled across the screen for several seconds before the access light pulsed green.
The door detached from the magnetic locks, a whoosh of positive pressure hissing from around the edges as the door slid open, a blast of dry, cool air rushing out.
Quinn breeched first, taking up sentry as the rest of them spread out, Scout guarding Zadie’s six as she hacked into the cameras, had them looping old feed before finding a schematic of the facility and launching it onto her screen.
Scout backed into the complex, still guarding their six as Zadie enlarged the image.
Zadie tapped on their current location, drawing her finger across the surface.
“There are two distinct wings. The east wing holds cryogenic storage, data servers and chemical processing. The west houses quarantine and observation units as well as staff quarters and services. Brea should be in the west half.”
Their comms buzzed, Gus’ voice sounding in their ears. “Neve, did I hear Zadie correctly? That this complex might house samples of Pryce’s TITAN variant as well as all the intel Zadie couldn’t transfer from that warehouse trailer before it purged?”
Neve pursed her lips. “Correct, but retrieving Brea is our main focus.”
“And that should definitely remain our priority. But I can’t stress enough how valuable those items could be. If there’s a way to tie Finch to Pryce’s facility…”
Quinn studied the map, looking at Scout before he nodded. “The general’s right.”
Neve didn’t hesitate. “And if there’s time after we recover Brea, then we’ll grab some samples.”
“But what if Darwin can’t help Brea without knowing what Pryce poisoned her with? What if she’s got vials of the stuff in that lab? A blueprint of what she did?” Quinn sighed. “Rescuing Brea won’t mean much if she dies from whatever Pryce infected her with.”
Neve glanced at Scout silently asking her opinion.
Quinn shuffled on his feet, looking like he was prepared to wage war against the entire complex on his own. “This is about more than just saving Brea. This is about all the people you could save if you can stop Finch, and you can’t do that without proof.”
Scout moved in beside Quinn, still watching the entrance for movement. “Quinn’s right. We can split up. I’ll go with him to find Brea while you four grab hard drives and specimens.”
Neve huffed. “Coulter can go with you?—”
“And leave you to guard both Zadie and Wynn while they have their hands busy? Likely in separate rooms? No. You four go.” She motioned to Quinn. “We’ve got this.”
Neve glanced at Quinn, then Coulter. “I don’t like this.”
Scout smiled. “You rarely like any of my plans.”
“That’s because they always involve you taking the biggest risk.” Neve grunted, and Scout knew she’d come to the same conclusion Quinn had. That this was bigger than one life. “Fine. Zadie? Any other exits?”
Zadie moved the map around, spinning the structural layout a few times before highlighting an area on the screen. “Here. There’s a shaft in what looks like the staff quarters. It’s an emergency exit.”
“Okay. That’s Plan B if this airlock is blocked.
” She looked directly as Scout and Quinn.
“Or if you two can’t safely make it back.
Meanwhile, we each have twenty minutes to go in, secure our assets, and haul ass back here.
Verbal check-ins every five minutes, assuming it won’t get you killed, and no one gets left behind.
” Neve clicked the comms, double checked everything worked.
“And for god’s sake, if you need backup, bloody well call for it.
Brea’s safety is more important than samples and intel. ”
Scout shifted over toward Quinn. “We’ll be fine. Twenty minutes. We’ll signal in five.”
Neve swept her gaze the length of them one last time before turning and taking point as they headed down the right passage, boots squeaking slightly, their dark outfits making them look like shadow figures moving through the brightly lit hallway.
Scout waited until they’d vanished before turning, striking off down the opposite corridor. She kept to the side, weapon at the ready, scanning for any possible threat.