14. Chapter 14
Chapter fourteen
Pony
We arrive at the target location in an old, lumbering school bus we appropriated to transport any hostages we rescue. We’ve also got a large panel van we’re using as a support vehicle.
The building is a massive structure, possibly an old industrial site. From the outside it looks like it’s disintegrating and abandoned. If it wasn’t for the armed men walking the perimeter, I’d think we were at the wrong place.
After silently eliminating the patrolling guards, we slip inside. Our plan is to clear the building and transfer the hostages onto the bus. We’ll eliminate all hostiles, collect any electronics and other incriminating information we come across, then hightail it out of here.
“Hawk. Pony. Basement,” Warlock whispers.
“Copy,” we reply in unison, making our way through the building and down the stairs while our teammates fan out.
We round a corner and come across a corridor with a row of sturdy metal doors, each with a padlock hanging from it.
“We found a block of cells. We’re moving to check them out,” I say over comms.
“Roger that,” Warlock replies. “Make it quick.”
Hawk and I work our way from door to door, using bolt cutters to snip off the padlocks, but all we find are empty cells.
Each cell is identical. Concrete walls and floors and a bucket to use as a makeshift toilet.
The only comfort—if you can call it that—is a thin, disgusting mat on the floor.
But why are they padlocked if they’re not occupied?
It’s obvious prisoners have been kept here, but it seems we’re too late. They’ve already been moved out or relocated. Still, we have to check each cell to confirm that assumption.
I pop the lock on the last cell. Like we’ve done for all the others, we flank the door. I glance at Hawk and he gives me a quick nod. Like mine, his rifle is raised and ready for whatever might lurk inside.
I swing the door open. This time, I’m shocked when we discover a woman inside. She’s barefoot, wearing filthy pajama bottoms and an equally dirty t-shirt. Her chin is against her chest, and she has a black hood over her head.
Sitting on the paper-thin mat on the floor, she’s huddled in the corner, hunched in on herself, trying to make herself small.
“We’ve only located one hostage,” I say into my comms as I sling my rifle over my shoulder.
“Damnit, they must have moved the others already,” Warlock responds, echoing my previous thoughts.
I don’t have the chance to get in, get the hood off her head, and explain things because all hell breaks loose. Above us, we hear gunfire from somewhere in the building, putting us on high alert.
“I got this. Get the girl,” Hawk snaps.
I rush into the cell while Hawk stands guard, protecting our six, prepared to deal with any threat that might come down the stairs.
When I get close and the woman feels my presence, she jerks and whimpers. While there’s nothing I can do about that, I feel bad for scaring her.
“It’s alright. It’s okay, you’re safe now,” I tell her in a rush. “I’m United States military. I’m going to get you out of here.”