Chapter 18 #2
“Yeah. I introduce myself as Alex Blackwood, keep a low profile, out bid this sleezy fuck, then blow the place to smithereens. Sounds about right?”
“I’d say that sounds about right.” He says, shaking his head. “What do you wanna do with Ricky?”
“Leave him to me.” I simply state, already imagining the ways I’ll end his life, feeling my blood rise to boiling point.
“Heard.” Eli nods. “We should be arriving soon.”
A looming shadow rises high up into the night sky in front of us, like a creature from another world.
The mill stands tall in the middle of the empty open space, and from what I can see it’s not in the best shape.
Iron bars are covered in rust with flecked bits of paint hanging off of them, adding to an already eerie aura to the place.
“This is it.” Eli states and pulls the truck into a small clearing in the woods that surrounds the mill, keeping it out of sight.
Once the engine flicks off we’re completely shrouded in darkness, the only thing I can see is the lines of cars that are pulling up at the front, each more expensive than the other, filled with deadly predators.
Eli shuffles in his seat before handing me over an earpiece, it’s not like the usual ones we wear, this one looks practically invisible.
“New gear?” I ask, thumbing the device in between my fingers.
“I couldn’t help myself, they had a good deal and if these bastards clock a wire on you, we’re done for.”
Nodding at his words, I slip the earpiece into my ear, noticing how comfortable it feels. “These are pretty good.”
“They oughta be for how much I paid for them, anyway, they work pretty much the same way as our other ones. I can hear everything through it, the same way you’ll be able to hear me.”
Eli explains that once I’m cleared by security and inside the mill, he’ll make his way inside, adding his favourite blocks of C4 around the building. It won’t take much to blow it to bits considering it’s already falling apart but he loves to make a scene.
“You ready?” He asks and I ponder on his simple question for a moment. I’ve been ready to be with Ana the moment she was taken from me, and now I’m ready to face the devil and show him there’s someone much worse than him.
Viper.
Bringing myself back to the present, I nod my head. “Yeah, I’m ready. I’ll give you the signal once I’m in there.”
Stepping out of the truck, I fasten my suit jacket and stride across the gravel, hearing the stones crunch underneath my shoes as I get further towards the mill.
The earpiece crackles in my ear before Eli’s voice comes through.
“Just checking the signal on these babies.” I laugh, and reply. “Heard, Storm, loud and clear.”
Heavy beats of music grow louder the further I get towards the mill and a strong waft of alcohol and sweaty bodies fills my senses.
“Name.” The guard at the door states, his face unmoving as he looks between me and the clipboard.
“Alex Blackwood.” I say, keeping a sharp gaze on him, watching him go down the line of names before stopping on what I assume is mine before moving to the side to let me pass.
“Alright, head to security. Next!”
Entering the small walkway, I stop at a man with a metal detector in his hands which he uses to wave across my arms, torso and legs before nodding at me to move on into the main area of the mill.
Once I’m out of earshot from the guards who are scattered around the perimeter of the room, I check in with Eli.
“Storm. All clear. I’m in.” I say in a low tone as I weave in and out of bodies in freshly pressed suits, not staying in one place for too long. “There’s a handful of guards stationed around the main room with two at the door.”
“Heard. I’m setting up the C4 now. There’s an entrance way at the back that leads to a small office, we’ll use that as a base.”
“Copy that.” I say and continue my walk through the mass of bodies until a woman who looks half dead offers me a glass of champagne from a metal tray that she’s struggling to carry. Alongside the glasses are lines of cocaine with rolled up bills, drugs served up like fancy appetisers.
The woman’s eyes are completely glazed over, like her body is here but her mind isn’t.
“Champagne sir?” She slurs and I shake my head. “No thanks.”
“I can get you something.. stronger.” She pushes once more and it takes everything in me not to get her to safety, to tell her that I’m here to get everyone out but I can’t. Instead, I school my features and slip back into character.
“Get the fuck outta my way.” I say through gritted teeth which sends her on her way, scuttling through the crowd to serve someone else. My eyes follow her swaying form as she stumbles over her high heels.
“Nice piece of ass isn’t she.” A man’s voice pipes up at the side of me and I turn to face whoever it is, plastering a dark smirk on my face. “That indeed she is.” I say, feeling sick at my own words.
“Mr Andrews, and you are?” The short, bald man shoves his chubby hand out in front of him for me to shake.
I’m reluctant at first but I can’t afford to draw attention to myself so I slip my hand into his and give it a firm shake, he winces slightly but brushes it off. “Blackwood.” I say with a neutral tone.
“Nice to meet you. Business or pleasure?” He asks with a sinister gleam in his eyes, one that makes me want to knock his lights out.
“Both.” I reply with a grin which seems to appease Mr Andrews.
“Well, happy bidding. May the best man win.” He sends me a wink before filtering off into the crowd and I have to grit my teeth in anger, forcing it down into my stomach until I can release it.
Keeping a low profile, I keep my head down and keep to the edges of the crowd, overhearing conversations of business before they swiftly move onto the darker subjects.
“I heard Ricky’s got some younger ones this time.” One man states to another who has a dark hunger in his eyes. “They’re my favourite. All fresh and pink.” The other one replies and I have to give myself a moment to collect my thoughts.
How long has this been going on for?
These sick fucks can walk into here, protected by their obscene amount of money and buy these innocent girls and women like they’re nothing but food off of a shelf. It makes me want to sink my fist into someone’s face.
“C4 is done and I’m in.” Eli states in my ear.
“Copy that. This place is full of sick fucks.” I state in a low tone, my eyes scouring the open space.
“Yeah, it makes my skin fucking crawl.”
“Got the weapons in?” I ask, making my way around the edge of the crowded space.
“All in. Head over to the office and we’ll get geared up. The auction doesn’t start for another twenty minutes.”
“Heard.” I reply and head over to the back of the mill, remembering the blueprints Eli showed me.
I half expected to bump into more guards but the further I move away from the crowds of people, the less guards I find which is a bonus for me.
Entering into the lone corridor, I spot a single door at the end and with haste I walk towards it, rapping a single knock on the door.
“Viper?” Eli’s voice is muffled on the other side of the door. “Storm.” I reply and enter the small office, softly closing the door behind me and turning the lock.
Eli’s changed from his casual clothes into a black suit with a crisp white shirt underneath.
He digs into the holdall bag that’s sitting on the table and hands me a gun holster to put on under my suit jacket, once that’s secured I slip the jacket back on and slot the loaded handguns inside.
We’ve had to carry light for this mission, if we went in guns blazing, God knows what Ricky would do to Ana and the other girls.
Grabbing another gun from Eli, I slip it into the waistband of my trousers.
“There’s enough C4 on this building to create a fucking firework show.” Eli sniggers.
“You’re relentless, but I’m more than ready to see this shit show explode.” I say, grabbing my mask out of the bag and shoving it in the inside pocket of my jacket.
My body itches with nerves and a lingering layer of apprehension settles in my stomach on what I’m about to see at this auction. Dropping my head I check my watch again, noting that it’s about to start soon.
“Let’s make a move.”
The once heavy bass of the music has now settled into a quiet background noise as me and Eli enter back into the main space of the mill. A man in a suit, who looks just like everyone else in here, enters the room with a microphone in his hand.
“Gentlemen.” He starts and the low chatter of the crowd falls silent. “Welcome to Selection Day. Where fine men like yourselves are given the chance to spend your cold, hard cash on the fresh plump fruits of the earth.”
A holler of woos and claps fill the room, and I have to fight with myself to keep the anger at bay.
“So without further ado, you know the rules, the highest bidder claims the goods and those goods are yours to do with whatever you see fit. Shall we begin?” The announcer speaks with excitement and the audience claps, then begins to funnel into another room.
Turning my head slightly, I speak to Eli in a hushed tone. “I can’t fucking wait to slaughter these animals.”
“Yeah, me too man.”
I can see the burning anger in his eyes and I know his mind is taking him back to his possible sister and the thing’s she’s been through.
Ending the conversation there, I lift my head back up and follow the audience into the large room.
The lighting is low here with a single spot light beaming onto a makeshift stage, to the side there’s a wooden podium and below the stage, rows and rows of chairs fill the floor.
We take two seats at the far back in the corner, a spot where we can still see the stage but it’s dark enough to keep us hidden.