“Because it isn’t.” Looking over my head to John on my other side, he makes a few complicated hand movements to the battle-ready Agent. I didn’t have the time to learn their code. It’s a sign language they’ve created and perfected over time - working as a unit - and something an outsider wouldn’t be capable of mastering in a few short days. It doesn’t matter if I understand though, because John does. With a single nod in affirmation he ducks his head and sprints, dark clothed body low to the ground, across the street to the outer edge of Nyler’s front yard.
I hold my breath, expecting a guard to step out and stop his progress, but none comes. By the time he reaches the back gate, I’m almost standing at my full height — it’s the only way to keep him in my line of sight.
Cade pulls me back behind cover, his words clipped and to the point. “He’s going around back to investigate. Won’t go in without us.”
Good.
Peering through the tangled branches of the bushes, I keep watch on the gate, waiting for John to reappear. It takes longer than I’d like, with my nerves so wound up, but eventually I can make out his tall shadowed form slipping back out the way he came before jogging back to our side.
As he crouches down in the same place he was before, he meets Cade’s gaze over my head — perks of being short, I guess. I don’t get in the way. John doesn’t bother to alter the volume of his voice much as he speaks, telling as that is. “House is empty. No sign of any guards or the family.” Cade grunts and I want to scream. “I checked that Nance chick’s place too - hopped the fence - vacant as well.”
Then why the lights?
“Either they got word we were coming,” No! Luca? “Or they have Atlas plans we aren’t aware of.” Cade replies. I feel like he only tacked on the last bit to assuage my growing anxiety.
“We don’t have time to wait around and see, it’s already inching in on the rendezvous hour for us to meet Kenji at the outbuilding.” I have the urge to dick-punch John for suggesting we continue on without my brother and sister, but I know he has a point. We can’t rescue them if we don’t know where they are. I take note of the way his voice changes when he says Kenji’s name though, making me think Kenj isn’t the only one with a crush going on right now.
Cade contemplates what to do from here, knowing I won’t leave The Compound without Jer and Ainsley. It’s not in the cards and it’s basically just not going to happen. Period.
“We’ll have to swing back by after the raid.” He declares. “Hope whatever has kept them away is over by then, and that we’re not in the middle of a giant set up by your pouty man-boy admirer, Sunshine.”
It’s the first insult he’s lobbed Luca’s way, but I don’t comment. I’m too embroiled in my own fear of betrayal at the moment, and I’m not going to argue with Cade. Nyler and my family are absent for a reason tonight. And the fact is, Luca didn’t mention anything to us that would indicate a legitimate cause for it. In fact, he encouraged us to move as quickly as possible — to take the lab now rather than later.
I can feel the tip of a metaphorical blade pressing into my back, but I stall judgment for now.
I can only hope this pickle is because our movement was impromptu…. We have to remember we aren’t aware of all the players in Atlas. They could have some event going this evening that we aren’t privy to know about, like the one we tried to take advantage of in our planning.
Luca is only a feeder for the beings Nyler doesn’t give a rat’s ass about — who’s to say they’d clue him in either?
Nyler better be at the damn lab, though. Saving his test subjects is our number one priority at the moment, bar rescuing my siblings, but he needs to get his. It’s time. No questions, no hesitation.
Robert Nyler needs to face the consequences of his actions and tonight is the night for it all to come to a head.
With one last glance over my shoulder as we creep away, heading to the rendezvous point, I vow to myself - again - that I won’t leave this place without doing everything in my power to have Jeremy and Ainsley in hand when we go.
◆◆◆
The place they’d picked for Kenji’s raid headquarters turns out to be an old storage building at the far edge of campus. There’s a hole cut in the fence around back, where Cade’s team came through, making it a perfect location to bring the subjects when we have them, as well as allowing a clear route for escape.
Nothing's perfect. A little niggling voice reminds me. But it’ll do.
The front of the structure has a thick metal door, with a tiny blacked out window, sitting at the top of a short staircase. The semi-rusted walls are corrugated metal — cheap to construct, but strong. A garage door takes up half of the front face of the building, large enough to allow shipment trucks to pass through. I know, from Cade, that there’s a stolen, beat up coup parked on the other side, in case of emergency, along with a military cargo truck for all the escapees.
If it weren’t for the fact I didn’t think we should risk giving away the building’s location, I would have insisted we hole up here while we planned our coup. It affords a bit of distance between us and the corrupt members of Atlas, but it wasn’t worth the risk.
Up ‘til now, I haven’t even been inside. I’d known the location, and how to get here just in case, but with everyone being at the observatory there was no need for me to head this way for anything.
Cade’s team has taken care of setting up a work station for Kenji in an office off the main entry. Aside from the single laptop she always keeps on hand, they managed to find her two others as well. Kenji had been over the moon telling me all about them, for as much time as I tuned into her words anyway. I’m not an idiot, but computers were never my thing. Half of the stuff she told me made no sense to me at all.
As we walk down the short hallway to her new tinker room, I pause, grabbing Cade by the arm to pull him to a stop. John pauses too, but quickly moves on when Cade gives him a nod. He disappears beyond the doorway, and I hear the click of the latch as he closes the door behind him, giving us a minute.
Cade doesn’t waste any time, wrapping me up in his big arms and pulling me in for a tight hug. I angle my head to the side, resting my cheek against his hard chest. The tautness there isn’t exactly comfortable, per se, but his touch is nonetheless. I stand there for a few beats, reveling in the feel of his hand as he rubs it up and down my back in a soothing way. It’s easier to breathe right this moment than it’s been since the conversation with Luca in the storeroom.
I needed this.
Cade, feeling me relax, chooses that moment to speak. “I’m sorry we don’t have them with us yet, but we will. We have to focus on one thing at a time right now though, okay, baby girl?”
My heart warms at the new endearment and I nod silently rather than reply aloud. I know Cade will do everything in his power to not let me, or my siblings, down.
I do however, notice he’s not making any promises, and that sends a rush of foreboding through my body that I have to quickly crush.
We’ve hit a speed bump, that’s all. Not every plan can go off to perfection.
Let’s just hope our next one does, and that when it’s over, I’ll still be able to keep my silent promise to my brother, and little baby Ainsley, and get them away from the horrendous people they’re surrounded by.
Loosening my arms from behind his back, Cade takes the cue and steps away, giving me a soft kiss on the forehead before we both turn and follow John into the command center with Kenji.
They’re in the middle of a heated discussion, but they clam up quick when we come through the door.
Kenji offers me a sad smile, and I know John’s filled her in on the kids. “I’m sorry, Saed. You’ll have to try again after the lab, yeah?”
I almost get sucked back into the pit I was slowly falling into before Cade’s embrace, but I mentally slap myself out of it. “Damn straight.” Looking around the ten by fifteen space, I don’t spot Agents Bishop or Solomon anywhere. “Where’re the othe
r two?”
It’s Cade who replies. “They’re out back, making sure no Zerks have snuck up on our exit route in the last few hours.”
“It’d be a bitch to fight them after, better to do it now.” John agrees.
Kenji looks down at the screen of the computer in front of her. “They’ve been gone since you guys headed to the house.” She must have checked the time.
Pulling out my phone, I do the same. Because we didn’t encounter any kind of resistance at Nyler’s, and we don’t have two children in tow, we’re here earlier than planned by a full twenty minutes. I’m guessing they won’t resurface until then.
I hate this hurry up and wait shit.
I have the anxious urge to bite my nails. “What do we do in the meantime?”
Cade’s reply is quick. “Eat.”
Eat? “I don’t think I can.” The queasiness that’s been present all night has only doubled since our failed attempt at rescuing my siblings. Food doesn’t sound appealing for once — at all.
He pulls a granola bar from a duffel bag on the floor just inside the door. I recognize it as the one he’d packed earlier this week with rations for our escape. “Do it anyway, Sunshine. It’ll help.”
John goes over and grabs two bars, tossing one to Kenji. “Might as well all fuel up,” he shrugs.
We munch in silence. The only sounds in the room are that of our breathing, and occasionally the crunch of a particularly hard bite of granola. When a door creaks open somewhere in the building, we all hear it instantly.
“It’s just us!” Lance’s craggy voice calls, and we all settle back down once more. When Lance reaches the office, Charlie not far behind, they’re both covered in a wet, sloppy film of I don’t want to know what, and they positively reek. Lance’s eyes are lit up with excitement and I can see an energy about him that hasn’t been present since we met. Charlie’s simply disgusted, using gloves to try and slough off some of the gore.
My stomach roils, squeezing around the bar I’d just taken the last bite of. It’s a tremendous effort to keep the food where it belongs, and I can see Kenji having the same struggle.
John and Cade aren’t even fazed.
“Got some Zerks, I see.” Obviously. “I think I saw some air freshening spray over in that corner, if you want.” John razzes, helping and in equal parts making fun.
Charlie heads over to where John indicated, while Lance just shakes his head. “No point.” Charlie pauses with a rusty can of spray half-way to his body, pointed directly at him. “We’ll be in much worse shape in a bit.” Charlie must agree, begrudgingly, because as soon as Lance utters the words, he drops his head back in exasperation, but sets down the aerosol can anyway.
“Everybody here ready for this?” Lance is more talkative tonight than usual. I’m guessing the adrenaline is getting to him. “Gear all set?”
“Yes, dad.” Kenji jibes, giving him a hard time.
Lance’s expression turns incredulous, and I see a playfulness enter his gaze that’s never been present before. “Excuse me for trying to make sure everyone’s heads are screwed on straight, gel.” He glances around the room, looking for something. “Where are the little ones?”
John pipes in before I have the chance, “Not here. House was empty. Cade, Saedie and I will break away from the group after — try again, if we can.”
“You’ll have to catch up. We won’t be able to wait around with such a large group. We’d be sitting ducks.” Lance doesn’t look happy to insist on such a thing, but I understand his reasoning. I’m just grateful the men are willing to try again. As much as it tears me apart inside to think of them leaving without me, I won’t be going with the team without my siblings. I’ve never spoken the words aloud, but I know Cade realizes this, and John must to, because they're willing to risk themselves for this task I’ve laid out before them instead of giving up.
“We know. We’ll find you,” Cade swears.
Lance gives him a fatherly look, one that says ‘you better, or else’, but otherwise doesn’t comment beyond reiterating we check our bags once again.
Because it’s become a habit, I dutifully do as requested and check the backpack from my initial venture out of The Compound that someone has kindly transported here for me. Everything seems in place, which is good. I sling its moderate weight onto my back, pushing my arms through the straps.
“Listen up.” Cade’s commanding voice has come out to play. “This is it. What we’ve been gearing up to for weeks - months. There can be no mistakes tonight.” He focuses on my tech-savvy friend as she twirls a strand a hair around one finger. It’s a nervous gesture I’ve noticed she has, and it’s the only way I know she’s anxious right now. Everything else about her screams ‘let’s do this’. “Kenji,” She meets his gaze head on, “Are all of your computers up and running, charged, and connected to the network?”
“Yep.” She gestures to the gadgets at her side. “I have the extra batteries Johnny boy pilfered for me, too. Everything connection-wise is centralized here.” She pats the top of her favourite laptop. “So as long as we stay in range of old network towers I can hack into, we’ll be all set to keep up mobile communications even after we leave.”
Cade nods, “Good.” Turning to his teammates, he doesn’t give them a pep talk, or offer any words of wisdom as I expected. Instead, I bear witness to their silent communication, as they have a moment with each other that Kenji and I aren’t a part of. “We’ve been here before gents, and we’ll be here again. I’m glad to have you with me.” Cade finally says.
Lance strides over to give Cade a hug, gripping the back of his head and pulling him in tightly before letting go. “Keep your head on a swivel.”
Cade grunts, telling them all to do the same.
Cade takes a moment to look at everyone in the room, making eye contact with each of us. “Be careful. Go nowhere alone. Always know where your partner is.” He looks directly at me, “It’s you and me, Sunshine. All the way.”
This man. I’m so proud to call him mine.
“Fuck yes, it is.” They all chuckle at my crassness.
It’s go time.
CHAPTER 30
We’re in a row, pressed up against the outer wall of the campus Sports building. Cade is at the front, with me directly behind, followed by Luca, John, Charlie and Lance. Luca had met us at the observatory about twenty minutes ago, geared up and ready to fight. To say I was surprised he showed is an understatement. To say he was surprised to find three men other than Cade present, decked out in full tactical gear, is like saying humans don’t need water to survive — a total lie.
He was full of questions, wanting to know who they are and where they’d come from.
We answered none of them.
He can deal. If we make it through tonight unscathed Luca can have his answers then, and only then.
I keep throwing suspicious glances over my shoulder at him, but each time I do John points me forward again, shaking his head.
Lance, the caboose to our human infiltration line, is at the rear, guarding our backs from any threat in that direction. Each man has their gun drawn, but pointed down at the ground. Even Luca has one, though I don’t know where he got it. The team didn’t offer it to him, that’s for sure — they’re skeptical of him, too. My own gun rests snuggly in its holster at the top of my right thigh, as I’m choosing to keep my knife at the ready instead.
I’m better with it than a firearm anyway. It just means I’ll have to be closer to my target to do damage, that’s all.
Kenji’s stationed in the outbuilding as planned - doing her tech thing - ready to leave at a moment’s notice once we have the prisoners.
Cade peers around the corner, to the back entrance of the building, eying the two men casually strolling around outside it. The entry is closer to the stairwell door leading down into the lab, and it will shave precious minutes off our venture going this way instead of our usual route. Luca told us about it when he originally agreed to the plan,
and I’m glad of it now.
The henchmen would look casual, like two guys out for a midnight walk, if anyone were to wander by, but we recognize them for what they are — Atlas guard dogs. Luca confirms it with a pre-arranged nod. He’s agreed to point out any members to us when we come across them, to be safe.
Cade gestures for John to take them out, and I watch as John raises his spare weapon that had been strapped across his chest, taking aim. The semi-automatic is loaded with non-lethal rounds that, while they’ll sting like a bitch and leave a massive bruise, won’t do any permanent damage. In quick succession, he shoots them both in the back of the head, and I wince as they crumple to the ground.
Damn, John’s a badass.
They’re going to have one fucker of a headache when they come round, though.
Single file, we follow Cade straight to the door. It takes a few nerve-racking seconds for him to pop the lock, and then we’re inside a hall so dim I can’t see a thing.
The nights themselves have been darker in recent weeks, with the impending storm clouds ever-present, but at least the moon manages to peak through sometimes. Inside is a different story. The back hallway we’ve entered has no illumination, emergency or otherwise, to break the pitch black surrounding us. When my pupils fail to capture any light in the corridor, I reach up and pull down a pair of the night vision goggles Cade’s team brought with them. With John being the gentleman he is, I get to wear his pair for now.
Luca has none, but he doesn’t complain.
Flicking them on like Cade taught me, I breathe a silent sigh of relief as objects start to take shape around me.
I can see Cade where he’s stopped in the middle of the hallway, in the process of pulling on his own goggles. I know the others are as well, though their movements are shockingly quiet. When I feel the tap on my shoulder telling me everyone’s ready to go, I repeat the gesture with Cade. We move out.
Atlas (Apocalyptic Cries Book 1) Page 30
