Mercy gritted her teeth, “OK, come on, come on—”
She dug into her cargo pockets and pulled out the spare batteries she had salvaged from the electrical store. Five minutes later the drone was in her hands, back in the dome. She inserted the fresh batteries and they relaunched the drone from the window. This time Barnes sent it straight to the elongated building, flying in low for a better view.
“Yes, definitely… there, the trail appears at that entranceway. It’s a huge building, like a hangar or a railway station—” Mercy said.
“Or sports complex,” Barnes added. “Look, there’s some broken windows high up, they’re big. I’ve got enough juice, I could take her through that window and take a look inside. It’s a bit risky—”
Mercy chewed her lip, “Do it, just a quick look, we don’t want to stir them up—”
Barnes brought the drone close to the curved windows and steered the drone through the largest opening. The camera adjusted to the poor light inside the building, the video feed became grainy and indistinct.
“That’s a huge space, bring it down a little,” Mercy’s voice was strained, almost a whisper.
Barnes inhaled through clenched teeth, “It’s a… swimming pool.”
Mercy breathed out, “A massive one. Fifty metres, Olympic sized. There’s no water though, it’s been drained.”
“Maybe drained by whoever survived in the early days. People fought and killed over fresh water—” Barnes replied.
“Even chlorinated water?” Mercy asked.
“Yeah, even chlorinated water. Wait… shit. What’s that over there? In the back, at the deep end… to the right of the diving boards—” Barnes said.
Mercy squinted, “It looks like someone’s legs. They’re wearing a white… gown. It’s a girl, barefoot, look there’s blood on her skin—”
“Shit, that’s maximum zoom, do you want me to go lower? We can’t see a face—” Barnes asked.
Goddammit—
“Yes… NO,” Mercy said, her voice hard. “Bring it back, it’s too dangerous. We can’t afford to alert the alphas, if they know someone’s spying on them we’ve lost all surprise—”
Barnes grunted and worked the controls, “At least we know your friend is alive—”
“Yeah, and where they’re keeping her—” Mercy replied.
What about Flynn? What about Tawny? Where are you two? Please, be safe. Be alive—
“I’ll take the drone back by a different route. You mentioned the Naval Academy Chapel earlier on, it would be a good OP for the pool. The chapel is just west of the main part of the campus, well within striking distance of the pool. The academy was fortified during the Fall. They put up fences and barricades inside and outside the previous perimeter. I’ll recon the area around the chapel, there’s just enough juice left—” Barnes spent the next five minutes flying the drone over the western side of the academy grounds inspecting the terrain.
Fay returned from her watch. “Whatcha got?”
Mercy slumped down on the walkway, her back against the wall. She broke into a distracted monologue, “I’ll go in at night… when the alphas are out hunting. We’ll synchronise watches. Barnes, you can do some kind of diversion to draw attention away from the swimming pool. You can shoot your pistol or set off some smoke canisters, they’ll glow a bit which should draw some attention. I can infiltrate the perimeter, get into the grounds and make it to the pool. I can enter through one of the side windows. From the drone footage the windows are about ten feet off the ground. Shit, how in hell am I going to get up there—?”
Fay interrupted Mercy’s ruminations. “Wait a minute, you’re talking as if I wasn’t here. I’m going with you. I’m part of this. Hell, I ain’t got nothing to lose. I’ll back you up. I’ll smear up with axle grease, that ought to work for a while—”
Mercy shook her head, “Fay… no. These are alpha tropes, axle grease is pointless. You’d be toast—”
Fay shook her head, “No, Mercy, you’ll be toast, you’re going into a fucking nest of these things. Barnes said there’s… what? Fifty or sixty alphas in there. OK, some will be hunting but not all and anyway you’ll need help to get Rose and the others out if they’re in there. Who knows what condition they’ll be in?”
The drone appeared at the window. Fay leant forwards and grabbed it, pulling it through the opening. Barnes shut down the power.
Barnes turned to face Mercy. “The chapel looks good, it’s closer to the pool and there’s plenty of cover. There’s a fence but you can use my wire cutters, and yes, I can create a diversion to draw some of the heat for you. I’ll hang back and keep an eye on you using my night vision—” he tapped his Steyr SSG 69 then took out his maps. He showed them the relevant areas on the map.
“Well—?” Fay’s question filled the air.
Mercy looked up and smiled at her friend. “Thank you Fay, you’re talking sense. I’d be grateful to have your backup. There’s just one thing, we’ve got the rope and ice axes to make a grappling hook but that’s not going to be the quickest way to reach those windows—”
“You need a ladder or at least a set of steps—” Barnes said.
Fay nodded, “What about the maintenance room? I saw a sign on the way up here. It should have tools and shit, hell with all these windows up here there should be a ladder in there—”
Mercy grinned, “Let’s take a look—”
Chapter 11
Deep End
“Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about,” Fay pulled the step ladder out from behind a pile of boxes.
“Looks the right size,” Mercy said.
“Should do the job,” Barnes chipped in from the door.
“Check for anything else we could use,” Mercy started to scour the shelves covering the wall.
Fay rummaged among the boxes in the corner. “Just paint back here—”
Mercy grunted, “Nah, just rubbish. Nothing much else. Let’s go.”
They left Maryland State House and headed northwest. Barnes took them on a circuitous route. Two hours later they were under cover outside the Naval Academy Chapel. They watched the building in the late afternoon light. The air was crisp, the trees wore their autumn colours.
Jesus, I’m tired—
Mercy looked at Fay, lying on the ground beside her.
Fay’s a busted flush too. Shit, I can see why Barnes takes speed, this place, this city… it’s fucked—
“OK, I think we’re good to go,” Barnes whispered. “On me—”
They entered the chapel through a side entrance and moved to the back. An open office door beckoned to them. Barnes checked the room and they piled in. He shut the door, his eyes going to the windows.
“I was going to suggest we set up the OP on the roof,” Barnes said, “but you guys are running on fumes. Me, I’ll crash eventually. Look, we need rest before we do this.” He looked at his watch, “We’ve got four hours before we go in. I’ll take first shift, you two get some rest.”
Mercy met Fay’s eyes, “Not going to argue with you Barnes.”
Mercy grabbed a cushion from a low sofa and slumped to the floor. She laid her head down and was asleep in minutes. Fay collapsed on the sofa and followed suit.
Barnes grabbed a high-backed chair and jammed it under the door handle, he reached into his pocket and took out the strip of pills. “Two left… just fucking great,” he muttered. He took one of the dextroamphetamine pills and put the foil pill strip back into his pocket. “Just get me through this night—”
He sat down beside the door and started cleaning his rifle.
“Mercy, it’s time.”
Mercy’s eyes snapped open, her hand went to her SIG. Fay was kneeling beside her.
“Got it,” Mercy rubbed her face and sat up.
“Feels as if we lay down a couple of minutes ago, don’t it?” Fay said. “God, I could do with a smoke—”
Mercy stretched her arms, “Do you remember the days you could wake someone up safe
ly by just tapping them on the shoulder—?”
Fay laughed, “Touch me when I’m asleep and you’re likely to get a bullet in the brain—”
“Or six inches of steel in your gut,” Mercy replied.
Barnes looked at his watch, “OK ladies, it’s dark outside. The alphas should be out, doing their thing. You ready to do your thing?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be. Hey, good call on the sleep Barnes. I feel quarter human at least—” Mercy said.
“Don’t mention it, I needed a little down time myself—”
“Me time? It’s overrated I hear,” Fay said.
Mercy checked her gear and studied Barnes’s maps one last time. She memorised their route in and made a mental note of key street names.
“Come on, let’s go and kick some ass—” Mercy said.
Fay pulled a face.
“Only joking,” Mercy said, “let’s go and be invisible—”
“I’ll take that,” Fay replied. She glanced down then raised both hands. “Look guys, before we go, I want you to promise me one thing—”
Barnes looked up, “It’s a given girl. But it needs to be said, so spit it out.”
Fay nodded. “If I turn, or if they get me, I want you to put a round here,” she tapped her forehead.
“Understood,” Mercy said, without hesitation. She looked at Barnes and Fay, “Likewise ditto that request for me too. What about you Barnes?”
“Yeah, although I’ve got that taken care of,” he tapped his jaw. “Got me a good old fashioned kill-pill hid up here in my tooth. Most of the guys do… did, quick way out, no complications. But yeah, I’ll book a bullet from you in the event of the deepest, darkest, shitstorm.”
“We’re agreed then,” Mercy said. “Oh, and I’ll carry the antiserum for Fay in case she gets… ill.”
Barnes handed Mercy the antiserum auto-injector. “Be careful with that, it’s more valuable than—”
“Life,” Fay finished for him.
Thirty minutes later Mercy and Fay stood at the academy’s perimeter fence. Fay placed the step ladder against the chain link. Mercy took out Barnes’s multi-tool and started cutting the wire. Fay glanced back towards the chapel. Two minutes later Mercy had cut an L-shaped hole in the fence. She stepped through and held it open for Fay and the ladder. Mercy looked up at the fence.
It’d be easy to miss this spot on the way back—
A plastic bag flapped on a nearby branch.
That’ll do—
Mercy tore the bag from the branch and tied it to the fence over the hole.
Plastic bag marks the spot—
The night was quiet, a breeze from the Severn River rustled the leaves above. A fox called out somewhere deep in the city. Fay managed to lift the step ladder through the hole. They moved in the undergrowth towards the swimming pool on the eastern part of the campus.
There it is—
Mercy stopped and hunkered down in a thick clump of bushes. Fay crouched beside her. They observed the building for twenty minutes. Mercy checked her watch.
Come on Barnes, come on—
A breath, a heartbeat. A single shot rang out in the night.
Good job Barnes, diversion… right on time—
They lifted the step ladder and approached the building. They positioned the ladder against the wall under one of the broken windows.
Mercy signalled to Fay and began climbing the ladder. She made it to the windowsill and listened before peering over the edge.
Shit, can’t make out much—
Mercy scrambled up and straddled the windowsill. Fay followed, mirroring Mercy’s position. They listened. Leaves and branches rustled outside. Inside, all was quiet. Mercy chewed her lip and patted her silenced SIG.
Maybe we should’ve brought the rifles. No, too much gear, and if it ends in a firefight we’ll be fucked anyway. No, we’re good, keep going—
Mercy nodded at Fay and lowered herself onto the floor inside. She pulled out her SIG and knife and listened.
Nothing. But Christ, that stench—
Fay dropped down beside her.
Dim starlight filtered through the large windows casting a grey sheen on the empty swimming pool inside. Mercy made her way along the wall, her eyes trying to probe the dark corners ahead.
Rose, you’d see better than me. Your biotech was giving you better night sight—
They reached the pool’s deep end. A large diving platform loomed above them. Mercy crept along the pool edge.
Anything? Anything? We’re near where the drone saw you. Where are you Rose—?
Mercy reached the other side of the pool. The stench assaulted her.
Ignore it—
Her hands brushed against a poolside ladder. She stopped.
I can’t see a thing, I should use the torch. No, it’ll ruin my night vision—
Mercy traced her fingers down the hand rail to the tiled floor.
What’s that—? Chains—?
Her fingers felt cold metal links.
Maybe they chain people here. What’s… that? Cloth?
Mercy tugged at the scrap of fabric, freeing it from the chains. She held it up in the dim light.
Looks white, could’ve been torn from what Rose was wearing. Dammit, we have to get down there—
Mercy reached behind and found Fay’s hand, she placed it on the ladder’s handrail. Fay squeezed her shoulder in acknowledgement.
Mercy stepped on the first rung and lowered herself over the side. The ladder was loose and made a slight grating sound against the wall.
Shit, too late now. Just get on with it—
Mercy descended into darkness, holding her breath. Her heart pounded.
Surely they can hear me—?
Darkness swam around her, through her. She closed her eyes and recalled what Vince had taught her back in New York.
Feel it, feel the darkness, breathe it into your bones, become the darkness, let it through your pores—
She stepped off the last rung into space.
Shit, there’ll be a drop—
Mercy crouched and held on to the bottom step then lowered herself into the deep end. She dropped the last few feet onto the tiled surface below. Her boots crunched on dead leaves then splashed in a shallow puddle of water. The ladder creaked as Fay positioned herself above. Seconds later Fay landed beside Mercy. Mercy reached out and squeezed Fay’s shoulder.
Keep quiet, we’re near, I can feel it—
Mercy touched the tiled wall and followed it with her fingers. She reached the corner and continued on. The stench was becoming worse. Something crunched underfoot, she crouched down, her hands feeling the wall. Her fingers came to an open space.
Wait…what? A hole? What’s this?
She knelt on the floor and traced the margins of the hole with her fingers.
It’s large, human large, we could get down this. They’ve burrowed into the filtration system or something—
Mercy stepped into the opening, feeling her way. A rough-hewn tunnel stretched out in front of her.
Shit—
She moved into the tunnel gripping her silenced SIG. The floor sloped down, she took her time, counting each step.
Fifty five, fifty six, fifty seven—
Her fingers reached the end of the tunnel and found a space beyond. She stopped and listened, she sensed Fay behind her.
Concentrate, listen—
The sound of dripping water came from the darkness ahead.
Where are we? Some kind of pump house for the pool? Somewhere in the filtration system?
Mercy tilted her head.
There, what was that? Breathing?
The sound came again.
Yes, a breath somewhere in there, in the open—
Mercy stepped into the chamber, her silenced pistol held before her.
One, two… three—
A scuffing sound on the right.
What was that—?
Mercy stopped and listened. Nothing. She
took another step and reached out. A shriek. A scrape. Something slammed into her from the side, knocking her to the ground.
Jesus, what the fuck—?
Mercy reached for her torch and switched it on. A skeletal alpha was standing three feet away, its head tilted, listening.
Its eyes are missing—
Mercy stared at the wasted, naked alpha. Strange, root-like tendrils flicked at the air around its mouth.
What are those things? It’s like a snake, tasting the air—
The alpha rushed at Mercy, its fingers clawed. Mercy jerked her SIG up and squeezed the trigger. Her round went wide. The alpha jumped on her, grabbing her gun arm. Mercy grunted and dropped the SIG. The alpha lunged at her face, its teeth snapping. Mercy jerked her head away, exposing her neck. The alpha brought its free hand up and gripped Mercy’s throat.
Two pistol shots rang out, the top of the alpha’s skull disappeared in a bloody splatter. Its grip loosened on Mercy’s neck. She kicked the alpha’s corpse away and picked up her gun.
“Thanks Fay—” Mercy swung around. Fay was standing a short distance away.
“Don’t mention it—” Fay replied.
A low moan came from deeper in the room. Mercy jumped up and shone the torch towards the sound. A figure was slumped in a heap twenty feet away.
Oh—?
A wave of hope surged through her.
Rose?
Mercy rushed across the room. Rose was on the floor, her hands and feet bound. A bloody bandage was wrapped around her head, covering her eyes.
Oh, Christ, where’s Flynn and Tawny—? What’s wrong with Rose’s eyes—?
Mercy blinked, staring.
Snap out of it, Fay’s gunshot will bring the others down on us—
Mercy bent down to cut Rose’s bonds. Rose jerked away at Mercy’s touch.
“Hey Rose, it’s OK, it’s me… and Fay, we’ve come to get you out—” Mercy’s voice broke when she saw the blood on Rose’s legs. “What have they done to you Rose?”
Rose kept still and allowed Mercy to cut her bonds. Mercy reached out to remove Rose’s bloody bandage but pulled her hand away at the last minute.
“Come on Rose, let’s get you up—” Mercy whispered.
Rose got to her feet, she gripped Mercy’s arms, “Mercy, don’t let her get me, keep her away from me—”
The Survival Chronicles (Book 6): Dark Mercy Page 7
