Hyde conjured a little smile that morphed into an uneasy laugh. She knew Jas was right and marvelled at how much wisdom her words had carried. Most people her age would’ve cowered and hidden from the danger; but not Jas. She seemed to thrive on it. Hyde felt sure that Marcus had some part to play in her strength. He had surely worked to toughen her up during their time in the caves, knowing that many hardships had lain ahead.
Jas furrowed her brow, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Hyde shook her head and grinned, then looked back up at Jas. “I was wondering how a young girl like yourself has found the strength to overcome every obstacle.” Jas frowned, and Hyde carried on. “I mean, look how you handled the caver situation, for instance. You didn’t give in or break down. You handled yourself better than any adult. I’m so incredibly proud of you.” She could sense that Jas felt uneasy with the praise, so she left it at that, having said her piece anyway.
“No more praise.” Jas said.
Hyde took hold of her hand and smiled, nodding in acknowledgement.
~
The vehicle came to a standstill, followed directly by the other, which pulled up beside them. The flap opened from the driver’s side, and someone poked their head in.
“We’re here.”
Hyde peeked through the grate and beheld the ruins of the once majestic city of London. Rubble replaced age-old buildings and monuments. She could just see the Horse Guard’s barracks, which themselves had sustained a fair amount of damage.
The driver jumped down from the cab and made his way around to the back of the vehicle. Each step was met by the grating of gravel underfoot. Hyde loved the sound of the stones grinding, she was back to what she knew best.
The door was thrown open, and people started to jump down as fast as they could, acting as if the place was going to sink out from under them before they had a chance to look at their new home. It was a sight to behold as the sun began to rise behind the ruins of Buckingham Palace. Hyde and Jas pulled Marcus down slowly on the stretcher that he had been placed on and brought him around the front of the transport, which was no mean feat. Marcus was heavy on the weary women’s arms, but they pushed on
“Looks like we’ll be walking the rest of the way,” Hyde said, giving Jas a quick glance. She replied with a nod. “The debris is too great to get the vehicles past. we’ll try and keep you steady, Marcus.”
She slowed her pace to watch as two soldiers took hold of Judd and threw him to the ground. He cried out when his wounded ankles took the weight of his body as it landed on the gravel. The soldiers yanked him into a standing position and hauled him away.
Much to Hyde’s contentment, the time in which Judd would be allowed to waste precious oxygen had all but come to a close.
CHAPTER 32
Sergeants Jackson and Brookes approached Hyde from behind. Jackson took hold of her end of the stretcher once they’d reached her. And Brookes walked around to Jas and did the same.
“You two can’t take his weight, Corporal,” Jackson said, giving her an understanding smile. “Go and join your friends, we’ve got him from here.”
Hyde watched as they carried Marcus’s stretcher over the treacherous landscape, taking him in the direction of what used to be their barracks.
“You’ll get the treatment you need once we reach the shelter, Sir.”
Turning her back on the three men, Hyde immediately tried to seek out John, Aggie and the rest of the group. Jas had chosen to follow the sergeants and stand by her father’s side before setting out to find the others.
She took a step and gravel crunched under her boots, causing Jackson and Brookes to turn their heads violently, almost tipping Marcus off the stretcher.
“What the hell? Will you watch what you’re doing?” Hyde shouted as she ran towards the stretcher, her face a mixture of anger and panic at their carelessness. “You drop him, I’ll brain you. Why the hell are you so jumpy? It was just the sound of my boot crunching the gravel.”
The two sergeants took one look at Hyde and shrugged, causing her to furrow her brow in annoyance. Saying nothing further, but hoping that they at least took her a little bit seriously, she moved around to where Jas was. Jackson and Brookes had readjusted themselves, forcing another little groan from Marcus. Hyde walked beside him, looking down at his grimace with a forlorn expression.
“We’re nearly there,” she said with reassurance. “Just a little further, then we can get you treated properly.” She placed a hand on Marcus’s shoulder and stared towards their destination, which still appeared as a speck on the desolate landscape, and didn’t seem to be getting any bigger.
~
The major called Jackson over, leaving Brookes and Jackson’s relief, in the form of a young private; to take care of Marcus. At double quick speed, Jackson ran to his commanding officer, stopping dead in front of him. Giving him a quick salute, Jackson waited for instruction.
“Go back to the ATVs and radio ahead,” the major ordered. “This has to be done correctly, do you understand?” Jackson nodded once in response and ran towards the two vehicles set back along the street, stumbling on the rubble and debris that littered the surrounding area as he went.
Visibility was growing weaker as the deep red sky grew darker. The sun sank further into the backdrop of the ruins, and Jackson struggled to keep his footing. He cried out as his ankle turned in on itself after tripping on the rubble. Blast this fucking place, goddamn it! Cursing as he tried to shake off the pain, Jackson limped his way toward the ATVs, which were only a few more steps away.
He felt for the door handle as he touched base with one of the vehicles. Both were equipped with a radio, so it didn’t matter which one he used. Grabbing the handle, Jackson twisted it and pulled open the driver’s side door, grabbing the radio’s hand set with his free hand.
The channel was already pre-set, so all he had to do was depress the trigger and speak, but all he got was static. He reached over, took hold of the dial and tweaked it a bit, getting rid of the white noise that had prevented contact to the barracks.
“Oscar-one, come in,” Jackson called, a sense of urgency in his tone. “Oscar-one, pick up.” This went on for several minutes. Pick up will you, the main group is drawing closer to the barracks! After a few moments of uneasy silence, Jackson finally got his response.
“Oscar-one receiving,” said a deep voice. “Everything is in place.”
The sergeant swept a hand across his sweating brow and exhaled.
“Remember. The target is to be maimed, not killed. They are very important to us. Keep that in mind when you take the shot.”
There was another moment of silence before any kind of response came through.
“Understood.” was the reply from the sharpshooter before the transition ended.
Sergeant Jackson flung the receiver on the passenger seat of the ATV and closed the door. Using a small pen light from the side pocket of his combat trousers, he made his way back toward the group, careful not to damage his ankle any further.
~
Lance-Corporal Chris Davis of the barracks sniper unit poked the tip of his rifle through a gap in the debris he’d found cover behind. It was a good vantage point to hit the target. He lowered his body to the ground, belly down, spread his legs behind him, and waited patiently for his target to come into view. He had no qualms about the job he had to do, but knowing who he had to target weighed heavily on his heart.
Davis was a crack shot with a rifle, with twenty kills so far, but never did he think he would have to use his rifle on a friend. It made him feel sick just thinking about what he had to do, but orders were orders, and he knew what would happen to him if he disobeyed.
Placing his right eye over the rifle’s scope, looking through the crosshairs, he could see the main group come into view, but there was no clear shot, too many people crowded the target. This is going to be tricky! Breathe in slowly, exhale out...and repeat. Calm yourself, Davis. He waited patiently for h
is target to come into view, repeating his breathing exercise until the moment came where he had to put the trigger. Maim, not kill. Maim, not kill. Those few words repeated over and over in his mind.
~
An irritating glint caught Hyde’s eye amongst the debris, but she wasn’t sure what. Out of curiosity, she went to investigate, borrowing a colleague’s weapon and moving forward cautiously. There was an air of silence before a shot was heard. Hyde’s eyes widened and her body jolted back. And as if caught up in a slow-motion frame, she fell backward, landing on the hard gravel with a dramatic thump. She had taken a bullet to the stomach and there was nothing she could’ve done. It was all so quick.
Barely able to focus past the pain, her eyes travelled to catch Jas as she ran over to her fallen sister, leaving her father and the others to watch on in horror at the events that transpired in front of them. Hyde coughed and turned her head, closing her eyes for a moment.
“Don’t you dare!” Jas was overwrought. “You’ve come too far. You can’t die.”
Hyde fixed her faraway gaze on Jas, who looked around to see where the shot might have come from.
“Someone find the doctor,” Jas shouted frantically. “Don’t just stand there, can’t you see she’s dying?”
The major pushed his way passed the onlookers with two other men. He said nothing as he gestured for the privates to pick Hyde up and take her to the barracks. Jas was helpless to do or say anything as she was pushed out of the way.
~
Held firm and out of sight, Judd was the first one to enter the bomb shelter. Its doors lifted to greet him as the first of many guests. Being dragged by his collar, the former captain was marched down the flight of steps that led into the main shell of the super bunker. The place looked like an underground city, stretching as far as the eye could see, but Judd wasn’t given the opportunity to see how vast the place was. No sooner had he entered was he taken farther down into the basement area, where a prison cell awaited him.
“You’ll never have the opportunity to explore this place,” the young soldier said with great satisfaction. “The next place you’ll see is the execution chamber.” He untied the prisoner’s hands and pushed him into his temporary home.
“I’ll find a way to escape this place, and God help you when I do.”
“Looks like I’m going to have to tie those hands of yours again, doesn’t it?” The private said smugly as he peered through the slot in the cell door. “You won’t be going anywhere once I’m done.” With that, the man walked out of sight, returning several minutes later, with two other men carrying rifles over their shoulders and a lengthy piece of rope.
With a look of steely determination in his eyes, Judd braced himself for the door to open, and for the soldiers to enter, getting ready to run for his life. What the hell! I’m dead anyway. They might as well finish me now. Saves the agonising wait for my execution. They won’t spare my life for what I’ve done, I know that much for certain. Breathe Judd, just breathe. Give the bastards everything you’ve got.
Judd had made it to the middle of the cell before crumpling to the ground, convulsing. He had been tasered, making him an easy target for the men looming over his shaking body with rope ready to restrain him. All three played a part in dispelling any more thoughts of escape from his mind, trussing him up like an alligator.
~
Jas could only stand by and watch as Hyde disappeared into the abyss. Her mind began to wander as she could only guess where her friend was being taken. I hope she’s okay. They’d better take care of her. She had every right to think what she was thinking, especially in light of the way the soldiers were acting as Hyde was stretchered away.
“Major, when do we get to enter the bomb shelter?” she asked, feeling nervous.
The Major whipped around to face her, a look of displeasure moulding his features.
“Someone will be up to collect you all in half an hour. For now, we’re only taking in the wounded.” And with that, Jas watched as her father was stretchered past her and taken down through the shelter’s huge steel doors. Anxiety hit her. She didn’t know what was going to happen to them. She found herself wishing she was back at the cave in the Yorkshire Dales. At least she was safe there.
Gathering the others, Jas led everyone toward the steel doors, ready for them to open.
Within minutes of arriving, the doors swung upwards, and a handful of weapon wielding soldiers exited, pointing their rifles at the survivors.
“Get in here!” one of the men shouted in an unpleasant tone. “If any of you try to run, you’ll be shot, do you get me? Now move.” The message he was sending came across loud and clear. What the hell is going on? This is supposed to be a safe place, and these men are supposed to be looking after us. Instead, they are holding us at gun point. Does Hyde know about this? Everything flooded Jas’s mind all at once as she ploughed forward, with Aggie, John and all the other men, women and children not far behind.
EPILOGUE
Hyde woke up to a pain unlike any she had ever known. But more terrifying than the pain was the fact that she couldn’t move, no matter how hard she tried. And her surroundings only served to intensify the fear within her. She lifted her head and looked toward her hands and feet. Velcro restraints pinned her to an uncomfortable bed, and she seemed to be wearing what looked like white scrubs. What the hell is going on? Where am I? Am I in the bomb shelter? I can’t remember it being this dark. I. Need. To. Get. Out. Of. Here!
Her fear gave way as anger bubbled to the surface. As her vision came into focus, she spotted the silhouette of a man approaching her. The man’s presence heightened the uneasy feeling in her stomach. She pulled at her restraints in a frantic attempt to escape. The closer he got, the tighter fear clasped its hold on her senses.
“Don’t say a word, Corporal.” The unrecognisable man dressed in army fatigues looked around to make sure nobody else was in the room. “Listen to what I have to say.” He placed a hand over her mouth.
She glared up at him and tried even harder to escape, but he pressed his free arm across her chest, making it hard for her to breathe, let alone move.
“Don’t muck me about, Hyde. Calm down and take in what I say, do you understand me?” The mysterious man whispered in her ear.
She nodded her head in response.
“Good.” He paused, as if contemplating his words. Then, smiling to himself, he continued. “The mission was never about finding survivors,” The man said, hanging his head. “It was about testing your capabilities.”
Hyde furrowed her brow in confusion. What does he mean by that? Testing my capabilities? I don’t understand.
“Let me spell it out for you,” he said, looking deep into her eyes. “You’re a product of genetic engineering, the original ‘caver’ as it were... The only reason you’re not dead is because you have a quicker healing mechanism than most people, how do you think you survived a fatal shot to the stomach? Of course, we made it so you felt a certain degree of pain, but not as severe as it could’ve been if you were completely human.”
Hyde replied to his revelation with a prolonged growl, and a renewed desire to escape her bonds. This is bullshit!
“Stop.” More pressure was applied to her chest. “You are what is left of the one and only batch of clones ever to be released into the open. The rest, as you know, were failures, and were banished or escaped to the caves in the North. The majority of the bombs were not an act of war as the old transmissions suggested. They were an extermination tool. We wanted the anomalies eliminated. And we needed to do it in such a way that we would not be blamed. Who would ever guess that we had bombed our own country?”
Hyde tried to scream through the man’s hand as the impact of his words sank in. Her mind was swirling with denial, and her anger grew insatiable in the face of his revelation.
No! This can’t be happening. Is that what I am, a fucking anomaly? I can’t believe what I’m hearing. What about my memories, are they real? I nee
d to know...but I can’t say a word with this idiot’s hand over my mouth. Has my whole life been a lie? I need answers!
“The government wanted all traces of the doomed experiment destroyed, and sod the consequences. They didn’t care about the mayhem and destruction it would cause, or about the death toll. They just wanted rid of the cavers. The only reason you’re alive, Hyde—is the fact that we want to harvest your DNA to restart the program. And do you know what I find funny? You met your father, your creator, and he never even recognised his own creature. Marcus Dench has no idea who you are to him, and he’ll never know. As far as he is concerned, you’re dead... and to clarify, the London bombs were not us. They were fired on us by the foreign power mentioned in the original radio broadcasts, a country bent on destroying everything we were trying to achieve within the ‘caver’ program. Little did they know, their effort to destroy London covered our tracks more effectively than we could have ever hoped. It was quite easy to blame them for everything.”
Feeling her temperature rising with anger, and her eyes welling up, Hyde tried to convey the fact that she was having difficulty digesting everything the mysterious man was telling her, and she really wanted to know what part he played in the whole scheme. He hadn’t even told her who he was.
“I’m going to take my hand away from your mouth, but if you start ranting, I’ll be forced to gag you, is that clear, Soldier?”
Hyde nodded, and no sooner than he removed his hand, the questions started falling out of her mouth.
“How long was I out for?” She asked in a flat, emotionless voice.
“A week.”
“Why was I shot?”
“We needed you incapacitated.”
“But why? You could’ve just used a tranquiliser dart, not a fucking bullet!”
“I don’t know why, Hyde. You’d have to ask Major Clarke, he authorised it.”
Her brain felt like it was going to explode, all the new information was too much for her to process.
Only the Few (Only The Few Book 1) Page 18
