I can see the glint in Luke’s eyes. “Guaranteed to work?”
“Every time,” Morley assures him. “You stick a few people on either side of that station with these babies while the rest get the prisoners out. If we get seen, we set these off. Will buy us some time.”
“If they’re even still down there,” Dom argues.
“For fuck sakes, Dom.” Luke finally loses his cool. “If they’ve moved on, then we follow until we catch up. What do you want me to say?”
Dom glares back. “I don’t know. I just can’t believe you’re seriously agreeing to this. Our whole plan is going to rely on some cock-a-doodle idea of Molotov cocktails and smoke bombs made from ping pong balls? This is crazy. If those ravagers see us, we’re fucked, and no amount of smoke will save us.”
“You’re right. If we get spotted, it won’t save us.” Luke’s jaw hardens as he stares around at us. “So we don’t get spotted. The bombs are not the plan; they’re the distraction. They’re going to occupy the ravagers on the other entrances while we attack from below. And if we are seen, then we have no choice. We fight. We kill. We maim. We do whatever it takes to get our people to safety. That’s the plan. It’s a fucking sucky plan, no doubt, but we don’t have the time or the manpower to do much more, so this is all we have. It’s that or leave the ones we love to their horrible fate. All in favor?”
Put like that, there really is no choice. I don’t feel like dying today, but if it means a chance to save Amy then I’ll do what I gotta do. We all will. Heads nod as his words set in. Luke drops a beefy hand on Morley’s shoulder at our assent.
“Looks like you’re up, my man. Lead the way.”
Chapter Four
The smell is the first thing to get to me. I thought for sure it would be the all-consuming darkness, or the unseen critters running over my feet and brushing against my legs, but the smell wins out. The reek of the lower subway practically permeates my skin, a mixture of musty rot and raw sewage. I fight the urge to vomit. Instead, I swallow the bile at the back of my throat and keep following the bobbing lanterns up ahead.
“How far in we gotta go?” I whisper loudly to no one in particular, but Morley’s voice floats back at me through the gloom.
“This room goes in about half a mile. The door to the next level is at the end.”
“Fuck.” My whisper is for my ears only as I flip my flashlight from side to side in the eerie room. My eyes flick to every dark corner, examining the shadows and expecting leeches to pop out at any moment. “Sam. You feel anything?” I lean over and whisper in his ear.
“No. Nothing close.” He keeps his voice low, like mine.
Good. At least that worry lifts from my chest. My relief is short lived. I duck on instinct as something flaps overhead, grazing my hair. “What was that?”
“Bats, most likely,” Sam answers, and I stumble over my own two feet. Bats? Really? As if giant rats and the smell down here isn’t enough.
“Don’t bats carry rabies?” I ask, trying to cover my fear with casualness.
“I think bats are the least of our worries right now.” Mike’s dry comment does not assure me. Not in the least. I hate this. Tunnels. Darkness. Being underground. Give me a block full of leeches any day. That I can handle. Being under hundreds of feet of concrete and asphalt with critters waiting to pick at our bones just isn’t normal.
Gordon, the dick he is, picks up on my nervousness. “What’s wrong, Bix? Don’t tell me you’re afraid of the dark?”
“No, I’m not afraid of the dark,” I hiss back. “Bats just give me the heebie-jeebies. I watched too many vampire movies as a kid, I guess.”
Still watching for any sign of movement in the dark, I don’t see Gordo stop in front of me. I almost fall over him as he turns to face me, his flashlight under his chin highlighting his contorted face and making it glow eerily in the dark.
“I vant to suck your blood, muahahahaha.”
“Jesus!”
My scream of fright explodes as my fist lashes out on instinct, connecting hard with his stomach. He drops his flashlight and doubles over, gasping for air.
“You stupid asshole,” I growl at him, embarrassment competing with guilt at punching him so hard. I reach out to help him stand.
“Stop making so much noise, you idiots.” Robyn brushes by us, not the least bit concerned that the kid can’t breathe. Sam, at least, has a little more sympathy.
“You okay, Gordo?” His voice is tinged with amusement.
“Yup,” Gordo squeaks. “Bix punches like a little girl. Didn’t hurt at all.”
“Whatever.” I bend over and get his flashlight, handing it back and ignoring his whistling as he tries to suck in air.
“Quiet. All of you. We don’t know how well sound carries down here.” Luke stops and swings his lantern our way, the glow from it emphasizing the disapproval on his face.
He’s right. We don’t need to give those bastards any advance warning, and I feel guiltier over my earlier scream. I clamp my lips shut and keep my eyes on Gordo as we walk the rest of the way in silence.
It’s like a freaking maze down here. Morley leads us through hallways and around corners to the point where I no longer know if we’re moving up or down. I’m sure it isn’t possible, but I swear the air becomes heavier the farther we get in, so by the time he finally says, “this is it,” I’m sweating and panting like some old dude with a lifetime supply of Viagra. I shine my flashlight up the wide metal stairs to the rust covered door sitting ominously at the top. A doorway to unknown horrors lying beyond. Cold sweat trickles from my neck down my back. Are our people just on the other side of that door? Are they even still alive? What if the door squeals like a damn siren, giving us away and we get caught trying to help them? So many gruesome ideas pop into my head, and I have to force myself to shut them off.
One step at a time, Bix. Find your friends first, worry about the ravagers later.
“What are we looking at here, Morley?” Luke’s whisper breaks the silence.
“Behind this door, there’s a tunnel, possibly sixty feet long. It leads to the north conclave. If what Tina says is correct, that derailed train car lies horizontal to the tunnel giving us access to the car’s side door. With the diversion at the other entrances, we should be able to make our move without the flesh eaters even realizing what’s happening.”
“Yeah, no problem,” Dom groans into the quiet. “We can take out numerous guards and move almost a hundred people from a crammed subway car and through a dark tunnel with no noise whatsoever. Easy as pie.”
“Stop your moaning and direct your energy into making this rescue a success.” Luke uses his “don’t fuck with me” tone, and Dom shuts up real quick. The last time Dom heard that tone, Luke had laid him out flat with one punch.
“We split into two groups. Robyn, Dom, Gordo, as soon as we get in the tunnel you three stick to the left wall. Bix, Sam, and I will take the right wall. When I radio Badger, Mike, and Tina the go ahead to start the distraction, we make our move. Morley stick with us. As soon as we release the prisoners, you’ll lead them through the tunnels and out to safety while we keep the ravagers from following. Hopefully, they’re stupid enough to fall for the distraction long enough for us to get everyone out. You got it?”
We nod as one.
“Okay, let’s do this. Lights out and stay quiet.”
The door is just a standard commercial steel door with a metal bar across it. Nothing remarkable, yet Luke treats it with reverence, as if it’s the opening to the holiest of chapels. I get where he’s coming from. All of our hope lies with this door. It may or may not hold the path to our people’s salvation. And mine.
He lifts the arm barricading the door and tries the latch. I expect him to find it locked, but it clicks unusually loud in the room’s silence.
“Wait.” Morley’s quiet command sounds ominous, and Luke freezes with his hand on the latch.
“I forgot one thing.”
“Great
,” I groan. I knew this was too damn easy.
“The door. It doesn’t have a latch or handle on the other side. It was meant to be opened from this side only to keep people from accessing the lower levels. Once it shuts, we won’t be able to open it from that side. I’ll have to stay with the door and keep it open.”
Luke glances sideways at Morley. “No offence, guy, but I don’t know you from a fucking hole in the ground. I’m not about to trust you with our lives. You’re coming with us.”
Morley grins, his teeth a startling white in the dark. “None taken, friend. I would make the same call. Can’t blame a guy for trying to stay out of the line of fire, though.”
Luke’s grunt is his only response as he places the lantern on the ground next to the door. “Gordo, you’re up. Guard this door with your life and shoot anything coming your way that’s not one of us. Got it?”
The kid nods, and I know he’s as good as his word. I punch him on the side of the arm “You got this, Iron Man.”
“Yeah, I do.” He winks back and gives me a thumbs up. “See you on the other side, She Hulk.”
Luke gives us one more look, commanding silence before opening the door. My muscles bunch in knots as I expect the slab of metal to screech in protest, announcing our arrival into the tunnel. But Lady Luck’s nice side decides to accompany us today, and it opens with ease. I release the breath I didn’t realize I was holding and wait for Luke to enter.
For such a big man, he moves with deft stealth. The rest of us follow him into the tunnel, taking our designated positions.
It’s hot in here. Much hotter than the room we’d just come from. Sweat soon bubbles, covering my head and neck and dripping down my collar. I wipe it away and rub my palm against my thigh. Last thing I need is to have my rifle slip out of my sweaty hands.
Backs against the wall, we inch our way along, shuffling our feet so we don’t trip over anything. Hazy light soon penetrates the inky dark, and I can finally see Luke’s hulking form ahead of me. The end of the tunnel looms ahead, and it’s lit up like a Christmas tree. There are fires burning in the platform. Good. Means someone is still here and we still have a plan.
We draw closer to the light. I can see the subway car now, just like Tina said. It sits at an angle across the edge of the tunnel, its peeling red paint and dirt encrusted windows a perfect barrier between us and the ravagers. The light from the fires on the other side illuminates the windows with an eerie orange glow, but as much as I stare, I can’t pick out any movement from inside the car. I pray to a god I no longer believe in that our people are in there and still alive.
Luke pulls up and I barge into his back.
“Movement,” he whispers in my ear, and I peer into the distance. Yup. Someone is pacing the fringe of the tunnel in front of the subway car. A ravager guard. Lady Luck’s evil alter ego decides to make her reappearance and throw a wrench in our plans. I knew that bitch couldn’t stay away for long.
We freeze, waiting. My eyes adjust to the gloom, so I can see the others on the opposite wall. They see the same thing we do, and they sink back into the tunnel’s shadows, waiting for our next move.
“Bix,” Sam whispers in my ear. “Not to be the bearer of bad news, but they’re not the only things down here. Queen leeches. Not near, but I sense them. I’ll let you know if they become a threat.”
Fuck. Just what we need. Another wave of cold sweat encompasses me, and I let go of my death grip on my rifle to wipe it out of my eyes. Bad move. My sweaty palm loses traction, and my gun slips from my grasp. I fumble to catch it mid drop, but the stock hits the rails with an audible clang that seems to echo down the tunnel with all the speed of a train itself. I suck in my breath, afraid even that would make too much noise. My eyes are glued to the guard highlighted in the firelight. The ravager stops mid-stride and peers into the dark ahead of us. None of us move a fingernail. We don’t even fucking blink. If he sees us, this plan is in the shitter.
Come on, Lady Luck, help a fellow bitch out.
My prayer works. She decides to be merciful. The ravager moves on to the other side of the entrance and disappears. I hear Luke exhale in relief as I do the same.
“Is he circling the car?” I whisper to Luke. I feel him shrug.
“Wait and see.”
We stay put, and I count in my head. I manage to reach one hundred and thirty before the guard comes back into view from the opposite side of the car. Yup, same guard. Seems to be the only one on car duty. He gives a casual glance down the tunnel but keeps on moving. When he disappears again, we scurry down the remaining distance, still in the wall’s shadows. We need to be in position before he comes back around.
Luke plants himself on the tunnel edge, handing me his gun as he pulls his knife from his sheath. His eyes catch mine and in the reflection from the fires, I can see the revulsion he’s feeling at what he’s about to do underlined with determination. He’ll do what needs to be done to protect us, no matter what the cost. That’s Luke.
From the other side of the car, we hear talking and laughter. The ravagers are having a grand ol’ time. I wonder if Gunner is there with them, laughing his stupid, mohawk wearing head off. I hope so. I hope I get to meet him face to face. This time I won’t hesitate. I’ll finish the job. Even worse than the noise is the sickening smell causing my stomach to flip-flop. I’ve smelt that before, at the other ravager campsite. They’re cooking dinner. Filthy pieces of shit. My eyes mist in anger and frustration, and my grip tightens on the guns. Any guilt I feel about taking out that ravager guard is lost in the smell of roasting flesh.
We hear him before we see him. His honking snort and spit announces his arrival. He’s no sooner flush with the tunnel entrance before Luke leaps and slaps a hand over his mouth, dragging him back into the dark.
He struggles for a moment, but Luke’s knife is sharp and swift. His struggles dissipate as his death comes quick. Sam grabs the legs and helps Luke carry him farther into the tunnel to dispose of. They return in record time, and I hand Luke back his gun.
Luke motions to Robyn and Dom to take their positions as lookout at each end of the car while we approach the middle. The two doors are held shut with a piece of rebar pushed in between the handles. Up close and personal now, I can see movement behind the dirty glass and smell the reek of unwashed bodies seeping through the missing pane on the door. Cupping my hands around my eyes, I take advantage of the missing glass and peer into the car.
There are people everywhere: draped over the few remaining seats, curled up on the floor in fetal positions, and propped against the car walls. Anywhere there’s space, there’s a body with a face pinched in despair. Faces that I know well.
I suck in my breath, resisting the urge to scream Amy’s name as her eyes connect with mine through the missing square of glass. She smiles at me like she’s not the least bit surprised to see me here. Dirt covers her face, and her curls are matted to her head, but she’s freakin’ alive and smiling at me.
I raise a finger to my lips in a shushing motion, and she nods in all seriousness. She scuttles across the floor on her bum and raises tied hands, sticking her fingers through the opening and trying to touch me. My heart feels like it might explode in pure joy as my fingers grip hers, and I don’t even try to stop the tears leaking from my eyes. Amy is alive.
“I knew you would come, Bix. You and Sammy. I knew you’d find us. That’s why I pushed out that glass, so you could see me.”
“Smart girl,” I whisper, choking back tears.
“Where’s Sammy?” Amy tries to peer past me.
“I’m right here, Ames,” he whispers over my shoulder. “But first we gotta get you out. Are there any guards in there with you?”
She nods and glances over her shoulder. “Two at the front behind a screen. They’re real mean.”
My heart sinks at her words. Guards inside the car make all the difference. There’s no way we’ll be able to start moving our people without them noticing and raising the alarm. I rel
ay the information to Luke over my shoulder and his quiet, “Damn,” hits my ears.
“Is Cookie near?” I ask Amy. She shakes her head.
“She’s tied up over there. They tied us all up, but Cookie was bad, so they tied her so she can’t move.”
She points to the rail running the length of the car. I see Cookie, slouched against the car wall and body bound tight. Dammit. Trust Cookie to cause shit and get herself anchored. By now Amy’s actions have garnered the attention of those around her. Another body scuttles across the floor on its butt as a bald, tattooed head comes into view. A head that could only belong to one person. Jonesy. He positions himself casually against the door, blocking me from the view of the guards at the front, I’m assuming.
“Bixby, that you?” he whispers through the opening.
“Jonesy. It’s good to see you, man. Yeah, we’re here to get you guys out. You tied as well?”
“Yup. Hands and feet. We all are.”
“Hold up your hands.”
He does as I ask, and I work carefully through the hole, sawing at the rope. Sweat has the knife slipping, and I grip it so tight my knuckles turn white. Finally, the ropes snap apart.
“Can you take care of the guards without calling attention from the ravagers on the other side?”
“Hell, yeah,” he whispers back, and I hand him my bowie knife through the opening. “Give me a few minutes to get out of these damn ropes on my feet.”
I turn to Luke to give him the low down but it’s Sam who garners my attention. He’s bent over at the waist, holding his head in his hands, and my heart drops to the pit of my stomach.
“Sam?”
He looks up as I whisper his name, his face twisted with fear. “We gotta move fast. They know we’re here. They’re coming.”
Luke’s gaze meets mine as his eyes dawn with understanding.
“Queens,” I breathe. He raises the radio to his lips and whispers in urgency, “Guys, do it now.”
Within minutes, we hear the first shouts coming from the other side of the car. Luke yanks the rebar out of the door and strains to push the doors open as I squeeze through the widening gap, my second knife in my hand.
Strain of Vengeance (Bixby Series Book 3) Page 4
