Ascent

by M. T. Miller

  “And you didn’t think to run that by me?” the sheriff said as he looked at the mess he’d made. “Just wanted to dope up and wing it?”

  “I did not think it was worthy of your attention.”

  “Well you thought wrong,” the sheriff said as he sat down. He pulled out a cigar, lit it, and took a good whiff. “I’ll send a nurse to your place at half past five. She’ll give you something that won’t impact your performance. Good enough?”

  “Yes,” the Nameless said, not too thrilled.

  “Great,” the sheriff said, pointing his hand to the door. “Now get out of here. Go rest up, or whatever it is that you do. We’ve got a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”

  “Indeed we do,” the Nameless said as he grabbed the knob.

  “And one more thing,” the sheriff said.

  “Yes?”

  “I’m gonna frisk you before the op,” the sheriff said. “If I find anything remotely resembling this vial, you’re off the team. Clear?”

  “Crystal,” the Nameless aid, leaving the room.

  ***

  “Another one?” Khalid said, standing in his own doorway. “For tomorrow?”

  “Indeed,” the Nameless said. “I will pay any price.”

  “Price isn’t your problem,” Khalid said, scratching his head. “Rather, it’s availability. I don’t have any of that anymore, mister.”

  “I am prepared to step inside to discuss terms,” the Nameless said.

  “And you won’t need to,” Khalid said. “I can’t produce it that quickly. The fluids need some time together and apart; otherwise they won’t bind. I still have the other stuff if you want it, though.”

  “The one that only works after I am poisoned?”

  “Exactly,” Khalid said.

  “No, thank you,” the Nameless said. “It does not suit my needs.”

  “Whatever you say,” Khalid said as he shut the door.

  Damn it. The Nameless turned to his right, setting course toward his place. If there was any kind of solution for his predicament, he did not see it.

  An image of Lydia flashed before his eyes, lovely, and so, so frightened of him. He did not even once consider going back to her place.

  At least, that’s what he kept telling himself.

  ***

  “You’re good,” the sheriff said the moment he finished searching the Nameless. “How was the nurse?”

  “By far the nicest person to ever stab me,” the Nameless said as he picked up his weaponry—the spiked chain and the revolver. He’d had to drop everything before being allowed to leave the corridor. He had left the sword at home; it was too large to drag through the third floor halls.

  “She knows her stuff. Anyway, we’ll be waiting for you.” The sheriff disappeared into the meeting room.

  Piece by piece, the Nameless re-armed himself. When it was done, he put the mask back on, and got a good look at himself in the mirror. With a trench coat on, even the mirror-faced figure seemed intimidating. Somewhat satisfied, he turned away from the reflection and proceeded into the meeting room.

  “Alright,” the sheriff said while the Nameless was taking his seat. “We can begin. This operation will be simple in idea, complex in execution. As I said the last time, we’re taking on a drug manufacture facility. Here’s the location.” He handed everyone a map, with the target marked somewhere in the middle of the city’s northeast quadrant.

  I think I might have been here before, the Nameless thought.

  “There should be about ten hostiles within the perimeter,” the sheriff continued. “Give or take a few, as always, so keep your eyes open. You are to circle the building, take your position, and wait for the signal. When you hear it, move in for the kill.”

  “What is the signal?” the Nameless asked.

  “A horrendous screech,” the sheriff said. “We’ve found it useful for breaking morale. Anyway, this time, I’m sending you in groups. Eagle, you’re alone. Uncle, you’re going with the Grin. Divine, enjoy your time with the Terror.”

  “Oh come on!” she said. “We’ve got no dynamic whatsoever. I’d be more comfortable going in with anyone else.”

  “And I believe you,” the sheriff said. “But this isn’t about you being comfortable. It’s about this unit working as a team, and the way it is now, it doesn’t.” He lit a cigar, giving Divine a moment.

  “There won’t be a team if we both get killed due to miscommunication,” she said.

  “I know what you’re capable of,” the sheriff said, cigar in mouth. “This should be a cakewalk.”

  “Sheriff,” Eagle interrupted. “I volunteer to do this in her place. No use forcing anyone into anything.”

  “I decide what has a use and what doesn’t,” the sheriff said. “Request denied.”

  Eagle did not say a word.

  “Any more complaints?” the sheriff asked Divine.

  “None at all,” she said. “Just don’t blame me if it all goes south.”

  “And another request denied,” the sheriff said, turning to the Nameless. “Anything to say, Terror?”

  “I can work alone,” the Nameless said.

  “I already know you can,” the sheriff said, blowing smoke. “The question is whether you can work with a partner.”

  A quick exchange of views between Divine and the Grin prevented the Nameless from saying anything.

  “Moving on, then,” the sheriff said. “Eagle will go in from the north. The majority of the place’s windows are on that side, so it should not be difficult.”

  “Consider it done,” Eagle said.

  “I am,” the sheriff said. “Uncle. Grin. I give you the front door. There should be more of them there than on other sides, so make those first shots count.”

  “I always do,” the Grin said.

  Uncle merely nodded.

  “Divine. Terror. There is a ladder on the east side. You are to take it and proceed to eliminate everything on the top floor. Aside from the noncombatants, of course.”

  “How much priority does their rescue have?” Divine asked.

  “As I said yesterday,” the sheriff said, resting his cigar in the ashtray. “No greater than your own lives. If you can save someone, great. If not, life goes on. Not theirs, but what can you do?”

  “Got it,” Divine said.

  “The time is nigh,” the sheriff said, rising. Everyone else did the same, and the Nameless noticed that Divine had a sword dangling by her left leg.

  Maybe I should have brought my own, after all, he thought.

  The sheriff approached the wall and pressed on it with his right palm. With a loud, rumbling sound it gave way, exposing a stairway that led down. “The pillar will be guarded as always, but you’d be wise to hurry.”

  Of course—one of the lower pillars contains a secret staircase. It made sense. Using the main elevator for something like this would run the risk of compromise.

  “Good luck,” the sheriff said, pointing toward the passage. “Scrub ‘em hard!”

  The killers went in, one at a time. Just as expected, the Grin stood right behind the Nameless.

  “I do not want to descend next to his one,” the Nameless said.

  “And what else does our lord and master desire?” the sheriff said. “Don’t make a fuss. Go in. Trust your team, or else it won’t function. Get it?”

  “Perfectly,” the Nameless said as he went into the passage.

  The Grin followed, in all likelihood wearing his namesake beneath the mask.

  ***

  “You must be absolutely thrilled,” the Nameless said later as he took cover behind a derelict house.

  “Why wouldn’t I be?” Divine said as she did the same, some five feet away.

  They were at their position, the target location in sight. The structure was significantly higher than the Nameless had expected, although it was just as run-down. Built from concrete and covered with what seemed like tin, its ugliness stuck out even among its surroundings. Their side did no
t seem to be guarded, but that could change within seconds.

  “Being paired with someone who may or may not know what he is doing?” Slowly, the Nameless raised his hand, spreading his fingers. The way he was beginning to see them, they were moving around of their own accord.

  Eagle was right. The Grin is good at this.

  “I can handle a rookie,” Divine said with a smirk.

  The Nameless did not know it if it was the poison, the stuff the nurse had injected him with, or a combination of the two, but everything was blurry. Worse off, his reflexes seemed to be even slower than his thinking.

  How many are there? To take his mind off of his situation, he decided to sneak a peek at the building. In what seemed like several minutes’ time, the rest of his body obeyed.

  There were no guards stationed at the emergency escape, at least not that he could see. The ladder was still in place, touching the ground. Upstairs, the light was not on. A small part of his mind wondered if the building even had any of those strange light switches—the rest wondered how he’d ever climb up.

  “How long does it take them to give the signal?” he asked, turning back to Divine.

  “As long as it does,” she said as she pulled out her firearm. It was similar, if not identical, to the one Mark liked to use. Aside from it, her only visible weapon was the slightly curved eastern sword that hung from her side.

  And with each moment, I grow more disoriented. He pressed his back against the wall, in an attempt to relax. What he got instead was a nauseating sense of everything spinning.

  “Are you alright?” she said, not even looking at him. “You seem distraught.”

  “I am absolutely perfect,” he said. For a moment, he let himself shut his eyes. The nausea got worse, so he opened them right back up.

  “You don’t believe that yourself,” she said.

  “Good thing I have you, then,” the Nameless said.

  Whatever it was that Divine said in response got thoroughly drowned out by the sound of an inhuman, piercing scream.

  “Is that it?” the Nameless shouted, his ears ringing.

  “Yup!” Divine said, on her feet within an instant. She stood near the edge of the house and waited for the Nameless.

  Grunting, the Nameless rose, but it came with some difficulty. Bracing himself with both arms, he lumbered to the other side. Back against the wall again, he shakily lifted his revolver. Calm down. One kill, and I am back up. Probably.

  “Come on, Terror! Let’s wreak havoc!” Divine shouted as she ran toward the ladder.

  Groggily, the Nameless followed her example, trying his best not to fall down on the way.

  “Stoy!” someone shouted from his left. By the time the Nameless reacted, it was already too late. His head in pieces, the Russian collapsed on his back and the knife dropped from his hand.

  “You’re welcome,” Divine said, already near the ladder. “Now hurry up!”

  “Th—thank you,” the Nameless said, just barely able to breathe. Damn.

  Divine grabbed the ladder and started climbing without a word. Feebly, the Nameless followed, every last remnant of his strength invested in his grip. One sluggish pull after the other, he tried his best to follow her pace. Despite his attempts, though, she had already reached the window while the Nameless was halfway up the ladder.

  With the butt of her firearm Divine smashed the window, causing glass to rain all around them. A moment later she was inside, and the sound of gunfire got louder.

  Come on! The Nameless kept pulling himself up. He grabbed the edge of the window and clumsily pulled through, trying not to cut himself. The blood that trickled down his palms was proof that he had failed.

  Where is she?

  He looked left and right. The window led out of a narrow corridor, both sides of which were blind corners. The sight of a prone, bleeding man to the left, however, was clear indication of where Divine had gone. Salvation! The Nameless gripped his revolver tighter and moved in that direction.

  Unexpectedly, the door to his right opened, slamming into his face. He stumbled backward, intending to fight back. Instead, all he did was fall on his back.

  “Suka!” the Russian shouted as he leapt at him, knife in hand.

  The Nameless reflexively squeezed the trigger, resulting in the blade missing his face by an inch. He put his hand up to block the knife from the side, because despite being shot, the man did not relent. Instead, he pressed the knife against the side of the Nameless’ neck, drawing blood. He locked the wrist of the Nameless’ gun hand with his free hand, preventing him from aiming.

  He will not die from this. Not fast enough.

  Roaring like a beast, the Russian kept pressing on the knife, digging it deeper and deeper. Screaming back, the Nameless struggled, but it was of no use. He might as well have been doing nothing at all.

  Suddenly, the man’s eyes widened. An altogether different sound escaped his mouth then, followed by a generous dose of blood.

  Is that…? The Nameless wanted to lift his head up, but the knife prevented it.

  “No need to thank me again,” Divine said, her sword sticking out of the man’s back. She stood right above them, arms resting on the hilt. “No need at all.”

  Her speed blurring her movements even further, she pressed down. The searing blade pierced through the Russian, all the way into the Nameless’ abdomen.

  He gasped, trying to speak, and she twisted the sword. The corridor twisted in turn, and the Nameless pulled the trigger again. A distorted gunshot pierced the already-dead Russian’s flesh and caused Divine to step back.

  “Still armed, I see,” she said as she came back from his right. She stuck her hand underneath the pinned body, causing the sword to tear through more of his insides, and took the revolver by the barrel.

  “Let go!” the Nameless shouted, discharging the weapon, and again hitting nothing alive.

  Divine withdrew her hand before punching him in the face. The floor slammed against the back of his head, causing the already-shaking ceiling to spin even faster. By the time he regained what little remained of his senses, the pistol was already in her hand.

  “A fine weapon,” she said as she rose. “A shame I have to leave it here.” She tossed it to the far end of the hallway.

  The Nameless screamed incomprehensibly.

  “You sing nice,” she said, grabbing her blade. “Let’s give you some more incentive.” She pulled it out, and the Nameless shrieked even louder.

  “I guess you got careless,” she said as she walked away, her own trench coat fluttering behind her. “Happens to the best.”

  ***

  Not a moment had passed since she disappeared, and the Nameless was already wiggling below the dead man. This… this will hurt, he thought as he took a deep breath. Painfully, he pushed upward, rolling the body to the side. His stomach, unbearably painful moments ago, immediately became worse, and his fingers and toes contracted on their own.

  Must… move…

  Turning to his side, he forced himself to raise his head just a little bit.

  Yes! Near the corner Divine had disappeared behind, the bloodied man was still breathing.

  Stay with me! The Nameless took the knife that belonged to the dead man and held it with in teeth. Tasting his own blood, he pressed his left hand against his gaping abdomen and started crawling toward Divine’s other victim. Stay with me so I can take you.

  Bit by bit, pull by agonizing pull, he edged closer and closer. As he did, the man’s wheezing kept getting louder. Unfortunately, it also kept slowing down by the second. Barely a foot away, the Nameless forced himself into one more agonizing motion before finally collapsing to the floor.

  As he did, the man turned his head around and their eyes met. His head was shaved, and most of his face was covered in the blood that was still trickling from his nose. He opened his mouth and more poured out.

  There was no time to waste. Still lying on the floor, the Nameless grabbed the knife and reached ou
t, pressed it against the Russian’s eye, and hit it with his other hand. The man tried to scream, but the only thing that left his mouth was more blood.

  The Nameless turned the knife around as much as his meager strength allowed. In turn, the man’s body contracted with every little tug. Finally, after the longest ten seconds in history, the tremors subsided and the wheezing was no more.

  Finally. The Nameless let go of the knife and let his head touch the floor. It was bloody, but he did not care. Rest was rest. The corridor kept spinning, but at a decreasing pace. The pain in his abdomen, while still persistent, was becoming almost bearable.

  Any moment now, he thought, still staring at the ceiling.

  ***

  “Up here,” Divine said as she led the others up the stairway. “That Russian was savage.”

  “I bet he was,” Eagle said, right behind her. The other two were not that far behind. On the floor below, nothing moved anymore.

  “You don’t seem too convinced,” she said, pointing to a corner. “I guess you’ll have to see it.”

  “You go first,” Eagle said.

  “No problem,” Divine said, doing exactly that. “But I’ve already see—what the hell!” She froze, her eyes wide in disbelief.

  “Everyone! Weapons ready!” Eagle shouted as he grabbed his SMG. Two other firearms clicked behind him.

  “T—Terror?” Divine said.

  “Didn’t you say he was dead?” the Grin shouted from the back.

  Divine stood her ground, not moving.

  “Stay behind,” Eagle said, slowly peeking around the corner.

  The Terror sat at the other end of the corridor, his back up against the wall. Both his arms were raised, and his revolver aimed right at Divine’s forehead.

  “Bo—Terror,” Eagle said, slowly coming out. “It’s us, buddy.”

  “I know,” the Terror said, still holding his gun.

  “Are you injured?” Eagle said, slowly lowering his weapon. “It’s over. You’re safe.”

  “From whom?” said the Terror, still down. Even though he appeared weak, his hands did not seem to shake. “From the Russians? Or from Divine?”