by S. T. Boston
“Mr. Fisher,” boomed one of the voices he'd heard from the other room, “I would wish you a good morning, but unfortunately for you, there's nothing good about it!” Adam looked up reluctantly. The guy standing before him was a man-mountain; he resembled an aged wrestler, the kind you see years after retirement, still looking impossibly huge. “You're probably wondering what happened,” the man continued. “Would you like to know?”
Adam nodded slowly; he could feel the goliath's eyes boring down on him, as if they had a physical weight of their own. “Is Sam dead?” he asked croakily, not sure if he really wanted to know the answer.
A booming laugh filled the room; it almost seemed to resonate through Adam's body. “No, he isn't dead.” The man took a few deep breaths to stifle his amusement. “In fact, as we speak, he is doing a deal with my colleague. You met him, in a manner, last night.” The guy paused. “Right at this moment, good old Sam is trying to save your life.” He raised his eyebrows, as if Adam should be showing him gratitude.
“What's the deal?” Adam thought he already knew, but he needed to hear it himself.
“It's quite simple; the Key Tablet that Oriyanna had in her possession, in exchange for you.”
Adam's stomach lurched. Somehow, through their combined unconsciousness, Oriyanna had reached out to him. He could hear her in his head once again. Help me Adam, help us both! Her words seemed to repeat in his mind.
“Any minute now, my colleague should be back with the artefact. Once we've confirmed its authenticity, you will be released.”
“What about Oriyanna?” Anger brewed in him once again, like a smouldering fire being fed the oxygen it needed to ignite. In small movements hidden by his seated position, he adjusted his right hand and applied gentle upward pressure on the restraint.
The male started laughing again, as if he'd just heard the funniest joke in the world. “Oh, poor Adam,” he coaxed, cocking his head to one side like a bird watching its prey. “Did she get into your head?” He crossed the room, forcing Adam to halt his escape attempt as the guy moved around behind Oriyanna and yanked her head back by her tangled blonde hair. Towering over her, he gazed into her pallid face. “You see, Adam, this one can be a bit of a mind fuck. You wouldn't be the first man to fall for her, but you will certainly be the last.” He let go of her hair, and Oriyanna's head slumped forward. “Who could blame you? Many years ago, before all this, I had similar feelings for her. But in time we all change, and I've had a lot of time to change, Adam. Lifetimes, in fact.” He strode the distance between their two chairs in one go, and came back around to the front. “As nice as it is to see her again, and I must say the years have been kind, this is where she gets off the ride.”
“So you plan to kill her?” asked Adam, trying to sound calm and in control. He began to apply pressure to his hand once again. The upward motion forced his bones together, and he felt the sharp plastic tie biting into his skin.
“Yes. I'm sorry, but that's precisely what I plan to do,” he said, his voice almost apologetic. Outside, Adam heard the sound of car tyres on gravel, followed by a door slamming shut and rapid footsteps. The massive hulk of a guy looked up at one of the boarded windows, as if he could see through it. “I do believe my colleague is back. Hopefully for you, this whole ordeal will be over within the next few minutes. Please excuse me.” Adam watched him turn and leave the room. It was perfect timing. Now free to apply more pressure, he squeezed his hand together into a point and pulled up hard. Adam's bones slid slightly out of position, giving way to the upward movement against the plastic. Gritting his teeth, he felt his skin begin to tear; if he wasn't careful the sharp plastic would peel his skin off, like the rind of an orange. But he wasn't going to give up now. Suppressing a cry of pain which badly wanted to escape, he upped the pressure one final time, and the pain he experienced made him see stars behind his closed eyelids. Right at the point where he thought he could take no more, his arm jerked violently upward and his hand snapped free of the plastic tie. For a second he just held it before his face, like a baby discovering the appendage for the first time. His wrist had been cut by the action, but not badly. He glanced at Oriyanna; her head was beginning to move from side-to-side, the deep rhythmic breathing had slowed; he thought it wouldn't be too long before she was awake. Adam could hear voices again from the next room; someone was talking excitedly. Returning his attention to the restraints he reached around and took hold of the tie securing his left hand.
Wrapping his fingers around it he pulled hard, stretching the plastic as much as he could. It was hard, but in his adrenaline-fuelled fury it gave a little. Ignoring the biting pain in his fingers, he kept up the pressure and began to wriggle his left hand free. Using the right as leverage sped the process up, and in a flash, it whipped loose. His feet would be another matter altogether, the realization that he couldn't squeeze a foot through the plastic restraint immediately sunk his spirits. Sure, he could operate the gun, but he was still attached to the chair; still unable to stand and help Oriyanna.
The conversation continued next door. He still had a few seconds, and he thought it was pointless giving up now. He leaned forward and studied the ties holding his feet. They were secured around the legs of the chair and a supporting strut braced the legs apart, meaning he couldn't just lift the wooden legs up and over the restraints.
Leaning further forward and almost toppling over, Adam tested the strut with his hand, keeping one planted on the floor for balance. The wood was much thinner than the thick slats on the back which had held the ties around his hands. It also seemed softer, probably from being so close to the cold damp concrete floor. Using the heel of his hand, Adam hit the strut. More pain exploded up his wrist, as the vibration of the impact reverberated through his bones. The strut moved a little, but not enough. Hiding the second impact with a cough he hit it again; this time the wood cracked and a quick look confirmed it; the strut had broken where it joined the leg. Adam grasped the round wooden spindle in his hand and wriggled, pushing down and completing the break. Frantically, he pulled the strut free; lifting the chair he slipped the legs away from the zip ties and stood up. Every bone and joint in his body sang with relief. The voices from the other room suddenly grew louder. In a panic, he sat down and positioned his hands and feet back against the chair, making his aching muscles scream in protest. He watched in silent horror as the man-mountain came back into the room, sporting a wide, triumphant grin. He knew instantly they had the Key Tablet. Sam had made the trade and in the next few minutes, he would either be dead or free; the thought made his bowels churn and bile rose into his throat.
“Your friend did very well,” beamed the man, opening his fist to reveal the glowing Key Tablet “Once I get confirmation from your girlfriend here that it's the real deal, you'll be free to go. After you watch me shoot her, that is.”
Adam slid his hand up under his coat and felt the cool rubber grip of the Ruger against his fingertips. His own body hid the movement well. He couldn't quite believe they'd missed the weapon. As unobtrusively as possible, he slid it from his waistband and fumbled blindly for the safety, remembering what Sam had shown him back in the motel, the whole time keeping his eyes on the grinning man.
“It's time for sleeping beauty to wake up,” he proclaimed, removing a syringe from his pocket with the other hand. He pulled a plastic cap off the needle and squirted a little fluid into the air. Adam needed Oriyanna awake, he knew this was leaving things to the last minute, but there was no way he could carry her and defend himself at the same time. He watched the guy slide the needle into her neck and depress the plunger before removing it and standing back. The reaction was almost instantaneous. Oriyanna's eyes snapped open and her head rose rapidly; it was like seeing someone receive a shot of adrenaline. Adam watched her wide, crystal blue eyes fix on the giant who was standing before her.
“Buer!” she growled in a tone Adam had never heard her use before.
“Nice to see you again, too,” Buer replied
with a grin. “I hate to wake you up just to kill you, but I have to show you something. I'm sure you'll understand.” He unfolded his massive fist once again revealing the Key Tablet.
As Adam continued to watch them, he found the safety and slid it off. The small click never caught Buer's attention; he was focused completely on Oriyanna. Adam adjusted his grip and prepared himself for the right moment.
The instant Oriyanna saw the Key Tablet, Adam knew what this Buer guy had meant about confirmation. Her face said it all, and no words were needed. Adam tried to move his hand, whip it around and fire the gun, but fear of failure had frozen him to the spot. He watched Buer smile maniacally at the sight of her face. Feeling totally useless Adam looked on, as tears welled up in her large blue eyes.
“That's all I need to know,” grinned Buer. He turned and left the room. Before Adam had time to say anything he was back, a gun clenched firmly in his hand. “It all ends here, Adam,” he said calmly. “Once she dies, you'll be free to go.” There was a false note in his tone which told Adam differently. He knew he was next, but first Buer seemed determined to make him watch Oriyanna die. Adam frantically looked across at her, her face was defiant as tears rolled down her cheeks. Suddenly, in his head, he heard her words again.
They know things, Adam. This is not just about saving your people anymore, once they have the Key Tablet they will destroy both our worlds. Help me, help us both!
Buer raised the gun; Adam watched his finger take up the trigger pressure. In the same instant, the paralysis which had held him in place let go. Back in Afghanistan, he'd been helpless and unable to save the young girl, this time would be different. He couldn't watch a second person be executed, especially not Oriyanna. The fury which had been smouldering inside his chest ignited like wildfire. Adam whipped his hand around from behind the chair, levelled out the gun, and squeezed the trigger three times. Bang, bang, bang echoed through the room. He watched Buer crumple as the shots slammed into his stomach and lower abdomen. As he fell, Adam squeezed off another round, bang. It slammed into the top of his shoulder, shattering the bone and lodging itself deep into his body. Before Buer's gun hit the deck Adam was on his feet, and in one swift movement he kicked Oriyanna's chair over, sending her crashing painfully to the floor. Ignoring her surprised cry, he stamped frantically on the legs and backrest, snapping the aging timber like twigs. A large, thick-set male appeared at the door with his gun raised, and on seeing Adam free, he squeezed off two shots. Adam suffered an odd, numbing pain as one round grazed across his arm, ripping his jacket and jumper. Beneath his clothing, warm blood leaked from the injury, he knew he had been hit but it wasn't serious, no more than a flesh wound. In his frenzied state, he barely noticed.
“Adam, give me the gun!” cried Oriyanna. She was free of her restraints and on her feet behind him; without thinking he handed her the pistol as another three shots hammered into a boarded up window behind, sending the slats crashing to the floor. Oriyanna returned fire; expertly, she dropped the male with a round which slammed through his neck, spraying blood across the dirty, damp walls. A second male came into view and instantly took cover behind the door lining; it was his first and last mistake. Remembering how Sam had killed Finch's partner through the door at the hotel, Oriyanna levelled the gun and fired two shots into the plaster; a second later, his body slumped to the ground and fell across his already dead friend. Adam raced for the broken window, picking up one of the spare chairs as he went. He swung it around his body and sent it crashing through the jagged broken glass. Oriyanna was right behind him, instinctively he grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward their escape route. “The Key Tablet!” she cried. “They still have it.”
“If we stay here and look we might both end up dead,” pleaded Adam. “Come on!” Oriyanna wrenched herself free and rushed to Buer's body; he was writhing around on the floor in a pool of blood, like a snake which had been cut in half.
“Where is it?” cried Oriyanna, frantically running her hands over his blood-soaked clothing. The sound of heavy footfalls from somewhere in the building snapped her out of it. Glancing through the door she saw Finch heading up a corridor at the far side of the adjoining room. He was breaking into a run, drawing his gun as he went. “Adam, go. Go!” she cried, waving him away with her free hand. She stood up and backed off, firing the last shot in the gun for cover. Finch replied with a hail of gunfire. One round slammed into Oriyanna's right shoulder, the force of the impact throwing the now-empty Ruger from her hand and sending it crashing to the floor. Stumbling backwards, she followed suit.
Adam saw her go down and dived away from the window. As he scooped her up with his good arm, another bullet slammed through the plaster, covering them both in a fine white powder. Finch was close, in a second he would be on them. He lifted Oriyanna and thrust her forward, sending her through the broken window. As soon as she was clear he jumped through. A round whizzed past his ear. Oriyanna was already on her feet. Adam grabbed her hand and started running, the bright, clear morning sun stinging his eyes. “Go, go!” he encouraged. The sound of Finch's gun broke the morning silence; Adam saw the turf kick up to his left as a bullet lodged into the ground. Without warning, a figure appeared in front of them at the far edge of the field; Adam saw the barrel of a gun pointing at them, glinting in the bright sunlight. It was all over; with Finch behind them and someone in front they had no chance. Adam watched the figure training his gun in their direction; it took him a second to process what was happening. This latest player was frantically waving his arm left, gesturing for them to get out of the way. Another round from Finch kicked up the grass at Adam's heels; instinctively, Adam guided them left as instructed by the stranger. As the distance between them closed, Adam realized who it was.
* * *
Sam kept the binoculars trained on the old lodge; Finch had been inside for just over two minutes. If he was going to hold up his end of the deal, he would be calling any second now. Sam dropped the lens away from his eyes and blinked for the first time in what felt like ages. Across from the helicopter, a small family of deer were enjoying the cover of the long grass. Sam got to his knees and shuffled back to the Golf, but the astute creatures sensed his movement and immediately took flight into the trees. Lifting the boot, Sam removed the tack bag and grabbed two flash bangs and a smoke grenade, before throwing the bag onto the back seat. He wanted it easily to hand. Tucking the devices into the various pockets of his grubby cargo trousers, he stayed low and began to descend the small hill toward the lodge. He had a fair bit of ground to cover, with not many places to hide from view. It was a massive gamble. If they had just one sharpshooter on lookout, Sam knew he would be dead before even hearing the shot. Dropping into a drainage ditch, he removed Adam's phone and checked. No one had called, Sam made sure it was set to silent and vibrate before putting it back in his pocket.
The unmistakable sound of gunfire shattered the still, cold air, sending a flurry of nesting birds squawking frantically from the trees. Three shots in all, followed by two more, then two more. Whatever was happening inside was not an execution. Sam could tell by the blast sounds that there were a few different weapons being fired; the brief gaps between shots told his well-trained ears that a fierce gun battle was underway. He launched himself out of the ditch and started running toward the lodge. As he ran, he saw a chair come crashing through one of the windows that faced out onto the overgrown field. Sam cut right and hit the field running, the long grass whipping at his ankles. He removed the pistol from his waistband and kept it low, keeping his eyes fixed on the freshly broken window as he went. He watched in amazement as Oriyanna came reeling out backwards, hitting the ground hard. The gaping frame was instantly filled with Adam's body as he climbed frantically through; the moment he dropped clear another shot cracked loudly from inside the building. Sam stopped dead and raised his weapon; he knew that whoever had fired the shot would be next through. He watched Adam pull Oriyanna to her feet, wrenching her forward like a rag doll. Franti
cally, Sam tried to wave him left, away from the window; he couldn't get a clean shot and risked hitting them. As the distance between them reduced, Adam saw what he was trying to do and ducked out of the way. Behind them and closing ground fast was Finch, his suit jacket flapping behind him as he ran. He raised the gun and fired – the shot missed. Breathing slowly, Sam took aim, it would be almost impossible to hit Finch from this distance with a pistol. He cracked off two shots, being mindful to conserve his ammo; they missed, but forced Finch to dive to the ground in a slightly over-theatrical manner. The covering fire was enough; Adam was only yards away now. “Keep going,” Sam cried, “there's a car just over the rise, get in!” Adam nodded in acknowledgment as he passed by, dragging Oriyanna behind him. Sam caught sight of blood running down over her right hand; but her face held a grim and steely expression, he recognized it as the fierce desire for survival.
