by Jenika Snow
“My father won’t rest until I’m found.”
He shrugged and smiled. “I’m sure you’re correct, but he is on his deathbed. Do you actually think once he is dead people will still look for you? The police have already given up. Once he’s gone and no one is funding your search, you will become old news.”
Dread settled into her. She didn’t want to think of her father passing, but Rye spoke the truth. Edward McCarthy was on his deathbed. She held his gaze, refusing to look away before he finally rose and gestured for the men to follow him.
“You will be kept in these quarters until you have learned to cooperative. You need to learn how to behave. Once you do, I will be more than happy to switch you to more lush accommodations.” Rye stared at her, his look brooding.
She watched the three men leave, taking a deep breath and folding her hands in her lap. When she heard the door shut, she let her shoulders fold forward, sorrow and hatred making a slow, nauseous boil in the pit of her stomach. Her heart clenched painfully at the thought of never seeing her father again.
* * * *
Gage crouched behind a shrub that sat a hundred feet away from the rundown wildlife preserve. Thistle was sporadically scattered around, thorns from the offending bush scrapping against his fatigues as if they were alive and sought to draw blood. He had parked his SUV a mile away from the compound, navigating the vehicle into a trench and off the road. He had trekked the rest of the way on foot. The clouds shrouded the moon, shadows creeping across the ground like tentacles of darkness. He slipped on his night-vision goggles, focusing them so that he could clearly see the building ahead of him. A chain link fence at least twenty feet in height surrounded the massive structure, wire secured along the top of the fence as if to warn spectators that hidden dangers lurked on the inside.
He zoomed in, taking note that although no lights were on around the perimeter, the faint trickle of light peeked through one of the boarded up windows. He scanned the outer perimeter of the compound, not seeing any movement, but not being fooled into thinking it wasn’t being watched. He took off the goggles and checked his weapons, gazing at his surroundings and taking note of the various trees and shrubs that were scattered amongst the sand and gravel.
He put his night-vision gear back on and kept to the shadows, weaving his body between the floras until he was almost right next to the fence. Although the facility was believed to have been shut down years ago, Gage noted that the chain link fence was intact, as if it had been maintained all these years. The only reason someone would need to keep a fence in prime condition would be to keep intruders out, or more so, keep whatever was behind it inside. Scanning around him, he slowly rose, keeping the trunk of the Joshua tree between him and the building. He swiftly moved toward the fence and crouched behind a Creosote bush. Pulling out a pair of wire cutters, he deftly cut an area through the chain link for him to fit through.
Movement at the corner of the building caught his eyes and he stopped working, drawing his attention to the guard that was making his way around the building. He held a rifle cradled in his arms, his eyes scanning the area but completely oblivious to Gage’s presence. Gage reached behind him and pulled out a miniscule gun in comparison to the other weapons he was carrying. He pulled out a tranquilizer dart, slipped it in the barrel, and waited for the guard to make his way closer to where Gage hid. The guard stopped not more than twenty feet from where Gage was stationed, head moving back and forth across the terrain. He didn’t wear any night-vision gear, and Gage wondered exactly how well the guard could see.
Gage aimed the gun at the guard’s neck and pulled the trigger. Even from the distance, Gage could hear the distinct sound of the dart striking the guard’s flesh. Gage slipped the gun back into his holster at his back and watched as the male ripped the dart out, drawing his gun up as if he were ready to shoot, and then dropped to the ground. Gage didn’t wait a second longer, just slipped through the fence and made his way quickly toward the unconscious man. He pulled the guard's deadweight to an alcove against the cool stone of the building, pressing him against the brick until the shadows swallowed him.
Gage pressed himself against the wall, listening for any sounds of more guards approaching. Silence greeted him, and he made his way around the building, stopping at the edge and programming his goggles so they reflected the other side of the wall. The small mirrors built into the goggles allowed him to see different angles at numerous times. Several guards milled around, none of them aware that he had infiltrated the perimeter. He drew out the tranq gun again, preferring to use his bare hands to incapacitate his enemies but knowing he couldn’t afford the noise or the struggle that would most likely occur.
As the guard rounded the corner, he passed by Gage, concealed in the shadows. Gage smelled the sweat covering the man and could hear the loud inhaling and exhaling of breaths the male took. This man clearly didn’t care how much noise he made, or how easily his location could be found just by the smell that was permeating from him. He pressed the tip of the gun against the side of the guard’s neck, pulling the trigger and releasing the dart that would expel a powerful sedative that could render even a horse unconscious. The silencer on the gun allowed for Gage to work quietly.
The male grunted and dropped his gun, turning around and swinging his fist at Gage’s head. Gage ducked down and swept his leg out, knocking the guy to the ground. The sound of the guard’s skull cracking against the ground was too loud for Gage’s liking. Gage rose, looking down at the man that was passed out cold. He dragged the body to where the other guard was stashed, knowing the two would be out until for several hours.
He moved back to the edge of the building, adjusting his goggles again so he could get a clear shot of the other side. Satisfied that everything was all clear, he stayed close to the wall, his body pressed tight as he jogged across the hard ground. The wind picked up, blowing the dirt around so it made a halo around his head. He checked the last corner, seeing five armed guards pace the front of the building, all of them looking too relaxed and very obvious. Although he could have taken them all down, the noise would have been substantial, and Gage didn’t doubt there would be many more just inside. He turned, walking back to where he had passed a small alley pressed between two of the buildings’ walls. He pressed his body against the concrete, scanning the area and taking note of a small window about seven feet above him on the opposite wall. It was boarded up with ancient-looking wood, and the nails were half falling out, the metal and wood rusted and warped.
He took a step forward and craned his neck back, seeing a thick outcropping at the top of the building. Pulling out his nylon rope, he tied a knot, swinging it up and attaching the loop to the protrusion. He gave it a few good tugs, confident that it could hold his weight. He tied the rope around his waist and then through either side of his legs, securing the knots and pressing one foot and then the other on the wall, using his upper body strength to pull himself up until he was facing the window. He slipped his leather gloves on and began pulling out the nails, tossing them to the ground and hearing the soft thump they made as they hit the dirt-covered ground. Although he would have been the proverbial sitting duck at this moment, he could hear the guards still pacing in the same formation at the front of the building. It would have been easier to just shoot the damn thing off, but then again, he didn’t want to draw any unwanted attention.
The wood was rotten, and even though the air was hot and dry in this part of the state, whatever rain they had received had completely warped and destroyed the wood. Keeping hold of the boards, he climbed into the window and set them down. Untying the rope from his waist, he left it where it was and looked around the room. He still had his night-vision goggles on and could easily see the room, crammed with boxes, tables, and chairs. To the side of him stood a newer window set, obviously one they had been planning to replace the busted out one but hadn’t gotten around to it. A door stood across from him, no fancy locks or security devices attached, which seeme
d odd for as much security as they had walking the perimeter.
He went to the door and listened, not hearing anything and taking a few steps back. He removed his goggles and secured them at his waist. Grabbing his gun, he attached a silencer to it and took a steadying breath, listening for any movement on the other side of the door. The door was unlocked and he opened it slightly and pressed himself against the wall. He held his gun at his shoulder, keeping his breathing even and letting the adrenalin pump through him at the fight that was about to happen.
Chapter Five
Light pervaded the room from the crack the door made, but still no sound permeated. Gage looked around the corner, harsh florescent lighting the only thing that illuminated the sterile-looking hallway. He stepped out, closed the door softly behind him, and moved quietly to the left. White tile covered the floor and ceiling, the smell of bleach and antiseptic strong to his senses. He stopped when the hallway forked, deciding to continue left. He held his gun at shoulder level, ears picking up the slightest sound of movements, eyes noting any minuscule changes. Steel doors lined either side of him, and the further he went, the more they became frequent. He could hear deep male voices close by and followed the sound. He came across an open door at the end of the hallway, pressed his body against it, and listened to the sounds of male laughter and lewd comments on the other side.
“You sure are pretty.”
“You sick fucking bastard!”
Gage knew that voice, had listened to it countless times from the videos McCarthy had given him. He looked around the door, keeping his gun tight to his body as he watched two armed men grope a tied up Neeka. Her legs and arms were secured to the corners of the stainless steel table, and a needle was sticking out of the crook of her outstretched arm. He hadn’t planned on killing anyone unless he gave him a good reason, but he knew as he watched one of the men backhand her, killing was going to be his only option.
The asshole hit her across the face so hard her head slammed against the table and blood sprayed from her mouth. Gage didn’t waste any more time as he trained the gun on the first man, shooting him between the eyes and aiming it at the next. The second man looked up startled, reaching for his gun but falling to the floor as soon as the bullet pierced his skull. The silencer had made sure no one would have heard the gunshots, but Gage didn’t waste any time as he rushed in the room, untied a half-conscious Neeka, and threw her over his shoulder.
* * * *
Neeka’s head was spinning as she squeezed her eyes shut and willed herself not to vomit. Blood filled her mouth, a sickly iron flavor that abused her taste buds. She was very aware of her body moving, bouncing slightly as blood rushed to her head. She groaned and placed her hand on her face, moving her fingers down to her mouth and wincing when she came across a sensitive spot. She opened her eyes, everything around her blurry and discombobulating. She stared down at white tile and drew her gaze up to two huge, muscular thighs and a firm ass. She tried to twist around, hearing a deep male grunt from the man carrying her.
“Stay still, Neeka. I’m getting you out of here, but you have to stay still.”
His voice was a gruff growl, deep and firm, and she instantly wanted to obey it. It wasn’t like her, but she felt in her heart that he truly was taking her away from this hellhole. She looked down at her arm, blood making a slow, red trail down her skin from the puncture site the needle had created. He was moving swiftly, her body bouncing as she closed her eyes to stave off the nausea. She didn’t know how hard the guard had hit her, but her head was starting to pound something fierce.
“Who are you?” Her words were muffled, her head still fuzzy.
“Gage Nyght. I was sent by your father to bring you home.”
In the next instant, gun shots rang out all around her, and she placed her hands over her head, knowing it wouldn’t stop a bullet but unable to do anything else. Guards swarmed around them, their guns trained at them.
“Don’t hurt the girl! I need her alive!”
She spotted Rye standing behind them, the guards acting as a wall of protection for the deranged doctor. The man carrying her ran toward a closed door. Once inside, he set her down and closed it.
“Go out the window. The drop is steep, and you might get hurt, but it’s a hell of a lot better than getting shot.”
He barked out the order, and she stared at him for a second, taking note that he was in full military-type gear—black fatigues, combat boots, sniper weapons, and an array of other deadly devices she didn’t even know names for. She looked at the window again, remembering Adaym and how he was trapped. “We have to save Adaym. They are him in a holding cell as their science experiment.” He watched her for a second in confusion. Sweat was starting to bead across her brow as her heart jackknifed against her chest.
“Fuck.” He looked around the room, his whole body standing rock solid. “I’ll try, Neeka. I can’t make any guarantees. My mission was to rescue you, not an unidentified male.”
“Please. They keep him chained up like an animal. He is in the next hall over, the one we passed. I can’t remember what door, but it was on the left hand side.” She pleaded with her eyes, knowing that she couldn’t leave Adaym here alone to face whatever ghastly experiments they wanted to perform on him.
“Go. Now!”
She whispered her thanks and turned around to look at the window. She tossed pieces of wood away that covered it, noticing a rope hanging in front of it. She stuck her head out, swallowing at the drop. “That’s, like, twenty feet.” She turned back around, fear filling her as she stared at Gage. He was cocking a gun, leaning against the wall, and giving her a hard look.
“Is the alternative better?”
Jump or die. Those were the unspoken words he conveyed to her in his look. How could she just leave him after he just saved her life? She would have found Adaym on her own, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to get him out alone, and she would most likely weigh Gage down. She opened her mouth to protest, but the door splintered open, wood spraying everywhere as she was thrown against the wall. She threw the shards of wood off of her, feeling the warm stickiness of her blood start to slip down her forehead. She brought her hand to her head, feeling the open wound on her skull. She stood, looking at her rescuer as he fought with several guards. She wanted to help him, but he was holding his own, and the look he shot at her spoke volumes.
“Neeka! Stop!” She turned to see Rye in the hallway, guards surrounding him as they trained their guns on her. She gave one last look at Gage, his face set hard as he slammed his fist into a guard’s face before shooting him in the head. She didn’t think, just threw herself out of the window, grabbing hold of the rope at the last minute, and sliding down. Her hands burned, her skin peeling away as the rope dug into her flesh. She let herself fall the last five feet, took a look up at the window, and then ran toward the fence.
Her eyes grew wide, and panic started to set in as she noticed how high the fence was, and the barbed wire that was coiled atop it. Dirt wafted around her, the wind blowing slightly and brushing it against her legs. She turned around and looked at the front of the building. There were no guards patrolling, but she figured an alarm had already been set off and they had gone to join the fray.
She wore a hospital gown, Rye having taken away her clothing until she “learned how to behave.” Her feet were bare, and the pebbles in the ground embedded themselves in the soles. She didn’t care, though, because the thought of being captured again was a horror she didn’t want to relive. She couldn’t help thinking about the man who had rescued her. She wondered if he was still alive, fighting Rye’s goons, or if they had killed him, or even worse, kept him for experimenting on.
That thought alone was enough to make her stumble, but then she remembered the fierce look in his eyes when he had told her to leave. She ran harder, faster, looking for an opening that would allow her escape. The front of the gate was made of chain link, the same as the rest of the fence, but it didn’t have the bar
bwire lining the top of it. She made a beeline for it, deciding she would climb it, even though it wasn’t in the best location since it was out in the open where everyone could see. She didn’t stop to see if guards were following her, but the sound of gunshots rang out, loud and distinct. She tripped and caught the fence before she face-planted in the dirt.
She started to climb, looking over her shoulder when she heard a man shout for her to stop. A guard ran toward her, gun trained high. Her heart beat fast, her palms starting to get sweaty at the thought of getting caught again. He grabbed her ankle, pulling down so she fumbled, her leg scraping against the lock on the fence and tearing her skin open. She cried out and gripped the fence harder, kicking at him with her other leg and slamming her foot into his jaw. He swore and tightened his hold on her ankle.
Her hands gave out and she fell backward, flailing her arms as she hit the ground hard. The breath left her in a whoosh, stars dancing in her vision as she groaned. The guard stared at her before slapping her across the face, not very hard, but hard enough that it snapped her out of her haze.
“You cause a lot of trouble, bitch.”
He brought his gun up and laid it on her knee, not a killing shot, but one meant to incapacitate her. She kicked her legs out, swinging her arms and running her nails down his face. He growled down at her, blood forming in deep lines across his cheeks as he pressed the gun down harder into her knee, stilling her movements. She had a feeling he was toying with her. She pushed at his chest, able to lift him slightly up and praying for a miracle. In the next instant, a gun shot rang close by. The heavy weight of the guard was suddenly lifted from her and air rushed into her lungs. She opened her eyes, turning her head and seeing two combat boots take up her vision. She looked up and saw Gage’s hand outstretched, his face covered in blood so dark it looked black. She slipped her hand in his and let him haul her up. She looked down, seeing the guard that had attacked her lying supine in the dirt, a single bullet hole in the middle of his forehead. His eyes stared vacantly up into the night sky, unblinking as dark blood spread out behind his head.
