by T. C. Edge
As I take the scene in, I almost feel pity for the men down here, despite the horrible crimes they may have committed. It's truly barbaric, inhumane. Another brainchild of Augustus Knight's twisted logic.
It's silent inside the chamber. In the dim light, I can't see anyone hiding in the shadows. We walk quickly to the middle, and I turn to count the corridors leading off from it.
Ten...there are ten.
“They must be searching for Stein down them,” I say.
“Shall we wait here?” asks Ellie. “We don't want them to miss us. They don't know we're here.”
I look around, and listen closely. I can hear nothing down any of the corridors but the sound of murmurs and grumbling. Inmates coughing.
And then, the sound of shuffling feet...
From several sides of the room, men emerge. They come from the shadows, as if from nothing, sneaking from their holes and from the corridors surrounding us. I grab Ellie and pull her next to me. Standing back to back, we raise our weapons.
“Stay back,” I say. “All of you stay back.”
There are too many for me to fight. A dozen of them...more...all marching towards us in ceaseless steps.
“Cyra, what do we do!”
“I...I don't know...”
Then, as if by some psychic command, they all start running together. Charging at us from all sides in the darkness, I feel the world closing in around me.
We have no choice. It's kill or be killed.
The sound of gunshots fills the air.
22 - Back from the Dead
Men fall around me. They drop like flies, their bodies collapsing, hitting the ground hard. The room grows deafening with the cracking of bullets.
But it's not me doing the shooting.
Emerging from different corridors, Jackson and Theo charge. Guns firm against their shoulders, they aim and fire with the precision and skill of marksmen. Immediately, the men scatter. Those that haven't already been hit charge away, keeping low, scampering into the darkness.
Jackson and Theo continue on, walking with purpose, shooting any threats. It lasts only a few moments. Then, as quickly as it began, their fingers pull away from triggers and the chamber falls silent once more.
The two young men run from either side towards us. One, a boy from Arbor who I've known all my life. Another, a boy from Eden who I've only known for months. Two boys from opposite sides of the world, joined together in our cause. Two boys I'd do anything to save.
“What the hell are you doing here!” calls Jackson as he runs. He's the first to reach us. He engulfs me in his strong arms. Theo steps in behind, but keeps a little more distance.
“We heard gunshots,” says Ellie. “We came to help.”
“We're fine. We took out some of the guards up top and came down here. Stein's here somewhere.”
“We know, we saw the computer screen,” I say. “That's why we're here.”
“Cyra, it's not safe. Go back up to the landing platform. We'll be there soon.”
“No, we're here to help. Where's dad? And Murphy?”
“They went down other corridors to search. We all split up.”
“Fine, let's go find them,” I say.
“No need,” says Ellie. “Look...”
We all turn as one to look in the direction of Ellie's finger. Drake walks side by side with a man, supporting him as he goes. He looks old, and weak, long strands of grey hair hanging down over his head. His body is covered in ripped and stained clothing, his skin pale and bruised in places.
“Dad!” I shout.
We all run forward. He looks up and frowns.
“What are you girls doing here?”
“We heard gunshots...look it doesn't matter. Is this...”
“Yes,” he says. “Aeneas Stein. We need to get him onto the transport immediately.”
“Sir, Lieutenant Murphy isn't back yet,” says Jackson.
“Which corridor did he go down?”
“That one, sir,” says Jackson, pointing to the far side of the room.
“OK, Jackson, Theo, Ellie, go find him. Cyra, I need your help getting Stein topside. You'll need to protect us.”
I look at Ellie, but she doesn't catch my eyes. She just looks at Drake and nods, happy to be included.
“OK, let's go,” says Jackson.
Leading Theo and Ellie, all three with weapons primed, he begins moving off into the darkness. I watch them go, and a horrible feeling wells up inside me.
I have no time to dwell.
“Cyra, take the lead,” shouts Drake. I continue to watch on as my friends leave. “Cyra! Come on!”
I drag my eyes away as the others disappear down a corridor, and step in front of Drake and Stein.
“That way,” says Drake.
I begin leading them, walking carefully but quickly, keeping them close behind me. Down the corridor we go, shadows of men still peeking out at us from their cells. Ahead, the wailing sound of the giant man bounces off the walls. I can hear him roaring with pain and anger, a chilling sound for most people to hear.
Not me. Such fear doesn't operate inside me now.
“If anyone tries anything, drop them,” says Drake, emotionless.
I doubt anyone will.
Soon we're nearing the source of the commotion. Still wailing on the ground, the scarred giant repeats over and over: “I'm going to kill you! I'm going to kill you!”
His eyes find me as we approach, and I see a face of sheer, brutal rage. He roars and stands, limping towards me, rushing as quickly as his maimed leg can manage.
“Drop him, Cyra,” says Drake behind me. “He's not human any more. Kill him.”
I aim, holding my gun to my shoulder. I look down the barrel, see the face of the beast charging at me. My finger strokes the trigger, squeezes lightly. Another millimetre, just one more millimetre, and it'll fire...
He's close now. It's now or never.
“Fire, Cyra,” shouts Drake.
I grit my teeth, my finger shaking.
No...I can't...
My grip releases. The weapon drops to my side. I focus and see the imminent shapes of the man's massive fists being thrown at me. I step in, under his punches, and send the full force of my strength into his stomach, using the barrel of the gun for greater impact.
He's stopped immediately in his tracks, his raging screams halted immediately and turned into nothing but breathless wheezing. His eyes widen with a look of confusion, but I give him no time to ponder things.
I swing, hard, with the gun, connecting with his head and sending his enormous body flying to the side and into the wall. He knocks against it, stops for a brief moment, and then gradually slips down onto the cold, hard floor.
I turn to Drake, who looks at me with a rare smirk.
“I'd have just shot him,” he says.
“I know you would,” I return knowingly.
With the giant out of the way, we continue on, through the gate, and into the lift. As we hit the button for the top floor a feeling of unease begins to fill me. A looming threat, something I can't make out, flashes through my head and in front of my eyes.
All I can think is: someone's coming...
When the door pings open, I'm on high alert. Outside, the rain still cascades down from the sky, the world roaring with wind and the occasional crack of thunder. Along the wall, I see no guards. No additional forces. All must have been dispatched already.
I find it odd as we step out carefully and move along the wall. Odd that there are so few guards here. Obviously, as Theo said, the prison is self governed and, really, there's no way to escape. But still, more than a paltry few would have been expected.
Or perhaps not. An escaping inmate would have nowhere to go. The guards are merely here as a final precaution. Frankly, there could be no guards here and the prison would run the same. As long as food is delivered occasionally, that is.
We reach the first watch tower quickly, our feet splashing in the rain. I look a
t the dead guard with a feeling of pity. Just an innocent life lost.
I try not to look when we reach the control room. I've seen too much death recently. Enough to last a lifetime. If it's not in my memories and dreams and visions, it's in real life. It is the burden I seem destined to carry for the rest of my life.
Along the wall, down the steps, and across towards the landing platform we rush. I press the button to open the doors and find Tommy still tied up where he was. He doesn't appear to have tried to escape his restraints.
When we step in, he looks at Stein in awe.
“Is that...”
I nod.
“Wow, he looks half dead.”
For the first time, I hear Stein speak. He raises his head, and I see those deep, grey eyes. The same as Knight. The same as the Master. He raises the most unlikely of smiles on his face, showing off yellow teeth and cracked lips.
“More than half,” he says. “But still got plenty in the tank.”
Drake helps him over towards the medical bay at the rear of the aircraft. Whilst he lies him down on the trolley and tends to him, I return to the door and stare forward, looking for movement.
“They should be right behind us, dad,” I call. “Where are they?!”
“They'll be here,” he says, busy with Stein. “Just get Tommy back into the cockpit so we're ready to leave when they come.”
I turn to untie Tommy and lead him back into the cockpit as ordered. Then I return to the door and continue my vigil. Still, there's no sign of them.
Minutes pass, the clock ticking. The nerves build inside me. Something must be wrong.
“I'm going out there,” I say.
“You're going nowhere. Be patient,” says Drake
Fingers shaking, legs switching, I do as I'm told. I walk from side to side in the doorway, watching the rain come down, and pray for a moment; for the sign of bodies moving along the wall.
I'm about to disobey Drake's orders, when something stops me. The sight I've been praying for. Shadows in the darkness, moving in the distance.
“It's them,” I say. “I think they're coming!”
I wait eagerly as they get closer. By the time I see them coming along the wall and reaching the steps, I can make out shapes and figures. They're all there; Jackson leading, Ellie behind, Theo seemingly side to side with Lieutenant Murphy. The latter appears to be limping.
“I think Murphy's injured,” I shout to Drake. “That's why they took so long.”
“Help them aboard when they get here,” calls Drake. He bounds off towards the cockpit to ask Tommy to start up the engines.
Still vigilant, still with guns primed, the four of them come, moving down the steps, reaching the landing. Lieutenant Murphy trips and falls. Jackson pulls back to help him up with Theo. As a team, a close unit, they progress.
And then I hear it.
A great rumbling fills the air, and the wind seems to increase tenfold. I look to see my friends' clothes blowing harshly in the gale, a bright light suddenly shining down on them from up to the right. I lean forward out of the aircraft and see another, hovering above, it's doors sliding open.
In the doorway, I see the shadow of two men, standing side by side. Blinded and confused, my friends look up, shielding their eyes. I watch in horror as the aircraft above descends, and suddenly, shot from a gun placement, a large net engulfs them, tying them up, pulling them all together.
I make a move to run out, but feel Drake's hand on my shoulder.
“No, Cyra. No!”
He pulls me back as the two figures drop out of the aircraft and onto the ground, followed by a series of heavily armoured guards.
“We can't leave them!” I shout, my eyes starting to water.
Drake holds me tight as I struggle.
“Tommy....take off. Right now!”
Tommy looks behind from the pilot's seat. The sight of Drake's pistol aiming at his head goads him into action.
The engine rumbles as I scream and writhe. I'm not strong enough. There's nothing I can do.
Below, the guards surround my friends, enclosed in a net, writhing like trapped fish. I see Lieutenant Murphy struggle to his feet, manage to reach for his weapon.
He's shot in the head before he can fire. I feel my heart constrict with fury at the sight, watching as he falls to the ground, dead.
No...
The two men from the doorway watch over them without emotion, before turning and looking up at me as we lift slowly into the air.
I see grey, slate eyes. Pale skin. A dark suit, blacker than night. The man who once taught me, standing side by side with his favourite pupil.
A pupil I thought to be dead.
Under the spotlight, pouring from the aircraft above, their faces shine out bright. And I feel sick to my stomach.
I'm looking at Ajax...and Link.
23 - A Mission Morphing
He's alive...Link's alive.
He looks like Ajax now, dressed in black, eyes cold and emotionless. The two stand shoulder to shoulder, tall and strong, staring up at me as we continue to lift off. I stare back, unable to think, unable to move, unable to help.
My friends shout as they're gathered up in the net, Murphy's lifeless body being dragged along unceremoniously with them. Behind me, Drake's arms still wrap tight, but I know there's nothing I can do. We climb higher, Drake shouting for Tommy to get us out of there.
“You have to close the door,” Tommy responds over the din. “We can't fly with it open...”
Drake leans forward to push the button.
“No!” I shout.
“I have to, Cyra. They might shoot us down. We have to leave!”
He pushes past me, presses the button, and the howling wind and slashing rain is immediately cut off. The door locks with a click, and Drake calls ahead.
“Hit it, Tommy. Now!”
He pulls his gun again to force action, as I rush over to the window and stare out. Through the darkness and rain I see my friends being bound and tied. Tears continue to wet my cheeks as I press my hand against the window, wishing I could help.
But I can't.
The engines begin to rumble. The aircraft shakes. And moments later, we're shooting off back over the ocean, back towards the mainland, as Tartarus disappears into the darkness.
I sink onto a bench, numb, my plan shot. I was going to attempt to get to Eden alone with Stein once we'd got back to the mainland. To sneak off without those I care about knowing, without them being able to follow. Finish the mission alone and spare the others.
Now, though, there's nothing in my head but rescue. It's the only thing that matters.
A voice sounds from my right, from the medical bay at the rear of the aircraft. I turn to see the old hollow eyes of Stein looking at me. Inside I see pity.
“Did they mean a lot to you?” he asks quietly.
I sniff and wipe my eyes. And nod.
“I'm sorry. I...it's my fault. You should never have come here. Why...why did you come here?”
“To save you.” Drake's deep voice penetrates the room as he walks in from the cockpit.
“But...why?” croaks Stein, his voice brittle and old. There's a confusion on his face, like he's just awoken from a dream.
“Because we need you, Mr Stein. We need your help getting into Eden.”
“Eden...Eden...” he mumbles.
I watch his eyes fade and flicker as he repeats the name of the city over and over. He slowly falls back down onto the trolley bed, laying his head flat, before falling suddenly silent.
I turn to Drake.
“Is he...all right?”
“He's been down in that dungeon for decades. It will take time for him to come around.”
“We don't have time,” I say. “We have to get to Eden now. We have to save the others.”
“The mission is Knight, Cyra.”
“Not for me,” I say, my jaw setting. “This is a rescue mission now.”
Drake doesn't say anythi
ng. Now, perhaps, isn't the time. He just walks forward, sits next to me, and wraps his arm over my shoulder. His touch brings a fresh sheen of tears to my eyes.
“We'll get them back,” he whispers softly as I lay my head on his shoulder. “We'll get them back.”
As he strokes my hair, I find myself drifting. I shut my eyes and try to block everything out. My mind swirls with a thousand thoughts, none of them good. They harass me as I sit there in the blackness behind my eyelids, wondering how things have come to this.
Slowly, Drake moves away, laying me down on the bench. I feel a blanket being placed over me, something soft positioned under my head. Then the sound of footsteps leaving me.
Don't leave me...is all I can think.
My mind tumbles. The gentle rumble of the engine is soothing, vibrating up through the bench, through my body. I feel an exhaustion pervade me, spreading from my core to my limbs, the adrenaline leaving my body. It leaves behind a bitter, painful residue as I drift into an uncomfortable sleep.
Thoughts rush. Questions are asked. Answers are sought but not found.
How is Link alive?
The last time I saw him, he was lying lifeless beside Ajax as the city was attacked. Theo himself told of how he'd seen an explosion early and had pushed him out of the way. How he'd given his own life to save Theo's.
So how, only a month or so later, is he out there? And why is he fighting alongside Ajax, fighting for the corruption of Eden and Augustus Knight?
I can't answer. All I can think is how he was before. He was there for Ellie, there because she wanted to help me find Jackson. Of all of us, Link was committed to saving lives, to helping people. He was the mirror image of Ajax, a younger version of the man who'd taught us everything we know.
He was dragged along during our escape from Eden. He never wanted to leave at all. It was his love for Ellie that forced his hand. But now, back in the grasp of Ajax, he's recommitted to the cause.
I think of Ellie. How will she feel seeing him again? The dreams she's been having, seeing Link, thinking it all so real...it was real. She was seeing him because he was still alive. They weren't memories, fragments of her past. They were true visions of the future.
My mind tumbles on, swirling, searching, thinking endlessly as I lay there. How did they know we were there? Did Ajax have a vision of the breakout? Did another Watcher see us coming?