A big part of me said it was stupid. And it probably was. The more I thought about it, though, the more I felt like I had to do it.
It took a minute to make the decision. I got up, put on my parka, and made sure my AR and Beretta were locked and loaded. I went to the kitchen, grabbing a couple cans of food and a can opener, and made sure to fill my canteen. I felt a little guilty, taking a can opener, but we had six total now, which meant I was leaving behind five. They’d survive without it for a couple of hours, and if something bad happened up there and I found myself cut off, I’d be prepared.
I didn’t know why I felt so pressed to see Anna, but I wanted to make sure she was doing alright. After Ashton had dropped off the second round of refugees, of which there were only six, they had parked close to Bunker 84 at the canyon entrance, which was a short walk from the Bunker door. All I had to do was reach the Perseus’s door, input the code, and go inside.
Before I had time to second-guess my decision, I lifted my pack and left the barracks by the back way. By going this way, I could avoid the Angels standing guard. We were all under curfew; I wasn’t supposed to be breaking the rules like this.
All the same, I had a feeling that I should see Anna, one that went beyond the fact that I was worried about her. I felt like I was missing something important. It really wouldn’t be a dangerous trip; there were no enemies on the third level and above, and I wouldn’t be in the cold for very long.
I left the dark barracks, entering the lit outer corridor. I walked to the stairs, hearing my footsteps echo off the confined walls. It was quiet, and the faded paint and odd smattering of dried blood on the walls told the story of this place. I felt as if ghosts were watching me when I reached the stairs and began my climb to the top level.
Where it was still dark.
I wasn’t expecting that. Maybe the lights were still out on this level, for some reason. I retrieved my flashlight, clicked it on, and walked forward.
Coldness crept over me. I was out of my element, and for some reason, I just had a bad a feeling. A feeling that I should turn back.
I clicked the flashlight off, pausing to listen. I stood there for one, maybe two minutes, until I heard it.
Footsteps. Dozens of them, coming from ahead.
I backed away slowly, toward the steps. I realized who it was. It was the Lords, preparing a surprise attack. If they could attack from both top and bottom, we would be overrun — especially if we weren’t ready for it.
I reached the stairs in the pitch darkness. Once I was sure I was out of earshot, I ran quickly, trying not to make any noise.
By the time I made it to the third level, I was at an all-out run.
I wasn’t sure what to do first –wake everyone up, or find Makara. I decided on the second option. I didn’t want to cause a panic, but at the same time, we had only minutes.
I entered the barracks at a run. Several people awoke at my entrance. I ignored them, instead finding the barracks where Makara and Samuel were. I went up to Makara, shaking her from sleep.
“The hell?” she asked, eyes groggy.
“They’re attacking from above.”
She opened her eyes, her grogginess dispelled by this news. “What?”
“I just came from there. They have a lot of guys heading this way.”
Samuel awoke, along with several other Angels in the barracks. As they overheard my conversation, they armed themselves for combat.
I was afraid she was going to ask what I was doing up there in the first place, but thankfully, she decided there were more important priorities.
“How much time?” Makara asked.
“They should be here any second.”
Makara turned to the Angels. “Wake everyone as quietly as possible and gather them in the Command Center. Do not explain anything, just make sure they get there. We need to be ready to move in five minutes. Remember: as calmly as possible.”
Samuel took charge, delegating Angels to go to the separate barracks. We could only hope that the Lords didn’t attack during this time. I had no idea how the Lords managed to sneak their men to the top floor — it probably involved going outside and…
“Ashton!” I said.
Makara looked at me. “What?”
“He should have spotted those guys, if they had snuck in from the outside.”
Makara nodded. “We’ll check in with him.”
Makara and I went to the Command Center, finding the computer Samuel had set up with a direct line to Perseus.
“Ashton? Ashton, you read me?”
It was a moment before his voice came through, groggy. “Yeah, what?”
So they were okay. The Lords had intelligently decided to forgo the ship, deciding that they couldn’t trip any alarms. Ashton had obviously been asleep, as was understandable. Even if he had been awake, it was so dark he might have missed the Lords’ passing.
“The Lords are sneaking in from above,” she said. “Do you see anyone out there?”
Ashton hesitated only a moment, registering the news, before answering.
“Right. Looking out the windshield now, but I’m not seeing anything. Snowstorm’s picked up again.”
“Sit still,” Makara said. “We can’t let them know anything has changed. We need them to think they’re catching us unawares, when in reality, we’ll be ready for them.”
Even as Ashton and Makara continued to speak, the Command Center filled with Angels: refugees, women, and children. Anyone who could fight was given a gun and ammo, and this included some of the women. Anyone who couldn’t fight was ushered to a corner of the Command Center where they would be safest, guarded over by six Angels overseen by Samuel.
After the allotted five minutes, every Angel had reported for duty.
Makara briefly explained the situation before laying out her plan.
“We need to set up an ambush somewhere on this level. Earlier, we assigned squad leaders. Follow their lead and follow the chain of command, and we’ll make it.”
Everyone nodded, listening to Makara with a surprising level of calm.
“Here are my orders: stay on the third level. Stay off the main corridors. Hide wherever you can. They’re going to try to sneak into the Command Center. Let them get a good ways into the third level before striking, but don’t let them inside the Command Center itself. The idea is to get them on this level so deep that they have to commit to a fight where they’re at a disadvantage. As soon as we hear the gunfire, Samuel will shut off the lights. That’s your cue to attack. I hope you all have brought your flashlights.”
The Angels nodded their confirmation that they had.
“Samuel will hold the fort here, keeping the civilians safe. Any questions?”
No one said anything. There wasn’t time for questions, anyway.
“Move out,” Makara said. “And good luck.”
Chapter 13
We waited.
I stood in a disused locker room with a combat team led by Michael, twenty Angels strong. The locker room connected to a gym, which connected to the main corridor.
We waited for either the gunshots to start, to get spotted, or the lights to go out.
My heart pounded in my chest. I wasn’t born a warrior. All I wanted was to survive, and somehow, I had ended up with a gun in my hand. I wanted to separate my emotions from the act of taking another man’s life, but I didn’t know if that was possible. I realized, not for the first time, that it could all end right here. I might never live to see Ragnarok Crater.
I looked at Michael, whose gaze had homed in on the corridor across from the gym. He was the only person looking outside the dingy locker room, waiting. When it was go time, he’d raise his hand, and the killing would begin.