“It’s okay, darling. We’re going to get you out. It’s okay,” he lied.
But Svetlana was too far gone, taking her last breath, she looked up, staring into Jeff’s eyes, grateful for his image being the last she’d ever see. “Did we do it?” she asked. “Did we get them?”
“We did, darling. Now you hang in there.”
“Good,” Svetlana whispered.
Then, Svetlana took three last gasps.
She died with Rivers clutching her hand.
115
Dale opened fire, pumping a fully loaded magazine into Ahmed’s chest. Blood spattered, and as Dale reloaded, the creature leapt away. It didn’t retreat, instead running to the side. It was not over for the creature yet.
Dale reloaded, then saw three more coming straight at him. He fired, killing the beasts with perfect head shots. Kneeling down, he touched Thompson’s dead body. A tear formed in his eye, but he accepted it quickly. He was a professional, and would mourn later. He turned to York. The man was alive, still breathing.
More came, and Dale stayed knelt over York, protecting the fallen man, killing more creatures. He saw, just as Rivers did, that the majority rushed off. Running farther into the cave. A few remained, perhaps out of loyalty to Ahmed, perhaps simple blood-lust. He fired, again and again until they were dead.
Rivers stood up, knowing he couldn’t do anything for the beautiful Svetlana. He swept his AK-47, killing two more. Searching, moving, he scanned the massive chamber. He saw Dale, the two fallen men. No sign of Clements or Jefferson, Rivers knew their fate.
Jeff Rivers’ eyes widened. The creature that once was Ahmed appeared from nowhere, back to Rivers, creeping up behind Dale. The creature’s massive claws reached for the man, holding out his long arms, stepping closer.
Rivers held his AK-47 up, taking aim.
He squeezed the trigger.
Nothing.
He was out of ammo.
“No!” Rivers shouted. He pulled the rifle from his shoulder, flinging it aside. He reached to his belt, pulling out a long knife and ran forward.
Rivers had a score to settle.
Dale was busy with the few remaining creatures, firing into a mass that attempted to exit the chamber, trying to flee. He killed as many as he could, satisfied they might have a chance.
Little did he know, Ahmed was behind him, raising his arm, beginning to swing his razor claws.
“Hey you son of a bitch!” Rivers shouted.
It was just enough. The creature that was once Ahmed turned, tilting his head, staring in disbelief at the human racing toward him. The creature glared, ready for a fight.
But Rivers was fast. Angry. Filled with rage. The two came together like two wild animals. Rivers stabbed and slashed. The creature did the same. They fought to the death, an epic battle of man versus monster.
In a fatal stroke, Rivers slashed across the creature’s wide throat, exposing it. Ahmed gurgled. Then, Rivers stabbed forward, pushing his blade deep into the beast’s eye.
The creature fell, violently shaking, gasping as its days of horror ended. What was once Ahmed soon took his last breath, ending over two decades of hell. Finding peace in the next life.
And Rivers looked down in triumph, staring at the dead beast, then looking down to his own bloody body. He dropped the knife, eyes looking up as Dale Comstock turned, staring in awe.
Rivers fell to the ground and all went dark.
116
Elizabeth waited. She was patient as she heard the hoard approach. Closer and closer, she kept her eyes on the sole entrance, then back to the female thing that moved deeper into the rock.
Finally, moments later, the first band of creatures entered the chamber.
“Well, hello there,” she said with a smile.
Dale checked the chamber. There were none left. Only carnage, only death. He swung his rifle to the side, grabbing York by the shirt and dragging him. Moments later he reached Rivers. Delta One checked his pulse. Hollywood One — Jeff Rivers — was alive.
Barely.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” Dale exclaimed. The man pulled with all his might, dragging the two men as fast as he could. He moved them from the chamber, rounding a corner, heading back the way they came. With some anger and adrenaline and love for his men, Dale pulled the two safely to the long corridor that led up. The tunnel that led to their escape.
He jumped as something touched his shoulder. Turning to fight, Dale stopped in his tracks.
It was Reynolds.
“We gotta move,” the Marine said, reaching down and grabbing York, easing Dale’s burden.
“I’ve got to see about the rest. My team…” Dale began.
“No time. Elizabeth ordered us out.”
“Fuck that! They might still be alive.”
But Reynolds grabbed him, holding him back. “She’s here.”
“Say again?”
“Hotel Bravo — Elizabeth. She’s in the cave. She has a bomb. That’s why these things took off. They must… they must know there’s a threat. This is our chance.”
“But my team!”
“You’re under orders, Sergeant,” Reynolds said.
“What about Elizabeth?”
“Sergeant Comstock, I believe this was a one way trip for her. Now let’s move out.”
Reluctantly, Dale obeyed, grabbing Rivers and pulling him up the long incline. As fast as the two men could move, they pulled Delta Seven and Hollywood One from the cave.
The creatures filled the room, surrounding Elizabeth. She heard their screams, saw as they gathered around her for the feast. They chomped and snarled and bellowed and Elizabeth knew this was it. She had done this to save the love of her life — Jeff Rivers.
She had done this for her team.
She had done this because it needed to be done, and Elizabeth looked back to the melting creature, the one whom the creatures attempted to guard, and smiled.
“Well, it’s you and I now. You see, you might be a bitch, but I’m a Hot Bitch, and I have a surprise for you,” Elizabeth said.
The creature screamed out.
The others lunged forward.
And Elizabeth reached down, finger gently pushing a button. As she did, she looked at them saying, “Mission accomplished.”
And as the creatures pounced, the bomb counted down.
3…
2…
1.
117
Rivers woke for a moment. He had lost a lot of blood, could hardly see. To his surprise, the sun was rising. They were outside, in the valley, away from the cave.
He looked up, seeing Dale.
“What… what happened?” Rivers asked.
“We did it,” Dale said, his voice grim, serious. “Elizabeth saved us, Jeff. She saved us,” he repeated.
“What do you mean?” Rivers asked, not sure if he heard him correctly.
“She went in, Jeff. She set off a bomb. She saved our lives.”
“No!” Jeff screamed out, attempting to rise. But Colonel Reynolds rushed over, holding him down. Rivers was too weak to fight, falling back to the sand. “Elizabeth,” he shouted. “Where’s Elizabeth?”
“I don’t know,” Reynolds admitted. “We’ve lost transmission.”
“I must… I have to go get her.”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Reynolds commanded. And despite Rivers’ struggles, he was too weak. He glanced once more at the cave, now in the distance, and fell back into darkness.
Reynolds grabbed Rivers and York, heaving them up on his wide shoulders, and began moving them farther. The village was near, and soon he’d reach the other side of the canyon. He pushed hard, breathing heavy, taking this last chance and hoping the bomb had done its job.