His eyes glazed, and his grip went lax in Michael’s hand.
The roar of erupting energy was beyond anything Michael heard before. It was everything, the entire world exploding. Shadows were flung away until there was nothing but light, blazing from everywhere. Michael had no sense of self, no sense of time, no sense of space.
There was only the light.
Chapter 26: Chthonic Exodus
He beat the odds.
Blackwell had his doubts, at first. He didn’t believe he’d really make it. Not all the way from where he left Nathan and Elena, then down two flights to the docking bay where the submarine was docked. Even as he approached the sub he expected some terrible monster to emerge from the deep and rip him to shreds.
But the waters were motionless, glimmering in violet shades. He was able to dash to the sub, open the door and clamber inside without anything attacking. After closing and securing the entry hatch, he sat in the padded leather seat shuddering, chest heaving as the adrenaline faded. He relived the nonstop attacks, the sheer madness of it all. Bloody faces swam at him, calling out from the hell of the Tantalus.
Snap out of it. You got what you came for.
He patted the metal case beside him. It was everything. Worth every risk, every lost life. It was the future. He took a wary look around, cursing himself for waiting that long. Waiting for what? Everyone was dead or dying. He was the only one with a chance to escape and he was risking it on senseless reflection. All he had to do was start the submarine and get the hell out of there. He reached for the key strung around his neck.
Nothing.
His heart went into overdrive. Where is it? He was positive he had it when he left the server room. He had felt it tap against his chest when he moved. But then Damon had attacked…
Shit. Blackwell pounded the armrest. Shit, shit, shit. He’d been thrown around like a rag doll. So out of it he didn’t think to check if the key was still around his neck. It had fallen off. Could be anywhere in the hallway. He would have to get out, go back. Into the madness. He knew what the end result would be.
I’m dead. The acknowledgement came with a sense of resigned calm.
He’d seen the moth creatures on the ceiling before he secured the door. He knew Nathan and Elena had no chance of survival. And if the mothmen weren’t there, something else would be. It was unfair. He’d made it. Made it through everything, managed to survive with the package secured.
All for nothing.
The submarine bucked as the water trembled. The entire structure rumbled as if struck by seismic waves. Something had happened. Maybe Guy managed to set off the explosive.
Doesn’t matter. You can’t get out. You made it this far only to die along with everyone else.
The door to the facility opened with a bang.
Blackwell slid low into his seat, not daring to even breathe. He knew he’d die if he didn’t move. And there was no place to go. No way out. He’d have to stay hidden, hope whatever it was didn’t spot him. The submarine was built to take heavy damage. Hopefully it would protect him.
“Blackwell!”
He froze. I know that voice. Rising slightly, he peered as carefully as possible through the hemispheric glass.
Elena stood on the dock, supporting Nathan, who looked ashen and completely spent. He clutched his bloodstained side, standing erect only with Elena’s support. She looked directly at Blackwell, stabbing him with an angry glare.
“I can see you hiding in there. Let us in before something attacks.”
He considered. This is the moment. The moment in every horror movie when a character does something stupid, exposing himself to a terrible death because he took a foolish chance.
It didn’t make sense to open the hatch. He was safe inside. Opening up would take precious seconds, time enough for something lurking in the dock to make its move and finish them all off. It was too risky.
He was about to tell Elena that when he caught sight of what dangled from her fingers. His breath caught in his throat.
He opened the hatch.
“Where did you find this?” He snatched the ignition key from her as she helped Nathan get inside.
“From around your neck. I took it when you were knocked out. I figured you might try to double-cross us, you son of a bitch.”
“Anticipative thinking. A talent I didn’t know you had.” He started to laugh, but froze when Elena pressed something pointed and sharp against his throat.
“You think this is funny? Give me a reason why we shouldn’t throw you off of this ship and leave you like you tried to do to us.” Her hand trembled, burrowing the tip into his skin.
He swallowed. “I can give you several, but the main one is this: I know how to operate this submarine. I don’t guess either of you have that experience.”
His eyes slid to her face. He saw her calculating, and knew her response before she said the words. The tactical pen was lowered, leaving a prick of blood welling from his throat.
“Fine. Get us out of here, then.”
“Gladly.” He fired up the controls, sealing off the doors and hatches as Elena helped Nathan settle into one of the seats in the rear. She grunted when the sub rocked violently, nearly sending her to the floor. The entire dock rattled and groaned as if barely holding together.
“What about the others? There’s room for more,” she said.
“Guy said not to wait. This place is going to blow. We leave now or we don’t leave at all.”
She was smart enough not to argue. Blackwell set the sub to dive, quickly submerging beneath the water. It should have been pitch black, but light glimmered from deep below, painting everything lavender. He knew it was the energy source at the bottom, the anomaly that destroyed the Gorgon and set off the chain of events that brought him there in the first place. He didn’t plan on going that direction. He wanted to stay as far away from the energy source as possible.
Just hope it doesn’t disrupt the controls.
The submarine’s cabin was arranged in three segments with the pilot and co-pilot seat at the front, guest seats in the rear, and a private emergency restroom in the back hull compartment. The large acrylic hemispheres allowed for a full viewing experience, largely unobstructed by siding. It was the best money could buy; with a large entry hatch, staircase, and spacious interior complete with convertible seating arrangements and comfortable room for all the occupants.
Elena glanced at the luxury accommodations as she joined him, sliding in the co-pilot’s seat. “Nice coffin to die in.”
“We’re not going to die.” His lips curved in a tight smile, his eyes focused as he guided the submarine with the steering controls.
“I hope you’re right.” She placed a shaky hand on her brow, her earlier animosity dissolved. He understood. They were allies again, united in their goal of survival.
“We’re going to make it.” He felt assured in his statement. They’d come too far to fail. They were going to escape.
Though the water glinted with muted light, he steered the sub with caution, weaving between large cables as he propelled away from the habitat.
“What are those?”
“They go to the ocean floor, channeling the energy from the fissure. Some are also anchors holding the habitat in place.”
“No.” Elena pointed. “The larger ones.”
The submarine’s lights illuminated thick, winding objects that dwarfed the habitat cables. They were wider than the submarine and seemed to have no end. Thick flora and barnacles clung to them, nearly concealing their surface. The appendages moved, swaying in water like vines the size of skyscrapers. Enormous rounded disks covered the underside, looking suspiciously like pale, soft suction cups.