“This is the civilian shaft,” the mission lead says. “We can’t get out the way we came in, but we can get out here. There’s another escape hatch behind the medical bay.”
My stomach twists as I remember that Poppy is there.
Shit.
“I’ll go to medical,” I offer. “I’ll help Fiona with the civilians.”
Teriq nods and begins barking out orders. “Mako, you’re with Darlington. Declan, Orin, and Karra, you’re with me and Ade.”
We hear another explosion, and it feels like a shock wave goes right beneath our feet.
“They blew the main hatch,” someone reports.
“Fuck,” Adrienne growls.
“Go,” Teriq orders, and everyone takes off.
Mako and I race down the bunker corridors while the distant sounds of explosions rumble behind us. “Why are they only going for the main hatch?” he demands.
“Maybe they don’t know the location of the others,” I call back, but I’m confused, too. If this is Silver Block, their intel is usually spot-on. They wouldn’t go into a mission half-cocked and only cover one entrance. But whether it’s an error or intentional, I’m going to treat it as the former and try to capitalize on it.
Emergency sirens suddenly blare to life. I don’t know if someone turned them on or if they automatically trigger, but that deafening sound is enough to activate anyone’s anxiety. The wailing shriek sets my teeth on edge and rattles every nerve ending. Fuck, that’s loud.
The lights drop in and out overhead as we run. I push forward, gripping my rifle. Mako matches my pace. I’m in fairly good shape, but smoke is beginning to waft toward us and my lungs strain as we sprint to the other end of the bunker. We’re nearly there when the lights flicker again, engulfing the corridor in darkness. They snap back on, but the fluorescent bulbs are humming, buzzing, as if they might explode at any second.
I hear shouts filtering in through the walls. Screams. I hope the dormitory is being evacuated. I hope everybody makes it to the civilian shaft.
I breathe in dust and smoke, jerking at another explosion thatsounds too close for my comfort. When we reach the medical bay, the sirens mingle with civilian voices and the thudding footfalls of people rushing by. We encounter another field operative, who raises his rifle as we race toward him.
“We’re here to help with the civilians,” I tell the older man.
Relief floods his face. “The escape hatch is down here,” he says, then shouts at a group of young women. “Go! Move,” he orders before glancing at me. “There’s a carport at the edge of the woods. At least three trucks.”
I nod. “I’ll help Fiona with the evac.”
The room has lost power except for the emergency lights, so all I see is a greenish glow that flashes off Fiona’s face through the darkness. She keeps everyone calm amid the chaos, firmly directing civilians out of the medical bay. She’s trying to help the elderly gentleman off the bed, shouting for Poppy to bring her a wheelchair.
“Wren,” Fiona shouts, for once looking happy to see me.
The room is filling up with smoke. They must have blown up something inside the bunker. The haze is traveling through the halls now, carrying the acrid stench of burning.
I hear gunfire, far away from me, but enough of a concern that I check in with Adrienne.
“Adrienne, are you taking fire?”
She doesn’t respond, and I fear that might answer the question.
“You need to get Poppy out of here,” Fiona says urgently.
I catch a glimpse of Poppy through the smoke thickening the air. “Declan said there’s another exit hatch through here?”
Fiona nods. “Get everyone there. I need to help Noel.”
“Mako and I have it covered,” I say, nodding at the big guy who’s ushering civilians out of the room.
“Poppy can’t be here. Get her out now before it’s too late.”
“I’m not leaving you!” Poppy protests, arriving in time to overhear that. She’s pushing a wheelchair.
