In The Shadows of the Cavern of Death (Shadows of Death Book 1) (23 page)

              Ignoring him, I walked ahead, straight past him, stepping out of the reach of the hand that tried to grab me. “You’re not going out, you’ll be a risk to your unit with your injuries,” he said firmly. Whatever else he was going to say was stopped by the sound of bombs exploding at the edge of town. It had begun.

Pushing myself from the wall and him off of me, I turned. “I’m either going to a unit or I’m going out by myself, it’s your choice,” I said, watching his unit race toward us from the barracks.

Instead of answering me, he said, “Malice, Reshian, take point. Let’s move.” Motioning to one of the troops, he nodded and threw me the extra gun on his shoulder. Moving out, we raced in the direction of the Stone City. With the defenses back up, the air support that the soldiers had been planning on using were as good as a death sentence. It would be a ground battle and it raged. Though we were behind the line, bombs and bullets flew through the air. Hundreds of the Loyalist soldiers surrounded the town. The numbers were greater than was expected on all fronts. The fact that they were able to get so many so easily within the borders just testified to how high up the traitors within the rebellion were. The only hope the other villages and towns had was that the majority of the soldiers had been concentrated here, to capture the government’s seat of power and the largest town.

I slammed to the ground as the building in front of us exploded, sending flying stone in all directions. I looked around to see if others had survived. One by one they rose from the debris to the deafening silence. It didn’t last long, the western line had fallen and troops rushed toward us, falling back as the soldiers pursued. Raising our weapons, we fired, giving cover to the retreating troops. For every one we killed, two took their place––there were too many. Falling back to the line the troops had formed, we fought, hiding behind buildings and fallen stone for cover. The dead fell around us like rain; soon there wouldn’t be enough of us left to make a difference. Michael was yelling, giving the orders to retreat when they came. Pouring from shelters and buildings, the townspeople that had been sent to hide raced forward. Barely a weapon among them, they swarmed the soldiers, taking them down by sheer numbers. With knives and rocks, they attacked, ripping the guns from the fallen. The surviving troops raced forward to help, pushing back the outnumbered soldiers.

Seeing Michael’s signal, what was left of our unit followed him, racing through the war-torn streets. Ducking and dodging, we avoided the fighting when we could, embracing it when we couldn’t. Finally we reached the bridge to the Stone City, where the fighting was intense. Grabbing Michael’s arm, I signaled for the unit to stop; we’d never make it across. Moving away, I pulled my bag from the ground and dug out what I needed while the others covered me.  Searching the ravine, I found what I was looking for, and aiming, I fired. The hook stuck true and pulling it tight, I raced to the firmest structure still standing and shot the other end in. Sure that it would hold, I yelled, “This is the only way!” Taking my rifle, I put it over the wire, gripping the ends than ran for it. Shots blazed around me, hitting my arm, but I held firm as I launched myself from the edge of the ravine into nothingness. Already weak from blood loss, the new hole that I sported made it worse. Once my feet began to dangle over ground instead of air, I held on as long as I dared before dropping. Pain jarred my body at the impact, but I pushed through it, gripping my gun and going to a rock cluster, firing to give the others cover.

One by one they joined me, taking my spot when Michael pulled me back to wrap my arm. Once he was finished doing what he could, he moved forward, taking control. We were pinned down, so pulling out my last trick from my bag, I threw it, smiling grimly at the screams that followed the explosion. Racing forward, using the distraction, we broke free and were able to make it into the outer part of the city. Death was everywhere. Those who could not fight and hadn’t found safety in time laid in the streets their unseeing eyes bringing back memories of the field. Little ones huddled together in terror behind mothers who had tried to protect them. For a moment I was back in the caverns, frozen in terror as death surrounded me, before I was slammed to the ground as the world around me exploded. Looking over my shoulder, I was surprised at who I saw. “I thought that you didn’t like me.” I said.

Justin gave me a cocky grin, “You’ve kind of grown on me,” he said, pulling me to my feet. “Come on!”

Nodding my head, I raced forward, joining Michael, who took precious seconds to look back to make sure I was OK. Mouthing “all good,” he looked like he wanted to beat me. With a shake of his head, he refocused on the battle. The capitol building could be seen from where we were. The city’s troops were doing well having heard us take the town’s barracks, they were prepared when the soldiers attacked. They were fighting like there was no tomorrow and there really wasn’t if they didn’t win. Looking around, I spotted our route. “Follow me,” I yelled, and racing forward I used the building for cover, moving until we came to an alley that we could barely fit in. Using the two buildings, I braced my back to one and feet to another, using the leverage to work my way up. After watching me for a moment, the others followed. “I’m beginning to think that you cavern dwellers are part monkey,” Justin joked, as he struggled to keep up.

Before I could answer, the sound of someone approaching silenced us. Rooted to our spots, a unit of soldiers came down our alley, followed by perusing troops. Stuck above, a battle raged below––if they looked up, we were sitting ducks. We were more than halfway up; we had to take the chance. Signaling with my hands, I pointed up, ignoring the shaking head. Moving as quickly as I dared to, so not to dislodge any rocks, the others saw no choice but to follow, silently cursing me with their eyes. Pulling myself over the lip, I helped the others as they made it. The others secured the roof as I waited for Justin, gripping him when he was in reach and pulling him up and over the lip. Going down to the section that the soldiers were held up at, I sat down and began kicking until I dislodged the loose lip, sending it raining down upon them. Satisfied at their screams, I joined the others who were anything but happy with me. “Now what?” Michael growled, pointing around.

Securing the rifle across my back, I moved away from the edge of the roof. Once I gave myself enough room, I went for it. Racing forward, I propelled myself off the lip, flying through the air and landing on the next roof. One by one, the others joined me. “You know, I think that I’m back to hating you now,” Justin growled as he pulled himself up.

“Believe it or not, that’s not uncommon,” I said, laughing at his mumbled “Oh, I believe it.” Playing leapfrog from roof to roof, I knew they may not like my methods, but the results couldn’t be argued. We never would have made it this far if we had to fight through the streets. Leaping onto the government center would be tricky because soldiers were positioned at the top. We had to take them out at the last two buildings, but there had only been three or four on each. “Michael, I think two of us need to go ahead. We’ll be able to get there without being noticed. The rest should line the roof and pick off as many as they can. They’ll be drawn over here, it will give the troops below a chance to advance, and we’ll be able to get behind them while they’re separated and pick off any that you don’t.”

Moving to stand next to me, he said, “Agreed. I’m going with Misty, the rest of you take cover and as soon as we’re in position, start firing.” Shaking his head, he took off running, and we hit the edge at the same time, flying through the air. I cleared the lip of the next roof, but unfortunately he didn’t. Slamming into the side, he was able to catch it with his hands and racing back, I gripped his pack and helped him pull himself over. “I don’t care what I have to do or who I have to kill, I’m never doing that again,” he shuddered pulling himself up.

“Then I guess you won’t be coming into the caverns,” I said, moving for cover.

“You’re not going to tell me that there aren’t floors in the caverns, now are you?” he snapped, as our boys started to pick off the soldiers.

“Oh, there’s floors, but do you think that the fighting there is going to be any different than this?” I said with a smirk, before going silent as two soldiers moved our way to take position.

Taking my knife from its cover on my leg, we waited until they were in position. As one we moved, wrapping a hand around their mouths and putting the blade through their backs into their lungs. Dropping them where the others would see, we moved and waited for the next set to take their place. After the third time, I signaled for Michael to stop. There were still a dozen soldiers up here, but if we took many more out like this, they’d call for reinforcements. They’re all lined up in the front of the building, only splitting off to move over to this section that was no longer protected by the soldiers of the building we now occupied. We’d have to take out the soldiers on the building on the other side of the government center or we’d be caught in their crosshairs. We slowly moved back as two soldiers came to take the place of the ones we just disposed of. Using the equipment as cover, we made our way around to get in position on the other side. Three soldiers could be seen moving there. I’m sure there were more, but for now we just needed to take them out. Pulling his rifle off his back, Michael set it up as I kept watch. I wasn’t worried about being heard, we’d just blend in with the rest of the noise––it was being seen that would get us killed.

He was good; I’d give him that. Three soldiers, three shots in under a minute and he solved the problem. Falling back, I pulled off my own rifle––it was now or never. Only seven soldiers remained, the others having picked more off. Separating, we opened fire, and they didn’t know what hit them. Clearing the roof, we signaled to the others keeping watch as they made their jumps. Now that we controlled the roof, the troops on the ground that had been pinned down were advancing against the soldiers on the ground. Making for the door, we weren’t quick enough––a soldier that we didn’t see from the neighboring building opened fire, killing two of our men before we were able to take him down. Unable to do anything for them, we kept going. The stairwell was empty. Keeping quiet, we went toward the dim sound of gunfire. Stopping at the corner before a main hall, we heard soldiers. No, not soldiers––the communications room. Seeing a glint out of the corner of my eye, I turned and smiled, inching my way toward it. Shaking off the hand that tried to restrain me, I pointed toward the mirror on the wall. Snatching it up, I scooted back, passing it up to Michael. Using it to see around the corner before snatching back, he held up two fingers. There were two soldiers in the hall. Signaling for us to stay, he motioned for Justin to follow. Tensely, we waited until Justin came back, signaling for us to go. Moving to Michael, who stood next to the door, he motioned for silence, listening to the voices coming from the room.

“Your soldiers have lost Twin Rivers and the outlying towns and villages. My people overran them with pitchforks and stones. I backed your government because President Vellion gave assurances that it would be a quick victory,” a man screamed in a high-pitched voice. “I was to be the new President!”

“Shut that fool up,” a second voice growled.

“Commander, the line has fallen, rebel troops are rushing the government building. We’re trapped, sir.”

“Can we hold the building long enough for reinforcements to arrive?” the commander asked.

“No, sir, no reinforcements will be sent, there are none.” The sound of approaching forces could be heard as gunfire grew closer.

“What do you mean there are no reinforcements?” the man with the high-pitched voice screamed.

“Shut up, Kingman,” the commander snapped the sound of something hitting the floor echoed. From the hardened looks on the men’s faces around me at the name, I knew they knew who it was.

“I’ll not be told to shut up by the likes of you, do you have any idea who I am?” Kingman shrilly said.

“Yes, I know exactly who you are. A stupid fool who actually thought we were going to make a slave president.” He laughed harshly at the sputtering man. “Since we’re going to die, Kingman, I think it’s time you got a quick lesson in the truth. We used you. Just like we use all slaves as tools. Each one of you fools who betrayed your people thought that you were going to receive a place among our society and you were––as slaves. The only thing that I’ll truly regret is not getting a go at that daughter of yours. If she was anything like your wife, she would have been a wonderful addition to the brothels. Now, since your use is over, I’m going to take great pleasure at finally killing you.”

“You, you can’t kill me. President Vellion assured me that I was in charge that…” Hitting Michael’s arm I mouthed “we need him alive,” and, nodding his head, though I could tell he’d like nothing better than to let the bastard die, he motioned to the others. Moving in, we opened fire with all eyes on the sniveling coward who was hiding behind a desk. It was short and sweet. Unprepared, we were able to take most of them prisoner and with Kingman’s distraction they were unable to dispose of anything. The room was more filled than we thought; there were several high-raking government officials that thought they could bluff their way out. Securing the prisoners and the room, we left a pair of guards and moved out.

The last of the soldiers were being chased right toward us. Opening fire, they were caught between us and the troops coming up behind them. Seeing that they were trapped, they tried to surrender, but I was having none of that and kept firing until the last fell to the floor, ignoring the yells to stop.