Page 33 of A Light in the Darkness
Remy
I have the pistol tucked in the belt I took from the guard, but a shot would likely draw the wrong kind of attention. I could tell by the weight that it’s loaded, though I don’t know how many shots I’ll get out of it, so I leave my hand to hover on my belt, where the taser is stashed away safely. A second too soon or a second too late, and I could ruin everything. It’s why I chose the knife for this, but I won’t begrudge a victim the sense of security that comes from holding it.
The guards leaving are caught up in conversation, one staring down at his phone and the other peering over his shoulder as they barely even move out the door. “But did you see the spark? Look at that! It’s just one last big—there!” He jabs a finger at his phone, highlighting the moment he wants his coworker to witness.
I see Kent glance at me from the corner of my eye, indicating the unexpected opportunity we’ve been presented. A curt nod tells me he’s going for the one directly before him, which leaves me the one looking over his friend’s shoulder at the phone.
Fortunately, Kent knows exactly what he’s doing. I may be faking it, but he moves with confidence, casual and quiet, as he strides to the two like he, too, wants to see what’s on the phone. And just as they look up to share their excitement, Kent’s hands close around his twig-like neck.
Confusion is still trying to dawn on the guard’s face when I slip the taser from my pocket and hold it to his neck.
I’ve never used one of these before—I’m not sure how long you’re supposed to hold it, or how long it would take toimmobilize him. It’s not enough to kill him alone, but I feel his body stiffen against mine as I wrap my arm around his throat, putting him in a headlock he’s hopeless to escape, and use my strength to pin him in place for the electricity to do its thing.
Next to me, the man who Kent attacked is turning purple, his eyes bulging as his body strains for air. I can’t focus on him, though, when I’m putting every bit of my energy into crushing the windpipe of the man against me. His body is stiff and heavy, and he smells of greasy French fries and piss, but I focus ahead of me. We left the door open so that it wouldn’t raise suspicions while we take them out, and I’m diligently focused on the gaudy artwork in the hall—until the woman—Number 2278—stands, coming out from her hiding spot.
I squeeze both my arm and the button of the taser tighter as she draws near without even glancing around to be sure that no one is around to see her.
“Hide!” I manage to growl at her, breathless as I funnel all of the energy I’ve ever had into this man’s death. He could be dead already, for all I know, and just not seem that way because of the electricity I’m pumping into his body.
I don’t know how much time has passed; I just know that I haven’t yet felt his throat collapse under the pressure.
She doesn’t stop or turn to run. Instead, she comes closer, walking slowly but with purpose. Her eyes make contact with mine for one brief moment, just long enough to show me she’s lucid, and then she drives the knife into his stomach. I drop the taser, letting the world come back to me a little, to hear the sound of the squelch as she draws it back out. A little sound comes from the back of the guard’s throat, but I know it wasn’t intentional, since he hasn’t taken any air into his lungs for at least two minutes.
Without the electricity, I can feel him slump against me, his weight threatening to knock me back into the panel of cameras behind us. I let him fall, stepping out of the way to avoid wearinghis blood as he falls upon the ground… next to the man Kent took out a moment before.
By the time I look up, he’s already shut and locked the door behind us and is striding back to the communications panel, assessing the array of screens, buttons, and levers. It looks like how I imagine a submarine or a rocket, and I don’t even know the beginning of what means what. Killing comes naturally to Kent, but this he studied for. His eyes sweep the panels, and then he turns to the woman with us, her eyes narrowed as she watches us, still unsure whether she can trust us. “What’s your name?”
She only hesitates a moment, and then she must decide she’ll give us this. “Kaia.”
“Kaia.” He nods. “I’m Kent. That’s Remy. We’re here to free you… all of you.”
Kaia’s eyes narrow more, sliding from him to me. “Why?”
I would laugh if the adrenaline wasn’t coursing through me so fast that I feel out of control. “Because what happens here? Those are crimes against humanity. And I have a foolish hope for humanity, okay? So, we’re gonna get you all out of here. But you’rein thisnow. Do you understand?” Kaia looks like she doesn’t, but she nods anyway, causing him to continue. “If they catch us, they’ll only kill us. But if they catch you…”
“Worse than death.” She agrees, turning her eyes toward the screens. “You will free everyone?”
I’m opening my mouth to say we’re going to try, but Kent speaks first. “Every last one. But we need your help. You’ve got to convince them to come with us, okay, Kaia? Can you do that?”
I glance at my watch and then up at the screens to scan for movement. They aren’t set to a single station, each of the nine panels flashing between different parts of the property, the cells.
“Why me?” Kaia asks, turning toward me now. “Why do I have to?”
“Because you saw that we’re serious. And if you watch the screens—” I tap the display of one as it flickers over to a view of aclearing, and the ATV emerging from it. It’s impossible to see who is on it from the slightly pixelated view, but the lack of uniform assures me it’s one of our men. “These are more people here to help.”
“Some of the people here—” Kent says calmly, “They’ve been here so long, they don’t know much else. Some of them are so scared that they would rather the devil they know. Some of them won’t understand. But you can make them, okay?”
The first real hint of fear I’ve seen in her shines in her dark eyes, but she swallows it down and nods, taking on the burden we shouldn’t have to place on her. “What do I do?”
“Just get them to trust us. As many as you can. Don’t fight with them, don’t try to reason. You just tell as many of them as you can that this isn’t a trick, and we will handle the rest. Can you do that?”
Kaia nods, and Kent cracks a grin, his white teeth gleaming. He looks more like a politician than a soldier right now, but his eyes are genuine, and he’s full of purpose. “I’m so proud of you.” He tells her, nodding.
And then he turns to the dashboard behind us and locates the button he needs.
“The outside is more heavily staffed than the inside because they’re arrogant. They trusted that their fortress couldn’t be taken, but they’re wrong. We have to at least consider we may be wrong, too. There could be more guards that we don’t know about.” His eyes flash to me, making sure I’m listening. “Men’s and women’s cells are on separate sides, and we’re freeing them all. When I disengage the locks on the cells, chaos is going to happen. Keep a clear head, Boudreaux.” I nod. “I’ll go to the men’s cells. I have a bit more experience with captive men—prisoners of war.” He clears his throat. “You and Kaia will have to sprint to the women’s cells. There are more of them, and it’s gonna take you both staying calm but urgent. Got it?”
I nod, preparing to ask again about John, but he shakes his head real quick, like he’s trying to clear his head of something.It’s just a moment, and then he nods, let’s out a small breath, and slams his hand over the button. There’s a strange clicking sound, as if the locks disengaging are on the other side of the door.
