It was closing in on an hour later when Vex dropped to the ground, taking a position on her stomach, allowing the small overlook’s high grass to hide her, her attention on a crumbling brick structure. To her left, Math did the same, while Bon mimicked them to her right. Above them the moon hung high, it’s light casting a silver glow occasionally interrupted by a drifting cloud.
‘You see it?’ Bon’s quiet voice barely rose above the soft rush of dancing foliage and nature’s nightlife.
From her position, Vex caught the amber glow escaping around the boarded edge of a first-floor window. ‘Yeah.’
Math touched her shoulder, drawing her attention to a shadow moving out from under the protective reach of an old growth tree. As the details became clearer, she realised it was a perimeter guard. Where there was one, there were bound to be more. Sure enough, as she scanned the nearby structures, another figure came around from the back and the one in front disappeared on the far side. The boots on the ground were alternating their routes, eliminating possible double ups. A few more minutes passed before she managed to pick up another one on the sloped roof to the west. She waited a bit longer, because if there were six as Bon indicated, the best use of them would be to put four outside at their most vulnerable points, and keep two inside with Cam. Minutes ticked by and she was about to reconsider her assumption when Math indicated the half-collapsed building to the east. There, on the flat roof of the stoop covering, a bit of darkness shifted, giving a glimpse of a man shape before blurring back into obscurity. Just once it would be helpful if the enemy was a little less capable.
Relatively reassured, Vex gave it another handful of minutes. When no new players appeared, she tagged Bon and Math, got their attention, and using hand signals indicated they should fall back. She carefully made her way to the backside of the overlook. When both men joined her, they huddled together out of sight of the collection of guards on the other side.
Keeping her voice low, she addressed Bon first. ‘You need to hang here until we’re sure this is our target. Can’t have you giving the game away.’ Catching the teen’s mutinous expression as he prepared to argue, she grabbed his shirt in her fist and dragged him close until their noses almost touched. ‘Not a discussion, or the payment promised disappears.’
Unable to avoid her gaze, she caught the moment his arrogance wavered and knew he’d cave before his ungracious reply. ‘Whatever.’
Using the hold on his shirt, she shoved him back. ‘Don’t forget a return trip was included in this.’
‘You ghost on us, boy, and I’ll hunt you down and skin you.’ Despite Math’s soft tone, his threat was no less fierce.
When Bon’s Adam’s apple bobbed, Vex knew the kid was scared enough to stay put. Good, because chances were damn high they’d be running hard and fast when they left here. Done with Bon, she turned to Math to cover their next steps. Since Bon had led them around their targeted building, they managed to get a rough view of the sides and back before taking their position on the overlook facing the front. ‘You pick out an entry point?’
Crouching next to her, arms resting on his knees, Math nodded. He looked back in the direction of the building, even though it was out of sight. ‘Second floor, east side. There’s a narrow window, board on the bottom is hanging by a thread.’
Eyeing his broad shoulders, she pointed out, ‘You’re a bit wider than a two by four.’
‘If one board’s about to go, you can be sure the others are right behind it.’
Math probably had a point. The building was tucked on the edge of what used to be the town, and to get to it required a canny survivalism approach. The structure had to be at least a hundred years old, maybe more from the brick exterior and pre-Collapse architecture. ‘Right, you want me to take care of our friend to the east or our duo on the ground?’
Math shook his head. ‘Neither. Leave the east guard to me, you worry about the guy to the west.’
‘And pick off the boots on the ground while you’re crawling inside.’ The delay between the eliminations worried her. Too much time for an alarm to be raised.
Math was obviously following the same line of thinking. ‘If baby boy wasn’t so worried about getting a boo-boo—’ he shot a contemptuous glare at Bon, his opinion underlying each word, ‘—we could take care of all three posts at once.’
Vex caught the calculation under Math’s frustration, so she wasn’t surprised when Bon’s lip curled and he spat, ‘Fuck you, asshole. I could gut those wankers in a heartbeat without breaking a sweat.’
Math didn’t bother with words, just arched a brow and smirked.
Proving once again how fragile the male ego was, Bon folded his arms and declared, ‘I’ll prove it.’
Not about to overlook an unexpected gift, no matter how expertly manipulated, Vex said, ‘So that mean you’re working with us tonight?’
Bon shifted his attention from Math to her, and she watched as the kid realised how he’d been played. She gave him credit though, because instead of blowing up, he set his jaw and glared at both of them. ‘Tonight only. We get clear of this shit, I’m out.’
Not about to argue, she murmured, ‘Good enough.’ She turned to Math. ‘Yeah?’
Math’s expression remained stony as he studied Bon, but he finally grunted.
Taking it as his agreement, Vex went back to their plan. ‘Crow takes east, I’ll take west, Bon takes front.’ She looked at Bon. ‘You take him out, you don’t have much time before his back up comes around.’
‘Got enough.’
With no other choice, she took him at his word and turned to Math. ‘If Bon’s right on the numbers, means you’re going to face at least two more inside. They could be hiding anywhere.’
‘Chances are good they’re sticking close t—’ he flicked a glance at Bon before continuing, ‘—the bounty. Our best bet is if you can get inside, cause a distraction, draw them away so I can get to him. The kid can stay outside, in case others show up.’
Bon shifted restlessly. ‘You expecting more?’
Not wanting him to bolt, Vex said, ‘No, but better safe than sorry.’ Going back to Math’s suggestion, she told him, ‘I’ll keep them occupied, you get to your bounty and get him out. Preferably the back way. I’ll be right behind you.’
Math frowned. ‘Not leaving you behind.’
Used to such protective statements from the Vultures, she was unprepared for the tiny kernel of warmth Math’s comment generated. Tucking it away, she reminded him, ‘You’ll probably have your hands full. No telling what kind of shape he’ll be in.’
A muscle worked in Math’s jaw before he gave her a short nod.
Now that everyone was on the same page, time to get a move on. ‘Right, then let’s move.’
***
Accessing her target took a bit of time as Vex circled around the building to the west. Of the three structures, hers was the shortest, sporting a single level layout. Clambering up the thick trunk of a nearby tree, she used the protective covering of the heavily leafed branches to reach the other side of the pitched roof. From the tree, she studied the guard’s movements. Waiting until his attention shifted to the occupied building, she carefully dropped to the opposite side of the roof, kept low and picked her way across. Every time the guard’s head began its swivel, she dropped to her stomach, praying the roofline would keep her presence concealed. It was nerve-shredding work, but she inched her way across until she was within range of her target.
The way the buildings were aligned, there was no clear line of sight to where Math should be removing the east guard. So she decided to time her move with Math’s entrance. No matter what he said, making the hole wider would still cause noise. With knife in hand, she waited.
When the muffled groan of snapping wood brought the prone guard’s head up, she moved. Pushing up from her position, she lunged over the roof’s peak and slid down to drop on the guard’s back. Yanking his head back with a grip in his hair, she swiped her blade across his throat even as he rolled over, trapping her beneath. His heavier weight crushed the air from her chest. It didn’t help that he still managed to nail her kidney with an elbow and rake a bruising heel down her shin.
Fuck it.
Shifting her blade, she drove it in, the knife slicing through tissue to hit bone with an arm jarring impact. She ripped it free and drove it in two more times. The last one she held tight to the hilt, twisted her wrist, and then held the blade steady as his body jerked in her arms. His head slammed into her cheekbone hard enough to produce stars. She fought to keep her mind blank as his blood dripped over her in a warm trickle. Finally, his body went slack.
She rolled him off and crouched over him, relearning to breathe. Dammit, no way that struggle didn’t get tagged. Keeping an eye out, she leaned in, tugged at his t-shirt to use the relatively clean edge to wipe her face. Despite feeling the thin, sticky film indicating she hadn’t gotten it all, she figured it was good enough.
Cleaning her blade on the dead man’s pants, she stayed low and went to check below. Better to be sure the way was clear, before dropping down. A muffled scuff of leaves came from under the big tree out front. The drifting clouds blew clear of the moon giving its light free rein. It was enough for her to make out the pair of boots, soles up, slowly being swallowed by the thick shadows under the old growth. Score one for Bon.
She lay there, peering over the roof’s edge, waiting for the second guard to make an appearance until her straining ears rang with the quiet. By the time the night’s natural sounds started to trickle in, impatience joined hands with worry. Math was depending on her for a distraction, and she couldn’t afford to spend any longer playing possum. Grasping the edge of the roof, she tugged it to make sure it wouldn’t crumble under her weight. It held. Adjusting her hold since she refused to put her blade away, she slipped over the edge and dropped into a crouch, blade at the ready. The insect choir hiccuped and went back to their song.
Leaving Bon to watch her back—not the smartest thing she’d ever done—she darted across the yard. Despite the distance being only a few feet the exposure left her spine twitching. She crept up the short stoop until she could hunker beneath the window frame. Didn’t matter if it was boarded up, light still seeped around the edges. Better to stay low so she wouldn’t warn whoever waited inside. With her ear pressed against the weathered door, she wrapped her hand around the knob and watched the thin sliver of light.
There was no sound but every instinct she possessed screamed someone waited on the other side. Lovely. She just needed a clue to their position. She began to turn the knob. The narrow light on the right side of the window just above the window ledge flickered. Good enough. Before whoever lurked inside could shift out from behind the door, she threw it open, using her shoulder to add to the impact’s weight. The door hit with a sickening crack and elicited a muffled grunt. As counterweight began to shove the door back, she rolled out of the way and came up in a crouch, knife out.
Throwing up her arm, she barely managed to dodge the blur of movement as her target attacked. A stinging line from shoulder to elbow indicated she wasn’t the only one armed with a blade. Stepping in to her attacker, she retaliated, going under his arm and slicing along his ribs as she knocked his blade hand aside with her other arm. They separated, circling each other. The guard was on the leaner side and handled his weapon with an easy familiarity.
She’d have to move fast to gain a chance at getting control of his knife. Before the realisation finished she darted in, her blade aimed for his neck. Blocking his strike with her left arm, she earned another wicked slice, even as her blade met skin. Unfortunately, he managed to jerk out of range and stumble back. Taking advantage she closed in. He swung out and she slapped his blade away, going under his swing until she could sink her knife into his gut. A dark growl sounded as he wrapped a hard hand around her wrist, holding the blade in place.
She didn’t fight him, instead she used her free hand to block his incoming strike and loop his arm in a brutal joint lock. Twisting, she used her body weight to snap his arm at the elbow. The sound of his knife hitting the ground was drowned out by his pained bellow. The grip on her wrist loosened, and she twisted her knife before yanking it free. She stepped back as the guard clutched his stomach with his uninjured arm and dropped to his knees. Not keen on getting in reach, she nailed the bastard with a kick to the temple and brought the short, brutal fight to an end.
As he lay in a crumpled heap on the floor, Vex swept up his discarded blade and tucked it into the small of her back. Never knew when a back-up would come in handy. Besides it would be a shame for the blade to go to waste. With the guard out of commission, she took a minute to scan the quiet interior. Other than the solar lamp hanging on a nail on the wall for light, there were little signs of life in the ramshackle entryway, or coming from the rickety set of stairs climbing to the second floor. Since there was no sound of anyone running to the fallen guard’s rescue, either Math had neutralised the other inside guard or she would soon be playing a deadly game of hide and seek. Knowing fate was a fickle bitch, she needed to get a move on.
Deciding to clear the bottom floor first, she bypassed the room to the left, which was clearly empty since no-one rushed out of it. Creeping down the dark hall, she aimed for the room in the back. She slipped by a couple of empty doorways guarding more empty rooms. She was closing in on the shadowed room at the back when the creak of wooden floorboards drifted from above. Shitshitshit! They were upstairs. She didn’t waste time turning and rushing towards the stairs.
Despite picking her path carefully, she managed to cover the first set quickly, only pausing once she reached the first landing. Skirting the hole dominating one side, she did a weird hop-leap combination to gain the second flight, wincing when the floor gave an audible creak. The narrow staircase was unforgiving and she was forced to slow as she picked her way up, avoiding holes and rotten steps. By the time she reached the top and a long, equally narrow hallway, a line of sweat cooled along her spine.
Rooms, some with doors, some without, lined the hall, but it was the light slipping across the warped floorboards at the end of the hall where it branched off that she zeroed in on. Goal in sight, she crept down the hall, slipping past the first empty doorway, taking the time to test each spot as she inched along. No sense in making her presence any more obvious, not until she was certain all possible threats were out of play. By the time she reached the end, her pulse had settled into an anticipatory beat.
With her spine pressed against the dubious protection of the wall, she snuck a quick peek around the corner. Light came from a room tucked halfway down. A quiet rumble of conversation reached her, but it was too low to identify the speaker. Here’s hoping it’s Math. Taking a deep breath, she adjusted her grip on her blade and began working her way forward, her eyes constantly scanning for threats. The damn itch at the back of her neck had set up shop, leaving her jumpy.
She made it to the doorway without incident, careful not to cross the spill of light. The minor success should have chilled out her nerves. Unfortunately they were still bouncing around. Repeating the back to the wall movement, she managed a quick look inside. Recognising the familiar set of Math’s shoulder towards the back of the room, she noted the sprawled body tossed to the side as she rushed in. ‘Math.’
At her voice, his head turned and the naked fury and grief in his face about knocked her on her ass before it disappeared under a stony mask. ‘Found your admirer.’ He nodded to the body on the floor.
She came in, making her way to the corpse. Using the toe of her boot she kicked him over. Sure enough, the man from the Hole, who headed out earlier, stared back with unseeing eyes. Guess Trip owed them one for taking out a rat. She turned away and went to Math’s side. In front of him, bound to a chair was a badly beaten man. She winced. Looked like Math had found Cam. Barefoot, stripped to the waist and wearing only a grungy pair of pants, she thought he was dead until she caught the faint rise and fall of the burnt and scarred chest. Light provided by the small camp lights set on either side spilled over hair that may have been blond at one point, but now bore the distinct rust colour of old blood, covering the bent head.
Taking in the signs of both recent and repeated torture she marvelled at the will that kept this poor soul breathing. ‘Shit, and I thought Si looked bad after his time with the Raiders.’
Math cut through one of the thick cords wrapped around Cam’s waist. ‘Cut through the rope at his wrists.’
‘Got it.’ She moved around Math, crouching at Cam’s side to slide her blade between the rope anchoring his arms to the chair’s rear legs and his torn wrists. As she worked, she kept his arms still with a gentle hand. Only when they were free did she carefully let them hang at his side.
As she rose from her crouch, Math asked, ‘Can you hold him, while I get him free?’
‘Yeah.’ She tucked her blade into a boot and considered how to hold Cam without hurting him. Based upon the amount of visible damage, that was a hopeless endeavour. Since Math needed access to the rope on Cam’s waist and torso, she’d have to hold him from behind. Moving behind the chair, she bit off another curse as the mess of Cam’s back came in to view. It looked like so much raw meat. The prospect of getting out of the Hole with the shape Cam was in was looking decidedly grim. Shoving her worry aside, she got as close as she could without putting pressure on the chair’s spindled back. She leaned over and carefully crossed her arms over Cam’s battered chest.
Math worked quickly, slicing through the thick rope and tossing them aside. His movements caused Cam to groan. Math winced and checked Cam’s face. From her position, Vex couldn’t tell if Cam was aware or not, but Math said, ‘I know it hurts, man, but hang in there.’
When the last piece loosened, Cam’s weight sagged in her arms, forcing her to shift her weight awkwardly to make sure he didn’t fall into Math. Off balance she was slow to react when Cam’s arm jerked out of her hold and his fist swung out. ‘Math!’
Her warning hit the same time as Cam’s fist nailed Math’s cheek. Injured or not, there was enough force behind it to knock Math sideways. He cursed as he caught himself with his hand against the floor.
Vex managed to grab Cam’s wrist when he drew it back for another hit. Not an easy feat with her position, but she didn’t want to hurt him, so she hung on.
Math crowded Cam, his hand cupping his friend’s face, forcing him to listen. ‘Cam! Cam, it’s Math. Stop, man. Don’t make me hit you. Do you hear me, Cam?’
Cam’s arm went limp and his hand uncurled. ‘Math?’ It came out on a hoarse croak.
Vex slowly brought Cam’s arm back down, then let go before she went back to holding his shaking shoulders.
Math didn’t let go of Cam’s face. ‘Yeah, man, it’s me.’
‘Took you fucking long enough, bastard.’
Weak though it was, his complaint made Math’s lips curl. ‘Sorry, had to pick someone up to help save your ass.’
Cam’s head lifted and turned to look at her, swaying a bit. ‘Well, hello.’
Vex looked into the battered face, one eye swollen, the other streaked with red, broken vessels, nose out of joint and cut lips trying to curve, and she couldn’t stop her grin. ‘Hey there, handsome.’
Cam turned back to Math, his body tilting heavily to the side. Math and Vex caught him, holding him upright. ‘At least you didn’t come barreling in on your own.’ Cam hissed but managed, ‘Guess that means you’re wising up?’
Math shifted until he could help Cam stand. ‘I’m not the one playing punching bag for a bunch of third-rate heavies.’ It took a great deal of cursing and a few groans, but they got Cam up. ‘Let’s bail.’ Holding Cam’s arm over his shoulder with one hand, his other arm around his friend’s waist, Math craned his neck to Vex.
Reading his silent request, she came around to take point, skirting the body on the floor. As she passed the men Cam asked, ‘How many did you eliminate?’
Half turning she watched Math lead the wounded man around the corpse. ‘Two. That one and one outside.’
When they looked to her, Vex added her tally. ‘Two, one exterior, one interior. Think our lookout got one.’
Cam grimaced. ‘If he didn’t, you’ll be missing one.’
‘Just one?’ Math asked as they continued to the doorway.
‘Yeah.’ Cam leaned against the doorframe. ‘Earlier tonight, this guy showed up. Didn’t catch much, but I think he lost his partner in the Green. He argued with that bastard—’ he indicated the body on the floor, ‘—then left.’
The men fell silent as Vex moved down the hall to check the first turn. Nice to know their shadows had been halved. While she’d love to assume Bon managed to take out the other outside guard, luck never stuck around in situations like this. With Math busy with Cam, it was up to her to get them out without getting killed. Studying the dark hall, she stretched all her senses for anything out of place. Although her nerves still hummed and her neck still itched, nothing moved. Good enough. They couldn’t stay here forever. Vex motioned them forward.
They made their way downstairs without incident. The crumpled heap of her attacker still lay where she left him to bleed out. Stepping around him she chanced a look back to warn softly, ‘Watch your step.’
Light played over Cam’s sweat-streaked, grey face and she worried he wouldn’t be able to stay upright for long. Based upon the grim mask Math wore and the fury flickering in his dark gaze, she figured he shared her concerns. Hand on the knob she waited for the two men to join her. Keeping her voice low, she met Math’s gaze. ‘I’ll signal you.’
He looked to the door, then back to her and gave a short nod. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and stepped into the night.