The more Zane contemplated the details of the plan, the more he liked it. Not only was it tactically sound, giving them the best possible chance to save their fellow operatives, but Keiko was the perfect one to fill the shooter role. Her titanium-plated armor made her impervious to all but the most carefully placed shots. Not only that, but she was an outstanding shot.
After the briefing, the team returned to the main boulevard and traversed the final two blocks. Most of the order already crowded around the mouth of the alcove. Zane had wanted to get as close to the captives as possible, so he led the group to the right where the crowd was sparser. With a little maneuvering, they were eventually able to make their way to the front, where a line of guards prevented them from going any further.
The alcove was about fifty yards deep and was lit by two large lanterns. Viktor stood at the back of the space, along with several members of his council. Roger Lawson and Kimberly were there as well. Zane couldn’t see Camilla, which was odd. Perhaps she was obscured by the others.
After receiving orders from Viktor, a guard moved one of the lanterns to the back of the alcove. A cave mouth. At first, Zane thought it was open then noticed it was sealed with a black stone wall.
“The gate,” Amanda whispered, as though reading his thoughts.
Viktor pulled out a flashlight and splashed the beam across the wall. While difficult to see, there appeared to be something etched on the surface. There were drawings at the top, and below was a series of characters from an alphabet Zane had never seen before.
Zane scanned the alcove for Reid, Pratt, and the other captive. The fact that he hadn’t seen them yet gave him a brief surge of hope that perhaps they were being held somewhere else. Unfortunately, his eyes fell on them a few seconds later. They were lined up against the right wall, about twenty yards away. They were being guarded by two gunmen with AR-15s, which Zane didn’t think was entirely bad. As long as there was chaos and as long as the other guards moved out in search of Keiko, he had no doubt he and Carmen could handle the remaining two.
Zane soon thought of something else, a twist that might give them some additional assistance. Once Keiko began firing, he and Carmen would take out the two lanterns. Hitting them at this distance would be easy. The darkness should create additional chaos, as well as providing some cover for them to sneak up on the two guards to their right.
He was about to tell her his idea when he noticed Viktor turn from the cave mouth and come toward them. Once he was about ten yards away, he spoke. “My friends, we are finally here.” He swept his hand toward the gate. “As you probably guessed, this is the entrance to another world. In just a few minutes, we’re going to open it, and when we do, it will usher in a new era here on Earth.”
A cheer erupted. Many raised their hands in the air and babbled incoherently. A few dropped to their knees.
Zane leaned toward Carmen again then pulled back when he sensed movement behind him. He turned slightly and saw several hooded figures pressing up close behind him. Either they were late arrivals or were pushing forward for a better look. Whatever they were doing, he didn’t like that they were so close.
“As we prepare to open the gate,” Viktor continued, “let us remember to thank our lords, the ones who brought us here. Were it not for them, none of this would’ve been possible.”
Carmen turned toward Zane. “What a whack job.”
Viktor lifted both hands. “My friends, are you ready to change the world?”
The crowd erupted again, this time with even more fervency. Feeling the energy of his flock, Viktor stepped closer. Zane understood why Emily had been so frightened to find the man in her room. His sunken eyes and sallow skin made him seem more like a zombie than a human.
Viktor’s expression suddenly changed. His visage darkened as his eyes swept over the crowd. For unknown reasons, Zane felt a pinch in his gut. There was something about the crazed look that bothered him. When Viktor’s eyes moved in their direction, Zane lowered his head slightly.
The order fell silent. They seemed to sense the change in atmosphere.
“It has come to my attention there are traitors among us.”
An audible gasp passed through the crowd. Zane stiffened, his internal alarms blaring. Was he referring to them? If so, how was that possible? Not wanting to look guilty, Zane lifted his head. Viktor’s eyes moved across the faces, as if trying to determine who the offenders were. Zane reminded himself to remain calm. At this point, he couldn’t even be sure Viktor was talking about them. Perhaps members of the flock had betrayed their leader.
Suddenly, Viktor’s eyes turned in their direction and stopped. The hairs on the back of Zane’s neck stood on end. Viktor pointed at them. “There… those are the traitors!”
Zane’s instincts told him to take action. Take out the lamps, and create chaos in the crowd. If they were all taken, they would all likely die. Reaching down, he grabbed the side of his robe. Carmen seemed to be doing the same.
As he began to lift up the hem, the muzzle of a gun pressed into his back.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Zane slowly lifted his hands, and the others followed suit. No slick move would get them out of their predicament. His draw was lightning fast, but any attempt to lift his robe and remove his pistol would be suicidal. If he were by himself, he might have considered a quick counter-move, but not with so many people around.
While the muzzles remained pressed into their backs, several more guards stepped forward to remove their robes and guns. As they patted him down, Zane wondered how they’d been discovered. Had they known all along? Had someone seen them approach the camp from the surface? He didn’t think so, although at this point, anything was possible.
The answer came a moment later when a female voice spoke from behind him. “Bind their wrists, and put them with the others.”
Camilla Lawson. Zane had thought it strange she wasn’t by her husband’s side. At some point, she must have seen their faces. Even though they’d tried to keep their heads down, all it took was the briefest of glances to blow their cover. She also must have been one of the ones who came in behind them.
After binding their wrists with zip ties, the guards ordered them forward. As they moved past the others, they were pushed, yelled at, and spit on. So much for peace, love, and tranquility. Moments later, they were shoved roughly into a nook on the right side of the alcove. They were close to the other captives but not close enough to communicate. He wondered if Reid and Pratt had heard what happened.
Viktor and the Lawsons came over to examine their catch. Camilla’s eyes were slits of hate. It was obvious she’d taken their escape personally. Her transformation to ruthless huntress was shocking to witness. Zane guessed she was a cold sociopath who could transition back and forth with little effort.
Now only a few feet away, Viktor seemed to focus on Carmen. He stepped close and ran a hand over her hair. “This one is beautiful. I might let her live.” He cupped her chin with both hands and pressed his lips against hers. Carmen jerked away. Two guards came over and grasped her arms. Zane tried to step over to defend her but was forced back with a rifle.
Roger looked at Zane. “I must give you a small measure of credit for your little Houdini act. Unfortunately, you weren’t smart enough to flee when you had the chance. And now, you’ll pay with your lives.”