Raven and Alara climbed the old staircase, moving together up into the corporate offices of Fabulous Fabrics. Their boots steped lightly against the dusty steps, echoing in the abandoned offices. Once at the top of the stairs, they entered a wide office lined with shattered windows that looked directly down onto the chaos of Times Square. Below, the entire street was smeared with crushed zombie remains from Alara's earlier "IRL Video Gameing!" a twisted carpet of red and gray streaks half vacuumed up beneath the abandoned cars scattered across Time Square.
Ten mercenaries stood below the window, a mix of men and women crouched behind vehicles that now surrounded the entrance of Fabulous Fabrics, all of them aiming their weapons toward the building's front entrance. From above, they looked tense, undisciplined, and ready to flee at a moment's notice. The back entrance has already been cleverly blocked by them. They probably thought they had Raven and Alara trapped completely. The irony of it drew a slow, cold smile across Raven's face as she turned towards Alara saying.
"We're about to watch an epic show," Raven said, her green eyes glowing with a dangerous light. "The spider drone has already planted proximity mines around their cars. Metal Mouse is in position, and my two aerial drones are hovering above them, ready to start sniping whenever I give the command." She leaned a little closer to Alara, her voice lowering and whispered in a husky tone of voice into her ear. "Let's begin the action."
Alara's eyes brightened, her fingers gripping the aluminum bat in her hand a bit tighter. Together, they turned to the window, watching as chaos descended on the enemies below.
Down on the street, Trent Parker, the mercenary leader, paced between the cars. His face showed impatience and greed. He yelled at his squad, his voice cutting through as he said. "Get ready to intercept the package! We've been hired to deliver her to the Epslion military base. This is our ticket out of this hellhole. Don't screw it up!"
Trent turned abruptly to his second-in-command Ted pointing a finger at the building. "Get our tasers and rubber bullets ready! We can't let that girl escape or we'll lose the whole bounty."
Ted swallowed hard, nodding quickly. "You mean… the bounty from Epsilon base?" His voice shook as he adjusted the strap on his rifle around his neck.
Trent's lips curled into a knowing sneer. "Exactly. Epsilon base, those military nuts, they have put the highest bounty on Raven Salvatore. They say Raven has some kind of advanced technology or military secrets that make killing zombies easier giving people an advantage over them. If we capture her, maybe we can use the technology for ourselves, so we can scavenge better, and get a home in that fortress. Think about it—fresh food, meat, and safety." His eyes glowed from the idea, not for flesh, but for power and comfort.
Ted his inhaled sharply and then shouted orders to the others. The mercenaries changed weapons, now aiming tasers and rubber bullets at the store entrance, hoping to capture Raven alive. A few of them discussed quietly taking Alara as a hostage, assuming she might be leverage they can use against Raven and possibly using both to release some pent up frustrations.
Then, suddenly, a sharp, beeping sound cut through the area three rapid beeps. Heads turned, in confusion and fear flooded their faces.
Before anyone could react, two enormous explosions detonated in swift succession. BOOM! BOOM! The barricade of cars shook, then erupted up into the sky. Metal and flames twisted the cars upwards as the they flipped in the air and crashed back on the ground, shattering windows and flattening anything nearby. Within seconds, a third explosion followed, tearing apart another car from the barricade. Flaming shrapnel rained down like rain, leaving charred holes in the concrete and the armored vests of five unlucky mercenaries.
Screams erupted immediately. Five of the ten mercenaries were caught directly in the explosions. They were thrown like rag dolls, limbs ripping off mid-air or burning to ash in the heat. Some landed in awkward, crumpled piles, and others moved their remaining limbs helplessly as flames engulfed their bodies. A few tried crawling away, dragging blood and soot behind them, screaming in agony but it was in vain.
"Captain Trent! Help us! We don't want to die! Save us!" one shrieked, her voice yelling as blood flew out from her mouth. Another clawed at the ground, his eyes wide, terror stretching his face into inhuman expression of agony.
Trent stood frozen, his eyes wide, mouth hanging open as he watched his squad burn and get dismembered on the concrete. Horror twisted his features, sweat pouring down his forehead as he stumbled backward. "What the hell is going on?! How did those cars explode?!" His voice questioned as he whipped his head around, searching for the source of the enemy attack.
The remaining five mercenaries, still crouched behind the final intact car, exchanged horrified glances, their fingers trembling on their triggers. One man vomited beside the car, his entire body shaking uncontrollably. Another began sobbing, repeating prayers under his breath as if that would protect him from the invisible hunters now lurking nearby ready to kill them.
Up in the office, Raven lifted her head slightly, her green eyes alive with amusement. She leaned forward, pressing her fingers against the unbroken glass. "Look at them," she said softly to Alara. "They really thought they had us cornered. But they're the ones without an escape path now."
Alara didn't say a word, only smiling coldly as she squeezed the handle of her bat, her eyes glowing with sadistic delight. She was watching them like a cat observing mice in a cage, relishing every moment of their terror.
Raven glanced sideways at Alara, her lips twitching as she felt a small wave of affection. These mercenaries, she thought, had no idea what they walked into. They were not simply facing an enemy they were dancing inside a game orchestrated by two devils.
Trent's panicked voice cracked through the chaos, trying desperately to rally his remaining troops. "From up around me! Now! Watch for enemy movement! They have to come out eventually!"
Join my patreon today im in need of new supporters so please join today.
patreon.com/everstone