comprehend what we’re trying to say.”
“I understand. Sorry, I’m just not a fan being in a night runner lair. When we leave, head down the stairs, there’s a group down there who will lead you to the Stryker. It’ll be crowded in there, but we’ll have to jam in as best we can. Robert and I, along with another group, will bring up the rear. No matter what happens, you keep your team with the kids and push toward the front entrance. I have another team stationed there keeping it clear,” I say.
“I thought I heard a .50 cal chattering outside. Okay, sir. You can count on us,” she responds.
“We expended a little more ammo on the way up than I anticipated. How is your team for ammo?”
“We’re each down to our last mag,” she answers.
“I wish I had some to give you but, seeing how your team will be in the middle, if you find yourself needing any, there should be some lying around,” I say.
“Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“You and me both, sergeant.”
Kids of varying ages begin to emerge from what I assume is another classroom and gather in a group in the hall. Most of the kids appear to be between six and nine years old. One older girl looks to be about twelve.
The night runner shrieks at the end of the hall continue to fill the building, echoing off the hard walls and begin to take on a restless note. When they all appear ready, I radio the teams.
“Henderson, Denton, we’re on the way to you. You two lead them out. Gonzalez, you, McCafferty, and Bri follow when they’ve passed. Robert and I will join you to provide rear security. Greg, you copy?”
“I copy you, Jack. See you shortly,” he answers.
“You pile them in as best you can.”
“Will do,” he replies.
The soldiers each take a child by the hand. Some have to shoulder their weapons and take a kid in each hand. The young ones look anxious as they can’t see in the dark. I can imagine the fear they must be feeling considering what they have gone through coupled with their inability to see or hear. Moments later, they are organized as best they can.
“I’d hurry if I were you, Jack. We’re beginning to get a few restless ones emerging into the hall from the far end,” Greg radios.
“Same here,” Gonzalez reports.
“We need to go,” I tell Reynolds.
“We’re ready,” she replies.
“Take them down the stairs and meet up with the others. They’ll guide you out. Watch out for the bodies on the stairs. There’s a small path cleared near the outer wall. Stay alert for any that are only injured. We should have taken care of them but you never know. No matter what happens, keep pushing for the front entrance. Speed is our friend here,” I state.
“Are you good?” I ask Robert.
“Yeah, I’m not liking this much, but I’m good to go,” he answers.
“By the way, thanks for that on the stairs,” I say.
“Yeah. That was pretty messed up…and fucking scary when the night runner was on us. I thought we were done for.”
“I wasn’t overly happy with that either. You ready for this?”
“Not really, but I don’t see that we have much choice,” he answers.
“Let’s get this done then. We’re picking up Gonzalez and the others on our way. Like I told Reynolds, no matter what happens, keep pushing for the Stryker.”
“Okay, Dad.”
With that, Robert and I step aside to allow the group of soldiers and kids to pass. We take up station behind and back pedal slowly keeping our attention focused down the wide, long hallway. So far, it remains clear. How long that continues is anyone’s guess. With Greg and Gonzalez beginning to see night runners emerge from the far staircase, it doesn’t bode well.
My anxiety increases exponentially as Robert and I reach the corner of stairwell. Flashes of light bounce off the walls below us indicating that Gonzalez and her group are engaged. My heart rate surges. We’re not out of this yet and things became infinitely more complicated having to lead the kids through this mess. Reynolds’ group is held up on the stairs as they negotiate the basically blind and deaf kids through and around the bodies.
Perhaps sensing their prey is about to leave, the night runners explode into action. Shrieks increase in volume, rebounding down the hall both on our floor and below us as they pour into the halls. They are empty one moment and then filled with their ghostly faces the next as they begin to race down the corridors toward us.
“Reynolds, we need to move now,” I call.
“We’re about through the first set of stairs,” she replies.
“You need to step up the pace. Pick them up if you have to, but it’s about to get real sporty in here,” I says.
“We’re linking up with the others now,” she states.
“Starting down the stairs,” Henderson reports.
The increase of flashes from Gonzalez tells me that more night runner have entered the second floor hall. Greg reports that he is heavily engaged as well. It’s past time we became like The Flash and beat cheeks out of here. As of yet, Robert and I haven’t seen any night runners appear on the landing above us but it’s only a matter of time before they do — that time measured in seconds if the sound of the night runners rushing down the hall is any indication.
As Robert and I reach the intermediate landing between the second and third floor, the first of the night runners appear above. We have to back pedal slowly due to the last of Reynolds’ group still traversing the narrow path. Having to negotiate this has strung them out. When the shrieks decrease in volume for brief periods of time, I hear the children sobbing as they are led through the darkness.
“Move and fire. A fighting withdrawal. Watch your footing,” I yell to Robert.
“Gotcha,” he says, firing into the night runners behind us.
Night runners fall to the floor and stairs as Robert and I send burst after burst into their midst. It’s treacherous footing as we back down the restricted path. Each step down narrows our field of view upstairs but we manage to keep the advance of the horde at bay. They gain a little distance when we have to reload our mags, which are becoming scarcer as we cycle rounds through our chambers.
Reaching the second floor, I see that Reynolds and her group are making better headway on the lower stairs. Looking at Gonzalez, McCafferty, and Bri, lined across the hallway and heavily engaged, I notice night runners filling the hall shoulder to shoulder and attempting to race down the corridor. Bodies lie on the floor with more dropping as the trio pour out concentrated fire. The overwhelming numbers of night runners, however, dictate that the current status quo will change soon.
“Gonzalez, time to go. Robert and I will bring up the rear,” I shout.
She, McCafferty, and Bri cease firing and turn toward the stairs. Robert and I pick up their fire and walk backwards, sending rounds downrange. We’re not trying to eliminate them, just keep some breathing space as we make our way out. That breathing space, however, is shrinking by the second.
“Keep them at bay. Go full auto if you have to,” I yell to Robert as I reach down and pull out two hand grenades.
Quickly pulling the pins and holding one in each hand, I toss them into the hall ahead of the advancing horde.
“Go!” I yell.
Without waiting to watch where they land, I turn to bolt around the corner and enter the stairs with Robert at my side.
“Greg, we’re coming on the run and bringing company,” I radio.
The grenades go off with a thundering, simultaneous explosion, lighting up the hall like a sun going nova. Smoke roils past the opening. The stairs shake as the shockwave is transmitted throughout the building. I hope that gained us a sufficient margin of safety to make it to the others below and to the Stryker.
