The Regent by Marcus Richardson

Author:Marcus Richardson [Richardson, Marcus]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Freeholder Press, LLC

24

Escape

Cooper took one final check to make sure that everyone was around the corner, then closed his eyes and squeezed the trigger. The carbine bucked, and the world lit up behind his closed eyelids, and he heard nothing but a thunderous roar.

Hoping that did the job, he gave his eyes an extra couple seconds before he opened them. He felt no pain, so he assumed that no ricochets had clipped him. “Hey, bring that light up here,” Cooper called over his shoulder. He wasn’t worried about being too loud now. Anyone back there still chasing them would know exactly where they were from all the noise.

Angus shuffled around the corner, his footsteps and a muffled voice reached Cooper’s still-ringing ears. Cooper peered at the damaged boards. He took careful aim and launched another kick, this time succeeding in knocking loose two of the boards. They didn’t break or fall, but they moved—it was good enough for Cooper.

He had Angus slip around the corner again, taking the light with him, then pulled the trigger until his magazine emptied, another six or seven shots. This time, when Angus appeared around the corner and shone his light on the barrier, Cooper threw his shoulder at it and crashed through with a curse.

He picked himself up off the stone floor, brushing dust, splinters, and chunks of jagged wood off his clothes. Coughing, he called the others through. When Angus arrived with his light, they saw the new room was a continuation of the tunnel, ending with a set of roughhewn stone steps climbing up to the ceiling. Cooper motioned the others to stay quiet, then crept up the steps.

“You really think it matters?” Angus asked. “After all that?” he asked, shining the light on the ruined barrier and bits of wood and rocks strewn across the floor.

“Couldn’t hurt,” Cooper muttered. He reached the top step and placed a hand on the wood. It was cool to the touch and much smoother. It felt like it had a layer of dirt embedded in the surface, despite the fact that it was on the ceiling. “This wood is older…much older.” He pushed with his hand and the trapdoor covering the stairs raised up a quarter inch before meeting resistance.

Cooper saw a flash of light a split second before thunder rumbled. He let the door close again just as quietly as he’d opened it. “There’s a storm going on outside, and at least one window up there. It’s some kind of room.” He turned to Angus. “Any idea where we’re at?”

The cop stared at his phone. “I can’t get any GPS signal down here…no idea, mate.”

Cooper tried the door again. “Well, something’s sitting on top of this door. Something heavy enough that I can’t budge it just by pushing…”

“Can you see anything?” asked Tecumseh.

Cooper shook his head. “No sir, the edges of the door want to open, but something’s holding it down in the middle.”

“Maybe a piece of furniture?” suggested Tecumseh.

Cooper looked up at the door again, illuminated in the dim light of Angus’ cellphone.

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