Authors: Veronica Melan
Whoever comes through the gate, Hulk should remain inconspicuous. The only way they could notice him was if they had some night vision devices, which was very likely. Damn it. Going ahead now was too risky and foolish. He must urgently reassess the situation, since this unaccounted factor has come into the equation - there was someone on the other side of the gate - one person or more, and this “someone” wanted to get inside of Tally at any cost. Judging by the fact that the alarm had not been raised, the guest didn’t just take care of the guards in the towers, but also the monitoring system, otherwise at least three police units would have been there by now.
And if the surveillance system is off, then...
To confirm his suspicions, Hulk moved toward the fence quickly and quietly, took out a screwdriver-indicator attached to his belt and touched the iron.
Its tip remained unlit.
Right.
Hulk swore quietly - someone has just turned the electricity off. If the guards raise the voltage up to ten thousand volts at night, as it was done in other places with very important strategic targets inside, then both Hulk and the guest would have a lot more problems. But regardless whether the electricity was on or off, he was going to escape tonight anyway. And no guests are going to stop him from doing so.
In order to avoid any unnecessary risks, he quickly moved in the opposite direction, away from the gate, not forgetting to monitor it. He had to find a safe shelter, before the guest’s arrival.
For the first time the darkness was not his friend - yes, it was concealing him well, but it was also concealing the others. And why did Tally’s mayor care to illuminate the area outside the fence, but not the inside it?
The CAT building, where the new prisoners were brought in was empty at night. The lifeless dark windows gleamed in the pale light of the moon and the distant lights that were attached to the gate. Before Hulk slipped behind a concrete wall he heard a popping noise - the lock on the outer sashes was shattered by the explosives.
Hulk cursed and strained his eyes. The events were unfolding exactly as he’d expected....
Who will come in now? And why the hell did they decide to do it today? Why for God’s sake did this diversion coincide with such an important day? Was the Creator laughing at him as he watching everything from above? Hiding behind a corner, Hulk was peering into the darkness so intensely that his eyes were hurting.
Finally, the gates opened, just enough to let a man dressed in everything black slip inside. Judging by the silhouette he was well armed.
The person, who entered the territory, quickly darted to the side and another one appeared right after him. Dressed in camouflage and armed, he immediately disappeared on another side.
Damn the darkness!
Conrad chewed his lips, waiting for the others to appear, but everything went quiet. Not good - those two men were operating quickly and cohesively - it was a professional assault team; Hulk was certain of that, judging by what he had just seen. And God bless them if they just pass by and let him get out freely. However going there now was the same as signing a document about a voluntary retirement from life - there was a sniper there. As soon as he sees a person who is not “one of theirs”, he’ll bring him down.
Hulk almost spat in anger on the ground - this whole situation meant that his escape had pretty much failed. All the thorough preparations were in vain, and who knows when he would get another opportunity to implement his plan. Least of all, Hulk wanted to get back to the ranch - even just to wait out, and it didn’t matter what the reason was for this group to break through the gate today, but they destroyed his intentions. Hulk was furious - all because of the uninvited visitors, misfortune and bad timing.
His mind was now spinning at higher speeds, planning the retreat - he was just about to walk along the building, to the place where he left his car when a quiet rustle of shoes on the ground stopped him in his tracks. The steps were definitely approaching fast - one of the commandos was moving towards him.
Hulk’s thinking processed faded - only his instincts remained. Survival was the highest priority at this very moment. If he managed to get rid of this man quietly, then there could be a chance to flee unnoticed. So instead of swearing out loud as he’d like to, Hulk held his breath in order not to give himself away. At that moment he put the gun down (the shooting sounds will be heard) and took out a knife. Listening to the beat of his heart, he was counting down the seconds - four, three, two, one...
As soon as the man’s shadow appeared around the corner, Hulk jumped on him, gripped his neck from behind and prepared to slash the exposed flesh with a blade, but no such luck - the captive was not weaker than Hulk and in a split second, he deftly wriggled out and raised his hand, prepared to hit back.
Hulk's caught it with the corner of his eye - everything was happening at the speed of light, but at the same time unbearably slowly - the physiological responses escalated to the limit and the adrenaline was raging in his blood.
He managed to block the first blow, but the second one almost reached his jaw - Hulk barely managed to duck from it, bending to the side and kicked the opponent just below his knee, forcing him to step back. It was a good, professional, accurate and perfectly executed technique - if he had more time Hulk would savour this small victory. His own fist, with the knife clutched in fingers, was already flying towards the man’s body, in order to finish the unnecessary and unplanned battle, but it was easier said than done - Hulk’s rival avoided the knife, escaped from it beautifully, almost effortlessly, and was now aiming with a dagger in Hulk’s throat.
A strike, block, counter-attack and another blow... Blocked again. A second later, the man fell on the ground. Was Hulk out shape? Or was it a worthy opponent?
Hulk was looking at the tip of his blade, trembling a few centimetres away from his eyes, while pressing on the enemy's arms, trying to change the situation to his favour. The sweat was stinging his eyes, his wrists became slippery and covered with dust, and the body was throbbing with pain where it was hit.
But his contender got no less - Hulk could swear that he recouped his losses, attacking every part that he could reach. Though the power was running out - in a short while he wouldn’t be able to withhold the pressure any longer, but a few seconds later it suddenly disappeared. Hulk was confused. What?.. Why has the attack stopped? Was that a trick? Then he suddenly realised that the man lying on top of him stalled.
His eyes were wide open, as an image of someone familiar surfaced in the memory, causing his mind to become struck dumb. Such a moment could easily be fatal, but it wasn’t. When Hulk allowed himself to look properly at the enemy’s face for the first time, he was staggered at what he was seeing, and when he managed to open his mouth, he gasped in amazement, “Holly crap... Dell?”
At the same time, the familiar voice growled, “Fuck! Is that you, Hulk?”
Even if a real ghost appeared in front of his eyes, Hulk would not be any more surprised than when he saw his old friend in Tally. And then another one.
Before they had time to get up from the ground, the second saboteur arrived, and it was none other, but Chaser - Mac, damn him - Allerton.
They all spoke at once, “What are you doing here?! I can’t believe you are here...”
“Erm, you found him really quick.”
“Mac, he nearly stubbed me, can you believe it?”
And then, they all went quiet just as abruptly. The night air filled with glee from the unexpected meeting. After a moment, Mac hugged a friend who he had not seen for three long years.
“I thought we’d lost you. I’m so damn happy you are alive.”
Hulk patted the man's shoulder tightened in camouflage, unable to put what he was feeling at this very moment into words.
“I don’t believe this! How?!...!
Dell said, “Let’s get out of here, we’ll talk in the car.”
Hulk nodded, reserving his questions for later. That’s right; they can talk later after they’ve left the damn place. Following each other, with short dashes, they reached the main gate and slipped out, and only after that Dell chuckled, pressed Hulk’s head to his chest and ruffled his hair, “Damn! You almost stabbed me! I was beginning to think that if all the Tally’s guards are like that we’d better get out of there! But hell, I’m so happy!”
“Did you really get into a scrap there?” threw Chaser in astonishment.
“Hell, yeah! He almost broke my neck!”
Mac grunted and preventing any new questions from being asked shouted, “The cars are in the forest! We’ll discuss it when we get away from here.”
And the three men rushed to their friends at full speed, where cars and freedom were waiting for them.
Hulk still couldn’t believe the fact that he was sitting in the car, taking him to the place, which he had not seen for several years - that place, glowing with the city lights, the place with the high-rise buildings mixed with small cosy cottages, where the music was pumping in the nightclubs, and where there was something for everyone at any time of the day; to the city, where his own house was left empty for three years. Did anybody take care of it? And what about his cars in the garage?
Hulk grinned in the darkness - four cars, dammit!
He also couldn’t believe that a few minutes ago he met two other friends of his, who came to help him to get out of Tally, and one of them was Dane - the sniper Hulk had been so worried about. Now he had a smile on face, thinking about it.
He couldn’t believe that in this pale night, where the dim moonlight was coating the road, he was heading for his new future - away from the red mountains and the hateful heat; away from the ranch, from the ridiculous rules of the stupid clubs and even more idiotic laws; away from the faces wrapped by the suffering, from the eyes, full of bitterness. He was so fed up with it all!
Now his ammunition was resting in the boot of the car, Hulk knew he could trust his life to the one who was driving the car without any hesitation.
Hulk touched the cool leather of the rear seat, as if making sure that it was real, and not just a dream. And with his hands he was touching the leather, he nearly broke the neck of one of his best friends. Life truly is, very unpredictable! Again, the imperceptible smile in the dark, and a whole bunch of feelings – too many of them, were making his eyes water.
“Tell me....” Hulk asked hoarsely.
Dell, sitting next to the driver, looked at Mac.
“You tell him, because it all started with you.”
Chaser nodded.
“We didn’t know where you were, otherwise we would’ve come earlier,” he began.
“I know.”
“And we would’ve been none the wiser if it wasn’t for one girl named Shereen. Do you know her?”
A warm wave ran down Hulk’s spine as her name was mentioned. Of course, who else?
“Yes, I know her.”
“So she called me and told me that she knew where you were. She refused to take any money for this information and said that she needs our help to get you out.”
Now Hulk had a big open smile on his face. He was overwhelmed by the feelings he had to supress for such a long time: tenderness, desire to embrace, to dishevel her hair, to put her on a bed and kiss her laughing lips; maybe, just to feel that she is by his side, at last. These enticing images swirled through his mind, but Hulk had to push the heady joyful thoughts away for now as he really wanted to hear the continuation.
“So what happened next?”
“Next? I visited her apartment. To be frank, I was quite sceptical about this call at first, but then I realised she was serious. So I brought her over to mine, gathered all the others and asked Shereen to tell everything she knew. After that we put our plan together and invaded the “Area 33” which I’d never heard of before...
Hulk shook his head imagining what it was like for Shereen to face Chaser for the first time, especially if he was in a sceptical mood. This guy could frighten any man, let alone a woman, and as for the rest of the guys - Ren, Dane, Dell... She had, of course, heard of them, but had no idea who they were in reality. A timid person wouldn’t dare to attempt a meeting with these people, but Shereen wasn’t listed amongst the timid ones.
He rubbed the seat’s leather with his fingertips again. Soon.