48 - The hunters
Guantánamo Bay - 15 minutes after sometime
Welcome to the official final chapter of my online cyber thriller, The Phisherman (tho' this isn't the end for subscribers). If you haven't been reading the story and don't want to ruin the ending, you're best starting HERE.
As the counter on the screen reached two, Nick’s mind and body sprang into action.
Although he could not feel, see, or hear anything besides the loud echo of the unbreakable door slamming, he knew 831 was about to start sending its deadly emanations toward his unprotected head.
By the time Nick sensed its effect, it would be too late. His fate would be sealed.
I will NOT become another helpless victim to 831.
Nick Davies had never surrendered. He had never given up, no matter how desperate the circumstances.
And that’s not going to change today. I refuse to die trussed up like a turkey at Thanksgiving, accused of being a traitor and a pedo.
As the room reverberated from the heavy door clanging shut, he swung his body weight sideways as forcefully as possible, fighting the restraints that bound him to the steel chair.
Although the thick steel legs were bolted to the concrete floor, there was the slightest wobble.
Hope surged through him.
Nick threw himself to the left.
And then to the right.
Again and again, he shook from side to side, testing the unbreakable bonds that were supposed to seal his death. He did not care as toughened plastic cut into his defenseless flesh. He ignored the blood that flowed as each movement cut deeper. All that mattered was the chair moved a little bit more each time as man took on metal in a fight for survival.
And then, he felt something give.
Nick didn’t know if it was the bolts or chair legs surrendering.
He didn’t care – his first challenge was almost completed.
One more shake and there was a loud crack.
The next moment, he fell to the ground, away from the computer monitor and speakers that spewed death from their wooden vantage point.
Toppling over, Nick tried to stop his head from slamming into the hard concrete floor. However, the momentum of his body falling to the ground with his hands tied behind his back gave him no hope of avoiding the inevitable.
He felt an instant migraine as his skull made that awful sound of flesh-covered bone smacking into an immovable object. Gratefully, he sensed a bruised egg hatching beneath the point of impact.
That’s a lot better than losing my eyes.
And he was delighted to hear the sound of his voice as it bounced off the cold, gray walls of his cell.
However, there was no time to enjoy the victory. It was an important win – it meant he was still alive.
That would change all too soon if he didn’t keep moving.
Every second was critical to his survival.
The video cameras mounted at each ceiling corner meant a team would rush into the room within seconds.
The protocol for dangerous prisoners attempting an escape meant they’d have orders to shoot him on sight. Nick needed to free himself of the cable ties and arm himself before they got through the door if he was to have the slightest chance of making it out alive.
Nick expertly twisted and turned on the cold floor until the cable tie that bound his wrists rubbed against the sharp edges where the chair had been bolted to the floor. One swift movement was all he needed. Instantly, the semi-rigid plastic cutting into his flesh snapped.
In one fluid movement, he pivoted around to release his legs.
He briefly hesitated at the sound of automatic gunfire.
What the hell is going on?
With his mind racing at a million miles an hour, Nick snapped the ties binding his ankles to the chair, then jumped to his feet – he was free.
Swiftly, he grabbed the heavy metal chair in his hands – he was armed.
All he needed to do was get to the door to prevent the first intruder from shooting him.
Once Nick had the man’s weapon, the battle would turn in Nick’s favor.
I’ve never lost a gun battle before. And I will not lose my first one today.
Nick cooled his anger.
He needed to minimize casualties if he was to find redemption with the Agency in the future. At the same time, he needed to escape a bunch of armed soldiers with orders to shoot him. There was no room for playing meek and mild.
Anyone who gets in my way will pay the Nick Davies price.
Unfortunately, the door crashed open before he could reach the doorway to take out the first person through.
Nick stared in awe at the giant standing in the doorway, an automatic in each hand poised for action. One bullet and Nick’s dash for freedom would end.
So would his life.
‘What took you?’ Nick brusquely demanded before breaking into a smile.
Dropping the chair, he rushed forward to give his ex-Delta Force friend the biggest bear hug he could manage in his weakened state.
‘I don’t think your workmates were pleased to see us, Nick.’
Nick released his grip and looked up into the face of the only man he could trust.
‘Us?’
Vengador unceremoniously pushed Nick away, then stepped aside to reveal a shorter yet similar-aged man with shoulder-length brown hair and intelligent hazel eyes that stared intently.
Nick stared back, though with wonder more than as a challenge.
Who is this stranger who has willingly risked his life to save me from this hellhole?
‘Nick, I want you to meet Mauricio, a childhood friend of mine. We grew up in the same village in Colombia.’
‘Hi, Nick,’ the man said in a pleasant voice with a stronger accent than Venga’s. Stepping forward with his hand extended, he said, ‘It’s great to meet you after all the stories Luis has told me about you. And I prefer to be called Caff. It stands for …’
‘Caffeinator,’ Nick almost whispered.
‘Yeah,’ Caff replied with a cheeky grin. ‘I see you’ve heard of me.’
‘Man, I was chasing you,’ Nick replied. ‘Until you just disappeared. We all thought you’d been killed.’
Caff laughed. It was one of the most infectious laughs Nick had heard. Despite the brutal surroundings, he found it hard not to join in.
‘Yeah, my enemies tried. They sent a lot of foot soldiers after me. I made sure none of them made it back to tell the story. When I disappeared, everyone assumed the worst. Ever since, my actions have been discreet – they haven’t discovered half the things I’ve done to them.’
‘Guys,’ Vengador’s voice thundered, cutting across any more conversation. ‘This isn’t the time or place for chatting. We’ve got to get out of here asap. Who knows how long we’ve got before reinforcements arrive? You can catch up on old times once we’ve escaped.’
‘You’re right, Venga. And then you can tell me how you knew I was in this hellhole. And how your timing is as impeccable as always.’
Vengador merely tilted his head, arched his bushy eyebrows, and pointed to the door.
‘Let’s go, Nick.’
Nick swiftly led the way out of his prison cell, picking up a semi-automatic handgun from one of the fallen soldiers outside.
Nick’s mind swiftly focused on the task at hand when he heard Venga and Caff moving behind him.
‘Actually, Venga, we’ve got bigger things to discuss. Once we’re out of here, we need to track down the bastard who stole the Agency’s cyber weapon and set me up as a pedo. And we need to find his mate, the one you warned me about.’
‘Abaddon?’ Venga asked in an incredulous voice. ‘Mate, you don’t find Abaddon. He finds you. Haven’t you learned anything from this, Nick? I’m telling you, this is Abaddon’s work. He’s the son of a bitch behind all this. You want to leave him alone, Nick. You almost died here when you weren’t even looking for him. Imagine what will happen when he knows you’re pursuing him.’
Nick stopped in his tracks, turning to face his friend.
‘I guess we’ll have to find that out, won’t we? All I know is I was tracking a slimeball called Alan Watson, who stole the deadliest cyber tech ever imagined. He made me out to be a petty loser who sold state secrets and ran an online pedo ring to pay my gambling debts. I need to find that mother. I have to recover the weapon and clear my name. I doubt Alison will believe me right now, though I must convince her as we’ll need her help.’
‘And after this, every US government field operative will be out for my blood. And yours,’ Nick asserted as he pointed his gun at Venga. ‘And yours,’ he said, indicating Caff, ‘though they’re going to wonder who the hell you are.’
In the distance, they heard the sound of muffled yells and many boots racing toward them.
‘Right now, we need to get out of here,’ Nick murmured. ‘Once we do, I hope I can count on you guys to help me find Alan Watson and Abaddon and whoever else might have access to that cyber weapon. And we need to do it soon. If any of those hacker bastards get it working, none of us is safe. Anyone using a computer, a smartphone, a smart TV, anything that connects to the Internet and has a screen or speakers, will be putting their life at risk.’
With that, Nick turned and ran down the dark corridor.
Vengador and Caff were only a step behind, a concerned look etched on both of their faces. They had too many questions to ask Nick. However, that would have to wait until they had escaped their immediate threat.
And then, the hunt for Abaddon would begin.
And this time, there will be blood.
I hope you enjoyed the official final chapter (tho’ a few other chapters will become available in the future, including one right now for subscribers who email mike@mikeharrisstories.com). Obviously, a sequel is coming, though there will be some crossovers to read first, including Vengador and Caff’s stories.
If you’re a subscriber, thank you so much for your support. I hope you will click the heart-shaped LIKE button at the end of this chapter.
Lastly, if you have any suggestions to improve the story or you want to encourage me as a storyteller (either would be nice), please …