The Survival Chronicles (Book 7): Hard Mercy

arrived at the tunnel entrance to the Smithsonian Metro Station. Mercy raised a hand. They crouched down and waited, listening. A row of stationary carts extended along the platform and into the far tunnel. Muffled voices and the sound of machinery came from the station. Mercy glanced back at Rose and Barnes. She pointed to her eyes and signalled ahead.
This is on me. It’s funny how Barnes is the Navy SEAL and yet he’s taking my directions. Guess I’ve earned my stripes—
Mercy’s eyes narrowed.
Yeah, it’s all on me. Don’t think about it—
She crept forwards, keeping line of sight with Rose and Barnes. The mining carts provided effective cover. She reached a gap between the last two carts and peered through to the well-lit platform. She spotted a security camera at the end of the platform and changed her position. Keeping low, she crept another fifteen yards along the track and peered between the carts.
A conveyor belt was running from the carts to an open steel hatch in the station wall. Black body bags were moving slowly along the conveyor. The smell of rotting flesh filled the air. Six technicians in yellow Hazmat suits were opening the body bags, checking on the motionless alphas within. Mercy wrinkled her nose.
That stench—
Her eyes strayed to the platform floor. The polished concrete was stained with bodily fluids.
How long have they been doing this… processing?
Mercy looked at the five armed guards standing in blue Hazmat suits behind the technicians.
Automatic weapons, gas masks, gauntlets. They’re taking no chances—
Her gaze returned to the technicians.
Hang on, there’s something different about those yellow suits. The hands and sleeves… looks like butcher’s chainmail. Shit, maybe they’ve had incidents with these alphas… maybe they’re just stunned or sedated. But why on earth would they take such a risk in the first place?
Her eyes went to a separate set of double doors behind the armed guards.
That’s the way in. It’s either that way in or inside one of those body bags, but they’re checking each and every one of them. Shit… and the platform is covered by CCTV, goddammit. We’re sure as hell not getting in here, not without giving ourselves away. Think, think—
Mercy glanced back at Rose and Barnes and shook her head. Rose waved at her and pointed to the distant tunnel. Mercy turned around and looked down the tracks. She nodded at Rose and crept forwards behind the row of carts. She reached the open tunnel entrance and stared into darkness beyond.
OK, no strip lighting in there. So… they don’t use the tunnel beyond this point or what? Well, at least we could hide in there until they’ve finished processing those body bags—
Mercy looked at the platform on her right. A second camera was facing up the platform, covering the technicians and armed guards.
That makes two cameras up there. They’re focused on the processing operation and the platform. No cameras down here, not that I can see anyway—
Mercy turned around and stared at Rose and Barnes in the distance. She bit her lip and frowned.
Yeah, OK. Come on you guys—
Mercy raised her arm and beckoned at Rose and Barnes to join her. Five minutes later they were together in the mouth of the dark tunnel. The processing was still under way behind them on the platform. Mercy nodded at Rose and began to edge forwards into the new tunnel. There was just enough light from the platform for her to see the first twenty feet of the rail track. Beyond that lay darkness. Mercy moved forwards, one hand touching the wall on her left, her other hand held out in front, searching dead air. The noise of the platform machinery receded as she went deeper into the tunnel.
I need light but there’s no way, not with the NSA so close—
Mercy stopped and reached back, searching for Rose. Mercy felt Rose’s breath on her hand.
“What are you thinking?” Rose whispered.
A shadow leaned in from the left. Mercy detected Barnes’s stale sweat. She reached out and pulled him closer.
“You’ve seen what I’ve seen. I reckon we hide in here, maybe go a bit further and wait it out. Once they’ve finished processing this batch they’ll go back into their facility. We might be able to get in through that hatch somehow. We need to get a closer look to figure something out—” uncertainty laced Mercy’s voice.
“Yeah, agreed, but there’s those two cameras watching the platform—” Barnes replied. “I could knock them out with my rifle. Easy. But they’re bound to come and investigate—”
Mercy closed her eyes and tried to ignore the tension building in her shoulders. “Yeah, I know. So let’s not do anything now, let’s wait a bit—”
“I’m all for a rest. I could use a drink,” Rose squeezed Mercy’s arm and sank to the ground, she pressed her back up against the tunnel wall.
“Don’t forget the third rail,” Mercy whispered, as she joined Rose.
Barnes remained standing, his weapon ready. A new noise filled the confined space. Mercy looked back. The first cart had been emptied and was advancing into the tunnel. The second cart took its place. Two men in Hazmat suits climbed out of the first cart and into the second cart and started lifting body bags onto the conveyor belt. Mercy’s blood ran cold.
Christ, I didn’t even see them. Shit, we were damn lucky we weren’t discovered—
It took just over an hour for the six carts to be emptied of their loads. The row of carts edged deeper and deeper into the tunnel. Finally, the noise from the machinery stopped. The main platform lights dimmed, leaving a faint yellow glow from the station’s strip lighting.
“Looks like they’ve gone,” Rose whispered to Mercy.
“Yeah, let’s give it a few minutes though. I’ll creep down there and check it out. You guys stay here. I’ll be back. I won’t do anything without letting you know—” Mercy replied.
Yeah, like I know what I’m doing—
Mercy crept back to the station and stared out at the platform. A red LED light flashed on